This page is where you will find answers to questions that have been asked in person or on social media enough times to warrant an entry. If you still haven't found the answer you're looking for at the end of this, feel free to drop me a line on the CONTACT page, or at any of my social media links at the bottom of the page.

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READING ORDER

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Q: With the stories that jump around in the timeline in the Odyssium Collection, is there a particular order in which the books should be read?

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A: At the moment, I still recommend reading the books in order of release. The only exception to that rule would perhaps be to sneak in the upcoming novella release, ORPHAN SEA, before SCRAPPER. ORPHAN SEA takes place prior to those events and features an epilogue that leads directly into SCRAPPER. Also, it doubles as a great taster for the series. By design, it includes nearly every hallmark of the Odyssium series--supernatural threats, mystery, aquatic underraces, a meshing of technology and fantasy, action, a touch of romance...and the list goes on.

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CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER

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Q: What order do the stories take place chronologically?

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A: Chronologically speaking, the order is different from the order of release, thanks largely to the Odyssium Collections. As-yet unreleased material listed is subject to change when it comes to titles and release dates. Here's the list in case any weirdos out there might someday feel an itch to go strictly according to the timeline:

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THE OTHER SIDE OF SILENCE (novella, 2018)

EVIDENCE OF MADNESS  (short story, 2024)

I BEGIN (Agents of Odyssium #1 novella, 2024)

THE HOLLOW-HEARTED (novella, 2016)

TBA (untitled novella for Odyssium Collection Vol. 3, 20??)

ORPHAN SEA (novella, 2024)

THE 13th PARAGON Part I: SCRAPPER (novel, 2014, 2019)

THE 13th PARAGON Part II: FROM ASHES OF EMPIRES (novel, 2015, 2020)

SQUIRM (Strange Days of Odyssium #1 novella, 2018)

THE SERRUS (novella, 2024)

HOUSE OF FALLING RAIN (Eyes of Odyssium #1 novel, 2017)

A SONG OF SILENCE (Eyes of Odyssium novella, 2018)

KNOCK-KNOCK (Strange Days of Odyssium #2 novella, 2024)

ISLE OF THE SLEEPING GODS (Eyes of Odyssium #2 novel, 2019)

THE GIRL WHO STOLE THE SUN (Eyes of Odyssium #3 novel, 2021)

MY NAME WAS SOLORINE (short story, 2018)

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STARTING WITH LATER ODYSSIUM BOOKS

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Q: Do I have to read the older books to read, say, THE GIRL WHO STOLE THE SUN?

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A: Not necessarily, but it certainly doesn't hurt. I did write HOUSE OF FALLING RAIN as a new access point for people to jump into the series, and I think each Eyes of Odyssium book can act as a stand-alone. The important things to know are covered in each successive book, but my hope is you'll want to go back to the early books if you jump in later in the series. The upcoming Tides of Odyssium series will act as a great starting point for new readers as well.

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COVER ART

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Q: Who does your cover art? What's the process like?

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A: I was lucky early on to be pointed in the direction of a phenomenal artist, Dennis Willman of Iron Dead Studio. He's done every cover for the Odyssium series to date.

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As for the process, I come up with a concept and then figure out a way to get that across to Dennis. I started out with Photoshop mock-ups, but found it easier to just draw really quick, really garbage sketches and let his awesomeness do its thing. I used to be able to draw fairly decently, but as you'll be able to see when I post one of my cover sketches from time to time, it's not like riding a bike. The wheels have done fallen off.

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NAMES AND SUCH

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Q: Where do you come up with names in your books?

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A: I think every author gets this one. I've collected names since I started writing decades ago, so whenever I come across a new one, it goes into a master list I have. They usually come from three different sources: baby-naming books, people or places with interesting names that've grabbed my attention, or ones I've whipped up in my head.

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THE CLIFFHANGER QUESTION

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Q: Do your books have cliffhangers?

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A: Believe it or not, this is a common one and is definitely important to some people. The answer is for the most part, no. SCRAPPER has less of a cliffhanger than it has a segue into FROM ASHES OF EMPIRES. ORPHAN SEA, on the other hand, has a deliberate cliffhanger in the epilogue that ties directly into events from the book that chronologically follows: SCRAPPER. Oh, and I'll get into MY NAME WAS SOLORINE later in the FAQ. That one's a bit of a doozy.

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Otherwise, I've concentrated on stand-alones. The Eyes of Odyssium series in particular can all be read separately for the cliffhanger-haters out there, though there is a running storyline in the background that keeps moving with each progressing book. I can't promise my general "minimal cliffhangers" policy will always remain in effect, though. The upcoming Tides of Odyssium trilogy, for instance, is structured with each book being a direct continuation of the one before. So when that hits, be on the lookout for falling cliffhangers.

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WHY REVISE?

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Q: Why did you revise SCRAPPER? Are you revising any of your other books?

A: The answer to this is in the Behind the Scenes section of SCRAPPER, but since I've been asked a good few times I figured I'd post it here: The core reasoning behind the revision is that while I liked the original version of SCRAPPER, I simply felt it could be better. I've learned a lot since its release, and when I started considering adapting these into audiobooks, it forced a decision out of me. Because of the high cost of producing an audiobook, I wanted to make sure I was 100% happy with the book itself.

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To look at it from another angle, another reason to do it, I didn't want anyone to put down the series because they felt SCRAPPER might be weak due to it being my first published book. SCRAPPER is the prime entry point for the Odyssium series. It's the beginning of Salla's story and to date, Salla's the guy we're following for the most part. The quality of the first version of SCRAPPER might be open for debate (and don't get me wrong, I do like it!), but for me, I had too many reasons to revise it, and not enough to leave it be.

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As for whether I'll be revising any other books, this is currently being done on a case-by-case basis. Most recently, I revised both HOUSE OF FALLING RAIN and  IN DARKNESS AND LIGHT in 2023. What's being done is mostly whittling things down to create better pacing and flow, altering dialogue, as well as fleshing out relationships, etc. just a wee bit further. In short, bringing things up to my current standards of writing.

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Q: Follow-up question: Are you making audiobooks of the series?

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A: I very much hope to one day, but it probably won't be until sales justify the expense. If that day never comes where I can afford a real narrator, it will probably be the only instance where I will consider using AI in any of my work.

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WHAT'S THE DEAL WITH MY NAME WAS SOLORINE?

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Q: There were a lot of unanswered questions in MY NAME WAS SOLORINE. When are you planning on writing the next part in that story?

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A: SOLORINE is a bit of an oddball in the Odyssium lineup, I'll give you that.  As for when we'll wrap up all of SOLORINE's loose ends, that's an answer I don't have. There's a LOT that has to happen chronologically before I can write it. Right now, I don't even have it on the to-do list in the next ten years of annual releases.

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Q: Follow-up question: WHY would you make us wait that long to wrap her story up?

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A: No good answer for that, really. I suppose because, as far as what I have in mind for that particular arc and what I'm aware of outside my little bubble, it adds up to something I've never seen anybody do before. I hope to get to it before I croak or throw in the towel. But even if I never do write it, I think SOLORINE holds up as an interesting story on its own with mysteries for which the reader can dream up their own conclusions. So either way, no regrets on releasing it when I did. That said, in late 2023 I did start percolating some ideas for a follow-up to SOLORINE. However, the only way I currently see it as possible is to diverge from one big reveal I had in mind, and to do something else instead. We'll see.

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COMING SOON

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Q: When is the next book coming?

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Short A: Next up is WHAT LIES BETWEEN: Odyssium Collection Volume 2, which will release in early 2024. WHAT LIES BETWEEN collects the following stories: ORPHAN SEA, I BEGIN, KNOCK-KNOCK, THE SERRUS, and EVIDENCE OF MADNESS.

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Long A: This is kind of the perpetual question, so I'll try to keep the FAQ updated and current. In a nutshell, the outlook appears that I'll be moving from an annual release schedule to releasing (about) every other year. The best ways to know as soon as possible is to subscribe to my newsletter and/or follow my various social media pages. I'm a bit chaotic with my release schedule and have NO marketing savvy to speak of, so actual release dates are pretty ephemeral, but social media and on this site (and in its Od-Blog) is where you're guaranteed to find that info.

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Most recently, the final book in the Eyes of Odyssium series, THE GIRL WHO STOLE THE SUN, dropped in 2021 instead of its planned 2020 release (thanks, COVID).

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On the positive side, the delay of THE GIRL WHO STOLE THE SUN gave me a bit of breathing room in my schedule. I have a second draft of Tides of Odyssium's launch novel in the can, I'm a good ways into its sequel, along with some plotting done for a post-Eyes of Odyssium Salla duology. Oh, and I've completed a first draft of a novella slated for Odyssium Collection Volume 3, 'cause...why not?

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Beyond that, my overall release schedule for Odyssium runs well into the 2030s. No rest for the wicked, kids.

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