Post-election Infos

Okay, the election’s over and now we can get back to business. Can we America? Time to talk about more important things, LIKE BLACKJACK.

Villain came out in early 2012, Wayward in early 2013 and DoA in late 2015. So, when’s the fourth book coming out? Blackjack 4’s going to have to wait until late 2017. We have a story ready to go, but like we did back in 2014, we’ve been distracted by another story. Unlike Interstellar Overdrive two years back, we’re actually going to finish this one, tentatively called Patriots and Tyrants. Once we’ve put this one in the can, we’re moving back to B4 with a vengeance.

Patriots and Tyrants (PATS) is a techno-thriller, without superheroes, alien battlecruisers, nor time paradoxes or powered suits. It’s something closer to reality, inspired by recent events and torn from the headlines. Writing a guy that can throw a car a city block is a ton of fun, but so is coming back to earth from time to time. From what I’ve put together so far, I think it’s a series that can go 8-10 books, like Blackjack.

I’m debating something (with myself), which is to make the B books a little bit shorter; to excise the fat and make them leaner and meaner. It would make them faster to write and edit, and mean we could do them sooner than every 2-3 years. I get carried away with stuff and let the big guy explore stuff too much, sometimes to the detriment of the reader. I don’t know. I’d love to get your thoughts.

Then again, Blackjack likes to wander, and I like going where he takes me. I’m feeling the pull again, but I’m fighting the urge, I’m doing my hardest to finish this side project before heading back to Blackjack. I’m also feeling IO, and it crushes me that we weren’t able to finish that book. Truth is, it’s a monster at almost 1,200 pages, and it’s probably best if it sits for another year or so before we come back and dust it off. Re-reading the first few chapters is all I need to feel that fire.

So it’s PATS, then B4, then IO, then B5, then PATS2. That’s the plan. Sound good?

On another note, I’m really shitty at predicting Presidents in my books. In Villain (2012), I predicted Jeb in 2016. For no other reason than I wanted to give the President a name. I don’t like it when authors in books and movies don’t name the guy, and he’s right there (like X-men 2, remember?) Well, I threw Jeb’s name in there for giggles. I don’t care about the guy. I’m from Florida and I’m frankly ambivalent. But I think I cursed the dude. My bad.

Then in Wayward, Blackjack and Battle headed to the White House to save the President. I did what I hate, put her there, without naming or anything – but she was a she and yeah, I may have cursed Hillary and ruined her chances. I take full responsibility.

I might use a President in B4 for some fun stuff I have planned to open the book, and I’m frankly scared to use anyone. I might make it President SMITH, with nothing to distinguish him or to imply any other person that might want to run in the future. Yeah, PRESIDENT SMITH!