Howdy. It’s been over two months since the last edition of My (Mostly) Monthly Author Newsletter. I don’t like stuffing your inbox unless there’s actual news to share.
First: When’s the next book, Leo?
For those of you eager to get your hands on the follow-up to Bane of All Things, The Crucible Tree, I am afraid we are all due for a wait. The manuscript of TCT is ready for my publisher to take it and do what editors do. My publisher, however, isn’t yet ready for it.
There’s a bit of a reorganization going on over there, in terms of staff and in terms of what process my publisher will use to select new books to publish in the future. I have been told that things should be squared away by June and then we will see where the continuation of my series fits with my publisher’s plans.
Second: How are you doing, Leo?
Quite well, actually. My latest MRIs a few weeks ago show only one spot of concern—the same spot in my brain that was treated with targeted radiation therapy for a second time last September.
The odds of this spot continuing to be an active cancer after two rounds of treatment are slim but of course, not impossible. At present, the consensus is that what’s showing up is some necrosis from the prior treatments. Necrosis is just dead tissue, which is to be expected from radiation therapy. They will do another MRI within two months just to be sure that’s all it is.
If it is just necrosis from prior treatment, then it’s my first clear MRI in two years. So, that’s definitely on the plus side of good.
Side effects from my ongoing gene therapy treatment continue to be a big challenge (treatment runs until mid-May). In terms of being a productive writer (or freelance business writer for hire back on the clock), it’s the hours lost each day to brain fog and fatigue that are the real bugger.
At this point, we can only assume these side effects are primarily medication-related. But can’t be sure how much of it might also be aftereffects of all the radiation treatment I’ve had over the past 18 months until the gene therapy meds are out of my system.
Third: What else are you working on, Leo?
Given these challenges, it’s always easiest to keep the brain active and engaged with a passion project. I am managing to pick away here and there on a reboot of a prior novel, completely unrelated to Bane of All Things and its series.
Rather than fantasy, this is more science fiction. The story takes place centuries after this world was ravaged by engineered bioweapons and AI run amok. The society that’s risen from the ashes fears advanced technology and condemns anything, or anyone, that’s notably different as “Abomination.” But this fear and intolerance might doom what’s left of the human race. It’s a post-apocalyptic mashup of dieselpunk (with coal gas instead of diesel) and frontier western, with funky genetic mutations that may or may not be fungi-related.
Been doing some interesting research for this project. That includes mushrooms, and the essential roles that fungi play in the life cycles of our planet. A cool documentary to check out on the subject is on Netflix – Fantastic Fungi.
Been growing mushrooms, too. Check it out:
That’s all for now. As always, stay safe and keep reading!
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