Reference books. We tend to accumulate them in the natural course of our writing projects, whatever they may be. After all, Google doesn’t have all the answers, and while any single citation should be taken with a grain of salt, the ones you find on the internet need something more along the lines of a 50 lb bag. A source of reliable information is to be treasured, and since I’m going to be packing them up soon (oh, they are SO going with me), I thought I’d mention a few. I’ll concentrate on those I’ve found especially useful for the Yamada series and why, since I’ve been asked about them so apparently some people are curious.
Tag Archives: Demon Hunter
Thing One and Thing Two
Time for another update, since things have happened. Things don’t always happen, you know. It’s that whole “Feast or Famine” situation I’ve mentioned before. Most days the only update would be, “Wrote XXXX number of words today. Can’t think straight. It all looks like garbage right now.” I mean, can you imagine 360 blog posts exactly like that, with maybe five about something else? No one would read that. Heck, *I* wouldn’t read that.
Ahem. Getting off course a little bit. The things: First of all Rich Horton has picked up “The Manor of Lost Time” from Beneath Ceaseless Skies #150 for his Year’s Best Science Fiction & Fantasy 2015. This will be the first time I’ve had work in one of Rich’s YBs, so I’m pleased.
The other thing goes a little beyond a reprint fee and an ego boost: Both books in the Yamada Monogatari series, Demon Hunter and To Break the Demon Gate are “Out of Stock.” Now, this does not mean that there are none left. Amazon and B&N still have a few of Demon Hunter and a few more of To Break the Demon Gate, but the book’s distributor does not have any more. Which means that the distributor cannot fulfill new orders and there is a backlog of orders waiting, especially with the second book. As a result, TBTDG is going back to press for an extra 1500 copies, which brings the total run up to 4500. Bear in mind, Prime Books is a relatively small publisher, so this is a big deal. It’s even possible that DH will get a reprint as well, though that has not been determined.
Now it’s likely that the next in the series, The War God’s Son, will get a larger initial run. I’m happy, the publisher is happy (astonished, but happy), though with larger runs comes larger expectations. We’ll see how it goes, but for now at least it’s a Good Thing.
Things Here, Things on the Way
Before I get the next installment of Power’s Shadow up, I do have a few developments I’d like to share. The first is that the Audible.com audiobook edition of Yamada Monogatari: Demon Hunter, is now live. This is from their announcement introducing the voice talent for the book: “Brian Nishii is a bicultural, bilingual performer from Tokyo. As an actor and dancer, he has worked with theatre companies such as La Mama’s Great Jones Company, Robert Wilson, In Mixed Company, Fluid Motion, Crossing Jamaica Avenue, and The South Wing. Film and television credits include Robot Stories, Sex and the City, and Law & Order (CI). He also provides lead vocals and antics for the colorful band, HappyFunSmile. He currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife and baby boy.”
You can find the Audible edition here.
Second, and in a clear sign of the changing times and paradigms, the Kindle edition of Yamada Monogatari: To Break the Demon Gate is now fully pre-orderable through Amazon just like the print edition, so if you prefer reading on the Kindle, we’ve got you covered.
That’s all for now. Next up, Power’s Shadow, Chapter 6, Part 2.
Updates–Because Things Happen
You’re looking at what is probably the final cover for the Prime Books edition of Yamada Monogatari: To Break the Demon Gate, barring any last minute tweaks. The original–and still official–publication date is December 3rd, but there’s a chance that will be moved up to mid- November. I’ll let everyone know once I know. I still have some hope that the PS limited edition will be out before then, but right now it’s anybody’s guess. The third Yamada book, The War God’s Son is scheduled for mid 2015. I expect at least one more Yamada novel after that, though of course to some degree that depends on the next two.
Power’s Shadow continues to progress. I crossed the 40k threshold last week, so it’s officially a novel by SFWA standards. The story should wrap up at 60-65k words, maybe 70k at the outside. As of now I have no plans to discontinue the serial, so as long as I can stay ahead on the installments, I’ll keep posting them until the book is done. If I finish ahead of the installments, though, I’ll likely put the ebook edition out rather than waiting to catch up. That’s just theoretical, and probably far too optimistic. As with life itself, we’ll see what happens next.
Yamada Monogatari: Demon Hunter – Audible Update
Audible.com has already cast the voice actor who is going to be doing the narration for Demon Hunter, and possibly To Break the Demon Gate as well. I don’t think I can mention his name just yet, but he’s bilingual and was born in Tokyo, so I doubt they could have found anyone more qualified. Normally in a case like this we’d be in contact for any questions the voice actor might have, but I rather imagine he won’t need the pronounciation guide. More likely he’ll be able to point out anything I got wrong, so we’ll see how it goes. I think it’s going to turn out great, and I can’t wait to hear it. Once I get a firm release date I’ll be sure to post that. Post? Heh. I’ll be shouting it from the rooftops.
Yamada Monogatari: To Break the Demon Gate has its own page now at Prime Books, with a listing of places where you can pre-order. Early ordering does as much good for a book as anything–it nudges suppliers into ordering more copies and helps get the word out, so if you’re going to get the book anyway (and why wouldn’t you?), it couldn’t be much easier. Besides, most sources will have it for less than list.
One last note: Prime has also listed Yamada Monogatari: The War God’s Son in their official schedule for October 2015. Once we have the cover art set I’ll put it up here, so stay tuned.
Note: Edited to fix some obvious typos and incorrect usage. As the old saying goes, “I always know better. I just don’t always do better.”