Season Four cancelled. Kind of...
It’s not unusual for television shows to get cancelled after just one or two seasons. There was a time, a couple of years ago, when it seemed almost naive to invest too much emotional energy into a series. All too often they got the axe because they didn't appeal to the jibbering masses – forget the fact that some of these projects were superbly written and perfectly casted, and had real potential to develop into memorable epics. Carnivale, Jericho, Firefly, Sarah Conner – I salute you. Even you, Terra Nova. There was potential there, somewhere…
Cut off before their prime. Let’s face it, nothing new for us gamebook readers who have seen our favourite series hang in limbo as publishers decided they just weren’t profitable anymore. Alas, DestinyQuest is the latest casualty.
I’ve tried to fight against the tide of eBooks and apps, hoping that I could make print gamebooks viable and enjoyable again, but finding that market has been a tough one. I’ve worked hard to make it work – taking it from a single self-published edition to a trade-published and multi-translated series. I always knew it was going to be tough, and I’ve personally poured a lot of energy and money into the publicity of the books – but my publisher, Gollancz has finally bested me. The equivalent of an overpower ability, followed by crits and modifiers – and probably a death move thrown in to send me spinning into the dust. KO.
I was hoping for a Book Four. You see, Book Four would tie together a hell of a lot of loose ends. It would not tell the whole story – not the continuing adventures of Arran, the Siege of Assay, the fall of Mordland… but it would have continued the stories of our heroes from Legion and Heart. I was clinging to hope that Book Four would be a reality – but Gollancz said no. That’s the reality. So I guess I have to live with it.
Before people start screaming kickstarter and crowd-funding, I have to raise my hands and say ‘I’m not sure…’ I’ve never used such tools to raise money and it is not something that rests easy with me, taking money from people for something ‘yet to exist’. That, coupled with the sizeable cost of printing, artwork, drawing a ‘salary’ so I don’t lose my house while I write... all that makes it look very unlikely. Unless I had a rich backer who had about fifteen grand going spare. Anyone?
Anyway, fear not. I don’t want this to be too much of a downbeat post (ha, I know you are wondering ‘wha… ?’). I’m going to be working on another writing project for the next few months – another book but quite a departure for DestinyQuest. It’s an idea that has been knocking around for years (and years) and I finally need to get it out of my system. But I have not forgotten DQ. I have Book Four alive and kicking in my head – I see it as one of the most awesome of the series. If flying pyramids and cyberpunk elves don’t get you fired up, then it's time to hang up the dice.
So I will live to fight another day. DestinyQuest 4 will happen in some capacity, if I can make it happen – not sure how yet, but I’ve always been a believer in fate. Kind of apt. Just rest asured that I am as eager to find out what happens to the characters as you are; and I want it to happen. It would be sad for that story to remain untold.
Television series get cancelled – that’s pretty permanent. But books are different. They refuse to stay down. You've only to look at the excellent work of Dave Morris and co. in breathing new life into old series – and hopefully, continuing to add to those with new adventures in different formats, for a new generation.
Of course, I will continue to fully support and add to this site. Thank you all for your support and the sales. I really appreciate it. Don’t lose faith.
MJW