First, I got the rights back to the Matador novels, and sooner than expected. What this means is that Dan Moran and I will discuss this, to the end of listing the titles in his ebook store in the not-too-distant future. I don't have a precise date because we have things to do first, contracts, cover designs, editing for assorted e-platforms, and a consideration of the possibilities of print-on-demand. I've discussed this latter business a time or five, and I don't see that it is a winner–even if we get the price down to that of a mass-market paperback, there is still the cost of shipping to be tacked onto that. But if a line forms and runs around the block, maybe.
Once Dan and I hammer out the details–mostly this means Dan does all the work and I nod and smile a lot–I'll post here and on Facebook and like that to let people know what's what.
Dan's books are available in all popular formats, so whatever reader you have, you should be able to upload and use his files just fine.
It is still my intent to add new titles to the series, two of which are in-progress, Churl, and The Siblings of the Shroud.
Churl is a direct sequel, twenty years or so after Black Steel. Siblings is a follow-up to The Musashi Flex.
Second thing, to which I've referred in passing: It seems as if I'll be doing a new military space opera series for Ace, to number at least three books.
A couple months back, I floated a potential opening for a few readers and got their feedback. I dialed this down and punched that up, sanded and polished it, then pitched it to Ace, and they went for it. The series will be called Cutter's Wars. It won't be the Matadors, but I confess I wouldn't be completely surprised if fans of that series found something to like in the new one.
Once I've signed the contracts I'll be more forthcoming about delivery and publication and the like, but in theory we have a deal.
What else?
Oh, the artwork contest, to design an alien? I got a few entries, a couple of them not bad, but so far, nobody has hit the mark. I figured I'd get more submissions, but apparently there aren't as many starving artists out there as I thought.