While it’s easy to look back on 2016 with the pessimistic eyes of a bored cynic, I have to say that it was, for me, incredibly productive and satisfying. “The People’s Champion” found its way onto Amazon, I’m nearly finished crafting its sequel (the third and final novel in the Aidan’s War trilogy) “One World, One People,” and I started outlining and researching several follow-up projects that I am very excited to bring into this world!
Here are my upcoming projects for the year in no particular order:
- An alternate reality political thriller novella called The Republic. In the rugged country of Krebenkya, a beleaguered president turns to a crime syndicate boss for help quelling protests in the capitol. What begins as a simple exchange of favors becomes a nightmare for citizens as the president responds to every crisis with increasingly repressive and Machiavellian measures which threaten to transform their free republic into an authoritarian police state. Not sure why, but I really can’t get this story out of my head lately!
- A graphic novel called A Thousand Deaths. I’ve documented some of the relevant research here and here. A gladiator named Priscus struggles to maintain his cultural identity as a Briton and survives in the arena with the help of his friend Verus. When Emperor Titus declares a hundred days of games to celebrate the completion of the Colosseum, the two are made to face each other in mortal combat where there can be only one winner… unless they find a way to change the game.
- The beginning of a high fantasy series featuring two mighty nations locked in an unwinnable struggle defined by proxy wars and espionage. The first novel, name yet to be determined, will revolve around several characters in various stations around this world and how their lives are impacted by the seemingly eternal state of vigilance. Oh, and there’s combat gliders!
- A horror novella featuring a disaffected youth who decides he’d rather be a vampire. After finding a willing nightwalker, he soon grows addicted to the dark powers and decides to settle some old scores. But actions have consequences, even for the undead…
- As a longshot, there’s one more graphic novel I’d like to make this year that I’ve been developing on-and-off for about twenty years. It is the story of a young Japanese engineer who is chosen by a magical katana to become an instrument of justice. Making herself into a ninja, she goes to war against the Yakuza who killed her best friend but soon finds that true justice is much more complicated than just punching bad guys.
And there you have it, my stated goals for 2017! Will I get it all finished? I hope so. But whether or not it all comes to fruition, it’s nice to have a plan.