R.K. Lander January Update
Populating the Writer's Agenda
It’s the uphill trudge, new diary open on my desktop - a real pen and paper job. I know! I was born in the previous century, I can’t help it.
First up, I’ll be travelling to Ireland for the Ireland Publishing Show in Dromoland. It just happens to be starting on St. Patrick’s day. Dear gods the things that can happen with a room full of indie authors and a bar… Some of the issues I’ll be looking to discuss are Substack, serialising novels, and the angst-provoking question of Facebook ads.
After that, I’ll need a few months to recover, by which time, we’ll be close to summer. I was debating about going to Author Nation in Vegas, but right now, I’m not sure a trip to the states is such a good idea. I’ll keep chewing on that one.
So as you can see, I’m keeping this year relatively free of commitments. Starting a new project is always very involving.
The Silvan is El Silvano
I am still in the throes of translating the original series into Spanish. Dawn of a Legend has just come out, (Amanecer de Una Leyenda), and I am currently working on Return of a Warlord, (Retorno del Paladín). Do I need a separate Substack for my Spanish readers? Yikes!
Quest For Adakia
Book four of Silvan Outlands is on target for an April release, and once the drafting has finished, I’ll be starting on something new…
Untitled Epic Romantasy? Fantasy? Hybrid… thingy?
It actually does have a title, but I’ll get to that at a later date. There is a massive debate going on in my head right now about whether I should publish a romantasy under a different pen name. I’ll be asking my fellow indies about this. I think one of the questions to be discussed is how romantic it gets before it is no longer romantic epic fantasy and becomes romantasy. In other words, is romance the main thread of the series? The answer is - NO. It’s definitely romantic, much more than my previous series, but it’s also not Fourth Wing grade romantasy either. On the other hand, I know that many of my readers are not keen on romance, even if they do endure it to a limited extent. You see the dilemma? To what extent will my current readers want to read romance, even if it is in an epic fantasy environment?
There’s a lot to think about this year, so I’m gonna keep it simple, knuckle down, and bear the brunt of what promises to be a choppy 2026. Meanwhile, if you’re looking for something to fill your kindle, check out this collection of fantasy series starters.
Time for a nice cup of tea and a quick siesta. I’ve earned it! Until next time, take care of yourselves.
R.K. Lander
Dear R.K.
As an American living in a blue state just across the river from Portland, Or where there has been a certain amount of unrest, some of it deliberately misrepresented, I humbly suggest that you avoid the US at this time. The behavior towards perfectly innocent people crossing the border for very ordinary reasons has been unpredictable and rises to the level of deliberate harassment. No one needs that. Plus the situation is so unstable it is impossible to predict what may happen over the next few months.
"To what extent will my current readers want to read romance, even if it is in an epic fantasy environment? "
I'd be very interested in that, especially if it's still got a male POV like the rest of your work.