Man, I sure was optimistic in my January 2026 update. Things were going well, I was embarking on new projects and ventures (two new series, self-narrated audiobooks). The Girl in the Box was coming to its natural, long-planned conclusion, Girl Who Ran Away was reaching the midpoint. It was a mere four months ago, and I was on the cusp of amazing things!
So, given those great expectations, how's the year gone so far?
In a word...everything's gone to shit.
Let's start with what I've actually managed to do so far in 2026:
I finished recording and released the audiobook for CHAMPION: The Sanctuary Series, Vol 3. It's out, I think it sounds generally good (especially for a first attempt), we learned a lot, and we're improving both process and audio quality in future books. Lots to look forward to here.
I also finished the first and second draft of my new thriller, which I am not quite ready to talk about just yet. But it's coming. Probably an autumn release.
The first draft of AGAINST THE WORLD: The Girl Who Ran Away, Book 5, is at about 50%. It's my primary focus right now. I hope to wrap it up in the coming weeks, especially because it has a non-negotiable release date of August 5th.
OUT OF TIME: The Girl in the Box, Book 63's first draft is at about 8%. This is my secondary, and will become primary once I finish AGAINST THE WORLD. It will likely not be out until autumn.
The second book in my new epic fantasy series is at about 15% and I'm barely spending any time on it because, shit, I've got enough plates to spin at the moment. It's not likely to make it out until late this year or early next.
CRUSADER: The Sanctuary Series, Volume 4 Audiobook is being recorded and is at about 60% on the first pass. Think we can get it out late summer.
I can hear you reading your way through this, maybe comparing it to that January update, and thinking, "You were full of all that optimism in January about all these projects, Robert - so what the hell happened?"
In a word: life. To be more specific: death.
My uncle passed in late February, and he was a single man with no children and a complicated estate which he left me in charge of. This was long-expected, he's been suffering from a degenerative disease for nigh on twenty years, with periodic ups and downs that - lately - seemed much more up, hiding that he was a lot closer to death than I might have thought. So it came as a surprise when I got the call, but not a complete shock.
And basically every single day since then I have been trying to straighten out the multiplicity of problems with the estate, which, just for funsies, is not in the same state as me, and my writing has suffered for it. Every time I think we're drawing closer to an end on these problems, some new, heretofore unseen issue rears its ugly head and I spend the next few days coming to grips with it (and not the plot problems I traditionally wrestle with).
To misquote Airplane: I picked a hell of a year to quit drinking. And also to launch two new series and a self-narrated audiobook program.
Anyway, all this writing stuff (new series, old series, audiobooks) are still in process, it's all still coming, just...slower than I might have hoped. Which, in and of itself is not shocking. I'm always a bit more optimistic in setting my goals than I typically am able to deliver on. This year's a bit of an aberration, though, due to these events outside my control.
But I will, presumably, get it all taken care of, eventually, if fate and the insurance companies will get off my fucking back for a bit. And you'll see all these books you're waiting for show up, announced in your inbox (if you're signed up for my newsletter - and if not WHY NOT?!) or on your social media site of choice (I'm talking about Facebook, basically, I'm too old to be starting a Tiktok account, ffs).
Until then...happy reading. Or whatever you experience when I'm not releasing new books to torment you.
