Skull Throne Update: You Do the Math
Polish Daylight War art, Dominik Broniek
Posted by Peat
Ever since I posted a sample chapter from The Skull Throne last week, I’ve been getting a lot of people asking when it will be out. It’s wonderful and gratifying to see so many people interested in the series and excited about the new book.
Honestly, it keeps me going strong when I get tired climbing Demon Cycle mountain. And it IS a mountain, with close to 800,000 words written so far, and likely another three quarters of a million to go.
The enthusiasm makes me feel bad that I don’t really have an answer to the question. When will the next book be out? Honestly?
Beats me.
Don’t get me wrong. I am HARD at work on Skull Throne. Not a day goes by that I don’t work on it in some fashion, either writing or mentally working at some story knot or another. It is in my thoughts constantly.
But it’s a BIG book, shaping up to be the biggest yet, and that is after the monster 268,000 word Daylight War. And contrary to what some may think, I don’t have it all in my head ready to type onto the screen. Oh, I know what is going to happen, but HOW it happens, and how the people involved FEEL about what happens—the real meat of the story in my mind—is something I need to figure out as I go.
I started formal work on Skull Throne after my world tour to promote Daylight War earlier this year, and so far the manuscript is at a little over 70,000 words. I have written 10 of a planned 32 chapters (a number that will no doubt change as the book evolves), and am adding an average of 5,000 words a week. Sometimes more, sometimes less, but 5K is about the limit of what I can do consistently each week while maintaining quality and also taking care of my other responsibilities, not the least of which is spending half the week as single dad to a kindergartener:
So, you do the math. If I have another 200,000 (ish) words to go, at 5K a week… Gonna be a while, under the best of circumstances. And this is barring unforeseen detours & derailments. Desert Spear was delayed when Cassie was born, and I lost several weeks of work on Daylight War when I had major surgery on my shoulder and arm and couldn’t write. Such is life. Skull Throne is actually coming together MUCH faster than it’s predecessors, thus far.
After the book is done, there will also be 6-9 months of beta-reads, edits and production before it’s out on shelves/online. That puts us sometime in 2015. Ish. I wish I could be more precise, but I go where the art takes me.
But know that I am on it, and when the book is done, it will be the best book I can produce.
Honest word.
take as long as you need Peter, love the books so don’t rush.
Just finished The Daylight War and I have to say what an amazing trip it has been. Loving your characters, each with their own complexity – no matter how simple they may seem sometimes on the surface. And all the moral issues in there! Amazing job. Amazing.
Much like in gaming, i am actually happy for the product when i read about a delay. To a successful series it demonstrates that one has it under control and that they care about quality. Thanks.
Don’t forget to breathe.
greetings! from trinidad and tobago in the caribbean. awesome books! not sure any book had me as riveted as your work. thank god i read your books only a few months ago and havent been through the tedious but wellworth wait of the other readers here. it is 2015 and i do hope you publish this year. Honest Word!
Peter,
I love the series. I have all your books signed 1/1 in both uk and us. Will there be a special edition or pre-order bonus for the Skull Throne?
I live in the Houston area and if you are going to be in Texas for a signing I won’t miss it.
I think we should start a petition for HBO… When Game of Thrones is over they need to tackle the Demon Cycle… Thanks for all the hard work, time and dedication for our entertainment.
I love the books but your family has to come first.I hope your daughter does well in school I know its a challenge. Good luck in writing the book and take as longs as you need the first three were masterpieces.
Loved the Skull Throne. Well written, awesomely imagined and beautifully executed. As a writer myself I am inspired and also quite impressed. 5000 words a week while being a parent is a feat in itself. Being a mother has changed my entire perspective on life, and he absolutely comes first, but he also takes a lot of time and energy. =)
I’ve been a fan since Desert Spear was published and I discovered your series. Thanks for sharing your world with us and for taking time to update us in our impatience and anxiety and greed for more. It’s a hard lesson to learn to enjoy the ride and not obsess about the arrival, or ending, or if the series never gets finished. It lives forever on the page regardless and I have joy of rereading and the hope of a gift in the next book.
Bless you and your lovely daughter. =)
does anyone know if/when a fifth (final?) book is being anticipated?
I was in my 2nd week of recovering from heart surgery when my son introduced me to The Painted Man. I read 1/3 in a day and one of the Doctors told me I was in for a great read. I told him I already knew that. A good read doesn’t grow on you it just jumps out of the pages and consumes one’s self. I have thoroughly enjoyed the journey of all involved. My absolute thanks to you Peter for a brilliant read. I am looking forward to reading the next installment but I can wait as long as it takes to get it into my hands. Time is a resource we all have and utilising it to our best requirements should not be controlled by the needs of others but the needs of you. Family always came 1st in my upbringing and you have taken the right steps for all. I wish you and your family all the best and I will wait with bated breath for another great read.
Hi Peter!!
I started do read your painting man by a joke. I bought the book at a second hand. But what started with a joke became a vicious reading. I had already read the 3 books and made the prebuying of the next. Good luck with your work, and please tell me, how many books are in your head for this demand? And don´t forget, the time of kargir will be a good theme for a demand!!
Regards from Portugal!