• Home
  • Books
    • The Last Horizon
    • Cradle >
      • Kickstarter Bonus Content!
      • Kickstarter Special Edition Ebook FAQ
    • The Traveler's Gate Trilogy
    • The Elder Empire
    • Kickstarters!
    • Buying Will's Books
  • A Blog of Dubious Intent
  • Merch
  • Say Hello
  • Hidden Gnome Publishing
  • Press
  • Podcast
Will Wight, New York Times Best-Selling Author of 'Cradle'
  • Home
  • Books
    • The Last Horizon
    • Cradle >
      • Kickstarter Bonus Content!
      • Kickstarter Special Edition Ebook FAQ
    • The Traveler's Gate Trilogy
    • The Elder Empire
    • Kickstarters!
    • Buying Will's Books
  • A Blog of Dubious Intent
  • Merch
  • Say Hello
  • Hidden Gnome Publishing
  • Press
  • Podcast

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

Short Stories At Last!

10/16/2016

50 Comments

 
Since my last post, I've gone to California for a wedding, come back, lapsed into a coma, gotten sick, recovered, and now I'm back! Fairly normal post-book schedule.

I'm sorry it took me so long to respond to your comments and/or emails, but I'm back now! You should hear from me very soon, if you haven't already.

This week, I'm dedicating myself to writing short stories. I owe you two, and one for this month (although I'll probably wait until Halloween to deliver October's, for reasons that should be obvious). I'll keep you updated as I work on them, but I hope to have all three finished this week (and maybe a head start on November's as well).

In the meantime, Soulsmith is still selling well! I mean, really well. I mean, everyone I trust to give me business advice is telling me to write Blackflame next.

I'm trying to stay strong for Kings and Killers! But they're wearing me down...it's...so cold...

​-Will
50 Comments
Ian
10/16/2016 12:17:23 pm

Write Blackflame next. EE fans will wait. Maintain the hype. Or write Travelers Blade next. I wouldn't mind that either.

Reply
Shayla
10/16/2016 12:40:50 pm

I completely agree with this statement, but in the end do what makes you happy. 😊

Reply
Brian H.
10/16/2016 01:48:14 pm

As much as I want EE next, Ian is right we'll wait. Momentum is important.

Reply
Will link
10/16/2016 02:17:34 pm

That's true, Ian, but Cradle fans will likely wait as well. And then I can finish Elder Empire.

Reply
Josh
11/28/2016 11:22:24 am

When will black flame come out

Matt
10/17/2016 01:52:28 pm

yes please continue Blackflame! i'm starting to check these updates weekly and it is driving me slightly insane. i read soulsmith in like a day and a half....

Reply
Will link
10/18/2016 08:28:13 pm

Only SLIGHTLY insane? Then my plan has not yet come to fruition...

Kings and killers
10/16/2016 12:52:36 pm

Write me!

Reply
Ian K.
10/16/2016 12:54:36 pm

Sometimes your work just speaks for itself.

Reply
Will link
10/16/2016 02:16:22 pm

That's a compelling argument you're making for your own existence, Future Books.

Matthew
10/16/2016 01:00:40 pm

"Business advice". So it's a money thing! Who needs money? On second thought, name your price, we'll set up a GoFundMe campaign so you can write OKAK worry free.

Reply
Will link
10/16/2016 02:18:29 pm

It's really about momentum more than cash flow, because like I said, Soulsmith is selling really well. I'm worrying about losing the momentum from Cradle, I'm not worried that I might run out of money halfway through OKAK.

Reply
Wayne
10/17/2016 05:09:02 pm

What if the next one sells just as well or better? While I prefer Cradle to Elder Empire, at some point you'll have to risk losing momentum.

Adarsh
10/16/2016 03:10:48 pm

So will these short stories be Travelers Blade stories? Or maybe Cradle stories?

Reply
Will link
10/18/2016 08:29:24 pm

Playing that by ear, Adarsh.

Reply
Lashan
10/16/2016 03:12:02 pm

It would make more sense to get Blackflame written a) to keep Cradle growing ( it is also easier/faster to write and has more future potential, and it would allow you to pause the story at a good point) b) Fans of OKAk are not as numerous and already waited a while. It seems that after you complete the trilogy you will go back to do a TG and having completed Cradle trilogy and OKAk trilogy keeps those books at reasonable temporary stages. C) finally you have to support efficient markets theory which leads to Blackflame.
Why not forgo short stories in favour of writing a little longer story and also charge more. The quality of your writing corresponds to higher price point. If there is ever a time to help Fed to increase inflation you should offer your help. You might also presell/pre-order next Cradle book at that higher price which will help you to judge the response.
I am definitely in the target group for TG and Cradle but cashed out of Okak.

Reply
OMEGA Reader
10/16/2016 08:54:22 pm

Cradle won't be just a trilogy.It's a long series. So blackflame may not be as good an ending point, because Will has a LOT in store for this series.

Reply
Jessiah
10/16/2016 05:55:31 pm

Its seems the business advisers Ive bribed have done their job well ! MUHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHA! XP Will I would really like BlackFlame next so would my lil bros hehe, but I do want to know what happened to Shera oh and off topic but whats the time difference between Travelers Gate and Elder Empire ?

Reply
Will link
10/18/2016 08:31:31 pm

Not much of one. Valin takes his journey through the void decades before Simon shows up, and the Unknown Wanderer shows up in the Aurelian Empire decades before the current events.

Reply
Bryce
10/16/2016 07:48:55 pm

I would have to say Blackflame. Soulsmith is at or near the top on a lot of the fantasy related lists on amazon and personally i think that type of momentum and hype is too good to risk losing.

Reply
Will link
10/18/2016 08:33:49 pm

Looks like I'm going to write Blackflame while writing OKAK, which means Blackflame will come next.

Reply
mark
10/16/2016 07:52:59 pm

It's very important to keep momentum up! Let's finish Cradle then get back to OKAK. Then Travelers Gate sir... You owe your loyal Traveler gate fans another series!

We need more Simon!

Reply
Simon
10/16/2016 07:55:23 pm

I have to agree with this genius

Reply
Will link
10/18/2016 08:35:39 pm

That's true, but I'm still not sure how to categorize that on Amazon. Requires some planning.

Reply
OMEGA Reader
10/16/2016 08:59:37 pm

You know how I feel about it. I still think EE is the right call to finish. I think a lot of people have this misconception still that Cradle is only a trilogy, when in reality Cradle is going to be a VERY LONG series.

I know a lot of people want cradle next, but trust me, you're not going to get any closure with the next book. It's going to leave you thirsting for even more.

I think finishing EE is important, because it 1) finishes a series to let will focus SOLEY on travelers gate or cradle, or maybe even a future unknown project. AND 2) we will have closure on Elder for the fans who DO like it more. (They're out there!).

I think we finish elder empire now, because 2017 is going to be a heck of a year for books from Will Wight.

Reply
Fernando
10/17/2016 04:46:27 pm

I could not agree more with this! Exactly what I was thinking, and as a big EE fan, I would love to have closure on the series finale - plus writing Blackflame now will leave you in the same quandary once that is released, I'm sure it will again do well and fans will be clamoring for the next book in the series, while the EE fans keep waiting... It seems to me like now is the time to finish EE, I have no doubt any momentum you lose in the Cradle series will pick back up as soon as Blackflame comes out.

(That being said, I'll read whatever you write next anyway, and I'm sure I'll love it too, so do what feels right to you)

Reply
April
10/16/2016 09:06:32 pm

I suppose for an author, having your fans argue passionately over how you spend your time is a good thing.

At least until the next shipment of badgers arrives.

Reply
Will link
10/18/2016 08:37:12 pm

It is. I'm always encouraged that people care enough to have strong opinions about the books.

The badgers do not encourage me. They frighten me into my Panic Tunnel.

Reply
Liko
10/17/2016 05:58:46 am

For any future books, please do charge more. You and your writing are worth it! A loyal fan of your work--all of it. Aloha!

Reply
Jacob Carasso
10/17/2016 03:25:25 pm

I truly think that raising the price would be very good. $3 is too little. I think maybe one or two dollars more would be good. The price feels like you are selling yourself short and underestimating the books value.

Reply
Will link
10/18/2016 08:43:01 pm

I know it's true that charging less makes people expect less out of the books, and that turns some people away. But I also know that there are some people who only try the books because they're cheap.

I don't know what the tradeoff is.

Mahfuz
10/17/2016 07:27:21 am

Elaina might slap me with a restraining order if I read Incarnation's daughter one more time (and after 15+ re-reads, holy shit would I deserve it) So all I want is a Traveler's Gate short story... or at least for Leah to sign off on that R.O

Reply
Will link
10/18/2016 08:44:07 pm

That's definitely the best of the short stories, but fifteen...that is a lot.

There may or may not be another TG short story this month, but if not now, then soon!

Reply
Rhys
10/17/2016 08:03:03 am

Will I've written at a fair amount of length about why blackflame is your best option, but really, write what you want. I do have a weird question though, it came to me laying in bed last night with a fever, what temperature is valinhall? Is it like 25 degrees centigrade at all times, or is it a bit warmer or colder than room temp? Sorry for the frankly bizarre question

Reply
Will link
10/18/2016 08:44:51 pm

Slightly cooler than room temperature in most rooms, though of course it varies in the weirder rooms.

Reply
Rhys
10/19/2016 09:43:40 am

Cheers will

John
10/17/2016 10:39:51 am

I promise to read Blackflame through KU and then purchase it, so you can count my vote twice since you will get paid twice as much.

Reply
Will link
10/18/2016 08:48:48 pm

So here's an interesting fact: for the combined Traveler's Gate trilogy (the compilation, not the individual books), I get paid 40-50% more for a Kindle Unlimited read than for a buy. Crazy. For the shorter, cheaper books, it's almost exactly the same as a sale.

Anyway, back on topic, Kindle Unlimited is great and you're great and I counted both of your votes.

Reply
TrevorwilliamK
10/17/2016 09:21:31 pm

BLACKFLAME. BLACKFLAME. BLACKFLAME!

Seriously though it's already been almost 2 years since EE and if I want to enjoy the next book I'm going to have to re-read it anyway. Adding time til that book doesn't affect me nearly at all. However a third Soulsmith would be legendary. Your books are addictive in the same way video games are addictive. We want that next level! That next morsel of content! But if I'm allowed to step away from the game for an extended period I forget why I was addicted in the first place and starting again is harder.

Ride the wave Will!

Reply
Will link
10/18/2016 08:52:21 pm

It's been almost two years since EE started, but the second books came out about a year ago.

Incidentally, what you said about stepping away from the game is exactly what I mean when I mention momentum. EE basically isn't going to get any colder than it is already, but I'd like to keep Cradle going for as long as I can before I step away. Just so people--like you--don't lose that addiction.

Gotta ride that wave!

Reply
Jack
10/17/2016 10:56:52 pm

I'll be happy with whatever you decide to throw to us lowly peasants. Everything from your table is gold. Keep up the great work.

Reply
John
10/18/2016 04:06:46 am

I wonder if people posting here realize that if Will writes two EE books and then starts on the next Cradle book, that best case scenario is that the next Cradle book does not come out until 2017 July. More likely it will be 2017 August or September or even later, since I suspect it will be very difficult to write two concluding EE books (even more difficult than it was to write the previous two EE books). Cradle fans could be waiting almost a year for the next book.

Reply
Wei Shi Lindon
10/18/2016 11:17:06 am

This one humbly requests you continue my story Elder brother.

Reply
Will link
10/18/2016 08:54:05 pm

Uh, Lindon, this is...this is awkward...

Look, I know I put you through a lot of painful crap for the entertainment of random strangers, but uh...

I can't lie to you, it's just going to get worse for you. Please don't kill me.

Reply
Moderate
10/18/2016 12:29:38 pm

Will, I'm a fan of Traveler's (of course) and Cradle, I never got into EE but that's not a reflection on your writing, just my tastes. Keeping that in mind, I think you should finish EE. You're one of my favorite writers and I will gladly wait however long it takes for you to write Blackflame. I hope I speak for the majority when I say that but I find most people have their own opinions so I won't speak for them. In my opinion though, finish EE, kick out Blackflame and then maybe another Cradle book, then when we're least expecting it, unleash the new Traveler's book upont the world!

Reply
Will link
10/18/2016 08:54:44 pm

That's the general plan, I hope. Thanks for sticking with me!

Reply
Adam
10/18/2016 09:14:59 pm

I'm going to read everything no matter what order!

I'm so happy for your success and momentum. No doubt the word of mouth and reviews are picking up steam and paying dividends.

I would humbly suggest personal emails should decrease in your priority and social media (or forums) increase.

Let the questions still come in, but be answered and available to a wider audience. It moves more of your prime writing time to your publications while still staying true to your readership while your fan writing is available more widely leveraging your time.

Reply
Will link
10/19/2016 10:47:45 am

Yeah, I can only assume word of mouth, reviews, and residual visibility from the free promotions have hit some sort of a critical mass that will soon tear open the book-time continuum and drag us all into a vacuum of reality.

Reply
Stephen
12/9/2016 03:36:25 pm

I would prefer to see a cradle book. I read a lot of fantasy novels and I think Cradle has a more novel system to it than EE or anything else other authors are currently writing. I have enjoyed all of your novels but right now Cradle has a lot more appeal for me.

Reply
Ian
7/30/2017 07:10:02 am

Traveller's gate is one of my favourite bits of world building.
The cradle series is incredibly enjoyable to read.
Any books in those worlds I'll eagerly read the day is released.

I read one of the elder empire series, and although i enjoyed it, it didn't grab me in the same way as the other two, and i haven't bought any of the others.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    ​The Pilot Progress:
    Warp 9

    Last Written:

    "That's it. You're getting cursed."

    Amount Complete:
    9X%

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013

    RSS Feed

    Want to get short stories and book releases before anyone else? Sign up below!
    Hey, what about those short stories you claim to have already written?

    Apparently they're kept here!
Copyright © 2025 Hidden Gnome Publishing
  • Home
  • Books
    • The Last Horizon
    • Cradle >
      • Kickstarter Bonus Content!
      • Kickstarter Special Edition Ebook FAQ
    • The Traveler's Gate Trilogy
    • The Elder Empire
    • Kickstarters!
    • Buying Will's Books
  • A Blog of Dubious Intent
  • Merch
  • Say Hello
  • Hidden Gnome Publishing
  • Press
  • Podcast