In the past few weeks, I've gotten a fair amount of email asking when the third novel in the
FLEE series will be released. Unfortunately, I still can't provide a definite date. Typically, I'll only announce a release date once I'm 75-80% done with the first draft. At that point, I can usually predict how long the rest of the process will take, which includes finishing that first draft, writing a second draft, getting input from editors and proofreaders, and then making changes for the final copy.
Initially, I suspected that I'd give myself a little break after the release of
The Bloom of Youth. I find breaks to be a vital part of the writing process; they allow me some mental breathing room and an opportunity to shift gears and brace for a new project. I expected this would be especially important given the shift in tone from
The Bloom of Youth back to the
FLEE series. (The creative "brain space" used to write these books, I feel, is completely different.)
As it turned out, however, I found myself wanting to dive right back into the
FLEE universe as I neared completion on
TBoY, and I'm happy to announce that work has been underway on it for the last week or so. While I still can't provide a definite release date, I'm shooting for the summer of '19, which gives me nine months or so. This seems like a comfortable time frame, but given the fact that there is still
so much story to be told and will require me tying in the stories of over a dozen characters, I'm expecting this final book to be a lot longer than the first two. (So don't be surprised if I nudge that date back a little.)
One of the great things about writing for the friends is that you all understand these novels aren't the primary focus of my life. While I enjoy immensely crafting these fictional worlds and building characters and every other aspect of writing the novels, there are plenty of other things taking precedence in my life, and I'm very grateful for your understanding in that regard.
In our entertainment-obsessed world, it's common for writers, directors, and musicians to be hounded by their fans for information on their newest project. I believe that kind of pressure is unhealthy, both mentally and creatively. The best creations don't come out of a pressure cooker; they're the result of a patient, thoughtful, and well-seasoned process.
And that's precisely the process that you all have allowed me to employ in writing these books, so
thank you.
It's been a productive last couple of weeks. I've set clear writing targets for the last book in the FLEE series, STAND, and have really been motivated to progress with the story. As I mentioned in the last podcast, it's proving a real challenge to connect and conclude the story lines and character arcs introduced in previous books while moving the general plot of the series forward. But we're getting there, and it feels really good!
