So this brings us to the end of Book 1.  I really do want to thank you all for reading.  Seriously, just being able to share what I write means a lot to me, and if I’m really lucky then maybe it left some kind of an impression on you.

So what happens now?

Well, I’m currently waiting on the final cover-art for the book, so that I can put it up for sale on Amazon, Smashwords, and Lulu, for anyone to enjoy in print, or on their favourite e-reader.

I’m also going to be making digital copies of the book available for anyone to download, free of charge, and to share as much as they want.  That’s never going to change, and it’s never going to go away.  Every book in the Exiles series will available for free, for those that want it.

Once Book 1 is out the gate, I’m going to be sitting down to start work in earnest on the next book.  There’s obviously a lot of story still to tell.  I imagine most of you want to know what happens next for Rachael and Arsha, and where they go now that they have nowhere left to call home.  That’s where book 2 picks up, and I’m really excited to begin exploring some of the questions I left you with, and some of those hanging plot threads that I left unresolved.  I’m even more excited to get to spend more time with Rachael and Arsha, as we watch them grow up, and really begin to discover who they are.  I’ve been carrying these characters around in my head for years now, and there’s so much more of their story that I want to tell.

How I get there is the question.  Whatever happens, I want to keep telling this story.  I’ve got big plans for future books, and even bigger plans for the ending.  It’s going to be crazy epic awesome, and you’ll love it.  I’m hoping you guys will support me in getting there.

I want to be clear, I’m not a starving artist.  I work a 40 hour a week day job that pays the bills just fine (and I live in Canada, where we have wonderful things like free healthcare).  I’m not well off, but I don’t need to be, and I am able to look after myself, and I can afford a few nice toys every now and then.  But working an 8 hour day and then coming home to write for another 3 hours isn’t easy, and despite what anyone may tell you, writing is bloody hard work.  Yes, it’s satisfying, and fulfilling, and at times immensely enjoyable.  But it’s also a mind numbing grind that can suck the life out of you, and it’s not easy to squeeze that in around a full time job.  My biggest wish is that I would be able to make enough money from what I write that I can afford to quit my day job, or at least change to part-time work, and focus much more of my time and energy on telling these stories.  So every book you buy, or a friend buys because of your recommendation, helps me to do that.

If it sounds strange that I want to get paid for this, but also want to give my work away, believe me, it does make sense.  I want people to pay for this because they think it’s worth paying for.  But I don’t want to be a gatekeeper.  I want people to read my books, enjoy them, and share them, and it’s my hope that enough people will think that’s worth paying something back for that I’ll be able to make a living out of this.

I’m going to be approaching that end two different ways.  The first is offering my books for sale, for those who wish to pay for them.  It’s not necessary (unless you want a physical copy, because, obviously, those cost money to print and ship), but it is very much appreciated.  I’m also going to be setting up a Patreon account, where people who want to can support my work with a very small monthly donation.  Basically, Patreon is kind of like busking.  I share these stories with you, and if you like them you throw some change in the hat.  I think that’s a really cool idea.  For those who choose to support me on Patreon, I’m looking at offering some additional content in return.  I’d really like to put together some kind of “Director’s Commentary” style podcast where I go through the book chapter by chapter and explain my thoughts and my writing process.  I’ve always loved watching that kind of content for films and TV shows, and I think it might be really cool to do the same thing with a novel.

All of this is going to happening over the next few weeks, so for now just keep following this blog if you want all the latest on what’s happening with the Exiles series.  Book 2 will be coming, sooner or later.  Hopefully sooner.  Let’s see what happens.

I’m excited.  Nervous, but excited.  I am really am incredibly grateful to every one of you for deciding to join me on this.  Every like, every share, every reblog, reply or comment, it all makes a difference.  And even if you didn’t do any of those things, I don’t care, because just by reading this story you make a difference.  A story isn’t a story if there’s no one to tell it to.  So thank you for listening.