LOOKING FORWARD INTO 2023
Mostly as a new year dawns I reflect that, really, we have no idea. Anything could happen. Anything does, and did, and will, and it either takes us by surprise (for good or for ill), or it confirms our pessimism or optimism or realism, which anyway are simply words to mirror our expectations and hopes and fears.
As for writing goals, in 2023 I need to write Sun 3, Lady Chaos. This big project should consume most or all of the year. In a different world it would have been finished already and flowing through the production pipeline for a 2024 publication, but here we are. As I like to say, you have to move forward from where you are, not where you wish you were.
I do also hope and plan to complete two or three short stories during 2023, for a change of pace. As well, I will be thinking about and developing my next projects.
To confirm: In reality, I have no idea what 2023 holds in store for me or where it will go.
Here’s hoping for a good year -- as good a year as possible -- for us all.
As of the date of sending this, here is where you can find my work or me in early 2023:
THE KEEPER’S SIX drops on January 17, 2023.
My first contemporary fantasy is a very short novel (or long novella) that starts on Oahu in the modern day and enters a multiverse. Esther’s son Daniel has been kidnapped, and it’s up to her (and her crack team of magic users) to out-negotiate and out-smart the dragon boss who took him.
VIRTUAL LAUNCH EVENT FOR THE KEEPER’S SIX!
I’ll be doing a virtual launch event hosted by Mysterious Galaxy Books, with John Scalzi. It will definitely be fun, and I hope you can join us! We would love to see you there (virtually, but you know what I mean).
Mysterious Galaxy will have signed bookplates available for those who buy a book through their store. I hope you will support them if you can.
I will send a reminder email for this event a few days before it happens.
Da Shop in Honolulu should (or will soon) have physical copies of both The Keeper’s Six and Unconquerable Sun. If you want a signed (and even personalized, if you wish) physical copy of a book, contact them. I will drive down and sign books, although not on a daily basis (more like once a week or so). They ship to the USA only.
Other confirmed January events:
Hour of the Wolf/ New York Review of Science Fiction Readings with Jim Freund: LIVE-VIRTUAL EVENT
Start Time: 7:00 PM ET (2:00 PM HT)
Platform: be.live
Beautifully Bookish Bethany: media recording for her YouTube channel. Not sure when this will play.
Spring 2023:
FURIOUS HEAVEN blasts into existence on April 18, 2023 (Tor Books) and March (Head of Zeus). Book 2 of The Sun Chronicles is bigger, faster, more furious (obviously) and continues to the story of Princess Sun in this genderbent retelling of the Alexander the Great history set in space.
Head of Zeus (UK & Commonwealth)
Signed copies of the UK hardcover will be available at Goldsboro Books! (I signed what are called tip-in sheets, which are bound into the novel at the printers.)
Forbidden Planet is ALSO listing a signed hardcover as available for pre-order. I don’t know if this is the same as the edition listed by Goldsboro. But anyway, if you want a signed copy of the UK edition, here is another option.
For other regions, please check your local bookshops.
For the Furious Heaven launch I may be doing one or two in-person events in the Pacific Northwest but I have no confirmed information about that yet. I’ll keep you all posted.
Pre-orders are genuinely helpful for authors because they signal to a publisher that there is interest in a forthcoming book. To be clear, in the long run, if a reader wishes to help along a particular book or author, word of mouth is always the most precious and crucial publicity mechanism, beyond even a big advertising campaign (although those don’t hurt!).
One last bit of information:
WHERE TO FIND ME IF TWITTER IMPLODES:
Patreon. My Patreon features posts on writing craft, book excerpts, portals to my creative process, occasional tv and book reviews, the occasional poll asking for input on a creative question, seeing a story emerge and come to fruition, and an ongoing series posting the chapters of the (unfinished) Dead Empire, the sequel to Black Wolves which I can’t currently write due to contractual issues. And a weekly photo of Finn, of course. For 2023 I will possibly be adding an occasional audio or video file of me talking in detail about as aspect of my work or craft.
Twitter (KateElliottSFF) has been my preferred social media water cooler hangout for a decade. Its possible (even probable) collapse as a venue that melds discoverability, breaking news, organizing and connection, ridiculous jokes, and chatting with old friends and new colleagues does make me quite sad. So, we shall see if E. Musk destroys it since he already seems to be getting bored of it because it didn’t automatically render him cool. I remain there for now, cautiously, and have staked my claim at other sites in case Twitter goes down fast.
Everywhere else on social media you can find me as KateElliottSFF. I’ve been on Instagram and Tumblr for years but rarely use them. I’ve staked out claims on Mastodon @wandering.shop, at Post, and on Hive (all as KateElliottSFF), and will try them out until I decide which I prefer or if something else comes along. As always, who knows!
All of you, however, are wisely subscribed to this newsletter, the best and most reliable source of news focused specifically on the availability of my work and any events I have whether online or in person.
Cleaning off the dirt of the old year and . . . well, okay, the bath is never fun.
As always, thanks for reading. I couldn’t do this without you.
Kate Elliott