This blog post was published on and may be out of date. Visit starshipsmage.com for current information on the Starship’s Mage universe.
Two years ago today, I launched Starship’s Mage: Episode 1 on Amazon.
I had high hopes for its success – I quite liked the novella and was very pleased with it. Over the course of it’s first three months, however, it sold less than 100 copies. The general fate, so far as I can tell, of any stand-alone e-novella from a new author.
I was disappointed but my wife, who’d talked me into this endeavor at the beginning, encouraged me to at least finish the serial. I can be stubborn at times, so that was always my plan. We advanced. Episode 2 was more successful, doubling my total sales in its first weeks.
Things continued on that upward trajectory from there, culminating in the release of Episode 5 and the Starship’s Mage Omnibus.
In early 2015, royalties from Starship’s Mage and Children of Prophecy paid the downpayment on my house. That was a shock to the system. The project I’d almost given up on at the start had just enabled us to achieve home ownership a full year ahead of our schedule.
My enthusiasm was curbed, however, by the launch of City in the Sky. It didn’t do poorly, but it wasn’t as successful as Starship’s Mage. I lost a little bit of optimism, and slashed my expectations for Space Carrier Avalon dramatically.
Avalon then proceeded to shattered even my original, optimistic expectations. Hand of Mars followed along, almost exactly in line with my expectations. 2015 has been mind-blowing.
And so, the project I almost gave up on at the start became my primary source of income. Two years on, I am astoundingly, unimaginably, grateful that my wife talked me into having faith in my work and putting it out there. None of this would have happened without her pushing, pulling, and encouraging.
None of this would have happened without you, dear reader. I am astoundingly, unimaginably, grateful for the way you have latched onto Damien’s and Kyle’s stories and worlds.
So thank you.
And watch this space. Castle Federation Book Two should be here soon 😉
Happy Reading,
Glynn Stewart
Way to go.
Love the Starship Mage series, great combination of “magic” and sci fi. Can’t wait for book 3.
Keep up the great work man.
Congratulations and Merry Christmas. The main reason I think for starship mages’ early lack of success was the fact it wasn’t advertised as much. I stumbled upon you looking for something else. I am glad I did. I have been extremely happy with the series and cannot wait for Voice of Mars. It is a unique take on two of my favorite genre’s.
You write well written characters that are both believable and with faults. Those faults add to the character. During Hand of Mars when Damien was needed to act in a critical situation and could not understand his own importance at that moment made me reflect on how I would act if I were in that situation and realized I’d be the same way.
I cannot wait for Voice of Mars at all.