I’ll be live streaming with authors Holly Black and Jennifer Estep, along with host Daniele Rizzo as a part of the German Bookstock Festival, the world’s largest online festival of its kind.
Catch me on the Hugendubel YouTube or Instagram channel at 2 PM EST/8:00 MESZ. Streaming is free and can be accessed afterward. We’ll be talking about writing, answering live questions, and discussing my new novel, Der Prinz Der Wüste (The Desert Prince), which went on sale on Monday 11, October 2021.
Hey all. Some readers noticed that the US audiobook for THE DESERT PRINCE, which was briefly on sale earlier this month, ceased to be available, and now shows a pre-order page for an October 12, 2021 release.
In response to listener feedback and internal discussions about the original edition, Penguin Random House Audio will be re-recording THE DESERT PRINCE, introducing two new voices to the Demon Cycle universe: Michael Crouch as Darin Bales and Saskia Maarleveld as Olive Paper.
Longtime listeners have asked why Pete Bradbury, who did such excellent work narrating the original Demon Cycle series, is not returning for the Nightfall Saga. I’ve responded to these individually on various social media threads, but I decided it was easier to just respond here on the blog to I could point folks to this post rather than keep writing the same answer over and over.
The Demon Cycle was told in third person perspective, with thirteen POV characters and a tale that spans thirty-five years. While some of the cast started out young, they aged up quickly, with the majority of the story occurring between the adult characters.
Pete did a masterful job bringing those stories to life, wrapping listeners up in his silky rumble of a voice, like a favorite grandfather reading a story by the fire. Pete doesn’t do accents or an overly theatric performance. He delivers the story with empathy and gravitas, and has an amazing ability to use subtle vocal changes to make it clear who’s speaking even before you get to a dialogue tag. Demon Cycle audio fans rightfully adore him.
I went to see Pete co-star in The Elephant Man with Bradley Cooper on Broadway, seeing the same presence on stage as he delivers in audio. I sat in on some of his recording sessions, and went out drinking with him afterward. I consider him a personal friend, and very much hope to work with him again in the future.
But The Nightfall Saga is different from The Demon Cycle.
It’s easy for longtime readers to consider THE DESERT PRINCE to be Demon Cycle book 6, since it cameos a lot of beloved characters from the previous series, treats the previous books as canon, and has many of the things warded fans have come to love and expect from a Peter V. Brett book.
But Nightfall is also its own distinct animal—tonally different from its parent series the same way Darin Bales and Olive Paper are different from Arlen and Leesha. The Nightfall Saga was designed so that new readers need not be familiar with my previous books to enjoy the series fully. It is told in a more intimate first person perspective, with two POV characters who are only fifteen years old, still figuring out the world and their place in it. The trilogy will cover a much shorter period of time, giving them time to make mistakes and grow as they come of age.
I’ve worked closely with Penguin Random House Audio to find narrators who better reflect my intent for Olive and Darin, giving voice to a new generation. Michael and Saskia are both award-winning narrators who, between them, have read hundreds of audiobooks. I can’t wait for you to hear how they bring the THE DESERT PRINCE—and the rest of the series—to life on audio.
You can click through this handy landing page to pre-order THE DESERT PRINCE audiobook, which goes on sale October 12, 2021: https://bit.ly/3zj0fMh
If you have already purchased or used an audible credit for the earlier version of the audiobook, you can return/exchange it for the new version through whichever retailer you originally purchased it from. Apologies for the inconvenience.
I will be sitting in on some of the new recordings, so stay tuned on social media for some BTS content and sneak peeks of what’s to come!
The Desert Prince, audiobook read by Michael Crouch as Darin and Saskia Maarleveld as Olive, on sale 10/12/21
Note* This post refers only to the US & Canadian version of The Desert Prince audiobook, published by Penguin Random House. The UK & Australian edition of the audiobook, published by HarperCollins and narrated by Kit Griffiths and Jack Tivey, will have some minor pronunciation corrections, but will otherwise remain unchanged.
As with Pete Bradbury, UK listeners have great fondness for the wonderful Colin Mace, and indeed I agree with them. But for all the same reasons listed above, Harper Audio worked with me to find new voices for Olive and Darin, and Kit & Jack both give phenomenal performances. Like Michael and Saskia, I think they will win you over.
Hey all just a short update with some cool interviews I’ve done in the run up to publication.
But first! A quick reminder to join the FREE webinar tomorrow with me and the great Terry Brooks.
Terry is the author most responsible for my lifelong love of fantasy, so I feel humbled and thrilled that he’s agreed to join me tomorrow to discuss THE DESERT PRINCE & the power of generational fantasy.
This virtual event is sponsored by University Bookstore Seattle, and takes place Fri. Aug 6 at 4:30pm PST/7:30pm EST. Tickets are free, but I encourage you to pick up a bookplated copy of Desert Prince from UB if you haven’t already: bit.ly/3ls5yET
Grimdark Magazine
I also had a chance to sit down with Grimdark Magazine for a LONG interview about art, writing, and The Desert Prince. Beth asked thoughtful and detailed questions that really make this one worth checking out.
This was originally posted as a thread on twitter, but I figured I’d blow the cobwebs off the blog and collect it here, too.
Early in my career, I would get anxiously tied in knots when a bookseller broke embargo (shipped/shelved a book before its on sale date), fearing it was a harbinger of a career-ending cascade failure. These days I am just happy some lucky readers hit the lottery and get a book they’re excited about early.
It’s a perspective shift that took time and the maturity of experience, but I am healthier and happier for it.
To be clear, I don’t blame booksellers for breaking embargo. I know it’s not done out of malice. We’re all human. It’s easy to forget which book is on sale when. To typo the date in the system. To unpack boxes early to plan a zonk day after you get your Covid vaccine. To give in to customer puppy eyes. We’re cool, booksellers. I got your six. <3
Authors are taught to fear that breaking embargo will split our first week sales—which are the benchmark the publishing industry historically (and still mostly) uses to judge whether a book is a success or failure. And if your sales are split, then… something something something, you’re a failure, rocks fall, everybody dies.
I know from experience a major chain shipping preorders early can drastically affect an author’s placement on bestseller lists, or keep them from listing at all. NGL when you’re just starting out and trying to stay afloat amid a sea of competition, that can really sting.
Because with it comes a fear. A fear not listing could ruin your career, even if aggregate sales over time are the same. A fear the universe is capricious and unfair it could take away your ability to earn a living doing what you love.
The Desert Prince, UK hardcover edition
It’s not rational, but fear seldom is. Most authors I know, even successful ones, still feel like they’re getting away with something—that it could all end in an instant if people realize they’re not as brilliant as everyone says.
But I’ve missed list because of split first week sales, and I’m still here. I’ve placed lower because of split sales, and my publishers didn’t drop me. Heck, one time split sales listed me two weeks running when otherwise I would have only been on for one.
After 13 years & 6 novels, I realize there’s no perfect launch. There are always hiccups, and that’s ok.
All that matters is if people like the book. And if getting one a little early adds a thrill to someone’s day, that makes me happy too.
The Desert Prince launches this week in worldwide English, all formats. I (not to mention editors Tricia Narwani, Natasha Bardon & Rebecca Brewer, artist Tommy Arnold, a killer audiobook team, and many others) worked really hard on this book, and I love it very much.
There’s SO MUCH COOL STUFF going on that even I struggle to keep it all straight as we enter the home stretch before launch of THE DESERT PRINCE, book one of the Nightfall Saga. I’ll sum up as much as I can.
Get Signed Books
All the info you need to order signed books in the US, UK and Australia is available here on my news page. There are personalized copies, flat signed standard editions, and spray-edged special editions!
Already pre-ordered a US edition of the book in print, ebook or audio? Submit a receipt here to receive an AWESOME collection of Demon Cycle goodies, including Wallpapers, Olive Paper dolls, a book of illustrations, and more! https://randomhouse.typeform.com/to/aCDd5rwK
Appearances (Virtual and Otherwise)
We’re kicking off The Desert Prince launch tour virtually in conversation with some of my very favorite people in SF! Many of the hosts will be including autographed or bookplated copies with ticketing, so be on the lookout if you want signed books!
Desert Prince Virtual Launch Event with Katherine Arden
August 3, 2021, 1PM EST/6PM GMT
Join me and one of my very best friends, the amazingly talented Katherine Arden, author of the adult Winternight trilogy, and my middle-grade daughter’s favorite, the Small Spaces quintet! Join us as we discuss storytelling and trade pandemic writing war stories.
The event will be presented by Waterstones in the UK and co-hosted by WORD Bookstore in my home town of Brooklyn for readers in the US and Canada. Both will have signed books, and I can visit word and personalize books on request.
Hosted by a personal favorite of mine, the University Bookstore in Seattle, I will have the pleasure of discussing writing with a literary hero of mine, the incredible Terry Brooks!
It is not an exaggeration to say that I might not be a fantasy author if it had not been for Terry Brooks. On his request, I will try not to gush and call him “sir” the whole time, but… no promises.
Hosted by my beloved Mysterious Galaxy, one of the first stores to believe in me waaaaay back in 2009 when I was a fresh debut, I am also honored by getting to talk to not only one of the greatest and most prolific authors in fantasy, but someone who has always felt like family when we see each other at events all over the world, Robin Hobb.
