Hey everyone.
It’s been a little while since I’ve done one of these so I thought I’d just provide a mid-year update.
I’ve been thinking a lot about my career and my brand as an author. I’ve published. 40 short stories over 10 years across all genres of speculative fiction. But I’m mostly known as a writer of science-fiction. More specifically, novels in the military SF/space opera region. And while I’ve enjoyed my time immensely in with the Common Saga, it is no accident that the books became progressively more space opera as they went along. I don’t particularly want to be known as the guy who writes science fiction. I want to be a Jack of all trades, someone who branches out, who is versatile, who’s able to write in a variety of styles and genres and voices, a la Adrian Tchaikovsky.
It is no secret that some publishers are generally wary of this. I have some strong feelings about that, but the point is that I feel that writers should be able to write whatever they like, at whatever stage they are in their careers, regardless of what’s “expected” of them.
My tastes have always been broad, and I want those tastes to reflect in the books that I write: science fantasy, epic fantasy, space opera, secondary world fantasy, whatever. Limiting myself to one genre limits my readership and my growth as a writer.
So you are unlikely to see a book from me anytime soon that’s in the same style of Stormblood: straight SF, noirish, cyberpunk-adjacent, with a thriller/mystery element. I’m being beckoned to write things that are epic and sweeping and grandiose, and I feel like I’m much more comfortable in such a space.
Does that mean I’m leaving SF behind? No. Not at all. But I am expanding my horizons. And I’m excited about what’s to come.
So. Book updates.
First up, Wolfskin. I do not yet have a release date for the book. I delivered the full edited version to my publisher in mid January and I have since been waiting to receive my line edits. Publishing being what it is, things are moving at a glacial rate. I wish that I had news for you, but I don’t yet, since my publisher wants to hold off on pining anything down until they give me my line edits for Wolfskin. But the story is 99% locked-in, and I’m confident that once the edits do come in, it’ll be smooth sailing. By then I will hopefully be able to start sending out proof copies to reviewers – cue the mix of exhilaration and anxiety that comes from releasing a new baby out into the big wide world.
But I have not been idle. Oh no.
The past year I’ve been chipping away at my new book, tentatively entitled “Rage”. I got a first draft nailed down about a month and a half ago, but I’ve since run into, shall we say, some existential crisises about the book (see the first half of this post). Where it sits in the genre. What readership it will appeal to. I don’t really want to be more specific than that, but I will say that my comparisons to it include The Red Rising Saga, House of the Dragon, The First Law, and Sun Eater.
Why I love all my books equally. I do think that there’s something truly special about this one, and I’m hoping to make it the next book that I traditionally publish.
Here is the tiniest of sneak peeks:
Part 1
“The Wolves have no King”
– The Cinder Knight, before his execution
However this book comes out, I think it will mark a turning point in my career, and will hopefully be exciting for readers, both old and new.
But because there ain’t no rest for the wicked, that’s not all I’ve been working on.
I’ve been chipping away at a straig-up secondary world fantasy with a female protagonist. This book, I’d say, sits firmly at the intersection between Scott Lynch, Baldur’s Gate 3 and Adrian Tchaikovsky. I’m definitely playing a lot faster and loose with the structure, and the freedom of it is both exhilarating and a little scary, but I am enjoying the process of seeing this world unfurl before my eyes.
I don’t know what I’m gonna do with it when it is done, but I’m gravitating towards self-publishing it. We’ll see.
As I’ve already mentioned, in late 2023 I suffered a nailgun injury to my left hand. This, of course, is a big deal for a writer, especially as my career, and my life, has been greatly impacted as a result.
I’m not totally ready to discuss what’s transpire over the past 19 months. But I will say that I recently had several surgeries on my left hand. Things have been dark for a long time, and I’ve feared that my writing career has been in jeopardy. But things should be looking up for me soon. Hopefully.
And on that note, I would greatly appreciate it if you could grab one of my books. If you’ve already done so (and honestly, you’re unlikely to be reading this unless you’re already one of my readers!), then you can always convince one of your friends to buy my books, or spread the word in some other way.
And not just because it would cheer me up immensely after several surgeries. But also because May happens to be the month of my birth! So you’d be getting me a gift for me and you. How is that not a bargain?
Stormblood and Blindspace are available in all the usual places. If you like, you can grab Broken Stars from me directly, over on my website. If you prefer to get it on Amazon, you can also do that over here. Every bit helps.
Thanks again for everything, guys. I know it’s been a long gap since books, but I’ve been busy cooking and marinating, and soon there will be a literary feast!
In the meantime, take care of yourselves.
Till next time.
Best,
Jeremy
JEREMY SZAL 
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