Some bad news for this week. Book #4 in the Inheritance of Magic series, A Progression of Demons, has had its publication delayed. It’s now going to be released four months later than originally planned, on March 23rd, 2027.
This delay is the decision of my publisher. I sent in the first draft of Book #4 around the beginning of November 2025, which would have given them 12 months to handle editing, copy-editing, and the rest of the publication process. Unfortunately they didn’t get started on this process until almost halfway through said 12-month window. The full story is long and not particularly interesting, but the short version is that they sat on the manuscript for the first 5 months, finally (in response to my increasingly irate emails) began work on the edits in May, and then decided that since they now only had 7 months left, they’d have to push the release date back to compensate. Even with these delays, the book could still be made ready for publication this autumn – it’s currently at the proofreading stage and I’ll be sending the proof back this month – but they’ve decided not to.
Needless to say, I’m really annoyed by all this. I don’t always hit my deadlines for my books, but I usually get pretty close, and I work really hard to stay as near to them as possible so that the books can keep coming out on a once-per-year schedule. Working flat-out to finish a book, sending it off, waiting for months and months with no communication, then finally having my publisher essentially tell me “oh yeah, we just didn’t get around to it” is infuriating, particularly since they didn’t even bother to tell me about the changed publication date (in fact, I only became aware of it because some of you guys noticed the changed release date on Amazon). The longer the wait between books in a series, then the harder it becomes for readers to remember what happened in the last one, and the more likely it becomes that they’ll drift away and forget about it. So this sort of delay hurts my sales and readership.
Unfortunately, there’s not much I can do about it, so I’m just going to have to put up with it. I’m still working on Book #5 in the meantime, which (I suppose) is now going to be finished months and months before the publication of Book #4. Hopefully I’ll be able to get them to publish it in November, so you guys will get two books next year. If not, we’ll just have to see.
I’m really sorry this happened. You clearly put in the work to keep the series on schedule, so it’s understandable that you’re upset. Thanks for keeping us informed and for continuing to work so hard on the series despite the setback. The wait will be longer than we’d hoped, but I’m still looking forward to reading “A Progression of Demons” when it’s ready.
That really sucks. What surprises me most is the lack of communication. Waiting months before beginning edits is one thing, but not even telling you about the release date change until readers spotted it is another. I completely understand why you’re frustrated. I’ll be there on release day regardless.
Well said Jorgen, I agree 100%
My sentiments exactly! Please point the way so we can leave some disappointed emails, unless you think that might not be a good idea?
I’m really sorry to hear that they’ve been messing you around. My pre-order remains in place and I’ll happily buy two books next year if they can get them both published.
How frustrating! I’m sorry they are doing that! They really should compensate you for lost income due to their delay! 🙁
How unfortunate. It is what it is though. I’ll continue to wait either way.
How is the progress on book 5 coming along anyways?
Also, will there be more drucraft articles in the waiting time?
Very sorry to hear the news and also the casual way they have treated you. Sometimes these things may happen for good reasons but it seems in this case it is sheer incompetence on their part. No wonder you are angry as this will, no doubt, hit both readership numbers and revenue flow.
The creative side of writing is the part where it will be difficult to accurately predict timescales and the process of Copy-Editing should be pretty routine for them and they should know their own business!
Sadly there isn’t much that you’ll be able to do about it other than continue with Book#5 and trust that it will be processed in time for publication in November (?) 2027 (I assume that Book#5 is still going well)
Let’s hope that the Amazon Kindle offer increases the number of people following this excellent series!
As irksome as this may be (first world problems!), it’s difficult to be too mad at them as we see the entire publishing industry groaning under the weight of declining readership and AI-slop.
I really appreciate you keeping us in the loop, and if we get book 5 reasonably soon after 4, it will all be water under the bridge.
I’m so sorry this happened.
Really stupid question that is off topic. I am not a big fan of generative AI, but I was thinking….have you considered running your drafts through AI review cycles? I can’t imagine you could get something to write in your voice, but analysis does seem to be a strong suit. Get rid of the petty stuff at least?
I can’t really see any way that’d help much.
A separate question from the last book. Steven is trying to sell aurum, but he never (at least in the pages) considers asking his dad (who knows about the raiding plan) for where he might find a buyer.
I wondered about this too, but then I assumed that perhaps his father didn’t have enough connections, because like you said he is aware of the raiding plan.
Or… Maybe Stephen never thought of asking his father, and will realize said option some time in the future?
Stephen did mention it, but his dad doesn’t have those sorts of connections.
Stephen’s Dad can get access to classified military development programs, but has not a clue who might buy aurum? It would seem to me that Charles, Stephen’s Mother and Marcus might know as well. If there are raiders, then they must sell their aurum. It would be good business to know who the buyers are before you do a raid. If you are in the business of selling sigils and aurum, it would be a good idea to know where raiders might take your stuff.
And just so it doesn’t seem weird…Stephen says, “Marcus, as you know I used to be a locator. One of my problems was that I used to get attacked by raiders before the corporation showed up. Got me to thinking, who do the raiders sell their aurum to?”
Military connections and criminal connections aren’t the same thing. Selling aurum in this manner is the equivalent of selling an expensive stolen car. Most people, even quite experienced/well-connected people, do not have the contacts/experience to sell an expensive stolen car.
Thats unfortunate. Seems like the corporations are giving you the cold shoulder for telling the public about magic.
Aw, that sucks. Sorry about that. On the other side, this seems a very good opportunity to restart reading Inheritance of Magic from volume 1 to 5 in same year! A very nice refreshment. 🙂
Well, I for one still anticipate it eagerly.
Well that is a such a bummer re the release date, especially as you are such a professional and efficient author ! I’ve been so impressed by the way you’ve outlined your writing process and timelines. About readers potentially drifting away from a series or forgetting what’s happened in previous books, I don’t know how many other readers do this, but when a new book in a series comes out I usually re-read the series from the beginning and then incorporate the latest so I’m fully engaged in the storyline. I guess you can’t count on everyone doing that but I certainly get my money’s worth out of my/your books.
If you’d like us to start sending unhinged emails to your publisher, you need only say the word!
Oh, yeah. I just checked in because I thought book 4 was coming out now. I am very annoyed. They had ONE JOB.
I’m sorry you had to deal with this Benedict, I just finished re-listening to the series and it was still awesome. It’s nice to be able to check in on your site and get the details. I know it won’t stop me from following you and supporting the series. Thanks again!
Such a disappointment on the pushed out publishing date. I got in the habit with the Alex Versus series that I’d reread all the books before the new book came out. It got so I really looked forward to the reread, and the new book at the end. Since we’re only 4 books in the reread doesn’t take as long, so I lose that enjoyment also this year! I might just reread this year and again next year. I add my hopes that you can get your publisher to put out 2 books for you next year!
That is infuriating, but it will give me a good excuse to just re-read (or listen to) them all again in the run up to the new release date! Love your books!!