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.
Since #5 is going to be self published, I assume there will be no audiobook? I primary do audiobooks, not enough time to read unfortunately.
I will happily support on Patreon or however I can support your writing. All of your work has been a huge part of my life and helped me through a lot. It deserves far more attention.
I wish I could afford Patreon, but being a senior on a fixed income, just can’t. Never did receive the free book, even after your two attempts at mailing. I’m really looking forward to Palladium #5! Thanks for the update.
Can’t wait for #5!!! 🙂 love frontlines too
That would be ok with me
Fabulous, I will be watching for the next new books from you!
I’d suggest the free just-updates tier, the bonus goodies paid tier, but also a bonus-goodies digital-only tier that gets the same benefits comtentwise but doesn’t involve physical goods. I enjoy your work enough to pay for extras, but would prefer not to have to deal with more stuff taking up physical space in my house.
Whatever works for you would of course be best. I’m getting off social media too, and that means more time for new books. I’d be glad to join your Patreon. Sad #5 will be the final Palladium story. I love this universe and characters, but I understand your dilemma. Do what gives you more time to ship great new stories to us!
I only discovered your books last year, but. I just finished reading Palladium Wars #4. Really looking forward to #5 and what comes next!
Echoing the comments above – do whatever works for you so that you can continue to provide content for us (me) to read.
Important thing from my perspective – knowing that there is something new out there to hunt down and read.
On a slightly different note: did you realise the photo of your bookshelf of your published works at the top of your site doesn’t now appear to include “Fields of Fire”.
A Patreon subscription system, with the perks you outline, seems reasonable to me as a dedicated reader of your stuff. Intellectual work is still work that its consumers should pay to obtain and use.
I’d be happy to support you on Patreon.
Love hearing from you. As a senior I won’t be signing up for patreon but i wish you well..
I was one of the fortunate ones to receive a signed copy. May thanks, again.
Stay well.
I’d be happy to support you on Patreon.
And I really wonder about the ‘wisdom’ of 47North’s management. Are you under contract with them for other work? (Or have you waved goodbye to them with at least one finger? 🙂
I am so excited about the 5th Palladium book to come out! I love your books, I’ve airways been an avid reader. (Dad wouldn’t put up with us saying we were bored) But I want to tell you that you opened up my eyes to a whole new genre of fiction (for me) when I stumbled across your Frontlines series. Thank you so much! I devour all your books!
I entered a whole new genre with Marko Kloos’ stories as well! My hubs was so surprised to see me reading military sci-fi!
What is the next ?! And I am a bid sad, that Frontline Evolution only gets 3 books at all :-/. There is so much more to tell and write about the lankies and their enemies (which are even bigger then lankies… sigh*)
They wanted me to cap the series at three books and move on to something new. I did manage to give it a good ending, though (I think).
And it’s not the last you’ve read of either Andrew, Alex, or the Lankies, so don’t worry.
I would be all in for a new platform and would uptier. Let me also put in a plug for a Palladium prequel, describing the lead up to and the actual war preceding this series.
A Palladium prequel sounds like a great idea! Maybe a special edition, extra long volume, self-published. I am sure all Palladium readers will sign up for it.
I will go to Patreon to read your blog. Also a fan of author-signed books. Looking forward to Pallidium #5. Thanks for the update
Is Palladian #5 the last in the series? Definitely my favorite series and doing a reread right now!
Palladium* (that’s embarrassing)
Yes, it will cap off the series and bring all the characters’ storylines to a conclusion. That doesn’t mean I won’t ever decide to go back to that world in the future, though!
Thank you for your reply! Like I said, absolutely love the series and have to read all the books as quickly as possible every time I think of it
Whatever works to help you write – then that is The Path.
I am REALLY looking forward to Palladium #5!
I found Terms of Enlistment in Powell’s Books in Portland, OR, in 2015 and have been hooked on THE BEST SCI-FI AUTHOR ON THE PLANET ever since.
Thanks for the update, Marko. Looking forward to book #5.