Today is the winter solstice, which means the year is pretty much in the bag, so I figured I should do an update because all the cool kids are doing a 2022 recap.
It was a mixed bag of a year for me. I am currently working on getting the next novel out of the door and to my editor by the end of the year. That puts me about six months behind according to the schedule I had set for myself at the beginning of the year. The current novel is the first in a spin-off Frontlines series, and I had planned to turn the draft in by the end of June. That obviously didn’t happen for a variety of reasons, chief among which are “2022” and “OMG LIFE”. I’ve had a rough time with my creative output this year, and while things are progressing again, it feels like my brain is working at about 1/2 the speed it was operating at before the world started going to hell in early 2020.
Remember when I posted about 2020 being really rough for creative work? Yeah. 2022 was even worse for me for some reason. Reading the posts and updates of my writer friends and colleagues on various social media platforms, it looks like I wasn’t the only writer who had a difficult time this year, and that fact is a bit of a comfort because it means it’s not just my stupid brain that was refusing to cooperate. Turns out it’s very hard to shut out the world and make up a new one in your head when the actual world is catching fire all around you every day.
As far as release dates go, I can’t make any accurate predictions because there are many moving parts for my editor to coordinate after I turn in this draft (and the next one.) If I had to guess, I’d say the new novel will be out in the second half of next year.
I hope you all had a less stressful 2022 than I did, and I really hope that 2023 will be less interesting times, in the Chinese proverb meaning of the phrase. I am not telling the new year to “bring it on”, because that’s just asking for it at this point. I’ll just keep putting down words until the work is done, enjoy the company of friends and family, and tune out of the news and social media as much as feasible.
Happy holidays! May Santa (or the loot-conveying mythical figure of your choice) bring you everything you want and need, and may the new year find you healthy and at peace.
Really excited for The Palladium Wars 4 book to come out, I hope that book is also in the works, I’ve reread the first 3 books many times.
I need to invest more time into the Frontlines series because I can’t get enough of your work, thank you for all the hours of entertainment!
Hi Marko, happy 2023 to you & your family. I just reread the Palladium series, and I must have read Frontlines 2 or 3 times by now. Great story telling ! Looking forward to the next instalment of either but secretly hoping it’s a Palladium book up next, feeling very invested in those characters. Cheers !
Marko, I have to echo what others have said: Is this the end of the Frontlines series? Perhaps you could post your thoughts. Thank you for a great military series
Marko,
Thanks for the AMAZING Frontline series! I just finished Centers of Gravity, and love the book, but the ending to me seemed rushed somehow.. Or is it leading up to another novel? Please tell me this isn’t the last book in the series.. There are still so many questions left unanswered! Without giving away any spoilers, there could still be a ton of storytelling left! Thanks again for the many hours of entertainment!
If that was the end of Frontlines, it left some serious ‘splainin to do. Or I am unable to comprehend words. You introduce a creature that eats Lankies, then we went to a world that had a lot of Lankies , but you never really explain where they came from, or what the hell the planet was. Are you going David Gerrrold on us?
Just finished Centers of Gravity and it really pisses me off – I mean, that the book ended. I hope I get to learn about all the medals Andrew got and how Earth developed countermeasures from the samples taken in that cave – time for some payback!
But I must say thank you Marko for all your work! You’re a step above most other SF writers, and I’ve truly enjoyed every book you’ve published. Among those few writers where the end of the book makes me really annoyed. I even read your acknowledgements and “about the author” section just to keep the vibe for a little bit longer.
And it’s inspiring to me how you as a (presumably) second-language English speaker manage to tell your stories with such ease and surety – Makes me consider picking my long-lost writing projects up again (My first language is Swedish but I write in English).
Looking forward to your next book! All the best, Thomas
Marko,
I think nearly everyone has had the pandemic disrupt their lives, if not in profound ways, then in subtle ways that can be hard to detect for a while. It sounds like it hit you early…and then caught up to you again.
As someone mentioned above, you are a superb storyteller. I have read all of the Frontlines books (including the graphic novels) as well as the Palladium Wars that have been released so far. I look forward to everything you have planned.
On a tangential note, I have to say I’m disappointed that the Frontlines series won’t directly continue with Andrew and Halley, but I’m sure that whomever you introduce us to will be just as good and delight us all as the battle with the Lankies continues.
Thanks for all you do and share with us! Happy Holidays and (I hope I speak for all of us when I say) have a Happy New Year!
Hey Mr Kloos, greetings from Istanbul, where I stay for a few weeks, 2022 was a bad year, we lost an important family member to covid. The most important thing in life is to stay healthy. So that is what I wish to you and the others here stay healthy and have a good 2023. Happy to hear, that you bring out your new novel in 2023 waiting for it. Best Wishes, Alexander .
Dear Mr. Kloss,
Just wanted to say how much I enjoy your work and your ability to write so quickly and so well. (Is there a bit of Gunner Asch to Andrew Grayson?)
I wrote space opera for Ace and Tor, ages ago. Eventually chucked it in and got a grad degree in IT–our kids needed to eat.
Best wishes on your continuing success. Looking forward to the movies.
Your truly,
Stephen Ames Berry
Love all your books. Buy them as soon as they are released. You are a master story teller. Best wishes for this holiday season!
Hallo Marko,
frohe Weihnachtsgrüße aus der alten Heimat von einem großen Fan. Einen guten Rutsch wünsche ich dir und deiner Familie. Vor allen Dingen Gesundheit und “ruhigere, friedlichere ” Zeiten! 🙂
Happy Holidays! Wishing you good fortune…and productivity…in the coming year.
Happy holidays! Whenever your book is released, I’ll be there. Take care of yourself and enjoy the holidays. Here’s hoping that 2023 can not be the dumpster fire we’ve been getting used to.
Wait. Palladium Wars 4? Noooooo!
Have a great New Year! May your 2023 be calm and productive. Best to your family!
Marko, I absolutely love all of your series of books, both Palladium Wars and Frontlines. I buy every book that as soon as they come out and will continue to do so in the future. You are an excellent storyteller and I can’t wait for the next one to come out. Keep up the great work!
Do you have a general inbox / email address for fan emails (not public posts)?
Yes, it’s marko (dot) kloos (at) gmail (dot) com.
Take it easy, stay healthy and happy, and may your holiday season be a joy for you and your family!