Plans to continue the Island of Fog series

Posted on March 11, 2015 (Subscribe to Blog)

At the end of Castle of Spells (Island of Fog, Book 9), I wrote an author's note and said this:

So that's it. Hal's story is finished for now. This nine-book series has chronicled his transition from an ordinary twelve-year-old boy living on a foggy island to an experienced thirteen-year-old shapeshifter in a bright new magical world.

His adventures took place over five months between October and March. That's a lot of story for a short period of time! He's pretty exhausted now, and I think it's best we leave him alone for a bit while he recuperates and plans his ongoing mission for the future -- to feed the monstrous underground brain. I feel fairly confident we'll get to check in on him sometime later.

Well, I now have firm plans for the next book in the story. You might be tempted to think of it as Island of Fog Book 10, but you should probably call it by its rightful title:

New Earth Shapeshifters (Island of Fog Legacies, Book 1)

Hal is still involved in his mission to feed the underground brain. It's become a lifelong project for him. But his son's story is only just beginning...

It's nearly thirty years later, a whole new generation. Hal and Abigail are married with a boy and girl of their own, and their transforming abilities are not hereditary; there are no dragon-faerie mixes! So as the boy reaches his twelfth birthday, Hal allows him to choose what kind of shapeshifter he wants to be. Those who have read Castle of Spells will know that becoming a shapeshifter is now a fairly simple matter, though the process itself is kept a secret. But of course Hal has friends in high places, and so starts a new set of shapeshifting adventures! Hal and Abigail have small roles as parents; all the focus is on the kids. I have a feeling the younger sister is going to cause a lot of mischief.

More on this when I've hammered out some more details. I expect to start writing this in 2016.

Meanwhile, this year will be busy with lots of free short stories and a few novellas. If you haven't read Eye of the Manticore yet, find it on Amazon and other stores. And if you want free short stories, there are two available in the archives and a new one coming up on March 15th, just a few days away. Stay tuned!

Comment by ROGER ESCHBACHER on Wednesday, March 11, 2015...

Awesome! Glad to hear the saga continues.

Comment by RACHEL on Wednesday, March 11, 2015...

Super! I stumbled onto island of fog as a free book and did not expect to continue reading the following books, I am now in book 8 and can't put them down. Superb storytelling, I am so enjoying the story.

Comment by KEITH ROBINSON on Wednesday, March 11, 2015...

Thanks Roger!

And thanks to you, Rachel! I hope I didn't give you a spoiler in this post... :-p

Comment by SUSAN on Wednesday, March 11, 2015...

Yahoo! Keep writing!

Comment by DONNA on Wednesday, March 11, 2015...

I am thrilled that the shapeshifters continue to make the news! ;-)

Comment by MICHAEL BARRINGTON on Wednesday, March 11, 2015...

Great news. Looking forward to it.

Comment by BRIAN B on Wednesday, March 11, 2015...

Wow... well done. I have to smile at all the extensions to the series! What's the story with Sleepwalker?

Comment by KEITH ROBINSON on Wednesday, March 11, 2015...

Brian, do you mean Sleep Writer? That's full steam ahead! I love that series, and I'm a third of the way through Book 2, ROBOT BLOOD, which I hope to complete by the end of March for publication in May. So yes, lots of Fog stuff but also some cracking Sleep Writer stuff. :-)

Speaking of Fog extensions... the audiobook was released just now too! I'll post about that separately. The age group is wrong — 5-7 my foot! — but the fix has already been submitted.

Comment by BRIAN B on Wednesday, March 11, 2015...

Er...yup.. Sleep Writer. I forget my own name sometimes. Cool... looking forward to it.

Comment by DEB on Thursday, March 12, 2015...

That's my birthday! How kind :-) I love reading about your shapeshifter world. Yippeee! And I can't wait to read about the next generation!

Comment by CODY on Monday, March 16, 2015...

You should have all the Island of Fog books free for twenty-four hours, on its anniversary. Just kidding, maybe. But I really like the idea of a story out of Hal and Abigail's kids. The series has turned into its very own adventure. And I cannot wait to finish it. I have yet to read the eighth and ninth but I will.

Show/hide all posts