So, I have some bad news and I
have some good news.
The bad news is that Berkley, who
published all of my fiction series, has decided not to contract for the third
Broken Rider book. Publishing is a numbers game, and the numbers from the
previous books just weren’t good enough to justify putting out the third one. This
isn’t something I take personally—you’d be amazed how many of my author
friends, many of them better writers and more popular than I am, have lost
their contracts in the last year. The third book in the Veiled Magic series, Veiled Enchantments, will be out in
March, and that’s the last of the books from Berkley, at least for now.
I’ve actually known about this
for some time, although I haven’t talked about it online. And the good news is
that I decided that there was no way I was going to leave my readers hanging—so
I wrote Alexei’s story anyway. Surprise!
I’ve been quietly working on it
(this is the unnamed project I’ve mentioned a few times) over the last four months, and
I will be self-publishing it sometime soon; probably in the next couple of
weeks. I’ll be sure to let you know when it is live. It will be available as an
ebook pretty much everyplace, and as a print book from Amazon. I even found a
great cover artist who was able to come up with a cover that matched the first
two in looks, although it was impossible to get quite the right “Alexei.”
(Sadly, Jason Momoa wasn’t available to pose…)
Here’s the cover—what do you
think?
Cover by Earthly Charms |
I’m a little sad to be putting
out the last of the books in this world, which I’ve really enjoyed writing in, but
at least those of you who have been following the series from the beginning
will be able to get the ending to the story.
Of course, I do have a few more
ideas, so if this one is successful enough, you never know, I might decide to
self-publish another one…so perhaps this isn't the end at all.
Here’s the blurb for the book:
The Riders: Three legendary brothers who kept the Baba Yagas safe. The Riders’ immortality was stripped away, along with their mission. But they are still much more than Human, and their story is far from over…His brothers may have found new paths to follow, but Alexei Knight isn’t even looking. If he can’t have the life he was meant to lead, there is no second choice. So he is bent on drinking and brawling his way across the country until he winds up on Cape Cod in a bar called The Hook and Anchor, where he finds challenges he was never expecting, a feisty red-haired bartender, and maybe a lot more than that…Bethany McKenna left behind an almost-completed law degree to return home and care for her cranky disabled father and run his bar for him. If that wasn’t enough, she also agreed to foster a very pregnant Great Dane. She has enough to deal with without adding in a giant bearded brawler, no matter how appealing he is. Yet somehow he ends up living in the guesthouse, taking care of her father, and sneaking his way into her heart…Alexei and Bethany both think the lives they wanted have come to an end, but after dealing with a mysterious sea monster, pirates, dragons, and some adorable puppies, they might just discover that love is the greatest adventure of all…
I’ve had so much fun writing this
book, which I think of as a gift for all those who have been taking this
journey with me. I hope you enjoy Alexei’s story.
Who is looking forward to the book, now that you know it is coming out?
I'm EXCITED! Thank you for not letting Berkley be the end...
ReplyDeleteLinda
Never say die :-)
DeleteDef Loki g forward to this !! Must complete my little collection!!
ReplyDeleteYay!
DeleteThank you Deborah for self publishing the third Rider book. I have enjoyed all of the Baba Yaga and Rider books, and know that Alexei's story is going to be just as awesome! Love the cover!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it great? I was so pleased by how well it turned out, because I knew it was going to be a real challenge to match the two Berkley put out, which I loved.
DeleteI couldn't leave a trilogy unfinished! I just couldn't!
DeleteHuzzah! And many thanks from a completionist.
ReplyDelete:-)
DeleteSo happy!!! I was starting to worry!! Starting Sun's story tonight!
ReplyDeleteWe can't have that!
DeleteMe!! I couldn't stand not to have the final story!! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYeah!!! So looking forward to this. Thank you for the effort.
ReplyDeleteYay for finishing the story arc. Phooey for PB only through Amazon. I only use them when I absolutely must - I don't like the fact that they are the 800 lb. gorilla and turning into a monopoly. I understand that it's easier for the authors. I'm just grateful to get the last Rider book in paper. I read a screen all day for work and when I come home, I want a real book! Thank you!!
ReplyDeleteI understand completely. I have very mixed feelings about Amazon (although I use them constantly) and I much prefer print except when I'm reading late at night and my eyes are tires.
DeleteCan’t wait! Sad to see the series end but glad you are finishing it for us.
ReplyDeleteI know. Bittersweet for me, too. But hey, you never know...
DeleteIf this does really well, maybe there will even be another Baba Yaga book. Or a novella showing the three brothers reuniting. It's kind of like to write that one!
So glad you’ve decided to do this! Much success! Hope you write more in the Baba Yaga world, too, as well as others!
ReplyDelete