Will Wight, New York Times Best-Selling Author of 'Cradle'
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In which we ramble on.
And by we, I mean me.

How About a Preview?

3/7/2014

117 Comments

 
I know I've been pretty quiet over the past few months, and that's because I'm working hard to release City of Light before the end of this month. As soon as I have a more definite date, I'll give it to you.

But I haven't been a good host recently, and I feel like I have to make it up to you. Therefore, here's a scene from the early part of City of Light.

I'm not sure where exactly this scene will end up in the final version of CoL--I still have some decisions to make regarding how the book's introduction is structured. But I suspect this will make up part of Chapter 1 or Chapter 2.

(I haven't edited this scene much, so it's still a little rough. If you happen to notice a typo or two, please let me know and I'll fix it ASAP.)

Click "Read More" whenever you're ready to see the City of Light sample.

Enjoy!
358th Year of the Damascan Calendar

24th Year in the Reign of King Zakareth VI

3 Days Until Summer's End

As the sun sank below the horizon, the Eldest Nye moved from shadow to shadow across the battlefield.

He felt weak, here in the outside world, and he would feel weaker the longer he stayed exposed. Sheltering in the shadows made him feel a little better, a little stronger, a little closer to his powers in the House. He still moved with the stealth and grace that were his birthright—none of the soldiers in red-and-gold caught so much as a glimpse of him as he glided in and around their camp. Or what was left of it. The field had once been an orderly tribute to Damascan military discipline: row upon row of white tents arranged according to some plan that the humans had no doubt thought wise at the time.

The order was broken now. The grass was slick with blood and littered with bodies. The tents lay in ruins, shattered and broken. Some of the camp had shifted, transformed and rearranged by the Valinhall Incarnation’s presence: here a barrel whose warped planks had been shifted into an armchair, there a patch of grass curled into a thin layer of green carpet, over there a pile of firewood grown into a rough-carved table. In the presence of his master, this world strove to imitate Valinhall.

In the Eldest’s opinion, it was a huge improvement. Valin should have spent more time here.

The survivors hobbled around, using sheathed swords and broken spears as makeshift crutches, hauling corpses from one place to another. They made a mockery of propriety, and the Eldest couldn't see why they bothered. There were far too many dead to deal with each of them appropriately, so the survivors simply threw them in pits and covered them with dirt.

He approved of their attempts to clean up the mess, but why bury the bodies at all? Why mark the grave? In only a century or two, no one would remember anyone who had died here today.

There was such a room in Valinhall, meant for honoring the memory of those who had died. His master had placed it there. Even the Wanderer was human, and the Eldest honored his human frailties, even when he didn't understand them.

The Eldest corrected himself: the Wanderer had once been human. Then he had become something more.

And now he was something less.

The Nye slid around a patched-up tent, inside of which a young man was grieving over a discarded helmet. His back was to the tent entrance, and the Eldest's hands itched to pull out his chain. This boy had left himself completely defenseless, which was a bad habit that would someday get him killed. Bad habits should be corrected.

But he restrained himself and kept moving, passing through the part of the camp where Travelers had come to blows. Here the devastation was more exotic, but no less total. Human corpses mingled with the inhuman: three-tailed orange lizards with smoke still drifting from their bodies, tall white-furred beast-men lying in inch-deep puddles of chill water, a flock of sparrows lying on top of one another in a bloody pile.

He barely spared a thought for the violence. He had seen far worse. He had caused worse.

The Eldest scanned the carnage, looking for one specific corpse among all the others. After only a few minutes of searching, he found it.

Something that looked like a man lay on a patch of bare grass, naked from the waist up. His skin was almost totally covered in tattoos like black chains. His head was bare, the chains covering him in place of hair.

His blank, staring eyes were black, with circles of silver in their center. Other humans had different colors there, and for some reason found the metallic gleam of these eyes especially disturbing. The Eldest wasn't quite sure why. To him, the eyes were the color of steel and shadows. Beautiful.

Even though this body had taken many wounds when it was alive, only one showed now: a single ragged hole through the left side of the chest. Veins of red spidered out from the stab wound itself, worming their way through the corpse's skin.

The poison of Ragnarus leaves its mark, the Eldest thought. He tried to summon up the old resentment toward Ragnarus, but he felt nothing. It had been a long time since his last encounter with the Crimson Vault, and most of his hatred he had acquired secondhand from Valin.

He had settled his own debts with Ragnarus long ago.

The anger didn't come. Instead, he felt a sort of eagerness for the weapon that had struck this blow. A hunger for something that could make his Territory that much stronger.

The sword lay nearby, unsheathed, its blade blood red and gleaming. No one had looted it, despite its obvious value. Perhaps even humans could sense something of the nature of this body and this weapon, and they wanted nothing to do with it.

No, it was probably something else. In the Eldest's experience, humans were rarely that wise.

The Eldest scooped up the sword, tucking it away inside his robe. Perhaps the humans Caius Agnos and Olissa Agnos could make something useful out of it. If not, well, he could surely find another use for an unbound Ragnarus weapon.

When the blade was secure, the Eldest stood looking down upon his master's body.

“You made promises to me,” the Eldest said, in his raspy voice. Here he was, speaking to a corpse, just like an emotional human. Of course, the dead body wasn't his only audience. “You did not keep them. You have given me much, my friend, but in the end, you too failed to uphold our bargain.”

He leaned down, letting a bit of his essence flow out like a shaft of light from this world’s moon. The shadows grew soft, a rent in the world, and Valin sank down deep, running along his connection to Valinhall like a cart in a rut.

He would arrive soon, and the other Nye would take care of him as he deserved. He had insisted on adding a graveyard to the House of Blades, and now the room would be his new home.

The Eldest straightened, and the only remnant of the Wanderer's presence was a patch of slightly bloody grass.

Simon, son of Kalman, had promised to bring the Ragnarus blade to Valinhall, and technically he had not done so. But he had created the circumstances that allowed the Eldest to retrieve it, so the Eldest decided to give the boy some credit. He had great hopes for Simon.

“Do not worry, my old friend. We have another to fulfill our purposes now, and he will not slip away so easily.”

The Eldest Nye turned his hood to the second sword lying on the grass: an unusually long weapon, six feet from end to end, its blade slightly curved and sharp along only one edge. A long, smooth line of gold ran up the middle of the blade, beginning at the hilt and ending at its tip.

“Isn't that right, Mithra?”

The Wanderer's blade glimmered in answer.

117 Comments
Adam
3/7/2014 02:24:00 am

MOAR!!!

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Will Wight link
3/7/2014 02:29:21 am

NEVER!

By which I mean:

IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS!

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Nate
3/7/2014 04:29:47 am

I've never really commented on your site before, but I figured I would give you a shout out because the Traveler's Gate Trilogy has really risen to become one of my favorite series of all time. That includes even the works of Jim Butcher and Brandon Sanderson. Keep up the good work man, you're killing it!

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Will Wight link
3/7/2014 08:52:41 am

It feels amazing to hear that, Nate. Thanks for the encouragement! Hopefully, after you read City of Light, you won't hurl rotten produce at my face and curse my name in the streets.

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milo farrell link
3/9/2014 11:26:05 am

I have to agree your books measure up to the works of fantasy greats and even outstrip them.
Thank you will

Mordin
3/9/2014 11:34:32 am

Don't worry Will. No true fan of yours, now matter how disappointed, would ever do something like that to you. For we have seen the light, so know that should you provide us with sub-par scripture there will be no produce, rotten or no.
Only a very hungry sofa

Will Wight link
3/11/2014 03:47:28 am

Lo, the sofa did feast upon the writer, for the anger of his fans was very great. And there was much rejoicing.

Sam
3/7/2014 05:12:55 am

OH MY GOD!

That was..so tantalising! And it even answered the questions about what happened to the swords after Valin was killed. Mr. Wight, you have my vote!

I hope CoL releases quickly,or I think we(the readers,duh) will go mad from anticipation. It's on the top of my want-to-read-but-can't-get list!

P.S. I hope someone gets fed to the sofa in this book :D

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Will Wight link
3/7/2014 08:51:20 am

Yeeeessss, yeeeeesssss. Marinate in your anticipation! My dark plan is almost complete!

P.S. I, too, hope that.

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Tim K
3/7/2014 05:15:16 am

Its all perspective.
Someone crying, what to do? Comfort it? WRONG! CHAIN AROUND NECK!

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Mordin
3/7/2014 08:24:20 am

hahaha!

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Will Wight link
3/7/2014 08:49:55 am

Hey, the guy wasn't even defending himself from phantom stranglers in the shadows! All it would take is one chain-around-neck treatment, and he'll never make THAT mistake again.

Makes sense to me.

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Will M
3/7/2014 05:33:18 am

Wow! That is awesome. A couple of weeks just seemed to get a little farther away.

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Will Wight link
3/7/2014 08:50:30 am

Anything I can do to make your time stretch just a little bit farther, Will.

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Moe
3/7/2014 09:32:25 am

I said I wouldn't read it.
I read it.
What a tease.

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Will Wight link
3/7/2014 11:57:27 am

Why do you lie to yourself, Moe?

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Timmy
3/7/2014 10:50:27 am

These short stories feel like a cop-out of expanding the series. Just a small concern of mine.

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Will Wight link
3/7/2014 11:57:03 am

Well, this isn't a short story. This is a scene from the first (maybe second; I might move it) chapter of City of Light.

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Michael
3/14/2014 05:14:32 am

I feel the complete opposite.. I've loved the three short story anthologies for the color and flavor they've added to the different travelers and territories

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Yevgen
3/19/2014 02:44:29 am

Completely agree with you. These short stories really add some spice to the world, created by Will and my inly concern was, well, they were too short :-)
As English is not my native language and being in a partially occupied country (I am from Ukraine), I have really and stronly commend will for the world, created by his talent- the world, which helps me to escapes the worries and nervs of the 'real time situation'.
Thank you!

Will Wight link
3/19/2014 02:49:23 am

Glad you guys are enjoying the stories!

And Yevgen...wow. I have no idea what it's like to live in a partially occupied country, but I'm glad I can give you a fun distraction from what's going on. You have our prayers, and I hope City of Light gives you something to look forward to.

Keep bein' awesome!

Arthur Wegley
3/7/2014 11:11:28 am

I have been stuck on book hang over mode since finishing The Crimson Vault late last year. CoL seriously can't come soon enough. Thanks Will for busting ur chops to move forward with the next one and all the short stories in between.

Time to re-read everything in preparation!

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Will Wight link
3/7/2014 11:59:11 am

Thanks, Arthur! I recently re-read all of my published stories as well, as "research" for CoL.

Some of it I liked, some of it bugged me, and I made a few notes that I'll probably fix after CoL.Hope you enjoy the re-read!

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Connor
3/7/2014 12:55:29 pm

Thanks for offering this little excerpt, teaser or not. Hot damn, I'm stoked for City of Light. Is it going to be released on Kindle before paperback, as it was with The Crimson Vault?

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Will Wight link
3/8/2014 11:55:48 pm

Yes indeed, Connor. Hopefully it will only be about a month between ebook and paperback, not the three months it took last time.

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cam
3/7/2014 01:39:34 pm

Awesome thanks for this. I took a week vacation starting March 27 for this book. Ok that's a lie, technically I am having surgery, but it would be awesome to read this while I recover. Thanks a again!

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Will Wight link
3/8/2014 11:57:15 pm

I'll do my best to get it to you by then, Cam. May they rebuild you with enhanced cyborg parts.

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cam
3/9/2014 01:40:47 am

And if you don't, I am ok with it. Take your time with CoL. I will probably be not in the best mind set to read it. You know, while my body gets accustomed to the new cyborg parts.

P
3/7/2014 02:03:02 pm

CoL please... Now

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Will Wight link
3/9/2014 12:11:57 am

Okay!

P.S. Oh, sorry, I meant "No, it's not ready yet."

P.P.S. My bad.

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Larry
3/7/2014 07:13:02 pm

Wow!! This answered my question. Thanks. But now I want more....

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Will Wight link
3/9/2014 12:10:39 am

Always happy to answer your questions, Larry. Soon, now...very soon, all your questions will be answered!

Actually, probably not ALL your questions. But, you know, more of them.

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John
3/8/2014 01:13:31 am

I can't wait for the City of Light to become available on kindle. I had some doubts during the beginning of the 1st book but ended up loving both. These are easily among my top ten favorite books. I only ak one thing. Dont let this become like Ender's Game, where the fans pressured tje author into writing more books that didn't pan out to be as good as the first. Thanks for writing these books. Again, can't wait for the City of Light to be published.

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Will Wight link
3/9/2014 12:08:27 am

To tell you the truth, John, even I had doubts during the beginning of Book 1. After CoL is released, the first thing I'm going to work on is cleaning up and re-releasing HoB. The beginning bothers me too much.

And as I've been saying all along: this is a trilogy. People asked me to expand it after HoB, but it was too late. I planned and structured it as a trilogy, so it's going to end as a trilogy. I plan on returning to this universe in future books, maybe even a sequel trilogy, but these three books will stand on their own as a complete story.

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Nick
3/21/2014 09:08:22 pm

Please for the love of god and everything that is holy and pleasing COME BACK TO THIS UNIVERSE WITH MORE BOOKS!!!! Whether it's a sequel trilogy or a whole truck load of books like the wheel of time I am going to buy every book set in this universe.

Will Wight link
3/22/2014 03:03:33 am

I think it's awesome that you like this world so much, Nick! I'm going to start a new series this year set in a new world, but I will come back to the Traveler's Gate universe in the future. I'm not sure how many books they'll be, but it's going to happen.

It's also true, what I said before: if I had expected this many people to read House of Blades, I would have plotted the trilogy out as a longer series, which would have been structured very differently. It's far too late to tack on Books 4 and 5 now, so I'll have to come back when I can start a new, fresh story in this world.

colin
3/8/2014 07:02:34 am

Please, please spend any extra time you need to make CoL great. Delay it if you have to.
Patrick rothfuss is spending forever to make doors of stone good, don't sell yourself short to rush CoL out!
But please tell me CoL has a little romance, I ship Leah and Simon too hard.
A

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Will Wight link
3/9/2014 12:02:17 am

Patrick Rothfuss gets paid a huge advance by his publisher so that he'll have money to live on while he's writing DoS. I only have an income for things like food and rent and Words of Radiance if I keep releasing books.

That said, I'm a long way from starving. I've got a group of beta readers, and if they say the book isn't good enough for me to release, I'll keep working on it. That's what happened with Crimson Vault: I was hoping it would be ready by August 9th, but it wasn't, so I delayed it until the 29th. If I have to do the same thing for CoL, I will.

But I do want to get it to you guys as fast as possible. If I do delay it, it will only be a couple of weeks. And only if I need the time to make it better.

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Steve
3/9/2014 04:50:40 am

Is it selfish that when I read this comment I immediately thought: "So, if I stop telling my friends about his books, he'll never get a Rothfuss-sized advance and be forced to produce books of our choosing at a rapid rate... muahahaha." It's like waiting for CoL has made my moral compass go haywire, or Lirial if you will (hehe).

Juan
3/11/2014 11:06:04 pm

So not only do we get a tease from CoL, you casually mention, "Beta-readers?" Who do I need to pay-off, or 007, to be a CoL beta-reader? In fact, I'm offended I'm not already on the beta-reading team. I am so offended, I'm going to buy CoL the day it comes out, and then read it, just to spite the current beta-readers. Seriously though WW, great series, keep up good work.

Will Wight link
3/9/2014 12:04:33 am

P.S. A LITTLE romance. A tad. A smidgen, really. If/when I do a sequel to this trilogy, that's where the romance would go.

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John
3/8/2014 12:00:09 pm

I've got to say this series has hooked me. Vallinhall is obviously my favorite territory, but it has been nice to learn more about the others as well. Will there be any insight into the establishment of Vallinhall as a territory? I was stoked to get a taste of pre Vallinhall Vallin in the latest chronicles volume. Keep up the great work.

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Will Wight link
3/8/2014 11:53:45 pm

Thanks for giving me a chance, John! There will be a little more about Valinhall's history in CoL, but I'm saving the main story for the Valinhall prequel novel.

Coming out...eventually.

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Arindam Ghosh
3/8/2014 01:55:57 pm

Finished Words of Radiance (Twice).... Now you tease me with this. What am I gonna do with all my time? Time machine anybody?

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Will Wight link
3/8/2014 11:50:21 pm

I know a guy with a time machine. And it's pretty fuel efficient, too; it gets ninety miles to the soul.

I mean...the gallon.

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Phillip link
1/14/2016 11:22:58 am

Is that....a reference to what I think it's referencing?

Will link
1/14/2016 03:02:52 pm

If you're asking me if I dare to reference Popo, Lord of Us All, then the answer is "yes."

Josh
3/8/2014 07:19:25 pm

Okay...Am I the only one who thinks of Magic the Gathering while reading these books? Of course it’s nothing overt, and I'm really impressed by the creative spin on it, but it’s really easy to equate the travelers with planeswalkers. To be fair, there are only a few similarities, the rest of which are miniscule at best and nothing short of a blind man's leap in to oncoming traffic at worst. I guess my question is where the idea for traveler’s magic came from.

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Will Wight link
3/8/2014 11:46:55 pm

I mean, sure, in the first draft of the book, Simon was named Jace and Leah was called Chandra. And in the end of City of Light, the Ragnarus Incarnation is going to summon Nicol Bolas.

But those are the only similarities, I swear!

In all seriousness, I was aware of the parallels, but Magic had little or no bearing on my development of the magic system. The idea for Territories and Travelers came from two places: one, I've always thought it would be neat to have your own little pocket dimension, in which you could store all your stuff and then summon it with a thought. Even better if you can just slip into the Territory whenever you want and have a few minutes to yourself.

The second inspiration came from a weird cliche that I kept hearing. Characters in a bunch of different series kept saying things like, "I will strike you with the power of the Earth!" or "The power of a whole world flows through me!"

I ran across those lines with a disturbing frequency, and every time I thought: what the heck does that mean? "The power of the Earth" doesn't make any sense. Does he mean gravity?

Me being who I am, I set out to try and develop a magic system that revolved around drawing on alternate worlds for power.

And there you go.

If you're challenging me to a match, by the way, I'm playing Tartarus/Endross aggro. It's got a great win record against Naraka Deck Wins.

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Josh
3/9/2014 05:29:33 am

IF YOU HAVENT READ BOOK TWO SIMI SPOILERS!!!!!!!!!
Hahah! That's brilliant. Except that a Valinhall deck loaded with essence and steel (ghost armor would be fun too, also that mask!!!!!) could stand against any territory... As proven in book 2
END OF SPOILERS!!

Thank you. I usually devour lesser books to sate my hunger for the main course. In this instance Butcher's new Dresden book, and Week's new Light Bringer (whose magic system is phenomenal, unique, and just plain fun to read about). But I found an unexpected gem here, I will truly wait for CoL with as much anticipation as I either Week's or Butcher's creations. This "other guy" aspect nurtures a deep seeded hatred for the pomposity of heroes nowadays, and calling them out on it makes me smile.

Will Wight link
3/11/2014 03:34:39 am

That was the core concept of Traveler's Gate that I really liked. Honestly, I figured most of the "destined heroes" I had read about were kind of self-important jerks, but nobody ever described them that way.

I can't believe you enjoy the series that much! It's flattering and humbling to hear at the same time.

And yeah: Valinhall OP, needs nerf. I've never gotten a chance to point this out in the series, but Valinhall is good at killing Travelers (and everyone else, by extension), but NOTHING else. Asphodel can produce a lot of food, Ornheim gives you raw materials, Naraka has a million ways to test truth, judge guilt, find criminals, etc., and Avernus gives you a wide array of psychic powers combined with a lot of information-gathering potential.

It's just that, in a combat environment, Valinhall wins against any of them. Because that's all it does.

Anyway, I'm going to go back to designing my Lirial/Helgard control deck.

John
3/12/2014 06:59:30 am

I had the same thought after I read the first book. It reminded me (only in a minor way) of a love child between Magic the Gathering and Bleach.

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luke
3/9/2014 01:58:39 am

Love it! Need more. This is one of if not my very favorite series ever. SO excited for CoL

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Will Wight link
3/11/2014 03:28:11 am

Thanks, Luke! It brings a warm glow to my heart to see you so excited. I hope you don't lose a hand to the blade of your evil Galactic Overlord father.

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Brad
3/10/2014 02:22:06 am

How do you become a beta reader?

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Tim K
3/11/2014 03:04:17 am

You are transparent sir! You just want access to the material sooner!


So Will... How do we become beta readers?

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Brad
3/11/2014 03:10:07 am

What fan doesn't. Plus having the access to add input. That sounds like a fun gig to me!

Will Wight link
3/11/2014 03:25:13 am

First, braid yourself a necklace of starlight and fairy wings. Be sure not to anger the Fair Folk as you harvest their wings, or they will blight your fields.

Second, dance beneath an ancient oak at moonrise on the night of a gibbous moon. Bring your necklace. If any wolves question you, tell them, "The black-and-white bird has sent me hence. Begone, now, back to your bloody feast."

If the wolves do not depart, shoot them. I assume you brought a gun.

Finally, just when the moon is sinking and your limbs cry out for exhaustion, make the Sign of Desperate Pleading at the stars as you fall back onto the grass.

I will get back to you within three to four business days via email.

Will Wight link
3/11/2014 03:44:02 am

Against my inner Otoku's wishes, I will also give you a serious answer:

For this trilogy, I have all the beta readers I need. I am flush with beta readers. My beta reader supply exceeds demand. My cup runneth over with beta readers.

What I am short on is TIME. The more beta readers the better, as long as you can take as much time as you want for each book. However, if I want to have this book out this month, and then another book out by August or September (as is the current plan), I've got to get a move on. I don't have time to take all the suggestions given to me by the readers I CURRENTLY have, which is why I haven't gone out looking for more.

If I did send you a copy of CoL right now--or as much as I think is ready and readable--you would only have, like, two weeks to read it, mark changes, get back to me, wait on my changes, and then look over the new version. It's a crunch time schedule that neither of us wants.

That said, it's very possible that in the future (for my next series) I will write a draft quickly and then spend the majority of my time in a back-and-forth with editors and beta readers. You know, rushing out a draft and letting other people help me work on it instead of nesting on top of it like a mother hen until I think it's worthy to be touched by another human being.

That's how lots of writers attached to publishing companies work. If I find myself in the position of having enough time to accept feedback from long lines of beta readers, I'll likely send out an open or semi-open call for beta readers on this blog, along with a time frame.

Of course, the best way to actually get a beta reader position right now is to get to know me personally. My family and close friends get to read the book in progress, if they want. Nepotism ahoy!

Josh
3/13/2014 07:29:25 pm

Wow, I really wish I would have read the second, truthful way to become a beta reader... Do you have any idea how pissed off fairies get when you take their wings!? I have tiny bite marks in places I didn't even know could show bite marks! And now I have to explain to the game warden why I shot a whole pack of wolves ( my fault, I couldn't remember what I was supposed to say) so after waiting 5 business days with no word from you, I came back here. And what do I find? Egg on my face, that's what.

So about this friendship, would you believe me if I told you we've been best friends for like 6 years? I mean, c'mon you have to remember that one time! You know with that thing, and sneaking into that place with those 2 girls, and drawing mustaches on those penguins...ahhh good times :) so I'll uh, be expecting that email in the next couple of days? :D

Will Wight link
3/14/2014 01:15:54 am

You're a champ, Josh. Have a Will Point.*

Those two girls have names, you know. I'm not claiming that I remember them, but they were very upset with us after they got out of prison. I think one of them may have been an assassin; I keep ducking laser dots.

I trusted you when it came to those mustaches, by the way. You told me you were a Penguin Doctor, and what was I supposed to do, NOT believe you? Anyway, it was a disaster. The females of the flock loved the mustachioed penguins so much that the penguin population exploded. The entire ecosystem was wrecked, they've started to develop tools...it's a mess.

Have you ever seen a gang of penguins hunt down a polar bear and kill it with spears? I have. It was terrible. They dipped their wings in bear blood and spread it on their beaks like war paint.

I am sorry about the egg on your face, though. I was trying to perform the Ritual of Quickening, but I must have done something wrong, because every store-bought egg in my apartment building immediately hatched into a vicious eggbeast. I couldn't stop them from seeking out faces.

*Will Points are awarded for excellence and creativity in blog comments. Will Points can be redeemed at a future date for nebulous, dubious, and possibly metaphysical prizes. Will Points have no cash value, except in Uzbekistan. The presence of Will Points will set off a metal detector. Do not go swimming forty-five minutes after receiving a Will Point.

Josh
3/15/2014 09:54:18 pm

Dammit Will! (Because we're totally on a first name basis) There I was, enjoying a relaxing dip in the pool, heated to a wonderful 86.2 degrees ferinheight. When suddenly I found myself staring into the bloodshot eyes (I keep my pool highly chlorinated) of a black, pitiless creature. This being, It's long fangs dripping with flesh, inches from where my outstretched arm could reach started chanting "One one one one one". I instinctively took a step back. My sluggish, nearly weightless mass in the water turning my thoughts away from escape “One one one one". I had no choice, I stood there, unable to move and hardly daring to breath, for 45 minutes "one one one one". Then nothing, it vanished, without a ripple left behind, without so much as a trace of ever existing. Wary of some trick I slowly inched my way to the edge and unceremoniously flopped myself over the lip of the pool. Shaken to my very core I unlocked my phone to call...somebody, anybody who would believe. And guess what I find staring up at me, time stamped 45 minutes ago "1 Will Point Added!"

"Do not go swimming" Should have been a little more emphasized don't you think?!

April
3/16/2014 02:13:29 pm

Don't believe him. I spent a year in Uzbekistan and I there is no trade in Will Points. Fairy wings however are obtainable for a nominal fee. Just make sure you get them from a reputable dealer; people have been known to end up with fairy wigs instead. Much easier to braid but tends to draw flocks (herds?) of angry chimaera.

Filip
3/10/2014 11:15:48 pm

Love this series. Just finished Brandons Sandersons WoR and i really ,I mean really, need a new book to take reality of my mind. I have 2 weeks , maximum 4, left before a littleone pops up and diminishes my reading time from then until forever :).

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Will Wight link
3/11/2014 03:26:56 am

Hey, not forever. I have it on good authority that eighteen years isn't really that long, in the span of things.

And if you REALLY need something to read, especially if you're a Harry Potter fan, try the fanfic "Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality." It's pretty hilarious, even if you stop after the first few chapters when the story starts stretching.

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John
3/12/2014 07:04:30 am

As a father of two, a part time student and a fulltime bread winner, the time will be there.

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Jan
3/11/2014 10:10:16 am

Hey, tommorow (or it's actually today already) is my birthday, how about an early copy as a gift? I'd be so grateful <3

I'm off to bed now, but i believe you won't let me down!

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Will Wight link
3/12/2014 02:25:35 am

http://is.gd/eQp3sP

(You may have to copy and paste this into your URL bar).

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Jan
3/12/2014 03:09:31 am

Oh well, i actually don't mind, i still have to re-read everything before CoL comes out anyway !

Josh
3/12/2014 02:00:28 am

I love this series!! The idea of using alternate dimensions to provide different abilities is fun and exciting. Also having the friend of the prophesied "hero" becoming the actual story hero is refreshing as well. As your faithful Travelers Gate Minion I have hooked my wife and several coworkers on the series as well. Now they are as impatient and and excited as I am for CoL. Unfortunately that means they are constantly bugging me for updates. I'm so glad it is coming out soon and can't wait!!

Reply
Will Wight link
3/12/2014 02:30:37 am

Thanks, Josh! Tell your friends that I'm writing as fast as I can.

This is what I feel, all the time: (you may have to copy and paste this into your browser)

http://is.gd/DW047x

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Alejandro
3/12/2014 08:25:14 am

*wipes drool from mouth* You sir, stir my passion for reading. Happiness emanates from my skin over the wonderful content of this series and by extension the Chronicles. I look forward to a marathon reading of CoL, just as I devoured tCV in one night! Kudos in the biggest way for an undeniable success and for providing such a feast for the imagination!

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Will Wight link
3/14/2014 01:19:57 am

Hey, thanks for reading, Alejandro! I enjoy writing them, so if you enjoy reading...why, that sounds like a win-win.

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Logan R
3/12/2014 09:48:53 am

Thank you so much for a wonderful series so far! Your works have delighted and entertained me like few others ever have. I personally rank your books up there with the greats (Brent Weeks, Patrick Rothfuss, Brandon Sanderson to name a few)... For what it's worth, I think you're doing a fantastic job! Keep up the good work.

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Will Wight link
3/14/2014 01:20:40 am

I'm flattered and humbled by the comparisons, good sir! I'll do my best not to let you down!

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Joshua
3/12/2014 12:55:51 pm

You have a ridiculously well-thought, complex, rich and engaging series here. I am amped for CoL. But please tell you want to revisit Damasca, Valinhall, Avernus and the other Territories!

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Will Wight link
3/14/2014 01:22:39 am

Yes indeed, Joshua. I will return to the Traveler's Gate universe at some point. Not 2014, because I'd like to start a different series this year, but I'll probably write something else in this universe starting in 2015.

I'll definitely write a prequel novel about Valin's past and the founding of Valinhall, and I'll probably write a sequel trilogy as well. The current plan is to set it roughly ten years after the events of CoL.

You know, after EVERYONE DIES at the end of City of Light.

Spoiler warning.

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April
3/16/2014 01:47:29 pm

Shouldn't the spoiler warning be before the spoilers?

Will Wight link
3/21/2014 09:23:35 am

In Soviet Russia, warning spoils YOU!

Sorry.

xiphoid
3/13/2014 12:02:59 am

Hey Will. I remember reading that you play LoL occasionally? AnywAy I could get you to add me so we might be able to play a game if the chance arises? Btw. Love the books of course. I not only applaud you for the content of the book but for the writing style as well. I've been reading fantasy since we'll before my parents should have allowed such a thing. I find your series both intriguing and wonderful.

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Will Wight link
3/14/2014 01:25:46 am

I don't know your summoner name, so I don't think I can add you. My psychic powers are failing me.

I'm glad you're enjoying the books! I, too, started reading fantasy earlier than I perhaps should have. Not counting Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia, which were fine for kids, the first real fantasy novel I remember reading was David Eddings' Pawn of Prophecy, which I read in fifth grade.

I shouldn't have, in hindsight. But it was really good.

(My summoner name: The Wight Mage. Go ahead and add me. I will warn you, though, that I won't have any time to play between now and when City of Light comes out. My nose is pressed firmly to the grindstone. Also, I suck.)

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william
3/16/2014 12:31:38 pm

Leah should like Simon and Simon should like Leah and Simon should stop the *new incarnation

*(Forgot his name)

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William
3/16/2014 12:36:30 pm

Love the books I started fantasy romance books in 2nd grade and I'm in 4th grade now I love this series it's a unique one I take my hat off to you

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William
3/16/2014 12:39:34 pm

Love the books I started fantasy romance books in 2nd grade and I'm in 4th grade now I love this series it's a unique one I take my hat off to you make the next book good please I have some good ideas for the book

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william
3/16/2014 12:59:51 pm

HOW LONG UNTIL NEXT BOOK?

william
3/16/2014 12:52:39 pm

I can't wait for col plz add romance I'm in 4th grade and like romance and fighting

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Sean
3/17/2014 09:18:02 am

Will if you do not release CoL soon I will have to get cracking on my time machine just so I can read this. So unless you don't want we to rupture the space time continuum you will release this book sooner rather than later.

Reply
Will Wight link
3/18/2014 03:03:09 am

Man, you should get cracking on that time machine anyway. I need to know if Ben Affleck will bring shame or glory to the name of Batman.

Probably shame.

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Tim K
3/18/2014 01:14:19 am

So you're the reason Renekton is always so fed in top lane and has no pressure so he ganks bot and ruins my life.
feeder. ;-)

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Will Wight link
3/18/2014 02:59:51 am

Actually, I'm usually one of the ones GETTING ganked bot by out-of-control lanes. Support mains ftw.

"If you won the lane, it's because the adc is good. If you lost, it's because the support sucks."

No love.

Reply
Mark jaeger
3/19/2014 04:10:07 am

Stupid question.... Is city of light book 3 of the trilogy or is it another short story collection. Also how important are the short stories to the main story line?

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Will Wight link
3/19/2014 05:55:29 am

It's Book 3 of the trilogy, and the short stories aren't necessary. You won't be lost if you just read the three novels without any of the stories; the short stories are just for extra world-building.

If you're going to read one of the collections, though, I recommend picking up The Lightning Wastes. It's #3 of the Chronicles, but that doesn't really matter, since each of the stories is self-contained. Lightning Wastes includes one story about Simon and Leah, and one about the history of Damasca. So it's good background information for the books.

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David
3/20/2014 01:40:28 pm

Damn it good sir.. This preview has spoilt me! I just finished reading Colours of Radiance and the whole time, all I kept thinking was that it wasnt City of Light! :)

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Mark jaeger
3/20/2014 04:25:48 pm

David I think/hope you mean words of radiance. How much longer? It's the 20th already D;

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David
3/20/2014 08:44:20 pm

Oops.. You are indeed Correct.. Bad brain! :)

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Will Wight link
3/21/2014 12:14:39 am

I could release it right now, Mark. You'd hate it. I assure you that you'd all be very disappointed, and everyone would complain.

But I'm still working hard to try and get it where I want it before the end of March. Believe me, I'm working as hard as humanly possible, and I will release the book the very instant I can.

Tell Eren I said hi.

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Aaron L
3/20/2014 07:42:24 pm

just read all the travellers gate stories in 1 24 hour period. Very nice works. SPOILER, like how the start of the sequel sums up the beginning of the previous. I would suggest this part start the book myself to keep it sequential. Looking forward to CoL, but also wanting more prequel stories ie: Valin/Kai training, Elysian Travellers and the like. Please keep up the building and expanding of this world.

Reply
Will Wight link
3/21/2014 09:22:21 am

Thanks for giving me a chance, Aaron! And indeed, as you correctly guessed, I currently have this scene set as the first scene in the book. I was considering putting something else first, but I decided not to.

I will, at some point in the future, be writing at least one novel featuring the creation of Valinhall. It will probably center around Valin. I may write two novels: one from Valin's POV, one from Kai's. Or maybe two novellas, I don't know. But prequel material will come...eventually.

I have to start my new series first.

Reply
Michael
3/20/2014 11:38:24 pm

Who needs a dealt sword from Ragnarus, or the essence of the nye, all you have to do is the summon the sofa, and your enemies will run for the hills.

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Will Wight link
3/21/2014 09:20:37 am

Only the Wanderer himself could summon the sofa, and even then...only at great cost.

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Lirial incarnation
3/21/2014 02:14:21 am

I'm scrying the release date and i'm getting a blank.
Also, don't kill me off, i'm not evil. *returns to scrying on simon and making evil plots*

Reply
Will Wight link
3/21/2014 09:20:08 am

When I read this comment, I had just written a scene involving the Lirial Incarnation. It freaked me out for a second.

Are you spying on me?

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Mark jaeger
3/21/2014 05:55:57 am

Endross Incarnation: Are you talkin' to me?! ARE YOU TALKIN TO ME?! Haha

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Will Wight link
3/21/2014 09:22:53 am

That is probably what the Endross Incarnation would say.

He's not a very patient guy.

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Sid
3/22/2014 01:49:56 am

Hey Will,

As a general rule, I don't read series (serieses, serieii??) that are unfinished. The last time I did that, the author died and didn't finish it (RIP Robert Jordan). When I came across TGT last year, I decided not to read it until Book 3 came out.

However, last week, I saw that the third book was scheduled to come out late this month. I needed something new to read so I figured I could go through books 1 and 2 and time it so that I finished reading them by the time book 3 came out.

I read them both in less than 24 hours. I didn't go out, I ordered in, and I didn't do any work. As a result, I've been stalking you online, searching for signs of the third book. Your short stories sated me for an hour, but ever since then I've been forced to read books by lesser authors.

Now, before you point me to Rothfuss, Lynch, Weeks and Sanderson, I should tell you I broke my rule for them too and I've read everything they've written. So unless you can point me to something in the same league that I haven't read, I must resort to badgering you online until the final book comes out.

So without further ado, badger number 1 - WHEN IS THE THIRD BOOK COMING????

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Michael
3/22/2014 02:00:30 am

Try David Gemmell, Raymond Feist, Tad Williams, Peter V. Brett, Robin Hobb, and a new author's initial book completely worth breaking your rule for: The Emperor's Blades by Brian Staveley.

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Will Wight link
3/22/2014 02:56:18 am

I was writing, but I logged in because I got an email that someone had left a comment mentioning The Emperor's Blades. Came just to second that recommendation. David Gemmell, Raymond Feist, Peter V. Brett, and Robin Hobb are also excellent choices, though (as you implied) they're a little better known.

I have never been able to enjoy Tad Williams. I don't know why. Everyone else I know and trust recommends him to me, and I went into Memory, Sorrow, and Thorn ready to be amazed...and I was consistently underwhelmed. I tried a couple of his standalone books next, and they just weren't for me. I feel ashamed for that, like I SHOULD love Tad Williams, but I think I'm physically incapable.

You see what you've done? You've stopped me from writing for a whole minute, which means that you indirectly delayed the release of CoL by seconds. Seconds! I hope you're proud of yourself, you monster.

Michael
3/23/2014 11:12:53 am

I've heard other people say the same about Tad Williams. There doesn't seem to be much middle ground with people in regards to his writing; they either think he's among the best like I do or get physically ill at the mention of his name like yourself, lol.

I just found a book in the last couple days that I had to come back here and recommend: Traitor's Blade, Book One of The Greatcoats by Sebastien De Castell. This one was nowhere on my radar until it popped up on a Goodreads recommendation a few days ago. I got it, started reading and never put it down until it was finished.

If the rest of the books in the series deliver on the promise of the first, it's going to be one of the all-time greats.

Sid
3/23/2014 06:16:51 pm

I've read them all Michael, but thanks anyway! Suffering from terrible fantasy withdrawal symptoms now.

Will Wight link
3/23/2014 11:44:50 pm

I looked up Traitor's Blade when you mentioned it, and it LOOKS good. I only wish I had time to do anything other than write City of Light.

OH NO, TYPING FINGERS, WHERE HAVE YOU TAKEN ME? THIS ISN'T CITY OF LIGHT!

Will Wight link
3/22/2014 02:58:33 am

I do appreciate a properly vicious badger every now and again.

Thanks for giving the books a chance, Sid! I think it's awesome that you enjoyed them, and I'm working on City of Light as hard as I can. If everything goes well and the stars align, I may still be able to release it before the end of the month.

If that doesn't work, then very early April. Not April 1st, because, you know...everyone would assume it was a troll. But shortly after that.

Reply
Sid
3/23/2014 06:21:19 pm

Looking forward to it Will. I'm even looking forward to your next series, haha! It's always great to see a new author kicking ass like you. Never stop writing.

Will Wight link
3/23/2014 11:46:43 pm

You know me, Sid, kickin' bubblegum and chewing...Wait. That's not right.

Anyway, I certainly don't plan on stopping anytime soon. I've got a lot of ideas, and as long as people read them, I can afford to keep writing!

Tim K
3/23/2014 05:32:03 am

Imagine how much more fun this phase will be on the next project when your reader base is even larger?
Pat Rothfuss: "welcome to my existence."

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Will Wight link
3/23/2014 07:50:05 am

I've always imagined that people like Brandon Sanderson and Patrick Rothfuss would have to spend large amounts of time in company OTHER than fantasy novel fans, just to be around people who don't know who they are. If they stuck around fantasy novel fans too much, they'd never have any time to themselves.

And, as I wrap up City of Light, I've started worrying about my second series again. I've got a lot of ideas that I like, and that I think are workable, but I'm kind of stressing about which one to do NEXT. It's an interesting process, and I'm sure that--one way or another--the me from the future will look back on current me and laugh at my naivete.

Either, "Oh, you were worried about sales, you fool! No one bought your book; the Traveler's Gate Trilogy was a fluke! Now, bow to the robot overlords we serve here in the future!"

Or, "You wasted time worrying. People loved the book! Now you can branch out and try the riskier ideas; I don't know why you were so worried in the first place! Now, bow to the robot overlords we serve here in the future!"

One of the two. Either way, I should stop worrying about it and keep writing CoL.

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Cody Fee
3/26/2014 06:51:54 am

I peed a little. Don't rush to much, good sir. We can wait for that which can only be described as "Epic."

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Will Wight link
3/26/2014 06:57:50 am

Thanks, Cody! Don't be surprised if it's not released until April, but it WILL be on or before April 10th. Because I'm going out of town on the 10th.

You know what? Blog post time.

Reply



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