I’m Still Here — and Rectify Is Growing
It’s been a while since I’ve shared an author update, so I figured this was a good time to say: yes, I’m still here, and I’m definitely still writing.
Actually, I’ve been doing quite a bit of it.
Rectify is getting bigger
My main writing focus right now is a Revised & Expanded Edition of Rectify: The Avenging Angel.
This isn’t just a cleanup of the original book. I’m adding substantial new material, expanding parts of the story that moved too quickly the first time around, and giving the Japan storyline more room to develop.
When I originally published The Avenging Angel, life was complicated. My parents were both very ill, I was heavily involved in caregiving, and I pushed myself to finish the book faster than I probably should have.
I’ve always loved the story. But I’ve also always known there were places where I wanted to do more with it.
Now I am.
I’m also building a much more detailed Rectify series bible so the history, characters, timelines, relationships, and larger mythology stay consistent as the series grows.
Book Two is still very much alive
Rectify: The Ancient Centurion is already substantially drafted.
I’m not ready to announce a release date, but Book Two has not disappeared. A lot of what I’m doing with the expanded first book is also about making sure the foundation is right for what comes next.
The current edition of Rectify: The Avenging Angel is still available in the meantime, including the audiobook.
Apparently, my brain doesn't work on just one world
One thing I’ve learned about myself is that trying to force myself to think about only one creative project actually makes me less productive.
Sometimes another story starts taking up space in my head. Getting those ideas into an outline or series bible helps clear that space so I can come back to Rectify with more focus.
That doesn’t mean I’m trying to write five books at once. It’s just part of how I work.
Some of those ideas lean more toward science fiction, while others are much more heavily fantasy. I’ll talk about them when they’ve developed far enough that I know they’re actually headed toward publication.
Until then, Rectify comes first.
A new home for all of it
I also completely rebuilt my fiction-author website:
That is now the main home for my books, current writing, audiobook information, and future Reader Updates.
If you remember RyanJRussellBooks.com, that old address now redirects to the new site.
This newsletter will be occasional. I’m not going to manufacture something every week just to fill your inbox.
I’ll write when there is something worth sharing—a major writing milestone, revised-edition news, a cover, a release, or something interesting happening behind the scenes.
Thanks for still being here.
There’s a lot more story ahead.
Ryan J. Russell
