Hello all!
I meant to write this weeks ago, but I found that when I first started writing book 3, I didn’t want to announce it until I had more of it done. I have about 20,000 words done now, so it feels like time.
First, the general facts: Book 3 will be titled UnBonded. This is because it will be a menage romance, with Kranu and Troii falling for the same human woman, Moira, who they happen across in their exile. For this reason, my previous naming convention of “(Character’s Name)’s X” didn’t work. Sure, I could have used “Moira’s X” since the heroine is the constant between the two men (using one of their names wouldn’t have worked since they are supposed to be equal) but I couldn’t think of a good “X” that didn’t sound like porn, to be honest.
Anyway, UnBonded is better than anything else I could come up with, trust me. The reasoning behind it is that both Kranu and Troii are suffering from their bachelorhood. Being unBonded is the main thing wrong with their lives when the book opens. They are searching for a Queen, Kranu because he desperately wants to be Bonded, and Troii because he has been kicked out of his previous tribe and thinks he needs a new one to survive, certainly to be happy. It also reflects the title of Book 1: Ruth’s Bonded.
So it’s a m/f/m menage romance. This means two men, one woman. The men are not romantically involved with each other in this case, though it has been suggested to me that they would be. When I was writing Gron’s Fated, I had my moments when I thought they would make a good couple too, but that is not them and it is not this book.
A lot of people said they wouldn’t read it if it was a menage romance, and I know some people will be disappointed that Ruth and Gron are not the main characters. To the latter I say, Ruth and Gron will feature a lot. When Kranu and Troii find Moira, they know they have to bring her to Ruth, as putting the two humans together makes sense when the Gandry and the humans can’t communicate. Yes, the language barrier will still be in place.
To the former, I say give me a chance. That is all I can say. Read the sample and maybe you’ll get hooked. Read it for Ruth and Gron. I am currently toying with the idea of making it cheaper than the previous two, as there seems to be less demand, and I’m hoping to tempt anyone sitting on the fence. I’ll see what kind of interest I get before the book is published.
I know there was a touch of “series fatigue” creeping into some people at the end of the last book. They wanted the language barrier to be resolved. They wanted Ruth to develop more survival skills. In this one, I hope new characters will refresh interest. I am trying not to repeat Ruth’s experience too much. The language barrier will operate differently because, in Ruth’s Bonded, Ruth and Gron only had each other to talk to. In Book 3, this will not be the case. Moira will (eventually) have Ruth to talk to, and crucially, to clue her in to the situation. Kranu and Troii have each other to discuss things with from the beginning, and the rest of Gron’s tribe later. Kranu, Troii and Moira don’t form the same trauma bond that Ruth and Gron did.
UnBonded is shaping up to be my longest book yet. I was shooting for a total of 70,000 words, as Ruth’s Bonded was 50,000 and Gron’s Fated was 60,000. I want to continue the upward trend and I thought I would be able to because there is one extra point of view to include to bulk up the word count. So far, the chapter pattern of POVs goes Kranu – Moira – Troii – Moira – Kranu etc, so Moira will ultimately end up with half the chapters, and the males will get a quarter each.
However, this has had the unforeseen effect of making the action quite slow. I’m making sure that every chapter advances the story and isn’t just recapping, but it takes a while for Moira to settle in with the males as she keeps running away from them at first. I think as long as her romance with them isn’t too sudden, it won’t be a problem. It can just be a slow-burner, with lots of character set up. Anyway, that’s one problem I’ve come across so far, but I am aware of it. I am writing quite quickly at the moment, though I don’t know how long that will continue.
I know people’s main concern is usually the release date. In this case, I would say April or May. I don’t have a very good record of meeting deadlines though.
The cover is also going to give me grief, I can tell. I have to make it clear that it is a multi-partner pairing, which probably involves some photo editing, in which I have no skills whatsoever. So I predict that will be a hurdle for me to overcome.
I hope you all enjoy it though and are excited nonetheless. If you have any questions, I’ll be happy to answer them if they don’t give too much of the plot away. What would you like to see me post about next?
V.C. Lancaster 
Ruth and Gron are some of my favorite characters to date. I loved the idea that alien abduction is not just hunky, good looking men types who fulfill all the heroines desires. Ruth and Gron’s story was a little more what I think life would be for an abductee among “aliens”. We can’t all get the perfect mate but we can make the situation we find ourselves in perfect in our own way. I really enjoyed the fact that the “scientists” were not much different than those from earth with their interference/noninterference when it suited them.
I can’t wait for the next book. I am not a fan of menage but having read a few that were really well done as part of the story line and not just for the shock/sizzle factor, so I am willing to see what you do with this book. Please don’t let anyone tell or influence your story but the characters.
After reading all these great reviews, remember we are all waiting anxiously and excitedly for the next installment of the story.
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Just spent the weekend binge reading the first two books. Can’t wait for the next one. Any update on a release date?
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I’m aiming for the end of April, but right now I don’t have a lot of faith it’s going to happen
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I loved your first two books. The language barrier was frustrating at some points but I’m OK with that because it was supposed to be frustrating. The reader is supposed to get into the heroines pow.
I also don’t mind the m/f/m relationship because it is going to stir things up, and I have high hopes for the new book.
I think you’ve got a good thing going on here and do not get intimidated with peoples interpretations. Good work will always be recognised and appreciated.
The aftertaste of reading your books for me is: fresh and exiting.
All the best to you in your future work.
Best regards form Croatia.
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I loved your first two books and am so excited to hear you are working on the third!
I actually really like your stance on the language barrier. I thought it was a really interesting and refreshing way to approach a sci-fi romance. I thought it was generally pretty brilliant.
My heart really went out to Troi in the last book so I was so delighted to see he’ll be one of the primary characters in the new book.
I’ll be very interested to see how you go about developing a m/f/m relationship in the upcoming book. I can understand that some people may not care for polygamous relationships in general, but I actually think it really makes sense for this book to branch out in that direction considering the societal norm you’ve already set up on Gron’s planet. I think the next book sounds fascinating. I can’t wait!!
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I want this thing to come out so bad I can’t stand it. I can’t wait to see where you go. I also understand the issues, from writing my own works. Keep chugging and give us the book YOU want to write, not the one you THINK we want you to write. Give it to me, I beg of you.
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I was already excited for book 3 after finishing Gron’s Fated, but I’ve just read the character studies, so now I’m practically salivating.
I don’t know if I ever really had a solid opinion on menage romances in the past (I just happened to read romances that were monogamous) but then I stumbled upon a couple of tastefully written menage romances and now I’m more openminded. So UnBonded’s menage doesn’t phase me at all. In fact, I’m super intrigued (and mentally giving our heroine Moira a high five).
(Quiet types also intrigue me. I probably shouldn’t, but I think about Drenz occasionally. Does he merit a character study, or was he more or less a throwaway?)
Anyhoot, despite other people’s complaints, the language barrier is a plus for me. Sure, there will be misunderstandings, but it’ll force the characters to demonstrate more (which makes me think of that song, “More Than Words”, which I happen to LOVE). I think I’ll really enjoy reading Kranu’s POV. I thought he was a douche in Book 2, but since I know where he’s coming from, I can’t wait to see how he works to become a good and worthy mate to his strange and tiny Queen. Yaaaay! I’m so excited for Book 3!
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Thank you! Kranu had his reasons… He’s an “Act First, Think Later” kind of guy
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I don’t mind the m/f/m – but Kranu was such a jerk in the last book that I am afraid that I will find him hard to like. That being said – I’ll be ordering Unbonded as soon as you can put it out 🙂
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I loooved Ruth and Gron’s story, and I’m actually pretty sad I don’t get another with them as the main characters 😦 However, I am excited that you posted about this third book, as I’ve been dying for it to come out. Your writing style and your characters so far are just my cup of tea.
The m/f/m is something I’ve slowly been accepting into my library. I’m more into monogomy, and the closeness that two people can have with each other, but I have read one or two books with m/f/m that were done tastefully and that made sense because of their culture, lifestyle, etc…
With the two hero’s backgrounds and culture, it does make sense that they would want to share a female, or queen, so I’m open to the relationship being of three instead of just two. I think you’ll do great with it, you’re superb at not making it feel too rushed with your characterization and great emotional details.
Please keep doing what you’re doing, have faith in yourself, and know you have supporters!
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So excited! Thanks for writing!
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I guess I am one of those who do not find m/f/m relationships appealing. There’s just something a little distasteful about parallel physical relationships. However, a writer must write the book s/he needs to write; a reader will read those books s/he wants to read.
I loved Ruth and Gron and have read each book twice. I love how Gron commits fully to his strange Queen and how that commitment sets his priorities. At one time I thought that Ruth and Gron’s relationship would introduce and demonstrate to the Gandry that happiness could be found in monogamy. Apparently not.
Though I may pass on the third entry in the series, I hope there will be others that I can enjoy.
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Thanks for the update! I just read the first 2 books last week, and I loved them so much! I think I may read them again this weekend. 🙂
I’m on pins and needles for the 3rd one. I look forward to seeing how the relationship grows between Kranu, Troii, and Moira. I hope that finally having a queen will allow Kranu to relax and not be the butt he has always been to Gron.
And I’m thrilled to know that we’ll get to see lots more of Ruth & Gron in the next book. I’m glad also that Ruth will have someone she can verbally communicate with. I know she’s missed that so I hope they become good girlfriends.
I read LOTS and LOTS of books, and they often blend into each other – the characters are not memorable. But Ruth & Gron have a place in my heart.
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First, I loooved Ruth&Gron books! The language situation, however, was my one and only small complaint. I agree that a quick fix for the language barrier would make the story less believable an less enjoyable – I find very few things more annoying in a supposed sci-fi story than “aliens” with English-sounding names and languages similar to English (well, perhaps just as annoying as aliens ruling numerous galaxies when the description indicates that the author actually meant planetary systems, but did not know the difference… sigh…)
However, back to the point – actually the complete lack of a language fix seems equally unbelievable to me and in fact was the only thing that pulled me out of the story a few times. Here is how I see it: Ruth managed to learn Gron’s name and later everybody else’s names and somehow was able to pronounce them, perhaps not well, but she was understood; Ruth also seemed a bit bored and was spending time making baskets and tools; now, to me the simplest, most logical thing would be to spend at least some time of the day pointing to something, for example, a basket, pronouncing clearly: “Basket!” and then looking questioningly at Gron – he seems to understand her non-verbal communication quite well, so I am sure he would understand soon enough what it is she is trying to do.
She could do the same with other simple things or actions: water, plant and fruit names, words like eat, drink, stand, walk…. stuff like that. Or discovering names for body parts – now that could be fun, surely 🙂 They could not discuss philosophy using this method, but some simple things would be possible. And finding out the name for the cat monster would be really really good! So why, oh why isn’t Ruth doing that? Some minimal language and the inevitable, possibly funny, misunderstandings would only add to the story. Her not even trying to do this makes me see her as not that smart or perhaps a bit lazy (sorry, Ruth, love you, but just had to say it).
Apart from that, the books are fantastic and I can’t wait for the next one!
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My headcannon for why the language barrier is so impenetrable is that a) Gandry language is virtually unpronounceable for humans, just on a physiological front. Gandry mouths are a different shape to accommodate their teeth; if humans had fangs like they do we’d probably talk with a seriously pronounced lisp. Their language sounds like growls, snarls, and grunts, which humans can’t imitate convincingly. It would be like a human trying to bark. This makes it hard for Ruth to pick out individual words even after 6 months of hearing it. And B) (and this really is a headcannon, it has not been mentioned in any of the books) Gandry grammar is such that they conjugate everything, even their nouns, meaning that even if Ruth thought she had learned a word for something, say a basket, she wouldn’t be able to use it correctly in a sentence. She would ask Gron for the word for a basket, and he wouldn’t know which conjugation to giver her without the context of a sentence. This would also act in reverse and prevent Gron from learning English well. Personal names are the only words that stay the same, or have a conjugation that can be seen as the root and given when asked.
I would say that is why the language barrier is so solid even after months of Ruth being surrounded by it, but another reason is because Ruth doesn’t feel like she needs to learn it too much. She and Gron get by on gestures and mimes, and emotional displays, and guessing meaning from tone. They can communicate well enough for them because they are so in synch with each other, they just operate on the same frequency. In Gron’s Fated, Gron got all tied up in knots and there was a lot of misunderstanding between them, but that was all stuff put in his head by others of his kind, and eventually he realised that they work without any problems when it’s just them. When he ends up forming a tribe with the rest of his family, he lays down the law and tells them they can’t judge his relationship with Ruth by Gandry social standards, and basically to butt out and shut up. He’s willing to stand up and say he knows what’s best for Ruth, because he does, because he pays attention to her and because they love each other.
I hope this helps. To be honest, I don’t even know what they would talk about if they could. They don’t have too much common ground between them, and I think the fact that the full extent of how different they are from each other is hidden from them is a good thing. Ruth’s commitment to the relationship is a leap of faith, which she takes because of Gron’s positive personality traits and the way he’s treated her so far. If she understood the full depth of an inescapable alien bond within a polyamourous matriarchy, it might make her decision a lot harder to make.
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Thanks so much for the explanation! It really does help. I’m so excited about the next book now! As for the menage relationship, for me that’s not a problem at all, in fact I think it is a good way to keep the story interesting.
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I agree with Jackie I think to just have the language barriers be bridged or instantly have a avid survivalist on our hand would make the book less entertaining. I find myself looking forward to the next book because once you get to know characters you want to see what happens next! So I am looking forward to the next book, Please continue updates and thanks!
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I second what Jackie so eloquently says. I couldn’t have said it better.
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I don’t know why anyone has complained about the language barrier or Ruth’s lack of survival skills. Those are realistic attributes that make your story believable and much more enjoyable to read. I’ve found I’m even more excited to read your next book because Gron’s Fated far exceeded my expectations. The “quick fix” that occurs is limited to realistic moments of sci-fi plausibility. I’m so pleased to have found your work, and thrilled to tears to see what you write next. Thank you for your creativity and hard work.
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