Everyone wanted Elizabeth since she was first mentioned way back in Barbarians of the Storm - Book I: Dan the Destructor. Well, now they have her! Granted, her story, the main one in A Crown of Furious Color & Other Stories (released this week) is just the beginning of her long journey. Yes, there is more down the pipeline, as for when, I do not specifically know.
However, the flashback to a childhood event from the epilogue is a part of the eventual Fenrik Side Quest book that will be the third in a “Fenrik on Earth” trilogy. The first installment of that was obviously Fenrik 1984. Things could always shift around with that, though, as plans may change based on new ideas and potentially better ways to fit that in.
As I have stated, the next book on the docket is Book IV, the direct sequel to Book III: Swords Against Bastards. I’ve actually started mapping out the first act and connecting some big dots leading up to where I know it needs to end. Clues as to what will happen are sprinkled into Fenrik 1984 and parts of A Crown of Furious Color. This is also why it’s important to read things as they release and not just stick with the numbered saga books. This is also why I recently introduced the Aura Numbering System, to help with any confusion.
My heart has been distracted, however, as I also want to start Frank Murdock’s story, which is to take place from the time he was pulled from his Earth to the point where Dan the Destructor starts. This could be one book, but in my head, it is three, even though I haven’t mapped it out yet. There’s just a lot of events I want to cover in his life during that span.
I’ve also had the idea for an Erzulyn Side Quest story. I don’t think that I’ll be able to fit that one in until after Book IV and possibly Book V. However, it would take her and the Black Iron off-world to deal with something tied back to the witches that once populated her and Fenrik’s neighboring home kingdoms. Some setup for this story also exists in A Crown of Furious Color in the story that features Magnar, Fenrik’s brother.
Now, with all that being said, I’m still going through some shit in my life. I thought I put my big recent issue to bed, but it looks like that might not be so. Because of this, I need to put more focus on my personal life. I still plan to work on the next book and ideally, I’d like to have it out by the end of the year. I think that’s definitely doable. However, I just need to work on some shit, including myself, as the future is a bit uncertain at the moment.
As I always say, I’ll provide updates here as things happen. For now, I expect to have Book IV out next and hopefully by year’s end.