Yes, Exodus: Empires at War: Book 11: Day of Infamy is finally out. I had originally planned to have this out by the end of May, but factors beyond my control caused a delay of three months. But it’s finally here.
First off an explanation, and an apology. I found out in January that I had sleep apnea, or at least that’s what I was told by my primary physician based on my symptoms. I was tired all the time, and my blood pressure had been going up for the last six months. My pharmacist had been increasing my BP meds and adding new ones. In the past I haven’t had much problem with blood pressure, but I had gained weight since blowing out my right shoulder in the gym several years ago. The workouts went out the window, but the eating I had been doing to keep my weight up didn’t, and the pounds starting piling on. I had a sleep study in April (this is the VA, where hurry up and wait is the rule) and it was found that I had severe sleep apnea, eighty-seven interruptions or cessations an hour. I looked up the condition and found that it could be deadly. Your heart struggles at night to get enough blood to your internal organs, since the blood is not fully oxygenated. You wake up with an oxygen debt. Eventually, it can lead to major complications. I was tired all the time, I had no motivation, and I stopped going to the gym altogether. The book I had planned to release in May kept getting put off as I was doing only four or five hundred words a day, when I did any. Finally, after another sleep study, this one in the hospital, and numerous threats to write my legislators and the newspapers, I finally got my CPAP machine. And while everything is not wonderful, I feel much better. I can go to the gym and I can work. At least a couple of thousand words a day, and the motivation is back. So I finally completed Book 11, and am hard at work on Book 3 of the Machine War saga. And now I am back to blogging.
So I have another book out, my thirtieth on Amazon. I listen to my readers, and this book is back on track with the main storyline. And the Empire is again in danger from the Cacas. I have been asked how long this series will be going on. From the beginning it was meant to be a long saga, much like a real war. Imagine World War two, but over distances that can take half a year to traverse. Throw in new technologies by each side, and counter techs to defend against the new. Logistical problems, the times needed to build new vessels, to train more warriors, and you might see the scope of this kind of war. I wasn’t going to give one side a miraculous counter that would win the war in a day. So I had originally planned on doing twenty books in the main series, then rethought that to fifteen. Now? I just don’t know. It will end when it needs to end, when one side or the other finally brings its opponent to its knees. About the time Empires at War wraps up I should be finished with Machine War as well, and some of the short story anthologies I will put out to cover other facets of that Universe.
And then I will go back to the beginning and tell the story of the Empire as it was founded and struggled on its way to dominate its region of space. And maybe some stand alone novels set during the war. I have in mind an alternate WW2 history with more of a science fiction flare than most. And a post-apocalyptic series that’s a little bit Fallout and a bit of Robert Adams’ Horseclans, with some original ideas thrown in as well. And of course, finally finish my gunpowder fantasy, hopefully in time for the workshop cruise I will again be attending in December. I want an editor to take a look at it, and talk with an agent about possible representation. So the coming months and years will be busy ones, and hopefully now my health will cooperate, and I can work on these projects the way I want. I have a lot more stories in me, and I hope my fans will come along for the ride.
Doug BrotherofCats Dandridge 
Doug. Your books are always awesome. I really appreciate your hard work, and enjoy your books, in whatever configuration they are in!
Thank you. I appreciate the feedback.
Really glad you are getting better! Keep up the good work, and I am confident in your ability to keep the excellent series going as required. Your writing is fantastic, you have a life long fan in me.
Thanks.
I put out another Deep Dark Well book at the beginning of the year, Theocracy, which was the first of a trilogy. So I have to get more books out. As far as knowing how the series ends, remember, DDW is set forty thousand years in the future, so a lot of things can happen to Sean and the Empire.
But if the Caca’s win, they’ll wipe us out so since we are still around and no mention is made of them, I assume it didn’t go well for them. ( And Sean see’s himself looking down on the Caca home planet.)
Relieved to hear you’re feeling much better. I was thinking you would probably have to take some down time. (Which might still be better than a bunch of meds, but that’s your business, not mine). Of course we all know how Empires must end since it’s a prequel to the Deep Dark Well series but getting there has been so much fun. Infamy was so depressing but the promise of an awesome payback in book 12 has me salivating. Any chance of going back to DDW in your future plans?
Glad to hear that you are feeling better! And I bought the new book as soon as I saw it was out. I really do enjoy this series and hope it continues to sell well. While I hope it goes to 20 books I understand it ends when it ends. And at least I can reread them.
I am also looking forward to your WWII book. I like to read those and can’t wait to see your take.
Best of luck Doug!
Great to see you back in the saddle, as it were. Been looking forward to this book and I have my Amazon account primed and ready waiting for it. Your timing is impeccable, I am a hour away from finishing my current read.
BTW, have you any thoughts on the continuation of The Deep Dark Well series?
Your audio book customers are eagerly looking forward to getting Book 6 out.
Just finished the audio book for #5, can’t wait for #6.
Dammit sir! I had *plans* for this weekend!
…and then I saw you just released book 11…
Ahh well…the yard work will still be there on Monday.
Glad to hear that the CPAP is helping you sleep soundly, and that you are recovering from sleep debt. I used to design Sleep Lab Monitors, lots of folks feel as if they get their top-gear back once they get back to sleeping. My brother has apnea with an AHI similar to yours: he swears by his machine.
Ok…time for me to slip over to Amazon.
Thanks Doug for another great read – truly enjoyed Day of Infamy. Good to hear your sleep apnoea is getting better but bloody typical that it takes threats to get the VA system to move.
Am enjoying the series enormously – don’t finish up too fast and looking forward to the next one!
Look after yourself.
Cheers
Paul
Doug,
Love the books and hope you feel better soon. One of the things I like about you Empire series is that it seems to take advantage of the new medium, aka ebooks, so that I like that there are maps that I can zoom in and out of as well as pictures of the ships. Why is it that you seem to be one of the few authors to take advantage of the added benefits of ebooks? For instance, I really like the map and the drawings of the Terran Empire ships. Previously, before the drawings, I had a big misconception of the laser rings, but now that I have seen your drawings, the descriptions in the book makes more sense, hence my enjoyment of your stories.
I hate to sound daft, but which drawings are we talking about.
Doug, I like your novels but it seems that your recent work is only available in kindle and I like reading from an actual physical book. Is there any option to buy these kindle books in paper format?
Thank you, Barry Bright
Actually, every book I’ve written but three are available in paperback through Amazon or Creatspace. I’m a little behind on getting book 11 out in paperback, but I should have it up by Sunday/Monday.
Doug, I still do not see a paperback purchase option for book 10 or 11 on Amazon. Do you still plan to issue them in paperback? Thank you, Barry Bright
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