Q1. Will Phoenix Rising be available in physical book or e-book formats?
A1. Yes, Phoenix Rising will be released in both physical book and e-book formats. The current plan is to self-publish and release both versions in 2021.
Q2. When will the next free-to-read chapters be posted?
A2. I will post free-to-read chapters serial style here every 1-3 weeks, depending on the level of interest and on the flexibility of my schedule. If the level of interest is high, I'll prioritize updates here and aim to add new free-to-read chapters on a weekly basis. Even if my schedule is slammed, I will add new chapters every three weeks at the very least, so there will always be a steady stream of added material. This 1-3 week schedule for adding chapters will begin on Launch Day for this site (December 7, 2020), so the second batch of free-to-read chapters will be added sometime between December 14 and December 28 of 2020.
Update: While the Nashville Christmas morning bombing took out my home Internet for a bit, I was able to get the first promised update posted under the wire. The second wave of chapters was published on the night of December 28, 2020, consisting of three chapters clocking in at just over 7,700 words. The third set of chapters will be published here sometime between January 4 and January 18 of 2021.
Q3. Why are you doing it this way?
A3. The idea is to both gauge and promote interest in the Phoenix Rising project as its story unfolds online.
Q4. Can I be notified when new free-to-read chapters are posted here?
A4. Yes! You can sign up on the Phoenix Rising email update list here. I'll send Phoenix Rising related updates to everyone on the list.
Q5. Is Phoenix Rising finished, or is it being written as it appears here?
A5. Phoenix Rising is a completed book of 77 chapters and roughly 105,000 words. That said, I will surely be doing things like typo corrections and basic editorial clean-up work as things roll along between now and when the book goes to print in 2021. I may even tweak some around the edges in response to feedback or add some additional detail here and there, but I will not be making any major or even moderately significant changes to the book. The Phoenix Rising story is set in detail from beginning to end.
Q6. You've mentioned that Phoenix Rising is part of a series of books. How many books are in the series?
A6. Phoenix Rising is the first of a seven book series.
Q7. What are the titles of the Phoenix Rising sequel books?
A7. While each of the sequels to Phoenix Rising has a working title, I will not be sharing any of those titles at this time. One of several reasons for this is a desire to avoid spoiling any parts of the Phoenix Rising story for those who have not yet read it.
Q8. How much work has been done on the sequels to Phoenix Rising?
A8. I've written much of the second and third books already, with significant work having also been done on books 4-7. The complete series has been mapped out in great detail and, if the interest is there, I should be able to produce completed sequel books in relatively short periods of time.
Q9. How are you measuring interest in Phoenix Rising?
A9. Feedback, email update sign-ups, and donations, among other things. The more interest is reflected in these areas, the more I'll be able to justify the time needed to continue work on the Phoenix Rising project (including its sequel books). As a husband and father of five young children (with one on the way in March) with full time+ jobs and projects swirling around, I value these measurables as tools to help me determine where to most productively spend my limited time and energy.
Q10. Are you planning to add to this FAQ?
A10. Yes! I look forward to adding more soon, including thoughts on topics like inspiration (why did I write Phoenix Rising?) and objectives, as well as other subjects that come up as feedback rolls in.
Thank you for your interest in Phoenix Rising!