My new historical novel, The Crescent Spy, is officially available for sale. I really loved writing this book and its boiling cauldron of tension playing out in the Civil War.
From the Booklist revew:
Tense battle scenes, cutthroat newspaper politics, and a mysterious
backstory complete for attention in the prolific Wallace’s latest.
And from the Historical Novel Review:
The battle scenes are sharp and realistic, the descriptions of river
life and New Orleans vivid, and her growing attraction to Frank adds
spice to this engrossing novel.
I'm a little late on the announcement, as I was in Ecuador. Now that I'm back, I'm in the thick of things and writing again. I've finished initial work on The Red Sword, which will make readers of The Dark Citadel happy. There's some question as to who will be publishing it, so I have no official announcement yet. I've also started work on another historical novel set in WWII, this one taking place during the capture of the Philippines by the Japanese in 1942.
Saturday, November 21, 2015
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Writing Update
Hello my small but loyal cadre of blog readers. Sorry I haven't been updating this recently, but it has been a crazy summer, full of travel and promotion and trying to keep my head above water on various projects.
So what am I working on? First of all, Rebellion of Stars releases next week. It's the final book in the series, and it will be exciting to wrap up the saga of Captain Drake and his rebellious crew. We're not done with them, by any stretch, but I've got work to do before I pick up again, and this will resolve the big story with Admiral Malthorne. I really like how it turned out.
As for future releases, two more historicals are on their way. The first, Crescent Spy, is already available for pre-order. The second, Victoria Crossing, won't be out until summer, as it's wending its way through my publisher's editorial system. It will be exciting to see what Lake Union does with it. I've been very happy with how they've handled things so far, and I love my LU editors, cover people, and publicity department.
But if all that other stuff is done, what am I writing? Well, I don't want to share that with you, but let's say that one group of readers is likely to be very happy, and another will have their hopes disappointed. Until I can clone myself or stick to one genre, that's likely to be the case going forward. Sorry about that, but I hope you'll branch out from what you usually read and give some of my other stuff a try if you haven't already.
So what am I working on? First of all, Rebellion of Stars releases next week. It's the final book in the series, and it will be exciting to wrap up the saga of Captain Drake and his rebellious crew. We're not done with them, by any stretch, but I've got work to do before I pick up again, and this will resolve the big story with Admiral Malthorne. I really like how it turned out.
As for future releases, two more historicals are on their way. The first, Crescent Spy, is already available for pre-order. The second, Victoria Crossing, won't be out until summer, as it's wending its way through my publisher's editorial system. It will be exciting to see what Lake Union does with it. I've been very happy with how they've handled things so far, and I love my LU editors, cover people, and publicity department.
But if all that other stuff is done, what am I writing? Well, I don't want to share that with you, but let's say that one group of readers is likely to be very happy, and another will have their hopes disappointed. Until I can clone myself or stick to one genre, that's likely to be the case going forward. Sorry about that, but I hope you'll branch out from what you usually read and give some of my other stuff a try if you haven't already.
Monday, June 1, 2015
Crow Hollow
It's finally pub date! I've had a great early lift for Crow Hollow thanks to a great promotion through Amazon's Kindle First program, which allowed Amazon Prime members to get the book in the month before release. Now, it's time for the book to stand on its own.
This was an unusual book to write. At times, it felt like I was writing a fantasy novel, with the setting almost medieval, a clash of two alien cultures (Puritan and Native American), and a need for me to research old weapons and other technology.
Other times, the characters felt not so different from what you might find in the Righteous series. I wrote eight books for Thomas & Mercer set in desert polygamous sect of Blister Creek, and came to know those characters as well as those in my own family. The religious background of my Puritan and Quaker characters of Crow Hollow is very different, but at the same time, religion infuses everything they do. It is the reason for their entire community. That part felt very comfortable.
The truth is, I loved writing this book. Okay, I love writing all my books, but this one was especially enjoyable. You know that feeling you get when you read a historical that transports you so far away that you're disoriented putting it down and returning to the 21st century? I felt that way for days and weeks at a time. It was winter, and my house in New England was blanketed with heavy snows. I would light a fire at the stone fireplace every evening when I'd finished my writing and think about my stories and setting.
It's still early, but early reviews on Crow Hollow are promising. As a writer, there's nothing more wonderful than having your favorite work become a favorite with your readers.
Other times, the characters felt not so different from what you might find in the Righteous series. I wrote eight books for Thomas & Mercer set in desert polygamous sect of Blister Creek, and came to know those characters as well as those in my own family. The religious background of my Puritan and Quaker characters of Crow Hollow is very different, but at the same time, religion infuses everything they do. It is the reason for their entire community. That part felt very comfortable.
The truth is, I loved writing this book. Okay, I love writing all my books, but this one was especially enjoyable. You know that feeling you get when you read a historical that transports you so far away that you're disoriented putting it down and returning to the 21st century? I felt that way for days and weeks at a time. It was winter, and my house in New England was blanketed with heavy snows. I would light a fire at the stone fireplace every evening when I'd finished my writing and think about my stories and setting.
It's still early, but early reviews on Crow Hollow are promising. As a writer, there's nothing more wonderful than having your favorite work become a favorite with your readers.
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Dreaming of Blister Creek
I had a dream last night that I was driving down from the Ghost Cliffs into the Blister Creek Valley. I'm vague on what I was hoping to do in Blister Creek, but I think I was trying to warn Jacob and Eliza of some emerging threat. It's almost like after eight books and all these years, my subconscious is saying "Hey, you'd better hurry and come up with the next book in the Righteous Series or you're going to miss your deadline!"
There is no longer a deadline to miss.
A view of the Ghost Cliffs, looking north from the valley.
The Ghost Cliffs don't exist, of course, and neither does the valley or the town. If you drive south from Panguitch, Utah on Highway 89, you'll find some interesting high desert scenery, but not Blister Creek. But I can certainly picture the place in my mind: the red rock maze of Witch's Warts, the neat, grid-like streets with their sprawling houses, the temple spire rising from the heart of town, the cemetery on the hill to the south. To the north, the red rock of the Ghost Cliffs, with forbidding mountain ranges framing the valley to the east and west.
I'll bet a few of you can picture it, too.
There is no longer a deadline to miss.
The Ghost Cliffs don't exist, of course, and neither does the valley or the town. If you drive south from Panguitch, Utah on Highway 89, you'll find some interesting high desert scenery, but not Blister Creek. But I can certainly picture the place in my mind: the red rock maze of Witch's Warts, the neat, grid-like streets with their sprawling houses, the temple spire rising from the heart of town, the cemetery on the hill to the south. To the north, the red rock of the Ghost Cliffs, with forbidding mountain ranges framing the valley to the east and west.
I'll bet a few of you can picture it, too.
Monday, February 16, 2015
More Updates!
Not much blog action these days, it's true, but that's because I'm writing furiously to try to keep on top of all of my projects. I worked so hard on new books last year that I thought I might take it a little easier this year, but that's not to be.
It's all good, though, since this is because the Starship Blackbeard series is off to a good start. I'm only one step ahead of my readers, working at the moment on the second draft of book #3 of the series, Dreadnought. The books where you have all the time in the world come when nobody is much paying attention. I've been there, and it's not too much fun. I'll take anxious readers any day.
I've also been writing this series around other projects. Most notably, I'm about to publish the final book of The Dark Citadel series, War of Wizards, and I'm really happy how this turned out. As a reader, there have been times when it seemed like the writer got bored of the series and mailed in the last book(s), and I never want to do that. I'm still really close to the book, so it's hard to say for sure, but I think this is my favorite book of the series, and I like how it turned out enough that I'd really like to write another trilogy set in the same world. I just need to sell a few more books of the existing series so I can justify it financially.
Also, I've got two historicals scheduled to come out with Lake Union this year, and I had so much fun writing these that I've been turning over another idea for a historical that I'm going to tackle the first moment I have some spare time.
It's all good, though, since this is because the Starship Blackbeard series is off to a good start. I'm only one step ahead of my readers, working at the moment on the second draft of book #3 of the series, Dreadnought. The books where you have all the time in the world come when nobody is much paying attention. I've been there, and it's not too much fun. I'll take anxious readers any day.
I've also been writing this series around other projects. Most notably, I'm about to publish the final book of The Dark Citadel series, War of Wizards, and I'm really happy how this turned out. As a reader, there have been times when it seemed like the writer got bored of the series and mailed in the last book(s), and I never want to do that. I'm still really close to the book, so it's hard to say for sure, but I think this is my favorite book of the series, and I like how it turned out enough that I'd really like to write another trilogy set in the same world. I just need to sell a few more books of the existing series so I can justify it financially.
Also, I've got two historicals scheduled to come out with Lake Union this year, and I had so much fun writing these that I've been turning over another idea for a historical that I'm going to tackle the first moment I have some spare time.
Saturday, January 10, 2015
On to the next!
Lords of Space is back from my editor with the final corrections. Meanwhile, War of Wizards, the last book of the Dark Citadel series, is about to head out the door. I'm sure keeping my editor busy.
Meanwhile, I just heard from my dev editor at Lake Union that my Civil War novel is in edits and that will be coming back to me soon, too. I'm really excited about both of my Lake Union books, but of course with a more traditional publisher, the process moves a little slower. For example, my May, 2015 release, Crow Hollow, was finished about a year ago, and the Civil War book was finished in the summer. But I do love writing historicals. There's nothing like the feeling of immersing yourself for months at a time in a single historical period of time. I come out of my writing every day feeling almost like a time traveler.
Take a look at the original cover art for Lords of Space. Lorenz is doing a fantastic job. He's currently at work on the cover for book #3, and I can't wait to see it. I don't want to give spoilers, but I'm sure people who have read the first book have a good idea of what scene this will be representing.
Meanwhile, I just heard from my dev editor at Lake Union that my Civil War novel is in edits and that will be coming back to me soon, too. I'm really excited about both of my Lake Union books, but of course with a more traditional publisher, the process moves a little slower. For example, my May, 2015 release, Crow Hollow, was finished about a year ago, and the Civil War book was finished in the summer. But I do love writing historicals. There's nothing like the feeling of immersing yourself for months at a time in a single historical period of time. I come out of my writing every day feeling almost like a time traveler.
Take a look at the original cover art for Lords of Space. Lorenz is doing a fantastic job. He's currently at work on the cover for book #3, and I can't wait to see it. I don't want to give spoilers, but I'm sure people who have read the first book have a good idea of what scene this will be representing.
Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Blood of the Faithful
Today is the official release date of the last book of the Righteous series, Blood of the Faithful. I have so many people who have been following me since the beginning on this long, strange journey. I have a lot I want to say about the book and the series in general, but nothing without massive spoilers! So that blog post will have to wait a few weeks until people are caught up. For now, I have mixed feelings. Blister Creek and its people have been such a part of my life over the last several years that I feel at least as sad to be finishing as I am happy.
Meanwhile, there's no getting off the treadmill. Not until someone offers me that million dollar contract, anyway. It's probably better this way. I never get to the end of the year and wish I written less. And I certainly didn't write less in 2014. I was working furiously on these two historicals for Lake Union when the year began, and even more furiously to get Starship Blackbeard off the launching pad at the end.
I've got to keep writing every single day or my readers will wander away to find someone else, all eleven of them. I'm joking (probably, hopefully). There are enough of you to keep the heat on and food on the table, for which I am very grateful.
Meanwhile, there's no getting off the treadmill. Not until someone offers me that million dollar contract, anyway. It's probably better this way. I never get to the end of the year and wish I written less. And I certainly didn't write less in 2014. I was working furiously on these two historicals for Lake Union when the year began, and even more furiously to get Starship Blackbeard off the launching pad at the end.
I've got to keep writing every single day or my readers will wander away to find someone else, all eleven of them. I'm joking (probably, hopefully). There are enough of you to keep the heat on and food on the table, for which I am very grateful.
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