Ask the Author: J.N. Chaney
Answered Questions (33)
J.N. Chaney
Haha no plans on our end to do that, but it would certainly be a fun experiment!
J.N. Chaney
I won't be there, unfortunately, but I hope it's a fun time! I'll be getting ready to move to Florida and then I'll be on the other side of the country, but I'd love to attend at some point in the future.
J.N. Chaney
Yes, we will have all the books in this series on audio. Book 8 will release April 3rd, but book 9 should follow about 2 months later.
J.N. Chaney
Hi Steven,
Yes, authors get paid for every page that gets read in Kindle Unlimited. Of course, nothing is as good as a regular purchase, but we really value our KU readers I always tell people to read in whichever way suits their financial situation. Personally, I'm just happy that you are engaging with the books and enjoying them.
Yes, authors get paid for every page that gets read in Kindle Unlimited. Of course, nothing is as good as a regular purchase, but we really value our KU readers I always tell people to read in whichever way suits their financial situation. Personally, I'm just happy that you are engaging with the books and enjoying them.
J.N. Chaney
Hi Tim,
I work with several cowriters who are able to contribute and help write the books at a consistent pace. I spend about 70 hours a week working, most of which goes into planning, outlining, writing, and editing. We have a full staff to assist in the backend production work, including a lead editor, proofreader, beta reader team, an art director, project manager, marketing director, and virtual assistant. As the needs have grown, we've had to expand accordingly. We also remain an independent publishing studio with no outside funding or support, so every book that gets bought goes directly to help our group of writers, artists, and staffers continue to deliver more quality books.
Let me know if you have any other questions. Sorry for the delayed answer, too. I didn't see it until today.
I work with several cowriters who are able to contribute and help write the books at a consistent pace. I spend about 70 hours a week working, most of which goes into planning, outlining, writing, and editing. We have a full staff to assist in the backend production work, including a lead editor, proofreader, beta reader team, an art director, project manager, marketing director, and virtual assistant. As the needs have grown, we've had to expand accordingly. We also remain an independent publishing studio with no outside funding or support, so every book that gets bought goes directly to help our group of writers, artists, and staffers continue to deliver more quality books.
Let me know if you have any other questions. Sorry for the delayed answer, too. I didn't see it until today.
J.N. Chaney
Yes, it will release next month in August!
J.N. Chaney
Hi James, yes I am! Born and raised, class of 2002.
J.N. Chaney
I pick cowriters based on their writing and the types of books they have experience with. I generally have an idea for a book that I want to do and will actively seek out someone who has written something that fits the story I want to tell.
J.N. Chaney
I wish I had an answer! Unfortunately, not in 2023, but 2024 does seem pretty likely. Keep your eyes open for news!
J.N. Chaney
Sorry for the delayed response. The answer is that each project is different and requires unique procedures to ensure the best book possible. Sometimes I am heavily involved in the writing, other times I am simply involved in editing. I try to figure out a good system with each cowriter that helps them feel fulfilled and also results in a great book. I write and edit every day, but I also have long collaborative phone calls where I discuss ideas with the other writers and work out problems that may arise. It is a very rewarding process.
J.N. Chaney
From what I understand, those lists are based on how often a book gets added to someone's bookshelf, so it doesn't actually matter how many people have read the book or reviewed it on Amazon or Goodreads. They only care about the bookshelf adds.
The system also heavily favors traditionally published authors who release fewer books in longer stretches of time. This is due to the extended and lengthy lead-up time to release in the trad-pub world. For example, if you write a book in 2023 and turn it into a publisher, it takes over a year to actually release. Because of that long lead time, they're able to work with companies like Goodreads to set up a lengthy campaign where they can push people into adding books to their bookshelves. Then when the book finally launches, tens of thousands of people have added it to their digital "to read" shelves. The books don't actually need to sell, but they still get featured.
I hope that answers your question!
The system also heavily favors traditionally published authors who release fewer books in longer stretches of time. This is due to the extended and lengthy lead-up time to release in the trad-pub world. For example, if you write a book in 2023 and turn it into a publisher, it takes over a year to actually release. Because of that long lead time, they're able to work with companies like Goodreads to set up a lengthy campaign where they can push people into adding books to their bookshelves. Then when the book finally launches, tens of thousands of people have added it to their digital "to read" shelves. The books don't actually need to sell, but they still get featured.
I hope that answers your question!
J.N. Chaney
I work with several cowriters who write full time and consistently help deliver the best possible work. The collaborations make it far easier to get many books out consistently. I also have a full staff of editors, artists, and proofreaders to help us ensure the highest possible quality is maintained.
J.N. Chaney
Here's the order I would say to read them:
Renegade Star 1-12
The Fifth Column
Renegade Alliance 13
The Solaris Initiative
Renegade Evolution 14
The Forlorn Hope 3
Renegade War 15
Renegade Peace 16
The Fifth Column 4
The Fifth Column 5
Renegade Star 1-12
The Fifth Column
Renegade Alliance 13
The Solaris Initiative
Renegade Evolution 14
The Forlorn Hope 3
Renegade War 15
Renegade Peace 16
The Fifth Column 4
The Fifth Column 5
J.N. Chaney
Hi there! Sorry for the delayed response. There is a page on our website that lays out the exact timeline. You can find it here: https://jnchaney.com/renegade-star-un...
J.N. Chaney
Hey Len,
I will eventually have a section on the site for concept art. I haven't posted it yet because we are building a collection of them.
As for Backyard, Terry Maggert and I developed the idea after a discussion on the first stories we'd ever written. It just so happened, coincidentally, that each story had been about someone finding a starship in a field behind their home. Can you believe that? I was 15 when I wrote mine. I think Terry was around 16. When we realized this, we decided there must be something to it and went ahead and wrote the book you see now.
I will eventually have a section on the site for concept art. I haven't posted it yet because we are building a collection of them.
As for Backyard, Terry Maggert and I developed the idea after a discussion on the first stories we'd ever written. It just so happened, coincidentally, that each story had been about someone finding a starship in a field behind their home. Can you believe that? I was 15 when I wrote mine. I think Terry was around 16. When we realized this, we decided there must be something to it and went ahead and wrote the book you see now.
J.N. Chaney
Definitely intentional! ;)
J.N. Chaney
It's on my list of things to do. I'd like to write a story about her that picks up 10-15 years after Renegade Peace.
J.N. Chaney
I usually write in arcs, typically 3-6 books long. If the series does well, then I ask myself if it has legs beyond the first story arc. If it does, then I plot that out and follow the characters after the arc concludes. However, that first arc is almost always plotted out from the beginning, so you can just read that and experience the original story that was intended. If you want more of those characters, then you can keep reading beyond that.
J.N. Chaney
Should release on April 18th. Thanks for asking!
J.N. Chaney
Hey Chad! I get some input, mostly in regards to pronunciations. I tend to let the narrator interpret the material for themselves, as I do not like micromanaging. If I think there's a voice actor that fits the style, however, I will ask for them, which is exactly what I did with Luke Daniels. He was my one and only choice for the role of Jace Hughes, and wouldn't you know it, the publisher agreed!
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