Ryan M. Patrick

Not much to talk about, been busy with work, family, and my post-military career.

I’m almost done with the detailed outline for my currently-unnamed pirate fantasy novel. It’s very character-driven, a departure from some of my other novels, but it’s single-POV, single-plot, which is my strength. I’m very excited to start drafting it in a few months.

I’m also going over The Europan Deception with a fine-tooth comb, and creating an outline for the next large revision. Of the large set pieces, 3 will remain mostly unchanged, while 3 will be heavily revised. I’m leaning a bit more into the surveillance state aspect – responding to reader feedback – and making the African Union planet at the end of the second act more like Alastair Reynolds’ Blue Remembered Earth series, with a heavy cyberpunk influence. I’m hoping to finish those edits and get that to the Pentagon early next year, then start in Crush Depth (the Lag Delay sequel) in earnest.

Speaking of Lag Delay, I have a release date now – February 20. I have some very minor edits to make as requested from the Pentagon, then it’s a final proofread and time to get a cover. I’m very excited, writing & editing it was the most fun I’ve had doing this, and unlike some of my other novels, it was universally loved by beta readers. After The Martian Incident releases in December, I’ll start getting that ready. Have to build up that backlist!