Steven Ede asked Michael J. Sullivan:

Hi Michael, I was just wondering how the First Empire series is going and if there is an estimate release date yet? I'm really excited about this new series and finding it difficult to be patient! I have just read in another post that there is a third book in the Riyria Chronicles! Oh ... you have no idea how happy i am on that score ... when can i get it!?!? lol Keep up the good work. Thanks Steven.

Michael J. Sullivan Funny you should mention that...so originally this was going to be a trilogy but as I got to writing (I write the entire series before I submit any of the books to my publisher), it turned into four. So that puts everything back a bit. I started writing it in February 2013 and I've finished three books. Just turned the third one over to Robin a few hours ago ;-) . I'll start writing the fourth and hope to have it wrapped by the end of the year, which is very doable.

Release dates will depend on a lot of things.

(a) Will me and my publisher agree on terms for them to publish it.

(b) if (a) is a no then I'll have to see if another publisher is interested and we can agree

(c) if (a) and (b) doesn't work out. I'll do like I did with Hollow World and either self-publish or hybrid publish it.

Here are the reasonable dates for those various scenarios

(a) Submit book one in January 2015 and it will be released Early 2016.

(b) Find a new publisher by March 2015 and book will be released Mid to late 2016 (depending on which publisher picks it up and what their schedule looks like.

(c) Hold a Kickstarter Apr - May and those who back the book will get them in June/July 2015.

(d) Those that don't participate in the Kickstarter will get it on the "official release date" which will be 6 - 9 months after the Kickstarter so probably Nov - Feb 2016.

As for the third book in Chronicles...I'm still working on the plot for that one. I can't start writing it until I have that fully worked out but the good news is I do KNOW that there will be one. With each Chronicle book my approach is to put them out there...see if the people like and want more and if so rinse and repeat. The response after The Rose and the Thorn said "yes please" and I'm more than happy to oblige. Thanks for asking!

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