Roadmap

The best and worst thing about self-publishing is that you have all the say. It’s freedom and titanic weight all at the same time. While writing ‘Rise of the Virago’, I had to think about what comes next. I had an idea at the start that wasn’t going to work with what I ended up with.

With ‘Virago’ done and published, I had to figure out how to get to where I needed to be for that third book. So, here’s the plan:

The third Silkhaven book is outlined. That’s big for me. After the general concept, the first thing I nail down is the ending and I work backwards to figure out how to get there. I don’t start writing until I know how it ends. I could start on Book 3 tonight. The thing is…I hate prequels.

Book 3 requires Cranston to have an object. Originally, I was going to do the acquisition of this item in flashback, but it got too big. A huge flashback like that would really throw off the pacing, arcs, and themes of Book 3. It’s simply a different story.

I started working on Book 2.5 and that had a big hole in it, so I worked backwards even further. So, now, I’m working on a series of novellas which I’m calling Silkhaven Pulp. I’m writing them quick and dirty, much heavier on plot than Book 1 & 2; just piling on the sex, violence, and weirdness without the emotional through-lines of the Silkhaven books.

(I’m excited to get to Book 3. I am. It’s going to be a heavy book, the kind of book I want to be known for, but I really need to connect these dots, so I’m doing it in the funnest way possible.)

We’re starting with the Carrow trilogy, which follows the adventures of famed explorer Solomon Blitzer and headstrong heiress Alice Carrow. Then, it’s back to Cranston and Vivienne for a series of stories called 13 is not a Number and those will take us right in to Silkhaven Book 3. In there somewhere will be at least one story about Silkhaven’s Finest.

So, that’s seven stories planned before we get to Silkhaven Book 3. Hopefully, Book 3 will be happening in 2027.

That’s the plan. Thank you for reading this and whatever else you read that I wrote. Cheers!