Wow, I have been neglectful. I blame Facebook, which is where I go to natter about the inanities of my daily life. But I figured I’d stick my head back in here, and will try to be better about posting. Key word boys and girls? “Try.”
Many, many, MANY of you have written me inquiring about the status of The Final Dance series. It is both heartening and heartbreaking to hear so many readers wanting the rest of it. Here’s what the deal is.
1. The series did not stop in the middle because I got bored! I would love to continue the series, I know what is going to happen, and I haven’t stopped looking for options to get it out there to readers.
2. It is NOT a trilogy. Luna Books decided to call it that, I have repeatedly spoken out online to caution readers that, no, if you get UNDER SEA’S SHADOW, you will not get the series wrapped up for you. You will get what several of those who have read it called the “favorite” book in the series, but while, as with ON FIRE’S WINGS and UNDER SEA’S SHADOW, the story begun in the book is wrapped up in the book, the overarching story of the Dancers continues.
3. Luna will not be publishing any more of the series, nor do they have plans to publish UNDER SEA’S SHADOW as anything but an e-book, but currently they do own the rights. I am attempted to get them returned to me.
4. I cannot simply write the series and post it on my website just for fun. My work is my job (a fun one, but a job nonetheless!). It keeps a roof over my head, food on the table, and my sweetheart in insulin. Books take time, at least three-four months to write, and I need to spend those months working on projects that will pay. However….
5. Once rights revert to me, my agent and I will be looking at other houses to continue the series and perhaps republish the first three books. This is a tricky situation–most houses do not wish to take on projects that other publishers have opted not to continue. One way or another, I do intend to finish the project someday. It will likely not be anytime soon, unfortunately. 😦
In the meantime, I am very happy working with Blizzard and Pocket, and Lucasfilms and Del Rey. I’m booked (Ha! Pun!) through next year so far. I hope you are all enjoying my other endeavors.
Again, thank you so, so much for for supporting my original fiction, even -years- now after the last book was published. Keep the flame burning–and trust me I WILL tell you, shouting from the rooftops, when the next book is coming out!
I need to get around to reading your older novels. Right now I’m reading through the Dark Templar Saga. I’ve read the first two a few years ago and recently got Twilight and realized I needed to reread the former again, and in doing so, I can’t help but notice how enjoyable I find your writing. Your descriptions of Darius are hilarious.
Well, I wish you the best for your work and future projects and can’t wait to read them. And please keep us updated, I love hearing about news, especially revolving around novels I’m very excited for. 😀
Luna makes me angry and sad. I have lost much hopes with them long ago since I learned that Under Sea’s Shadow will not be printed in anything other than ebook. I have waited so long for the book and am still waiting for the day when I can put it next to the first two books, On Fire’s Wings and In Stone’s Gasp, on my bookshelf. I really enjoy this story so much so that I reread it so many times already. Please keep us updated on any news.
I wish you the best and thank you for your hard work!
I agree. I read both of the other two books and loved them.
Hi Christie!
My nerdism is solely based on Star Trek. I don’t do ‘Wars, WOW, or any of the other fantasy realms that nerds like to lose themselves in (like Reg Barclay in the holosuites).
BUT…
I liked all YOUR Voyager novels so much that I might actually buy some of the other sci fi / fantasy novels that you have written. I’d have no idea about the big picture of those well-established realms, but you craft such nice stories that I’m sure I could just enjoy the tale in the smaller sense.
Any idea if you’ll be writing any more Trek? I just hope that you wouldn’t write any “Mirriad Universes” stuff, though. I just don’t get why so many Trekkies are so facinated with their favorite characters altered an warped like that…
Anyway, you and Greg Cox are my favorite authors. Please keep up the excellent work!
Signed,
Bigg Nerdy Scott
Thanks for the comment on the Dark Templar series! I love the “voice” I used for that, and Jake and R.M. continue to be two of my favorite characters.
Bigg Nerdy Scott (I had to type that cause it made me grin!) you might actually want to give that series a shot. While obviously it does help to know StarCraft, I think that series can be enjoyed on its own. The first book is called Firstborn. If you give it a spin, let me know what you think!
I read the second book In Stone’s Clasp a few years ago when a friend gave it to me and loved it but never looked for the first book until recently.
Last week though I downloaded the ‘trilogy’ on kindle and am really dissappointed to find out that I have to probably wait years for the next one to come out! It seems like whenever I find a series I love I have to wait years for the final book to be released. *cough* Obernewytn series *cough*.
Hopefully you can get the rights to it soon and get the rest of the series published.
Goodluck (:
When you find a series you love and it suddenly stops being written, it is hardly ever the writer’s decision. Sometimes it is, granted, but it usually isn’t. I remember when I was in college a series I loved just stopped in the middle. There was no internet then, no way to find out what had happened, and I just got put out. XD Now I realize it was probably pulled by the publisher due to poor sales. Really too bad. Of course, I tend to like strange, quirky, odd things that the general public finds too offbeat (and kind of write those things too!) so I shouldn’t be surprised. I am thinking of talking about Books I Have Loved That No One Else Has Ever Heard Of for my next blog. ^^
That sounds awesome! Give us some new, original, unique reading material!
Dunno about “new”, in that most of these books are loooong out of print! XD
Well new to me *shrug*
😛
Hi Christie, I’m so disappointed about the dancer books, Just finished the first 2 and wish I had a ebook to read the 3 rd. book. Oh my, it’s a wonderful, heart grabbing edge of you seat book and it’s so sad that you have had problems with it. Please keep me informed about the rest of the books when you get a chance to write them and if someone else picks them up. Thank you so much for writing such a great 2 books so far. Looking forward for the rest, no matter had long it takes.
Hi Christie ^^
Have not been on the website here in a while and decided to check up on how the dancer series was coming along. I read your blog and I really, really, really, really hope you get the rights back soon 🙂
The dancer series is amazing 🙂 I have the first two books in my car AT ALL TIMES lol I’ve read them at least 10 times each and the first one always makes me cry when Jashemi dies
(btw i know this sounds weird, but do you plan on bringing him back in a latter book? The suspense is killing me lol)
But anyways, Christie, I hope you get your rights back to your books very soon 🙂 i’m sure that another publisher will take you on in a heartbeat. Have you thought about asking Blizzard to help out with that? Seems you are doing great with them 🙂
Well anyways, doing a great job and I hope to read another Dancer book real soon take care ^^
-Joshua
Hi Christie,
I have to say I am so disappointed in publishers who do this to their authors. You are only one author on my shelf whose stories are stalled and unlikely to continue at this point because of publishers who suddenly decide after a third or fourth book to just stop supporting that author.
As a result, those who have read and enjoyed the books of those authors are left in limbo.
It’s sad and frustrating, and I cannot understand why these publishers insist on keeping the rights to these authors books when they have made it obvious that they have no further interest in publishing more.
They should at least have the decency to release their rights to the books that they have rejected. It’s disgraceful.
In the meantime, I will continue to hope that you have success in retrieving your property from Luna, and look forward to the day when I can read the rest of the Dancer’s stories.
Good luck, and Thank you for your entrancing stories.
=^..^=
Hey,
I have only read the first book in “The Final Dance” series, but only because I haven’t found “In Stone’s Clasp” yet. I absolutely love the book, and hope beyond all else you get the rights to your work back so we can all continue to enjoy Kevla’s journey. For many years I have tried to find a copy of the next book to no avail, I just might try my local shop one more time. Thanks for sharing your talent with the world.
As it’s been out of print for some time, your best bet is to check used bookstores as you come across them or else check out websites like Ebay and half.com or Amazon.com’s individual book sellers. It is truly amazing to me how much response I get from readers about this series. I only hope that WHEN (not if!) the time comes that I can finish it you all will still remember and still be looking! 🙂 Thanks so much for your support!
I found all three in e-book form from my library, which I suspect generates royalties of some variety & is the reason Luna is holding on to the rights. I enjoyed the series enough to read it all in less than a week and would gladly read 2 or 3 more books to find out what happens! Hope that can happen relatively soon.
I must as an aside confess that without your WoW books I would never have started playing.
I enjoy your Dancer series and was disappointed that Luna stopped the stories. I recently downloaded the “trilogy” so I could read the Sea Dancer. I hope you are able to complete the series soon. Thank you for the good time I had reading these stories.
Thank you Christie for always keeping us updated on the Final Dance series. Much like everyone else that has commented I love the series and look forward to when you will be able to get the last two books published.
I was just wondering do you have a date estimate or hope of when you will get the rights back from the books? I know many of us would have something to look forward to even if it is an iffy date of time that could possible be wrong.
Happy Holidays!
Thanks so much all for your support! You’ve no idea how nice it is to read such kind words. Unfortunately I really have no idea of a timetable at this point. I can (sadly) say that it won’t be this year (barring unforeseen awesome circumstances!). I’m very happy with the two franchises I’m working with, and I promise you, if I hear -anything- on the Dancers series, I will post it on my blog, website and Facebook so fast it will make all our heads spin. 🙂 You are the best. ❤
After waiting a few years, I Finally got to read Under Seas Shadow. Brillant!!! I know that i had said that a real book is best and ill stick to it but I was given a Literati(aka a version of the kindle/nook) and I was so excited that The First book i got for it was Under Seas shadow. I look forward to the conclusion of the series, no matter how long it will take. Keep up the hope ! im sure something will happen soon!
I loved the first two books of the Dancer series and can’t wait to read the rest of the books when they become available. Sad to say Luna has discontinued several series I enjoyed and I am not to thrilled with them since they like taking my money. 😦
Looking forward to the day when you can say you sold it elsewhere.
The Dancer series was what made me fall in love with your writing. I can’t tell you how outraged I was when I found out the publisher pulled the series. I have the first two books sitting on my bookshelf and am eagerly awaiting to be able to add the third and the rest to my collection.
Best wishes to your career and the beloved series that stole my heart. I will continue to have faith that it will be published again so that I can finally finish reading the collection.
To be honest, I’m almost tempted to buy a kindle just so I can read the third…but it’s simply not within my funds at the moment.
Anyway, I just wanted to share my love of the series. Perhaps you don’t have thousands of fans of this original masterpiece, but we are out there and we’re waiting!
I went searching when ran across the sequel to the fire dancer book in the Library. Now I am sad to find out that I am now waiting again til I can read the sequel to the Stone dancer. Looking forward to reading the rest of this saga when you find another avenue to put it out when we can read the rest of this thrilling adventure.
Hi Christie, Are there any new news about the Dancer book series? I wrote a comment over a year ago. I have a new ebook now and would love to download Under Sea’s Shadow if it is available. Is It? Please don’t let this series end!
Hi, On “Wookiepedia” it states under “current Projects” that you are working on the final two books in the series “At wind’s Tempest” and “Through Soul’s Desire”……. Is this true??? I loved the other three, but I really want to read the rest of the story. Do you have any approximate dates for publishing. I couldn’t find the date for when the information was added on to “wookiepedia” so I am not sure if it was before or after your original post here.
Just as everyone else who has posted on here, I am deeply enamored with the Final Dance series. I greatly anticipate the day when you are able to finish the last two books. It is intensely sorrowful Luna books decided to stop publication of such a wonderful series. But, as I know very well, you can’t please everyone all the time, and this is something I wish Luna knew as well; because, though the world in it’s entirety did not embrace the series, it does not take a rocket scientist to see that it DOES have a very large following of devoted fans. In time, I can only hope they pull their heads out of their nether regions and let you finish what has so captured my passion, and brought me such joy in reading. 🙂
Haha! Michelle, you made me grin. Thank you for your kind words. The rights have reverted to me and we are currently looking for a new publisher. So…fingers crossed! I do know that there are many out there like you who are carrying the flame, and it makes me very proud and happy to know it. Thank you.
I have just finished reading Under Sea’s Shadow, and I’m thrilled to hear that the rights to this series have returned to you. Hopefully you will find a publisher soon and you can get Under Sea’s Shadow and the last two books published. I eagerly await the next books in this series. The best of luck to you. 🙂
I am SO excited that you have the rights back and can hopefully find a new publisher and release the books soon. I stumbled upon On Fire’s Wings in a bookstore what feels like years ago, and became enthralled with the Final Dance series. I keep checking up every few months for news on whether or not the rest of the series will come. Finally some hope!
You are the greatest! Good luck with everything!
Ho Christie, I am your italian translator for Final Dance… io hope dearly this is going to a happy end. perhaps the three most exciting novels I have ever translated. kisses from Lake Como
You’re first two books took my breath away! Absolutely loved them. I’m just yearning for the next books. I’m psyched to know that you’ll be continuing the series. Best of luck, I can’t wait, I keep rereading them. Lol 😀
Hey Christie, I have no idea if you still visit this at all.. but I was wondering if you had ANY clue as to where I can get the ebook for Under Seas Shadow? It seems that anywhere that sold it online has discontinued it, which is really sad as I have wanted to read it for a long time now, and now that I finally have a device on which I can comfortably read an ebook, it is not avaliable…
I do still read all my comments! Nothing new…yet…but do not give up hope. I PROMISE once I have news, I will post about it here, on my FB, and on my website! I’ll be as excited as you. 😀 Thank you for keeping the faith!
It’s a new year, and hopefully that means a renewed hope that this series will be finished. I remember being in love with the first two. I say remember because I can’t bring myself to read them again, or to even read the third book. I know I will be heartbroken that I can’t finish out the series. I really hope you find a publisher. I have purged my book collection down and I keep holding on to them so that I have them once the next books come out. *fingers crossed* Best of luck! Happy New Year.
You are far from the first to wish this! No promises of course, but…I will say, keep the faith. This could be the year!
My husband and I just started the series and love them. We still hope the last in the series will some day be published even if it is only available through your personal site or something. Thank you for still trying.
Thank you, Cinna! They were tailored of course for the Luna line, but in the end, they’re just Christie Golden books, and while I love a good romance, I also love mythos, story, world building, characters and action. I’ve had a lot of male fans of the series, which pleases me no end. Hard to believe it’s been almost ten years!! Keep the faith, as you are doing!
I looked and looked for the ebook under seas shadow{noone has it} ..I realllyyy want it in PB format to add to my collection and just noticed someone else posted you have 2 others in the dancer series also in mind i hope you get picked up by another publisher soon! good luck on this the sooner the better for all of us fans.
You’re so kind! The reason you can’t find Under Sea’s Shadow any more is because the rights have reverted back to me. This is GOOD news, as it means that I am finally able to resell the series elsewhere. I hope to have some even better news later this year. Stay tuned!
I just re-read the trilogy on my nook (I have them in book form too- such an awesome series!!) and then found this blog. I’m so glad the rights have reverted back to you!!! I hope you’re able to resell the series (are the other two books done or works in progress, and are there only two more??) but if you can’t resell them have you considered self-publishing them (e-book) instead? I can’t wait to read the rest of the series in whatever format they’re in! Good luck!!!
Kimberly, thank you! E-publishing rights could end up being part of a deal for resale, so right now, I’m not doing anything until such time as I’ve got my ducks in a row to present the whole series. I have a busy year this year, but I’ve made myself a promise to start actively working on this! 🙂 “Watch this space,” LOL!
Oh, I can’t wait!!! I kept looking for years and when I recently reread it, it was b/c it was on my Nook (at one time harlequin had a great sale price on it as an ebook)… thankfully I have a ton of books to read (go through around 350+ a year) but will keep checking on this. Love that it will email me when you respond…keeps the excitement!
Will there be 5 books total? Thanks and good luck with this project!!
I so appreciate your excitement! 🙂 I hope there will be, but we’ll just have to see how it all pans out. ^^
The first book caught my eye at a local independent that was closing a few weeks ago, andI just finished the first book. The second is waiting on my shelf for me to start it, and I’m thrilled to hear that the rights have reverted to you! I’m hopeful that you will find a new publisher soon, so we can enjoy the rest of the series!
Thank you so much! It’s so heartening to keep hearing that people still want this.
Love this series, definitely an all time fave (along with the Tairen Soul books by CL Wilson in this genre). I hope you get the chance to finish the story and that more people get the chance to read this wonderful tale. Good luck!
I’ve had the first two books since they first came out ages ago, (I didn’t buy the third in protest to Luna, this wasn’t the only series I was reading that they cancelled) and they still haunt me. I’m so glad that you will be able to write more and I hope to support you under your new publisher!
Dear Christie,
Just read read the e-trilogy again. Oh how I love this series. Anything news worthy yet on the future of these wonderful books? I have soooooooooo many speculations and I would truly love to see if I’m right lol!!
Ok so its November, almost December. I was curious if there was any word on the final dance. I know you have been crazy busy, I just know the readers out there would love to read the last two books. I hope to hear good news soon!
It hasn’t been forgotten! This year has thrown me some unexpected twists and turns, with some projects being delayed indefinitely and some new ones coming in. I have had a publisher express interest in working with me on original fiction, so with a bit o’ luck, I will have some good news soon!
Hi Christie! I was hoping for some kind of news on the Final Dance series. I check this page every now and then hoping that there will be some good news. I love the books and I hate that the series was never completed. Please keep us updated with any news! Thank you!
Please let us know soon Christie. I am eager to read the next books! I really wanted to read under sea’s shadow, but can’t find an ebook anywhere! is there a way I could read it? Thank you!
Things are moving on this front! Stay tuned!
I am assuming your not going to finish The Final Dance series?!
It’s been years at this point. Thinking money is more important….. Money is important I agree, but its not everything. All the people that read your books deserve better. You are a very good writer, very talented but I don’t think your readers mean much to you…..
Hi Katrina, thanks so much for the passion in your response.
This is a very old post–many years have gone past, and I’m guessing you haven’t read newer posts where I’ve announced that my full intention is to self-publish and complete the series. 🙂 Also, most people assume that writers (especially NYT bestselling writers) make a lot more money than we do. Those of us whose NYT bestsellers are media tie-ins don’t make as much as the average NYT bestseller, certainly not in the six-figure range. In the fantasy/SF field, $10K a book (which takes me at least three months, sometimes more) is considered decent pay. My writing is my job, and I need to pay rent and eat and make car payments like everyone else. It makes for an interesting life!
It sounds like you feel my not being able to complete the series until now meant I don’t care about my readers. Nothing could be further from the truth. I’ve been so grateful for my reader support through the years and love the series just like you all do, it’s been beyond frustrating not to be able to find a home for it until now. I offer special discounts on signed books, have giveaways and contests, and do my best to respond to those who make it possible for me to do this work I love so much. I invite you to follow me on Twitter @ChristieGolden or “friend” me on FB, as I don’t post here nearly as often as I should and you’ll get a better feel for what’s up with me and my work.
Again, I see the love in your post, and thank you for it, and am thrilled to say “thank you for your patience, and there’s a light at the end of the tunnel!”
I know this post is old, but any word on more books? I just finished rereading the trilogy and would like to know how the story ends.
Watch this space! I’m hoping to be able to republish the Dancers books and finish the trilogy. More news when I have it!