Update on What I (Brent) am Doing

[Brent Weeks]

Hey, just posted this elsewhere, but thought I'd put in someplace easy to find that wouldn't get buried:

Here's my update on book and movie stuff as of 5 September 2009 (today):

I had said that the _earliest_ we'd get another Midcyru book was 2011, because I was going to write Black Prism first. But it seems I--and I hope you, too--like lots of plot twists and deep characters. So Black Prism has blossomed from one stand alone book into a trilogy. The first book of Black Prism (sorry, don't have good titles yet) _should_ be published in late 2010. That's if things go as I think they will. Right now I'm 124,000 words into the novel, first draft, and I expect it to be 140- to 150,000 words. (Maybe a smidge shorter than The Way of Shadows.)

I'm busting my butt to get this book done on time--I'm writing six days a week and have been for most of this year. Today, a Saturday, I wrote 1,700 words (a good day), and now I'm trying to cruise the forums a bit and answer emails. These are things I really enjoy doing, but they do take time and energy. But my main priority is to make Black Prism awesome. The fact is, I don't get paid until I hand in this book, and I don't get paid the rest of my advance until the book is published, so I have a financial incentive to just get the #$%# thing done and on the shelves. BUT, I'm not going to let it go until it rocks and I'm proud of it. I hope I can do that quickly, and I've already got a huge list of things I need to fix in draft two, but every book is different. Also, the publishing process--parts that are totally out of my hands--is brutally slow. Then there are parts that I have no choice about: Joe Abercrombie noted recently that even though his next book would be ready to publish around Christmas time of next year that his publisher didn't want him to get buried by all the huge writers who publish around that time, so his book would be out maybe February. Seriously, Christmas is like a feeding frenzy because so many books are bought around then--but it's hard to get shelf space or get anyone to pay attention when all the huge books are released then, so it's a marketing decision that each company makes for itself. You might publish then and move a lot of copies (or not), but if you publish in February, maybe your author will hit the NYT best seller list--because there aren't that many other new huge books to compete against, and then your author's NEXT book will have a chance to be considered a big dog and grab more shelf space. See? It's a gamble, and it's one the author has nothing to do with. Orbit may well choose to publish me in the Christmas season of 2010, but if I get the book to them late and they don't think they can mobilize the sales momentum they need, they might decide to postpone it. Again, lots of things I have nothing to do with can affect this timeline.

So, basically, I'm working hard, I think I'm on schedule, but it's a creative endeavor, and I can't make promises about every part of the process. I think you'll love this trilogy I'm working on, so I hope after you read the first book you won't be disappointed that it's going to take a little longer to get back to Midcyru--which I do still plan to do after BP! So the best I can do is to keep you updated, which I'll try to do as things happen and as I _can_ talk about them.

One last update: MOVIE stuff: I recently sold the movie rights to the Way of Shadows to Cam Gigandet (the OC, Twilight, Never Back Down, and a _ton_ of upcoming stuff). Cam has been on set, so we haven't had a chance to chat, though I expect to perhaps next week. At that time, I'll be able to give more details, and as things progress--if they do--I'll post more updates when I can. I guess my biggest thought that I want to share about this is that unless you're JK Rowling or Tolkien and have sold a bazillion copies, you're low man on the totem pole in Hollywood. I have not sold a bazillion copies. I will help the project in any way I can, and obviously I have high hope and I do believe the movie(s) could be awesome, but the fact is that they can tell me to go away and they can abuse my baby if they want to. As a non-bazillionaire author, you have one choice when Hollywood comes knocking: yes, or no. I've also written some scripts in my day (not good ones, it's a totally different art, and one I didn't master, unless something ridiculous happens, I won't be writing a NA script), and I understand that a movie is a different art than a novel. A Night Angel movie will have to focus the story and, yes, change it some. If I wrote it myself I would do that. I'm comfortable with that. I mean, visual arts like painting are different from a novel, too. Does the cover of my books--even the French, more narrative cover--encapsulate ALL that is in the books? No, not even close. But are they awesome nonetheless? Yes, I think so. So I'm quite hopeful that we--or Cam, rather--is going to gather a team that is passionate about this story, and will do everything they can to make it awesome. Again, if I can help in that, I will. There are things a movie just can't do as well as a novel--if it could, I'd be a screenwriter instead of a novelist. On the other hand, there are some things a movie can do that a novel can't. Imagine some of the fight scenes and magic on screen. That's pretty stinking cool, huh?

Anyway, that's what's going on. I've figured I need to finish my rough draft by the end of this month, so I hope you'll forgive me if I'm not on this forum too much in the next month or so. Or if you've emailed me, it might be even longer before I'll get back to you. I'll let you know as things happen, and thank you all for all of the encouragement. You're awesome, and you make my job way more fun than I have any right to. Thank you.

-brent

[Shawn Mitchell]

You may not have written your blog to have anything REALLY profound in it. But I really like the statement, "There are things a movie just can't do as well as a novel--if it could, I'd be a screenwriter instead of a novelist."

[Haze]

I just spent the last 4 days sleepless reading the whole trilogy for the first time and was amazed. I saw the first book at a Borders in Minnesota and picked it up because it looked interesting. ( not to mention i just finished playing through assassin's creed 1 and 2 which might have swayed my decision to pick it up lol) The story and characters were great and i had a great time reading them. Just wanted to say thanks and the books were awesome can't wait till you get back to the story. I will however be anticipating the dark prism trilogy and will read those with as much enthusiasm. you have a gift for storytelling and i hope some day mine is even half as good to be able to tell such and artful and engaging story as the night angel trilogy. you are officially in my roster of great inspiring artists with a pen as some of my favorite authors margarett weis, tracy hickman, and Sephen King and have turned me back to the keyboard to finish what i started a long time ago. how you can do it so fast i have yet to figure out but i suppose that comes with time and experience. i have been working on a story for 5 years now and feel i am close to the end. If i remember correctly in the introduction to the dark tower series by stephen king he said something to the point that even he doesn't know what will happen in a story, it unfolds to him while he writes as it does to the reader while reading. P.S. maybe this is a longshot but was the naming of the Ka Kari in any way inspired by Ka from the Dark Tower series? a feeling or presence of destiny? it makes sense to me or maybe i just put them together randomly idk again loved the story and thank you for the inspiration.

[Ixelmy (Emily)]

I certainly hope that a movie turns out alright. Ever since I finished the books, I thought they would make great movies if done properly. Granted, no matter what, fans are going to complain that it's not exactly the same and stuff. Personally I think as long as the author is involved, they approve of the work, and that it captures the image they had in mind, I'm okay with it. I reeeeally hope a movie ends up being a good idea (personally I want to get into the movie business myself), because with a great story, it should have a great base to work off of.

[Tricia Nirina]

Thanks soo much for the update... The movie will be a sooper booty kicker :P
especially if you put cyril T in it... I'm obsessed with him... sorry.. but He's the perfect embodiment.. consider it? :DDD
ohoh and i soo cant wait for black prism.. nyehehe

[paul giovetti]

thanx for the update cant wait for black prism!!!!!!! :) and no worries i kno it will be awsome!!!!

[Frosty]

All I have to say is I hope to god you plan on making more Night Angel related--or similar novels. I just finished reading the trilogy and will probably read it again, since a good series is hard to come by.