By the time I picked up The Dark Citadel again with the third book, I’d changed a lot as a writer, become more focused. Instead of trying to go in every possible direction, I kept an eye on bringing the war to a conclusion, answering questions about griffins, wizards, and dragons along the way. There was so much fantastical material in the first two books that I fought hard to keep from getting into the weeds and exploring it all, making a decision in favor of an active, engaging plot.
Alert readers will note that some of the events mentioned in The Dark Citadel don’t always match 100% with what actually happens in The Red Sword. I’m happy if you tell yourself that this is because the details of the earlier war had become confused with the passage of time and generations, but I’ll be honest. It’s because I needed to stay out of the weeds.
The history of Soultrup and Memnet is certainly there, and we see how the destruction of Syrmarria laid the foundation for Balsalom to rise from its ashes. I also answered the questions about the Desolation of Toth. Hopefully, that was satisfying, even as it was horrifying to witness.
But as I started to think about Jethro the Martyr, I thought I would change these details. I also left off the cloud kingdoms because it was simply too much for this series, but that leaves plenty of ideas for a follow-up series to this one. I won’t give too much away on that score, apart from saying we don’t yet know how the cloud kingdoms were created, we have a lot of questions about the dragon wasps, and our order of wizards is in chaos.
So yes, I’ve got another trilogy in mind. How quickly I start work depends in large part upon the sales of this one. I’m writing these lines exactly one week before the release of the first book in the series, so I really have no idea how well it will sell. But peering in my own orb of power, I can see ways in which this happens more quickly, and that rests in part on your shoulders.
If you loved The Red Sword Trilogy, a review on Amazon really helps readers find the books, which speeds that process along. Just like those early readers of The Dark Citadel, you can do your part to bring about the books you love to read.
Meanwhile, thanks again, and I hope you’ll check out some of my other books while you’re waiting. If you’ve already read The Dark Citadel series, and are willing to venture a little out of your comfort zone, the three overlapping series of The Starship Blackbeard universe give you ten full books of adventure and imagination to explore. Try the first book here!
The Emerald Crown (The Red Sword Trilogy Book 3) Page 30
