For Real, Though, I'm Writing!

10/1/2015

I am, I swear!

I thought I was going to be able to get Of Dawn and Darkness out in September, no problem. Turns out it was a problem. I'm spending every day working on it, and I can GUARANTEE that I'll be done this month.

Why can I guarantee that? Because I'm leaving for a trip to Germany on the 28th. So all my writing and editing has to be done at least before then.

Sorry it's taking me so long, but the best I can say is: I'm going as fast as possible!

Instead of devouring me like a swarm of piranha, how about this: let me know in the comments what I can do to make this delay up to you. I can't promise I'll have the time to do it, but I'll try!

And in the meantime, here's the final cover for The Elder Empire - Second Sea, Of Dawn and Darkness.

56 Comments

Neil

10/1/2015 02:37:43 pm

Um, publish the book 3's in November and December? :-)

I found you because of the $0.99 sale on Of Sea and Shadow, and I'm really enjoying the series. Just starting Of Dawn and Shadow today.

Hey, if I read The Traveler's Gate Trilogy, should I start at book 1 or book 0?

Keep up the awesome work!

Neil

Will Wight link

10/1/2015 02:45:39 pm

Just start with House of Blades; "Book 0" is some Amazon crap that they make me do so that the series syncs up right.

Thanks for giving me a shot, Neil! I hope you enjoy Darkness...and House of Blades, too!

Michael link

10/17/2015 05:32:36 am

just pretend you are George R.R. Martin and that you are actually way ahead of schedule on your next book....

Aaron J.E.

10/1/2015 02:39:48 pm

You are busting your ass pushing out books at a rate way beyond most authors, in a format that has never been tried, with no massive publishing house helping you sort through a lot of the editing bullshit. Worry not, my friend, you write your book at your own time and pace, and it will get read when it comes out. Looking forward to it a lot! Especially because the first set had me 100% on team Calder, yet because I only got Shera's this time, I have found myself leaving towards her side of the field. Looking forward to seeing if you can sway me back towards Team Pirate once more.

Keep fighting the good fight, and looking forward to whatever you bring to the table.

Will Wight link

10/1/2015 02:46:51 pm

Thanks as always, Aaron! I really am working as fast as I can.

And I think I can sway you back. The Testament's crew is just funnier than Shera can be on her own. Alas.

Madeline

10/2/2015 09:04:20 am

I find myself prefering Calder's point of view because... Shera herself has experience of why a system with one Emperor works! Just set up a group of assassins with a Reader to kill the Emperor if he begins being corrupted. That is the sort of failsafe that can't really be replicated for multiple Regents because there is probably a limited number of candidates to be said failsafe, and the issue of one Regent being corrupted is just as bad as an Emperor.

Will Wight link

10/5/2015 12:49:19 pm

Ideally, in the view of the Consultants, there would be far more than four Regents. Effectively, each region of the Empire would divide into self-governing countries.

If one or two kings go bad, the Consultants can go...pull some weeds...before any global harm is caused. But if another universal Emperor goes crazy, he could cause problems all over the world before they could stop him.

It also just so happens that a world with many countries whose interests don't necessarily align is a very profitable world for a neutral guild of spies and assassins. Coincidentally.

Of course, that's all in theory. In reality, governors have no practice with anything outside the Empire, so it's inevitably going to be more complicated than they expect.

Likewise for the Imperialists. They don't really understand how a successor even works, and the Emperor's authority is actually very vague. For most of history, the Emperor's power stopped wherever the Emperor said it did. How about now?

April

10/1/2015 03:58:43 pm

But... I like piranhas.

Interesting note, my husband's and my recent comments (beseeching from the light side and threatening from the dark side) were not actual planned/coordinated. It amused both of us when we saw the the other's comments.

As far as making it up to us, let us buy you dinner next time you are in the Charlotte area?

Will Wight link

10/5/2015 04:58:48 am

I'm not sure if I can let you do that; I'm afraid of being poisoned and dragged into a Misery situation.

Juan

10/6/2015 01:04:12 am

Hahaha. Best author reply ever

Ben

10/1/2015 04:32:33 pm

I WANT IT NOW!!!! It's ok Will just don't pull a B Justin Shier and become a doctor and neglect your series.

Have you seen the anime Overlord yet? If so what did you think of it?

Will Wight link

10/5/2015 05:00:35 am

I don't know who B. Justin Shier is, but let me assure you that as long as I can support myself writing, that's all I'm going to do.

I have seen Overlord, and I really enjoyed it. I thought episodes eleven and twelve were stretched, because they were probably just trying to fill time in order to squeeze in episode thirteen, but other than that I thought it was just pure fun.

They made some changes from the novel, which I thought were mostly for the good of the story.

JH link

12/30/2016 05:15:14 pm

Brian was the worst! I think I found out a little about him, though. Look! https://www.doximity.com/pub/brian-shier-md.By the way Mr. Wight, Mr.Shier wrote 2 books in an amazing series, started book 3, then abandoned it all to become a doctor.

April

10/1/2015 04:33:17 pm

Also, the cover is amazing.

Will Wight link

10/5/2015 12:51:17 pm

Thanks, April! I liked how this one came out.

Ken

10/1/2015 06:26:15 pm

This might be a bit much, but a Valin teaser would be sweet. I think it was Gardens of Mist, one of the chronicles, that had the strugle story in tartarus? Freakin awesome.

Will Wight link

10/5/2015 05:01:06 am

Glad you enjoyed it, Ken! I had considered this, so we'll see.

10/1/2015 07:02:56 pm

No rush. Never any rush. You make most other writers I follow look like Ents. Take the time to make it as good as it needs to be.

Will Wight link

10/5/2015 05:01:31 am

I understand; I make them look tall and covered in bark. I get that a lot.

10/1/2015 08:44:31 pm

I feel as though I am the piranhas lol!! You're probably my favorite author, so as long as you are writing I'll be waiting!

I'm a die hard shera fan, but this cover is pretty sick!

Keep up the good work. I try to push you faster so I don't have to read the "other guys" books as much haha

Will Wight link

10/5/2015 05:02:07 am

I was a big fan of this cover.

Wait. You read books other than mine? Blasphemy!

Stewart

10/2/2015 06:03:39 am

What can you do? Well just get it finished, or don't if you dont think its good enough. You know your call.

Then have a good time in Germany.

Then write another book.

Not in German though. I don't speak German. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TknnvlcLsYI

Will Wight link

10/5/2015 05:02:36 am

Well, I plan on doing some writing in Germany, but not in German.

johnw

10/2/2015 12:42:58 pm

If you do not want to be devoured by a "swarm of piranha", how about a school of piranha?

Will Wight link

10/5/2015 05:03:45 am

No, piranha schools are too strict. They're not scary; a delinquent, man-hungry piranha would never make it in. It's when they swarm that you have to watch out.

A mob of piranha, if you will.

Gwyddia link

10/2/2015 04:29:50 pm

I'd like chocolate. Or a puppy. Or a chocolate puppy. To eat tail-first, while reading the book when you've finished it in your own damn time.

But seriously, chocopup?

Will Wight link

10/5/2015 05:04:39 am

http://images.replacements.com/images/images2/china/C/P0000014665S0017T2.jpg

Ton

10/2/2015 07:24:35 pm

Just do whatever you feel like. I'm happy to wait as long as it takes for you to finish up, don't feel obliged on my account.

And have fun in Germany. Try not to break any washing machines (a friend of mine broke the same one 3 times while he was over there on an exchange trip. No idea how or why)

Will Wight link

10/5/2015 05:05:15 am

I'll...do my best? Is there something about German washing machines I should know?

kain

10/2/2015 08:26:21 pm

Question, is this series part of the Traveler's Gate universe? Because that would be sweet

Will Wight link

10/5/2015 05:06:11 am

There's an unconfirmed possibility that it may be part of the same multiverse as Traveler's Gate. Once a world is destroyed--say, by reality-devouring Elders--it is broken into Territories.

But that's just a rumor.

kain

10/5/2015 01:09:53 pm

Brilliant!

Jessiah

10/6/2015 06:16:13 pm

Lol that was a theory I was having while reading the elder series and that cover looks absolutely perfect! To make it up to me hmmmmm how bout either a snip-it from the time Valin was traveling through that place where he found Valinhall or something about the origin of anyone of the elders?

Loren

10/4/2015 01:21:15 am

What ever happened to pre order? I would have already ordered the next three books and could just sit back and waited for delivery. Love your writing, keep it up.

Will Wight link

10/5/2015 05:07:17 am

Thanks, Loren! Unfortunately, as much as I love pre-orders, the way Amazon does it right now costs me visibility. And visibility = sales.

So until I can find a way to make it work myself, or until Amazon changes the way they do things, I won't be doing pre-orders for a while. Sadly.

Kaitlyn

10/4/2015 11:54:14 pm

Make someone not dead in this one? That would make it up to me at least.

Will Wight link

10/5/2015 04:57:43 am

In this one, everyone's dead. Everyone. It's just Shuffles chuckling as he looks over a ship full of bodies.

Kaitlyn

10/5/2015 08:21:35 am

Shuffles is hilarious. Always need more Shuffles. But is there hope that a certain someone turns out to not be dead?

Will Wight link

10/5/2015 12:43:28 pm

I don't know if you can take my word on this, because I lie, but no. There is no hope. The dead will remain dead.

The flashback storylines continue, however.

Jeremiah

10/26/2015 06:48:45 pm

What are you, the Doctor?

Rule #1: the Author lies

Daniel

10/5/2015 06:59:40 am

Will I just got to say you are on top of my favorite authors list.
your books are great and you shuck them out faster than anyone else i read. I want the next book right now! but all this extra time just means it will just be getting better. Like the other commenters said at least your not Justin B Sheir who just stop talking to any of his fan base and quit writing for all we know. I think that if you had to stop writing at least you would tell your fan base and i would respect that. the one thing you could do to make up for the delay for me would be to put out Calder's third book first instead of Shera's because I like him a lot better the Shera. It would be better to read his before hers. ThankYou for your books!

Will Wight link

10/5/2015 12:38:49 pm

Thanks, Daniel! I'm always amazed and humbled to hear anyone say they enjoy the books that much, because I was never sure if I could write anything good enough for you to enjoy. Somewhere inside, I'm still surprised at every positive review.

As for Justin B. Shier, I've never heard of him before this thread, so I don't really have any context there. All I can say is, barring an unforeseen personal tragedy,* I'm never going to stop writing. Frankly, a lot of what I'm doing nowadays is trying to build the right habits and reorganize my life so that I can write MORE. But you're absolutely right that I would tell you guys about any change affecting future books, and I certainly wouldn't leave you in the cold.

Unless I died. In that case, you're on your own.

As for the third book, I do actually plan on releasing Calder's first. I might change that plan, but as things stand, it's Kings -> Killers.

I also plan on releasing the two with a much shorter span of time in between, but you know how that goes.

*(i.e., my village burns down and I have to seek revenge)

10/6/2015 06:29:21 pm

Hypothetically, if your village burned down and you had to seek revenge, do you think you'd write about it?

Will Wight link

10/9/2015 10:34:40 am

Only if there were magic involved. If my family and friends were killed as part of an evil plot to cut off my SECRET MAGICAL DESTINY and that destiny gave me superpowers, then yes. I'd definitely write about it.

And none of it would be admissible in court, because no one believes in magic. Take that, mortal authorities!

Harlequin

10/5/2015 09:20:56 am

Really cool Cover!! Is your cover artist for the Elder Empire books the same one as the Traveler's gate cover artist??

Will Wight link

10/5/2015 12:51:39 pm

Nope! Same designer, different artist.

Juan

10/6/2015 01:20:24 am

I will kindly, and benevolently, allow you one more month to complete Of Dawn and Darkness. However, in case you take much longer than that, I am on my way to the hardware store to purchase a shovel, which I will use to dig a pool for the pirhanas I just ordered online.

Seriously though Will, your books are exceptionally enjoyable. They make my emotions feel good. Keep up the good work!

#teamShera
#dragonarmy

Will Wight link

10/6/2015 08:06:50 am

Piranha shovels are the best shovels.

Thanks for reading, Juan! I'm glad I don't make your emotions feel bad, because then my emotions would feel bad.

#TeamShuffles
#DaughtersOfTheWind

Lisa-Marie

10/7/2015 01:57:24 am

If you are by chance at Frankfurt (Main), and want to make a trip to Limburg or Bad Ems contact me. It is a nice place for boating, hiking or cycling though maybe not this time of the year. But as we Germans say, when we are not busy complaining about the weather: there is not such a thing as bad weather, there is just bad cloth. Limburg has very cute timber framing houses and we had this Bishop, who build himself a palace with a marbel bathtube and his own chapel, and who got fired by the pope for it.
And Bad Ems was in vogue in 19th century and has many buildings of that time, and long history of mining (till the 50th).

Will Wight link

10/9/2015 10:31:29 am

I'm staying with a friend of mine in Berlin, but I know he plans on some kind of travel, so if I end up in Frankfurt I'll send you an email!

Matt

10/8/2015 07:33:45 pm

The Travelers Gate series was one of my new fantasy favorites in years--and you actually finished in three books.

I'm loving the dual storylines with the Elders. I didn't really know what I was getting into with the first pair, and it was jarring--in the best way possible--switching protagonists and antagonists. I thought for days afterwords what my impressions would have been if I read my reading order.

As for the wait, it is well worth it. I don't have to worry about you leaving Calder to manage a city for a thousand pages while you painstakingly move Nera into position to be exploited by the heirs of a shattered empire while a minor character is tortured in the hold of another minor character and a one handed smuggler convinces a tribe to....

Will Wight link

10/9/2015 10:30:14 am

(*ﾟﾛﾟ)

How did you know the exact plot of my book? BURN THE WITCH!

Chris

10/12/2015 11:37:02 pm

I need Calder's side of the story, I've been sharpening my cutlass for months. Why have you be holding out on us? Everyone knows you can write novels in like 3 or 4 days. Don't go Rothfuss bro!!

Will Wight link

10/15/2015 09:41:56 am

Hey, I've still got like a year and a half before I enter The Rothfuss Zone.

No worries! I'll have it finished before I leave for Germany, and released soon after that.

Nikk

10/22/2015 09:53:26 am

Don't rush it! Take your time, I can wait

But if you insist, I DEMAND an animated series for the Travels Gate series. DEMAND it! I am sure that is very simple and not at all time consuming! My love for the Travelers Gate series burns with the white-hot intensity of a thousand suns!

But no, take your time and don't worry about it!

Will Wight link

11/11/2015 02:36:54 pm

I would LOVE an animated Traveler's Gate series, but I'm pretty sure that's ridiculously complicated.

In which we ramble on.
And by we, I mean me.