Update about future of Welcome to the Multiverse
Please feel free to leave your thoughts about this update.
So, knowing when to end a series is always a tricky bit. You don't want to drag it on. You don't want to find yourself forcing the story. You definitely don't want to kill it off while it's still growing.
Today, I had a meeting with Podium about future audio books. This may upset some of you and others may really enjoy it.
1) I'm going to sign a contract for the option to books 9-12 of Welcome to the Multiverse with Travis as the narrator. Being able to keep Travis was always an issue and so that was part of the meeting.
I know that the story was set for 6 at first and then expanded to 8 when I wasn't making it as far as I thought I would. I know some of you will want the story to end. But, I feel like the world that has been created is broad enough to allow for it to continue. Heck, it's taken 5 books to get to the apocalypse. Clearly it will take a few books to get through the early years of the apocalypse and then there is an entire multiverse out there.
9-12 is only an option, but I'm glad to have it. I can exercise it at my choosing.
If I do books 9-12, they will continue to release on the same 3 month schedule for ebooks with the audio as close as Podium can get it.
The reasons that I'm okay with expanding this are:
Creatively- I'm still engaged in the world and want to show more of it.
Business- each book has more pre-orders than the previous book and each book sells better in the first 30, 60, 90 days than the previous book. That tells me that the audience for the series is still growing. Having a single very successful series buys me the time and freedom to finish my other projects without as much concern about sales.
2) We decided to hold off on contracting another Burke series until I get Village of the Damned going sometime - hopefully early in 2025. It is contracted for 5 books, but they are also open to more Burke series. There are still a ton of harem stories that I want to tell.
3) I'm going to sign a contract for a series by Oswald which will have some of the family elements with a father/daughter character set- which would release either very late in 2025 or early in 2026. The exact timing will depend on how much of Life in Exile I can get done this year.
4) I'm signing a contract for them to attempt to find publication partners for Welcome to the Multiverse in other languages. It's already in the process of being published in Germany, but they have 12 other markets and it would be cool to see it go out in those other languages.
Comments (16)
Sorry, I’ve been absent for a couple months- still supporting, but just got busy with work and holidays - welcome to multiverse is really a story that can continue to go the distance, lots more to explore, and develop- My late 2 Pennie’s is to keep it rolling, you will know when it gets tired- and it’s a long ways from that.
More is better in this case i hope we see a crossover soon hell i wouldnt be mad if u continued the series till he unifies all the systems
I’m really glad things are going well for you, and that you’re able to produce so much and yet still have a good work/life balance for your family. I’d like to fervently request though, that Life in Exile remain a priority. That was my introduction to your work, and while I am enjoying WttM, I’d dearly love to be able to continue the Nelson’s story.
Good news for me too, WTTM is one of my top 20 series and I would love to see it grow
The more books the better. I love these books. Also love Silas as an mc. Please don't drop him for side stories. Although those in addition to the main story would be welcome. And Travis is a fantastic narrator. Keep up the good work.
I think its good news too. So much more to explore.
Hey I love WTTM it’s one of my favorites. I only hope to see more of earth developing.
That's planned as a central part of at least the next three books. It took me 5 books to get to the apocalypse, now we have to deal with the chaos, but out of that chaos has to come new growth and new hope.
The more books the better
I love it. Keep Silas going!
Can the 9-12 books be a spinoff series? Because that would be really cool as well. Other stories and characters using the same system but starting back at level 1 as it were.
I don't know that they would completely abandon Silas, but I think that we'll get to see some new characters as they grow from the ground floor up. One thing I've been sad about is not finding more time to show his sister's growth, but I never seem to find the right place to put it in.
Just my opinion, but you're a great writer with a great work ethic. I have every confidence you can tell a compelling story over 12, even 15 books, while still bringing it home to a satisfying conclusion. Thanks for what you do.
Some series have a set lifespan based on the story premise. Welcome to the multiversity does t seem to be one of these. There is a lot of room to explore the world you have already set and having a tentative goal of 9-12 books seems like a decent amount to let characters dedevelop and the story come to a better conclusion.
Always happy for more story 👍
I think it is all good news, Sean. The world of WTTMV still has so much to explore and we still know nothing about what else is out there. With the added crossover elements, that only adds more to the world and more options. I wouldn't be against going multi-POV with the crossover characters some as they re/integrate with Earth.