I got my book rights back! My plan is to first begin shopping Supervillain to agents in the hopes of getting them into bookstores with a major publisher.
But it raises a major question. This Vanity Rose book is pretty early on. I could scrap it and recycle some of Vanity's personality into a new Supervillain world book. I only started her book because I felt like I needed a replacement property.
Any thoughts from the peanut gallery?
It still might be good to have at least ONE egg in a different basket, especially given that you still have some uncertainties while you publisher-shop. There could be an advantage to being able to show your resiliance as a writer: it's not "supervillian series or nothing" with you.
ReplyDeleteAlso, you should have heard me yelling, YAAAAAAAYYY!!! When I read you got your rights back! YAAAAAAAYYY!!! As a reader, I still feel strongly that you belong with Baen, because all my other favoritest authors are there, but this is only an opinion has nothing to do with reality.
ReplyDeleteKeep it as something new.
ReplyDeleteIts fantastic to hear that you got the rights back. I haven't posted before now but I've been a big fan of the Supervillain series. I think that keeping Vanity as a separate entity opens up new possibilities for you.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note I look forward to the day I can pick up Spiders book and the last one. I've been holding out because i didn't want the previous publishers to get any money off of it.
First: HUZZAH!
ReplyDeleteSecond: I also would encourage keeping Vanity Rose on her own terms. As Juanita said, diversity is flexibility. Also, you may find you want to work on one more than the other at various times, which is, of course, just another kind of that flexibility. Besides, I really, really want to read that entire story!
Third: I also second the suggestion of Baen as a publisher. I also buy a lot of their books, mostly as ebooks directly from them. I don't know if that means the author gets more per copy of my purchase price, but I hope it's the case.
First, congrats on getting your rights back. Hope things go better for you from now on.
ReplyDeleteSecond, do you have passion for the Vanity Rose project? I mean, if it's really just something you wrote because you couldn't write in your preferred playground, maybe that's something to examine. If, on the other hand, you legitimately enjoy writing about Vanity Rose's world, then you should keep her separate.
I personally would love to see another supervillain book (I always wanted to see Penny make it snow, though it didn't happen). If you're not feeling it though, then you're not feeling it and readers can tell.
Also "Huzzah!"
ReplyDeleteAlso, write your passion, the books will be better for it.
Also, who says you can't do both? Vanity in her own world, and in the Inscrutable Machine-verse.
Make it a cross-over event if you want - the options are infinite!
I would go with your gut. Your books have been great so write what feels right for you
ReplyDeleteI would say it depends on if you plan to make the Vanity Rose book a one-off.
ReplyDeleteIf you do then you way as well make it a side story in the Supervillian world, so you can recycle some of the history & characters.
On the other hand if you want to make it the start of it's own series then I would keep the worlds separate, so you can go as deep as you want without worrying how they'll effect each other.
I would check with Baen - they have a history of publishing work previously published, especially in sci-fi and fantasy.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't scrap a new universe, much as I love the Super Villian's universe, having more than one universe may be a safety net. Also, I would recommend a Patreon page, just for a little fan based income for a rainy day.
ReplyDeleteThis. Definitely good to have safety nets.
DeleteAs a peanut, I've liked several of your books, but supervillain is the only series you've got so far. If you don't mind a bit of advice, *DON'T* feel the need to push things that will stand on their own into the series if they'll work on their own or you don't think they'll fit.
ReplyDeleteVanity Rose can stand on her own, and if you are enjoying her and her world, keep her separate. If the book isn't coming together but you like the character, then certainly recycle her into another universe where she'll work, but don't rush to do that just because it's an option.
Name recognition sells books, but not everything appeals to everyone, and having multiple series can let you appeal to different audiences.
Also good points
DeleteThis is off-topic, sort-of, but I don't know another place to reach you, since I'm not on Twitter. Sometime in the last couple of years, I commented something wistful that you should have a steampunk artist. I keep looking for someone whose style might suit. I hope it's okay to post this link to Tammie Wales, coffee artist.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.twcoffeeartist.com/#/steampunk/
My favorite thing about your writing has been the world you craft. Vanity rose opening up another world excites me, but if you think it would be better to use it to develop your super world then do so.
ReplyDeleteYou contain multitudes and many worlds. Please do not stifle them!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad the rights are where they belong! I hope the new publisher does consistent runs of the series and also distributes copies worldwide. I've encountered problems in the past on both fronts.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Vanity goes, I don't know her well enough to have an opinion on whether it'd be best for her to join the Supervillain series or stand on her own. I trust your judgement on that.
I recommend you talk with Crossroad Press. They've expressed interest in your work and have the contracts for Stargate SG-1 and the White Wolf (Vampire: The Masquerade) books. I've told them how much I love your stuff and they have a thing well above your other publisher: they've consistently paid me. :)
ReplyDeleteE-mail: crossroad@crossroadpress.com
Yay for options!
DeleteCould you please get the Supervillain books back on Kindle? I missed the last one.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter and I both really enjoyed the first 2 Supervillain books and I would love to be able to buy the rest on Kindle. I'm glad you have the rights back and I hope you can find a publisher soon.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering if there was any news on book 5 being available in a dead trees format?
ReplyDelete