It appears that I have managed to leave this spot without updates for over four months, which is a long time even for a sporadic blogger like me. I’ve been busy with various writing projects, life outside of writing has required frequent tending, and most of my brain bandwidth has gone to addressing those requirements.
That said, I think I need to curtail my already limited social media presence even further and return my focus to updating just one spot instead of spreading my public presence across four or five different ones. To that end (and because I have bills to pay like everyone else), I am considering moving my updates to Patreon. I’d still keep the general blog updates free, of course, but I’d be posting more regularly, and I’d have an outlet to release short fiction as subscriber exclusives before I put them on the Kindle for general consumption. There could even be a tier where folks can get signed books every now and then with their subscriptions, which would be a good way for me to distribute the author copies I’m drowning in every time a new book comes out.
(Long-time readers will know that I usually do the free book giveaways, but those have started to become unsustainable for various reasons—shipping is getting more expensive, shipments keep getting returned to me unclaimed, and international readers have on occasion refused to pay customs duties and left me sitting on a $20 personalized book I can’t reuse and $25 international shipping costs I’ve spent out of my own pocket.)
Anyway—what’s the general consensus on an All Things Marko Kloos Patreon with a free updates tier and some nice perks for paid subscriptions? And what kind of content would you want to see other than the exclusive short fiction first reads I already mentioned? Looking forward to your comments below.
As far as work goes, I am back on Palladium Wars #5, and that one will be finished this month come hell or high water, to be available at some point in April once it’s been edited, formatted, and hammered into shape for Kindle and paperback formats. I’m having to do an indie release because 47North didn’t want to continue the series and let me finish it, and nobody else is going to commit to the fifth book in a series if they don’t already have the other four in their stable. But as I am not willing to keep the readers hanging and leave a five-year-plus project unfinished, the fifth book will be finished and released before I get started on the next thing.
Oh and I also fully support the other comments proposing the release of some background books about the “Palladium Wars”-universe. History, technology, ships etc.
If you are feeling lucky you could even do a cookbook. The most random franchises have gotten cookbooks, I saw an official “Babylon 5” one once.
And the novels do feature enough stuff about food already, let me start: you with a list of recipes:
Acheron
– Black Noodles
– Spicy Goat Tarkari
– Chicken with a sweet glaze
– Spicy Stew
– Honey Bread
– Pickled/Fermented/Spicy Food
Oceana
– Seafood
Gretia
– Curried Sausage
– Fried Potatoe Sticks
– Sausage Rolls
Pallas
– Spicy Potatoe and Vegetable Mush with Eggs
Ich würde absolut einen Patreon unterstützen. Ich liebe Military Scifi (und zähle sowohl “Frontlines” als auch “Palladium Wars” zu diesem Genre), muss aber zugeben das die Qualität von Romanen aus diesem Genre oft nicht die Beste ist. Ich hab sicher schon fünf Roman-Serien angefangen in der ein Kleinkrimineller die Chance bekommt eine Form von “Space Marine” zu werden um seine Strafe “abzuarbeiten”. Nix für ungut, selbst “Frontlines” schrammt nur knapp an diesem Genre-Kniff vorbei. Zustzätlich konsumiere ich Medien, egal ob Bücher, Spiele oder Filme, entweder nur einmal oder mit einigen Jahren abstand. Für mich ist ein einmal gelesenes Buch irgendwie “verbraucht”. Um zum Punkt zu kommen: Für mich stellt angesichts dieser Tatsachen “Frontlines”, “Frontlines Evolution” und “Palladium Wars” absolute Ausnahmen dar, weil ich sie dann doch häufig neu anfange zu lesen. Bzw. zu hören, mit Luke Daniels wurde ein absoluter Ausnahme-Sprecher gefunden der das Kopfkino perfekt animieren konnte.
Als letzte Anmerkung was mir an den Romanserien so gefällt: Für mich gibt es ein ultimatives Symbol für “Military Scifi”. Ein Gegenstand der unbewusst in jeder Military-Scifi-Veröffentlichung auftaucht, aber kaum Beachtung bekommt: Das “Dropship”. “UD4L Cheyenne” aus Aliens, “D77-TC Pelican” aus Halo, die “SA-2 Samson” aus Avatar – Sobald in eine Medium ein stummelflügeliges grün bemaltes fliegendes Militär-Dings auftaucht weiß man sofort in welchem Genre man ist. Aber ich hab in all meinen Jahren des Lesens von MilScifi-Romanen nur EINEN einzigen gelesen der sich um die Crew (bzw. Pilotin) eines solchen Dropships dreht. Warum gibt es soooo viele Romane über Space Marines, über die Crews von Trägerschiffen von denen Raumjäger aus starten, über die Piloten der Jäger….aber Dropships/Gunships werden irgendwie komplett ignoriert. Deshalb auch Danke für “Lucky 13”!
Can’t wait for Palladium Eclipse. I simply love your characters, and can’t wait to see what happens to them. Re-reading the entire series when Eclipse comes out will be a wonderful birthday present.
Since 47North is leaving you (and your readers!) hanging, is there any chance your future ebooks will be available on platforms other than Amazon Kindle? I have gone over to Bookshop myself.
As far as social media, do what will work for you best. As long as there is notification of new material, I’m fine with whatever.
I would definitely buy a Patreon subscription! I only got into your work in the last year or so, and have found it to be some of the best sci-fi I’ve read since The Expanse. Astounded to see you don’t have a larger following.
I’ll sign up for the Patreon to follow! Thanks for the words.
Green light on All things Marko Kloos Patreon!!! Sounds like a great idea and a lot of fun for your followers. Can’t wait for PW#5 thanks for going ahead with it, will be nice for you to end the series as you see fit……
I’d likewise support on Patreon and look forward to book #5 of the Palladium series.
As for Patreon content beyond short fiction, I’m always fascinated by world building and background information. I grew up on RPG sourcebooks and devoured the information therein. Something similar for your works would be interesting – backgrounds of organizations, more details descriptions of ships and equipment, artwork & sketches, etc.
Hope all is well and I’m looking forward to the new works!
I’m not planning to be on Patreon but I don’t mind if you decide to do more self-publishing and / or charge more for your books. Your writing is exceptional, the depth of the story, character development and the attention to detail is an immersive experience. Happy to accept a price increase.
I’m possibly a bit old school in that I quite enjoy these updates arriving via my RSS feed into my newsreader rather than email notifications via Patreon – update emails tend to pile up in amongst all the other stuff. until I have 50 unread and I just bulk delete them! – plus I’ve had to tightly compress my Patreons because of circumstances. I find the Patreon app unwieldy and awkward to navigate too.
I’ve checked my Kindle library and I seem to have bought every book you’ve ever written. So Palladium #5 is a no‑brainer. I look forward to where you take us next. Cheers Robert from Melbourne