Hello everyone — patrons, readers, and friends.
I wanted to take a moment to share an end-of-year update with you all and reflect a bit on where things stand as we head into a new chapter. I’m recording this on New Year’s Eve, sitting in a hammock at my place in Tucson after finishing my words for the day, and it felt like the right time to pause and take stock.
First of all, thank you. Truly. Whether you’re a patron, a reader, someone on the email list, or someone who drops in occasionally to open an email, leave a comment, or tap a like — all of that support matters more than you probably realize. I’m deeply grateful for it.
The Heart of the Wasteland — Status Update
Let’s start with the big one.
The Heart of the Wasteland (The Seven Signs, Book 7) currently sits at 269,000 words.
Even saying that out loud makes my stomach tighten a little. It’s massive. I always knew the final book in the series was going to be long — every book in this series has been long — and I’ve known for years exactly where the story ends and how it ends. What I didn’t anticipate was just how long it would take me to get there.
The last few years, especially while juggling a full-time job, made this book something of a slog if I’m being honest. I’ve been living in this story for so long that I’ve developed a real creative hunger to write something new — and I have been working on other projects along the way, as patrons can see in the Codex Equitum.
Because this book has so many points of view and so many character arcs that need to be resolved, coming back into it sometimes requires a full emotional re-immersion, not just a logical one. Ending it can feel overwhelming.
That said: we’re at the ending now.
I’m right in the middle of the scene where everything turns — the darkest moment, the linchpin that everything else hinges on. Progress has been good.
I’ve also changed my process. I’m now doing hour-long walks while dictating into voice memos, coming back to transcribe, taking a short break, and then repeating. That shift has dramatically increased my output. Over the last two days alone, I’ve written about 6,500 words during those morning walks.
Right now, I’m targeting January 10th as a tentative finish date, and according to Scrivener, we’re right on schedule. I did previously hope to finish before the end of the year, but that turned out to be wildly optimistic once holidays, family obligations, and a major life transition entered the picture.
Leaving my teaching job and closing that chapter of my life took more out of me emotionally than I expected. Saying goodbye to students, attending farewell events — all of it mattered, and all of it drained energy I hadn’t fully accounted for.
A Brief Desert Interruption 🐗
Quick aside: I live in Arizona, and while recording this update, a whole family of javelina wandered into my front yard. They’re basically wild desert pigs — not aggressive, but startling if you’re not expecting them. So if you hear crunching noises in the background of the audio, that’s just them enjoying the weeds.
Back to the books.
Beyond the Eternity Line: Through Burning Skies
Through Burning Skies is finished and currently in its third draft, undergoing edits.
I’ll be honest — I’m still figuring out how best to position this book. It’s not traditional sci-fi; it’s much closer to space opera — essentially fantasy in space, complete with a structured magic system, pilots, and high technology. It’s very close to my heart, but I’m not entirely sure how it fits alongside my existing backlist.
Because of that, I’m planning to run a Kickstarter for it. I’ll also be recording the audiobooks for Through Burning Skiesand Still He Burns in the next couple of weeks. One of those audiobooks — likely Still He Burns — may be offered free to patrons or mailing-list subscribers. I’ll keep you updated as those plans firm up.
A New Dragonrider Series Takes Shape
Now for the most unexpected and exciting development.
Over the past week, the muse hit me hard — so hard, in fact, that I spent that entire week outlining a full trilogy plus a prequel novella for a brand-new dragonrider series.
I used to take some pride in avoiding classic fantasy tropes — no dragons, no orcs, no elves. But something clicked. I found myself imagining an entirely new planet, and suddenly I was deep into worldbuilding.
I used Plottr to build out the structure — the prequel, Book One, Book Two, Book Three — and to create a full story bible for the world. The result is a politically charged fantasy series set on a dangerous, still-forming planet defined by volcanic calderas, magma seas, megafauna, and extreme environments.
In this world, dragonriders are weapons of mass destruction — protectors of civilization in a land where survival is never guaranteed. Power, legitimacy, war, and political authority are core themes. Dragons aren’t just spectacle; they’re the balance of power.
There may be some light magic — something closer to thaumaturgy than full spellcasting — but the real focus is the dragon bond. Riders will undergo physical changes: greater resilience, pressure resistance, altered physiology. The bond is biological, dangerous, and transformative.
Every scene from the prequel through the end of Book Three is already plotted.
The working title for the series is Dragon Riders of Zerath, and I’m incredibly excited about it.
The Road Ahead
Here’s the plan as it stands:
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Finish The Heart of the Wasteland by January 10
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Focus on Dragon Riders of Xerath as my primary project for Q1
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Target 4,000 words per day via dictation
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Complete the trilogy by end of March
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Launch with a Kickstarter, audiobooks, and a rapid release
After that, likely candidates include Veil of Shadows and Magus of Gaul, with voting open to higher-tier patrons.
A Personal Note
Finally, I want to address the big change I mentioned: returning to full-time writing.
This has been planned carefully over several years. I almost made the leap last year but chose to build more stability first. Now the timing is right, and I’m stepping fully back into life as a full-time author.
I’ve missed this deeply. And I’m excited — and a little terrified — to give everything I have to the stories waiting to be told.
Thank you for being here. Thank you for listening. Thank you for walking this road with me.
Much love to you and yours.
Happy New Year.
I’ll see you again in 2026.