After the Fall Series

As was recently announced, there is another series based in the world of Elan. No, this isn't The Cycle - that's talked about elsewhere. This is a project that I worked on along with a co-author for the past several years. Oh, and you can add the first book of the series to your shelves with this link.

If you have come here to get the "behind the scenes" look at how this collaboration came to being You can click this link.

As the name implies, this series occurs after the events of the Rise and the Fall and you can expect to see friends and enemies such as: Jerish, Nevrik, Esrahaddon, Mawyndule, Elinya, and, of course, there will be new people to meet as well. The three books of the series will be:

• Out of the Ashes (released in ebook & audio - print book in early 2027)
• Between Two Evils (released date TBD)
• Into the Darkness (release date TBD)

The Kickstarter was a huge success! If you missed it, you can click here to become a "late backer." 

As I mentioned, this is being written by a co-author, Lorian Ellis. This will be Lorian's debut novel, and it we (Robin and I) are so proud of what she has created. As we reach various milestones, we'll post them here.

Status

• 10/13/26 - signature pages signed by both Michael and Lorian - sent to printer for binding in the books.
  
  
• 10/07/26 - ebook is available for sale!
  
  
• 10/06/26 - Audiobook is available for sale!
  
  
• 09/23/26 - Kickstarter ends and was a huge success #1 most backed and #2 most funded.
  
  
• 09/11/26 - Production files went to the printer for dust jackets, so that proofs and tip-ins can be produced
  
  
• 09/08/26 - Production files for interior and deluxe edition sent to printer. Still waiting on dust jacket template for the regular hardcover.
  
  
• 09/07/26 - All changes incorporated - book is "locked" quote received from printers - along with final dimensions so the covers and spines can be adjusted.
  
  
• 09/02/26 - Kickstarter launched! Funded in the first 20 minutes. It'll run until September 23 2026 8:00 PM EDT.
  
  
• 08/30/25 - Lorian's final review of interior complete
  
  
• 08/23/25 - Layout complete - sent to Lorian for approval/ review
  
  
•  08/02/26 - Production work on interior layout begins
  
  
• 07/18/26 - Audiobook cover files finished
  
  
• 07/16/26 - Rough drafts of cover design finished
  
  
• 07/15/26 - Final artwork from Marc
  
  
• 06/25/26 - Second rough sketch by Marc Simonetti
  
  
• 06/24/26 - Audio book recording ends
  
  
• 06/25/26 - Second rough draft sketch from Marc Simonetti
  
  
• 06/19/26 - First rough sketch drafts from Marc Simonetti
  
  
• 06/06/26 - Audiobook recording begins
  
  
• 05/31/26 - Edits done book locked
  
  
• 05/12/26 - Final review/edits start with Lorian and Robin
  
  
• 05/05/26 - Recording dates moved up now starting June 02/2026 - need to do final read through review
  
  
• 01/31/26 - Contract signed for audiobook rights - a seven-figure advance for 3 books!
  
  
• 01/23/26 - Rework of Chapter 2
  
  
• 11/27/25 - Copy edit changes incorporated 
  
  
• 11/10/25 - Copy editing ends
  
  
• 11/09/26 - Recording dates moved - now 06/23 - 07/15
  
  
• 10/06/25 - Copy editing begins
  
  
• 09/25/25 - Beta notes incorporated - the only major change was related to the ending which needed at least one additional chapter to wrap up a few things.
  
  
• 09/06/25 - Beta read ends
  
  
• 08/16/25 - Beta read begins
  
  
• 07/14/25 - First pass copyedit - chapter 1
  
  
• 07/07/25 - Final version with alpha comments added.
  
  
• 06/30/25 - Scheduling Tim for recording 06/08/26 date set
  
  
• 05/20/25 - Alpha read completed - all in all the book is in god shape some minor tweaks but nothing structural or substantial to work on.
  
  
• 05/14/25  - Alpha read of chapters 1 - 14 completed
  
  
• 05/10/25 - Last of 7-post rollout goes live (see links above)
  
  
• 04/23/25 - First of 7-post roll out goes live (see links above)
  
  
• 03/10/25 - Famed artist Marc Simonetti has been commissioned for a cover design

• 03/06/25 - The book has a title and a placeholder cover.
  
  
• 02/20/25- The book is essentially done. It needs a few changes, but it's approved by Michael. Book page created on Goodreads

• 10/28/24 - Chapter 7 - 9 finished
  
  
• 02/26/24 - Chapter 5 - 6 finished

• 09/23/23 - Chapter 4 finished

• 09/19/23 - Chapter 3 finished

• 08/23/23 - Chapter 2 finished

• 04/27/23 - Chapter 1 finished

• 01/21/23 - 1st chapter writing starts - and is rewitten, and rewitten, and rewitten

• 12/28/22 - First outline submitted and reworked several times

• 11/4/22 - Brainstorming session between Michael and co-author about possible plot threads (both new and old) for the series

• 10/25/22 - Authors of Novel House visit the cabin and I approach the fanfiction writer about co-authoring a work from my world. They receive a mac computer loaded with Scrivner, the Elan bible, and instructions regarding the new seriesAfter the Fall
  

• 11/08/20 - "The Novel House" is formed - a small group of authors that I mentor on writing. the fan fiction writer is one of the students who is working on her own contemporary fiction tale.

• 02/07/20 - Email from an avid reader of all things Elan is sent to me, asking permission to post a fanfiction they wrote. I requested to see the piece, they agreed and I was very impressed.