Hail the New, ye Lads and Lasses, Fa, la, la, la, laaa, la, la, la, la.”

So 2024 is almost out the door, although I’m not entirely trusting it to go quietly. If I turn the calendar page and see December 32, I won’t blink much. It’s been one of those years, but better than some, not so good as others.

I published some books, and some stories in books. I got two Merchant books written in a year, which is unusual (research eats a lot of time). I visited a new-to-me part of the world. I’m also almost done with the stories for the next Familiar Generations story set. And have a rough plot idea for the next full novel in that series.

The publishing industry … did not cover itself in glory. Again. https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/96765-the-top-10-book-business-news-stories-of-2024.html

For the next year? I feel safe predicting that traditional publishing will not make any changes towards more freedom within their contracts, nor will they update their accounting systems for greater transparency for authors and agents. And politics will cause headaches for the major publishers.

Indi will go interesting ways, and AI will generate arguments among authors as well as within itself.

Beyond that? Nah.

My goals for the new year: keep writing. I have two books in the queue for next year. A novella is started, and the next novel in the Familiar Generations series has a rough plot (very rough at this stage). I do need to get out of my usual series, so I’m going to be trying to write some more short stories in other fantasy genres. Going back colonization sci-fi might also be in the cards, or it might not. I need to read Victorian books and poetry in order to get the language back into my hands and ear, and that takes time.

So I will *touches wood* publish two books. Beyond that? *shakes Magic 8 Ball™* It says things are uncertain, and to try again later.