Join Tuesdays as I ask a Fun Question that’s been on my mind. I’ll give you my take, but I really hope you’ll jump in with your answers too, since I’m really curious to know what my fellow readers and bloggers think! So today’s question is…
When Author’s Just Stop?
As an author myself..excuse me while I hyperventilate a second about the truth of that statement…Squeee! OMG!… Okay, I’m done. Anyway as I was saying – as an author myself, I fully understand that for many authors writing isn’t their only job. It’s the job they love most and want to do most, but also the one that has to be put on the back burner when life demands too much of us. In my case, that’s not a huge deal, because I have like a grand total of 5 people who care that they’re still waiting for more of Eric’s or Elle’s or Nicole’s story.
But some authors who seem to just stop – and I’m not blaming them, I totally get it. They have lives and health problems and money issues, etc – but some of these authors have huge audiences who are just desperate for more. And as part of that audience, I’m dying!
I have two authors currently in this state of “will there ever be more?” Though the reasons (and possibly answers), I think, are on opposite ends of the spectrum.
The first is Stacia Kane, author of the really amazing Downside Ghosts. Her last new, full length novel came out January 1st, 2012. Three years ago. The next book in the series currently sits on goodreads called “Untitled (Downside Ghosts #6). Now what gives me hope here is that Stacia has maintained an online presence and has still published short stories. Every time she has a blog post go up and I get the email notification, I (and I imagine most of her fans) run to the site just hoping she’ll be announcing some really good news. It hasn’t happened yet, but at least she’s keeping me hopeful.
Unlike my other “will there ever be more?” author, Kalayna Price. I discovered her Alex Craft/Grave Witch series this past October and I binge read all three books, thinking “there’s another one coming March 2015, so it wont be a long wait.” And then, after finishing the last book I started trying to setup the usual twitter, blog, facebook stalking of an author that I don’t want to miss anything about. And that’s when my heart sank – Kalayna has a facebook page, last used April 14, 2014… Not talking about writing but about twitter. Which she also last used April 14, 2014 with this tweet:
I logged onto twitter today for the first time in months . . . and discovered my default language had reset to Russian. =<
— Kalayna Price (@kalayna) April 14, 2014
Not exactly what you expect from an author with a book due out soon… But maybe she’s not into social media and her blog/website says more? Nope. Her website was last updated January 31, 2012 and her blog was last updated December 2, 2013. Here I start to read that some personal life things (sounds like health) made her have to step back. My heart cries. Not only do I feel bad for her, but I start to realize that despite the fact the book is titled and has a fabulous cover on goodreads with a publish date of March 2015, Amazon may be more correct when it says “currently unavailable.” But I hold out hope. Because I need more.
Has this happened to you? Do you hold out hope? Or do you just accept that its over?
Bea
Twitter: BeasBookNook
I just saw on Facebook that Kalayna Price (now writing as Kalayna Nicole) is back and has a new book coming out soon.
Bea recently posted…Bea Reviews Slayed on the Slopes by Kate E. Dyer-Seeley
Berls
Twitter: BerlsS
OMG! Seriously?!? You just made my day! time to go hunt her book down 🙂
Jen Twimom
Twitter: twimom227
Yes! this makes me sad. There are two authors that come to mind immediately for me. One – Anya Bast, had health issues and documented them on her blog for a short while, but then… nothing. Another is Britt Bury… I read her debut title and LOVED, then never heard from her again. *sobs*
Jen Twimom recently posted…Sunday Snippet: Simon’s Splinter by James Fant
Berls
Twitter: BerlsS
It sucks huh? espeically when you completley understand why – like health issues. It’s not their fault and I feel a little bad for wishing they’d keep writing!
Lorna
Twitter: Mollykatie112
i have had this happen more than a few times, and I usually just get pissed. Most notably Keri Arthur’s recent UF series that ended at 3 books when there was supposed to be 5. I was so mad that I had wasted my time with it. Also recently, another favorite series was ended because the author was going through a bad divorce. I hate that for her, but I totally understand-AND she let us know it was the last book. So that’s the difference for me.(author’s name Debora Geary)
Berls
Twitter: BerlsS
Oh I know what you mean with Keri Arthur – the series with Generation 18 and Penumbra right? I was so frustrated that it got cut so short! It’s hard when the reason are fair, because thay doesn’t change that I really want more!
Lorna
Twitter: Mollykatie112
Yes that’s the series I meant-thanks, I couldn’t remember the name. The one that had a good reason, did in fact conclude the series so we weren’t left hanging-but I think she concluded it way early.
Lorna recently posted…Review: Shadow Sight by E.J. Stevens
Berls
Twitter: BerlsS
Ahh so she rushed the ending… better than being left hanging, but still not 100% fulfilling.
Katherine
Twitter: KEPitts1
One of my favorite mystery writers just stopped a few years ago and it makes me want to cry! Her website has a book listed that’s she’s supposedly working on but it hasn’t been updated in awhile. I feel like they should release a statement or something instead of just leaving us all hopeful!
Katherine recently posted…Serbian Cooking – Cookbook Review
Berls
Twitter: BerlsS
That’s what I wish too. If it’s over, can you please just tell me so I won’t sit around hoping?
Berls recently posted…Lady Isabella’s Scandalous Marriage by Jennifer Ashley
Danielle
Twitter: DanielleCRomero
I read the Mona Lisa series by Sunny YEARS ago when I was really big into library books and then it just ended and it’s been over 4yrs I think since she’s published anything else and the series never really ended. It’s sad 🙁 especially when you really want to know what comes next
Berls
Twitter: BerlsS
Yikes 4 years is not a good sign :/ sucks when it just stops and you don’t even know why! Worst is when you’re on a bit of cliff, like both of my series I mentioned.
Berls recently posted…Lady Isabella’s Scandalous Marriage by Jennifer Ashley
Lola
Twitter: lolasreviews
It’s so frustrating when that happens. I ocne had that happen with a manga series I followed and then suddenly the next book never came. Some author have long pauses between releases, but if there are stil active on social media and talking about books, that probably means it’s just a long wait. But when an author seemingly drops from the internet and is never heard of again? That’s sad and a bit frustrating as you want that next book. I don’t think this recently happened, but I can imagine the feeling. It’s nice when they leave a message or something about what’s going so their fans understand, but maybe they don’t want to say goodbye for certian and hope they can eventually go back to writing?
Lola recently posted…Lola’s Ramblings: Ten things you might not know about me part 2
Berls
Twitter: BerlsS
I think you’re right – they probably don’t want to say that they won’t be back because they WANT to be back. But boy does it suck to not know one way or the other. I wish they’d drop in every few months to say “I still hope to come back but not looking good” or something.
Berls recently posted…Lady Isabella’s Scandalous Marriage by Jennifer Ashley
Julie
Twitter: juliecookies
It is so sad when authors just disappear. I guess I get sad for a bit until the next shiny comes up. Unless it is a favorite author of mine, I don’t tend to get too attached.
Julie recently posted…Book Review – Wicked
Berls
Twitter: BerlsS
I know exactly what you mean about the next shiny. I’m sure I have several more authors than the one’s I mentioned that have disappeared. These two are the ones that really stick with me because I HAVE to know what happens next. It kills me to think I might never know 🙁
Berls recently posted…My TBR List | April 2015 Voting
anna (herding cats & burning soup)
I have two authors that just…disappeared. Everything went radio silent on them. It’s really curious and frustrating too. I’m hoping one day they’ll pop back in but so far it’s been 3-4 years with nothing. :/
anna (herding cats & burning soup) recently posted…Meant for Me (Blurred Lines #4) by Erin McCarthy
Berls
Twitter: BerlsS
It sucks right? I know they are people with issues of their own and I get it, but they created these amazing characters and worlds and I miss them 🙁
Rachelle
Twitter: thereadingwench
I had something similar happen with the World Devoured serial by Emma J.R. Hawk. I reviewed the first part and was told by the publisher that a new part would be released every week. 2 weeks later, the 2nd part was finally released, and then after that, nothing. I was pissed, not only because I had enjoyed them, but also because I specified in my review what I had been told by the publisher, and had been recommending the serial to anyone I thought would be interested.
Rachelle recently posted…Monday’s Minutes #11
Berls
Twitter: BerlsS
Oh that’s even worse, because you’ve been recommending it and thinking you’re speaking from a place of credibility :/
Lexxie
Twitter: mclexxie
OMG, I am dying for a long Terrible and Chess fix, too, Berls! I am trying very hard to be patient, and to help me out, I’m very slowly listening to the audiobooks 🙂
I guess there isn’t really much we can do, apart from staying patient, and hoping for the best when it comes to our favorite authors who haven’t been able to publish for a while…
Lexxie recently posted…Review: Confess – Colleen Hoover
Berls
Twitter: BerlsS
I know 🙁 its hard! LOL! I think the waiting wouldn’t be so bad, if I had 100% confidence that there’s more coming. In the case of Kalayna Price, I’m not even close to that. With Stacia I’ve got about 90% confidence, so that helps!
Terri M., the Director
Twitter: 2ndRunReviews
After I finished the Abhorsen series by Garth Nix along with Across the Wall which contained a short story in the same world/universe, I was desperately hoping for more books in that series. I had given up all hope until Clariel was released last year. 🙂
I think it might be harder now to wait because we are so connected to authors. They share what they are doing via social media and because of sites like Amazon and GoodReads we know when the next release will be. It makes the wait harder, but would it be that hard if we didn’t have access to social media?
Terri M., the Director recently posted…Book Review 77: Silk by Chris Karlsen
Berls
Twitter: BerlsS
That’s a really good point Terri. Perhaps being so aware actually makes the wait worse. If we just found out when books were released (much like I used to before I discovered the blog world) then we wouldn’t be so expectant for updates.
Ramona
Twitter: RamonaWray
Aww, poor Berls! You know, there’s a pattern from what I noticed. Some do the online-thing with some frequency, but there are others who only pop online in between projects. But there are also cases when an author gets stuck on a story. Unfortunately, it can take years to get un-stuck… Which might be the case here. Either that, or life gets in the way – in a really BIG way. What can you do? Take heart, ducks, things might get better yet! 🙂
Ramona recently posted…Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop
Berls
Twitter: BerlsS
I’m keeping my fingers firmly crossed! I know there’s so many reasons that authors seem to stall out on us, hell I do it myself with my writing. It just sucks to wait 🙁 Of course there are much bigger things to worry about – it’s just on my mind because Grave Visions by Kalayna Price was due out this month (I believe that’s the third release date to pass us by…)
Jonetta (Ejaygirl)
Twitter: ejaygirl77
Here I wait with you and so many others waiting for more of Terrible and Chess. Who knows sometimes what stalls an author? I just wish she or he would just communicate with readers.
I’m a fan of Amanda Stevens’ Graveyard Queen series and have been waiting impatiently for the fourth book (it’s been three years). However, the author did let us know that, tragically, she’d lost her husband. That wiped away all fragments of my annoyance. I’ll gratefully wait for however long she needs.
Harlan Coben’s popular Myron Bolitar series stalled at the tenth book. The author has communicated to me personally he’s not done with the series. He just needed a break to right the standalone books living in his heart. It’s been four years since the last was released. Hope springs eternal!
Jonetta (Ejaygirl) recently posted…Secrets & Romance! Hero by Samantha Young
Berls
Twitter: BerlsS
Oh wow! 🙁 It’s more than understandable about Amanda Stevens – even if she never published again who could hop that against her? And I don’t really hold it against authors, I totally get that life happens. But like you said, it would be nice if they’d communicate. Even if it’s just to tell me to stop waiting, it’s never gonna happen.
Stormi
Twitter: 1975
I think it sucks with authors stop, I don’t know if they just give up, work gets in the way or they can’t find a publisher. If they self pub it could be a matter of money as you want it to look and read great. It’s kind of a bummer that two of your favorites have kind of fell by the wayside..maybe they will make a comeback. 🙂
Stormi recently posted…Tuesday Teaser: Liars, Inc
Berls
Twitter: BerlsS
Fingers crossed! I think Stacia will eventually and I’m just holding on to hope that Kalayna will too, since I ADORED her series. I know they’re are many reasons, it just sucks 🙁 LOL! #firstworldproblems right?
Bookworm Brandee
Stephenie Meyer?!? I waited and waited for more from her but something tells me not to hold my breath. 😉 Great post, Berls. I knew Stacia was making us wait – although it hasn’t affected me since I’m behind. 🙂 But that stinks about Kalayna. Well, you’ll have a great reason to re-read the series, right? *ha*
Bookworm Brandee recently posted…Teaser Tuesday ~ #60
Berls
Twitter: BerlsS
Oh yes! See Stephanie Meyer is one that crossed over from patiently (ha!) waiting to “never gonna happen” so firmly in mind I even forgot her when writing this. That’s a different problem, I think, though. Instead of having issues (like no money – again, ha!) I think she just found other, more lucrative interests. Producing and all.
Red Iza
It has happened and I accept that this author won’t publish any more. On one hand, officially, I’m happy because I’ve already got so many books to read ! On the other hand, secretely, I keep stalking the net regularly every months for certain possibilities of books, just in case, you know 😉
Red Iza recently posted…Review / Ayana Prende : The anatomy of desire
Berls
Twitter: BerlsS
LOL I know what you mean – I certainly don’t NEED more books. But tell my heart that! So I stalk social media and blogs periodically, just hoping!