I’ve gotten a lot of emails recently about the status of various projects I’ve been working on. Now that the revisions for ARTHAS have been turned in I have a smidge more free time, and I hope to address each of the various projects and let you all know what’s going on. I also would like to address some other questions I see a lot in my emails, as unfortunately it has become nigh impossible to address them all individually. So look for some essays on writing, suggestions and so forth soon!
Bless you my wonderful readers of my original fiction, because most of the questions right now concerns the Dancers series (ON FIRE’S WINGS, IN STONE’S CLASP, and UNDER SEA’S SHADOW). Particularly, it seems, the fact that the third installment is out only as an e-book.
It’s hard to know where to begin with this. First of all, let me say thank you–because even in the most frustrated emails, I know what’s behind it–you all love the books, you want to read them, and you’re upset that you can’t.
The fact is, that most of the time, we authors don’t really have a lot of clout when it comes to what happens to our book after it’s turned in to the editor. Contrary to popular belief, we rarely get to have any input on the cover, we don’t write the back cover copy, and sometimes we don’t even get our first pick on the title. Think about that–three large factors that determine whether a book goes home with a reader are almost always out of the author’s control.
It’s the same with what format a book gets published in. In the contract, we know how much we’ll get paid and what our royalties will be if the book is released in A) hardcover, B) trade, C) mass market, D) audio, E) electronic format. Usually it’s decided ahead of time verbally what the publisher would like to do. Sometimes they change their minds. Recently, ARTHAS went from being a mass market to a hardcover–a very happy change! But sometimes it goes the other way.
When the Dancers line was launched, all the LUNA books were going to be published as trade paperbacks. That was my understanding when I sold three books to LUNA. It was my hope and the editor’s that there would be a fourth and fifth book.
I think you know what I’m going to say now…the author also usually isn’t the one responsible for a series ending in the middle. Sometimes they are–they find other projects, or lose interest. But most of the time, when you find yourself wondering, “Hey, whatever happened to that series? It ended right in the middle!” it’s because sales were not sufficient for the publisher to choose to continue the series.
LUNA Books was a brand new line when I signed on with them. As time went on, it became clear that urban fantasies were doing the best for them, and many of the more traditional epic fantasy series were let go. Sadly, the Dancers series was a casualty, although the editors were very supportive of me and my work for as long as they could be.
For a while, it was not even certain that the third book, although contracted for, would come out. LUNA eventually did decide to publish it as an e-book. So that is why there are, currently, no more Dancers books slated for publication, and why UNDER SEA’S SHADOW is not available in print.
I noticed that there are a few comments and complaints up on Amazon.com in the form of one star reviews of UNDER SEA’S SHADOW. None of the reviewers has read the book, in fact, that’s why they are posting with one star—they’re unhappy with the format. If any of the reviewers are reading this, I hope you will understand that this will do nothing to get the book in print, and only harms my reputation as a writer, as people will think the reviews refer to the book itself, not the format in which it was published.
People also think it’s very easy for me to simply take the series somewhere else. Unfortunately that’s not so. Even with very solid numbers (which the series had) other publishers are reluctant to pick up a series that has been cancelled.
The good news is, I have not given up hope on the series. My agent and I are exploring various options, and I very, very much want to finish it out (there are some really magnificent twists coming, I promise you!) With all that is on my plate over the next couple of years, it may be a while before I can get to it. But Kevla, Jareth, Copper and the other Dancers and their Companions are very dear to my heart.
One way or another, I think I’ll find a way to complete their story. After all, that Shadow is still out there….
So Arthas is indeed going to be a hardcover? The S&S bookseller catalog says it’ll be a trade paperback, while the S&S site says it’ll be a hardcover but still lists the trade price.
Either way, still looking forward to buying the ebook of it. 😉
I just got to the first two books in the Dancer’s series on my reading pile (Yeah, I read that much stuff that they were that buried!) and love them. I was really bummed when I went looking this morning and found that the third book is only available as an e-book. I despise e-readers and won’t purchase e-books. I am really hoping that you can manage to get the rights to re-publish the third book (self publish? print on demand? — I know Amazon has such a service via a subsidiary) and eventually publish the final books as well.
To be honest, I have yet to reach this series. I just discovered Vampire of the Mists not too long ago, and since my TBR pile is gigantic already, I’ll be hard pressed to get to the Dancers series. But, as an aspiring author myself I found it rather helpful to know just what keeping a series entails (well, not “JUST what”, but “some of what” rather.) I am sorry your series was canceled at all, and I hope it gets picked up again. (I’ve also got my fingers crossed for my series 😉 )
Anyway, I’m beginning to ramble and this comment is really just not very helpful in any way, so I’ll wrap up with saying I am really enjoying Vampire of the Mists (despite some people’s rather forceful opinions on Amazon which ruined the ending for me) and I look forward to reading more of your work.
~Bonnie
P.S. I also think it’s uber cool you live in Colorado. 😀 🙂 I was living in Longmont for a few months this summer, and I live full time in the San Luis Valley. It was ever so nice to see a “local” author in our bookstore. 🙂
Oh that makes me mad! As you know Christie, I am a reviewer and to think someone gave the book 1 star just because of the eBook situation discredits the whole review process. The stupid idoiots! I struggle to write my reviews. English was always my worst subject. Now someone comes along and makes it all seem like a worthless task. It looks like I am going to have to buy the book again so I can read it and write a proper review. Just as soon as my budget recovers from buying back-to-school clothes and supplies.
I really do hope some day to see the rest of the series in print. I would even be happy if the rest of the series came out in eBook only. “crossing fingers that it will happen soon”
This makes me sad, any time I go into barnes and nobel, I always type in your name on their computers, hoping that you released a new dancer series. I really fancied them, and was looking forward to more. ): I know this isn’t any of your fault, and i am also sorry for your, well, loss, it would seem. (Also, I seem to have a knack for falling for the canceled series — your story, Firefly, Invader Zim — when will it end [no pun intended]??)
Goodluck, and I hope to read the rest of this story in the future!!
Aaah, so Arthas novel is done. Nice. How many pages is the novel? And can you give away some story? Like will it be covering the whole Warcraft 3 + The Frozen Throne scenario or will it be something totally different, maybe before Warcraft 3?
I hope you can give some hint.
/Thom
I am very happy to hear that you still want to complete the series. I think a lot of authors have problems with original series that aren’t part of a well-known setting. I have read all three books in the series and even have the Shamizan game which I cherish very much. I consider this series to be your masterpiece series and I think that no matter how long it takes it will become the crown jewel of all your works.
Hi i’m writing on behalf of our book club in west of Ireland. We have just finished the first two dancer books and were devistated to realise that the third one was only available as an ebook. Although as a group we are dead againt ebooks, we would be willing to get it if we could be sure that we would be knotting up all the loose ends. It’s always frustraiting to be left hanging. I noticed that it was available as a publish on demand too late! is there anyone out there who wants to sell their copy to us? we’d share! Luna made a mistake when they cancled your series, and dug their hole deeper by ignoring the demand and outcry on the net longing to read book three. Best of luck getting the rest out there. Do you have a mailing list that we could sign up to to find out when they will appear?
Anyone can put up a review of the book on Amazon and BN, you don’t have to buy the book from there to post a review. So anyone (and everyone!) should go put up a review about the book itself and the series of Christie’s! For the disappointment about it only being in ebook, I think its best to write LUNA/Harlequin to address this instead of putting it where the reviews are.. They are the ones who publish it, not Amazon. I always think its worth a try to write them.
So I suggest we all get out there and put up those great reviews of Christie’s books we loved so even future publishers will see this and be interesting in them too!!
I just read the second book in the series and found the writing wonderful. The descriptive writing allowed me to connect with the characters and I enjoyed it very much. I am disappointed that I will not be able to read the third book, but I will try your other series. I am patient to see how the fate of your Dancers plays out if they are allowed to grace bookstores shelves as they are meant to. Take care and thank you for sharing your unique worlds with us.
I am sorry to hear about the cancellation of the Dancer’s series. I really love the books. I do hope that you will be able to find some other way to finish the series, as I’d love to know how the stories ends (and of course the path to that end).
As a support, I have just given Under Sea’s Shadow the following review on Amazon.com with five stars:
I first read the second instalment of the series (In Stone’s Clasp), which I bought when I was over in the US. Only after reading it, I discovered there was a book that went before it (On Fire’s Wings). I think it is great virtue of the author that could enjoy the second book so much without having read the first. Soon I bought the first book and read it followed by a re-read of the second book. This made the series even better.
Then I had to wait till the third book came out. This took quite some time and unfortunately it was only published as an e-book. But I had to know what was going to happen with Kevla and Jareth. So I read the e-book.
This instalment of the Dancer’s series is just as good as the first two. There is a little less travelling taking place in the book then in the other two, as most of the story takes place on an island. At the start of the book, you are really wondering what the difficulties for Kevla and Jareth will be as everything seems to be going very smoothly. They quickly meet up with both the third Dancer and her companion. But then there is the twist with the lorekeepers, which is surprising and keeps things very interesting. And of course, there is always the Emperor in the background. Even the ending is very surprising and make you really wonder how the story will continue.
I just hope that Christie Golden will be able to get the other books in this serie published. I for one will buy them immediately (preferably in print).
I can’t lie, I’m severely disappointed, I started reading the Dancer series ages ago when they first came out, virtually every time I go to a book store I would search for Under Sea’s Shadow, only to find out there was no information, before, that is, coming to this site. I adore the novels, I still find it hard to believe the ridiculousness of releasing the third installment as a e-book, I mean honestly! I hope you keep to your word and find a way to release the third, and other two installments in the series on print, like the Mark above, I too would definitely be one of the first in line to purchase them.
I love the Dancer series and I hope some day you will be able to publish them. I would buy them in a heart beat!
I also love the dancer series. As someone who has read widely and far and many genre’s, this was definitely a most enjoyable set of reads.
Christie, you bring characters to life, their stories to live. We, the readers, end up feeling the anguish of Kevla, the despair of Jareth, in hearts and minds as we read your stories.
I hope someday (soon!) you’ll be able to continue this series.
I was oh so lucky !!!!! Let me explain. One day I was bored to death and was searching for good fantasy book to read. I found the Luna series and the story of “on Fire’s wing’s” seem interesting. As I continue browsing I came across “under Sea’s shadow”. It never occur to me that those book were a serie.
I receive the e-book before the paper one (normal isn’t it?) but was having so much book to read that I did not read it at first. Then I read “On fire’s wing’s”. And completely fell in love !!!!! and found out that I was missing the middle book. Oh no!!!! So I set out in search of the one only to find it in e-book. It didn’t take me long to buy it.
And now after reading both 3 book I found out that I am missing 2….. and that they were not even out yet….. I am so eager to learn what will happen to Kevla and Jareth and Copper and that poor Soul Dancer……
Please continue on and someday finish that wonderful story. The character, land, twist of fate are all unexpected and so well laid that ending it now will be a shame and I’m sure that from your mind Kevla will reach to punish you 🙂
I will look forward to see the completion of this fantastic series.
I wrote Harlequin shortly after I found out this book was published… It took me a week and went something like this:
To LUNA:
Hi, I was wondering when the book is coming out.. The promised date has come and gone. Thanks.
(nothing was up on Ms Golden’s site as of that point)
Nearly a WEEK goes by…
To Luna:
Hi. I wrote a letter sometime ago and it seems you are not interested in my business. My book spending reaches into the thousands each year and I have no problem taking it elsewhere. I was writing regarding the Dancer Series by Christie Golden. What is going on with the third book –promised– in the second book? I will be spreading the word about your poor customer service within the hour and I am sure I will take customers with me.
(Approximately 1 day later)
OH! Sorry, didn’t mean to let you know we were ignoring you, seems we should have tried harder…Anywho, the book was canceled due to poor readership. The third book is going to be an eBook.
Sorry! Good luck to you.
So, I posed that in the discussion groups on Amazon. (BTW Amazon’s discussion boards are rife with people starving for the rest of it and not liking the format. I would hand that to publishers along with trying to sell the books somewhere else)
I have since shied away from LUNA books due to their outrageous prices ( getting closer and closer to $20 for those huge paperbacks.. what is wrong with smaller ones which are cheaper?) But with the Kindle2 out I might move back to their well established series to make sure this doesn’t happen again.
Keep plugging away Christie! Your work is great, evidenced by the number of books you’ve published and your dedicated following. All the best!
At first, “On Fire’s Wings” was something I would see at BN, of course I didn’t pick it up right away. But after my third visit (I LOVE to read) I saw it again, so I thought, “Why not?” So I got it and read the back cover of it, finding it very interesting. When I bought it, I went strait home to read it. I had enough time on my hands to read it and fall in love with it. When I found out that the second book came out I knew I had to have it! I’m so glad I saw “On Fire’s Wings” at BN! I’m in love with it!(<3)
It’s a shame though(TT~TT), knowing that it wasn’t a print out of a copy, I don’t like reading online very much. (Since I rather have them at my side when I want to whip them out any time I want!) But hey, as long as I’m able to read what’s going to happen next either online or in a novel, then I’m happy!(^.^)
I’m really glad that I decided to buy the series with such a beautiful mind behind the writing!(=D) Hope to read more soon!
I hope you continue to write the Dancer series. I saw today on Amazon that they have a Kindle “Dancer Trilogy”. Please tell me that Amazon is just idiots, because I know there are supposed to be two more books in the series!
I have not yet bought the “Under Sea’s Shadow” eBook. Mostly because I love to hold the book in my hands, anywhere, be it car, pool-side, bedroom, etc. I just cannot decide how best to read it. Reading books is what gets me off of my computer and off of WoW. I’m not too keen on other formats, mostly because I have not seen them in use and cannot judge how “enjoyable” trying to read on them would be.
Eventually I will get around to the WoW books. But then again, I’ve steered clear of the Trek books, so I’m not sure if it will happen. =)
As I’m sure you’ve read in many hundreds of posts… I’m absolutely devastated. More and more these days I’m finding it harder to come across new and talented fantasy authors, with books in the true traditional epic fantasy style. Auhors with spellbinding books that keep you wanting to come back for more. Picking up’In Stone’s Clasp’ at the library I was overjoyed to find it a brilliant read… so then the search for more novels only to find… sigh… there will be no more. At least I will be able to read the first three novels of this series, over and over no doubt.
I truly hope that the last two will appear, if even only in ebook format. And I’m sure that this is a sign that I need to purchase and ereader.
Thanks
I am an avid reader of fantasy books and when I found your dancer series i was in heaven. However when I went looking for the third book in the series I was amazingly disappointed. However I am going to buy the book and read it, and I hope that you will publish the last two books even if they are in ebook format because you cannot leave your fans hanging on like that, wondering what will happen next. Im sure everyone that reads your series would happily pay you outright if you found a way to publish then instead of only getting a certain percent for each novel. PLEASE WRITE THE NEXT TWO BOOKS!!!!!!
I’m not really an avid reader as most of the other people posting on here, but this series is amazing. I started out reading In Stones Clasp (thinking it was the first book) but to my surprise it wasn’t, so I absolutely had to get the first book. I’m now almost done with it (I have like 3 chapters to go) and most of the storyline has almost brought tears to my eyes. You’ve got an amazing saga on your hands Christie, you’ve got many, many, many readers, I’m sure (even if it’s not the same company) you’ll find a company who will publish your books. I encourage you, please, do not give up on this series. Best of luck to you Christie 🙂
-Josh
So many of you have expressed such great thoughts about the DANCERS series! Thank you all, it means a lot to know my original work is so enjoyed.
I am extremely busy with Star Wars and World of Warcraft/StarCraft novels, which I thoroughly enjoy, but I have certainly not forgotten about my Dancers. I do intend to finish the series. I have to–there’s too much cool stuff I want to share with you guys! 😀 However, I cannot say “when” at this point. Just know that it is definitely something I want to do–I just need to find the time and the right publisher. I hope you all remember them by the time that I do!