For several months now I have been getting mail from readers of the Faerie Path series, asking me whether there will be a 7th book. I now have the final answer. I’m afraid there is no chance of another full Faerie Path book.
I don’t want you to think the publishers are at fault here - the people at Harper Collins have been really great! Let me walk you through this. When the idea of The Faerie Path first came, I thought it would only be one book - a single story that ended with the downfall of Gabriel Drake and the reconciliation of Tania and Edric. When the people at Harper Collins came on board, they asked if this could be stretched to a trilogy of books. A Fantasy Trilogy! My ambition for years and years - ever since I started writing - was to publish a fantasy trilogy - and now they were giving me the chance! I said yes! Of course I did.
At that time, I had no idea of what would happen in books 2 and 3. Actually, book 2 wasn’t such a problem - the Queen of Faerie was missing - book 2 could tell the story of Tania and Edric finding her and bringing her back. (I’m hoping everyone reading this will have read the first books, so no spoilers! If you haven’t read them, stop now, or plots are going to be given away!) The plot of book 3 came about quite by accident. I wanted a scene where Tania would meet Princess Sancha in her library, reading a book. When I started writing the scene, I had no idea what Sancha would be reading - and I just wrote the first thing that popped into my head - a tale of an ancient war with the Sorcerer King of Lyonesse. I had no idea then who the Sorcerer King was, nor what had happened to him. It was just something for Sancha to be reading.
But as most of you will know, that little incident gave me the basis for the whole of the 3rd book. So, there I was, with a Fantasy Trilogy!
I thought that would be the end of the adventures of Princess Tania in Faerie, and Harper Collins asked what Frewin Jones could do next - which is how the Warrior Princess series got started. I was actually in a meeting with some editors, discussing the plot of Warrior Princess book 2, when the Office Manager strolled in. “Did you enjoy writing the Faerie Path books?” he asked. I told him I had enjoyed it very much. “Good, then,” he said. “How would you like to write three more?”
I jumped at the chance - and rushed off to come up with some thoughts for three more books. Again, the plot for this 2nd trilogy came from something that I had written near the end of book three, never thinking it would lead anywhere. It was the scene where Tania asks Titania about Faerie wings, and Titania mentions the lands of Alba and Erin and speaks of the Divine Harper. At the time, I had no idea what any of that meant! But now I had three more books, I decided it would be fun to find out, and I’m eternally grateful to the good people at Harper Collins for giving me the opportunity to do so. But things are very tough in the publishing world now - and getting tougher! A seventh Faerie Path book is not an option right now, and - as someone who makes their living from writing - I have moved on to other projects.
However, some of you have told me that the 2nd trilogy feels “unfinished” - as if there is more to tell. In a way, I can see why you would think so, although I am not going to talk about this in detail here, because there will be a lot of people reading this who have not necessarily read the Charmed Return, and I don’t want to spoil the end for them.
Here’s the thing. Although there will definitely not be a 7th book, I am considering writing an extended short story - or novella - which I would make available free online from this website to anyone who would like to read it. If it gets written, this short story would - hopefully - wrap up all the loose ends and answer most of the questions that readers have been asking me. Again, I’m not going to go into details - I don’t want potential readers to be put off by telling then what happens in The Charmed Return before they have had the chance to read it.
I am very busy now with other writing, so if I do write the ‘tying-up-loose-ends” story, it won’t be until next year now - although, of course, as it will be directly from me to you readers, as soon as it is written, I will make it available on this website.
so - there you have it, not the news many of your were hoping for, but maybe not entirely without hope! Let me know what you think - if I wrote the short story, would you want to read it?
If you want to write to me with ideas or specific thoughts about what you’d want to see in the potential short story, please do it via the Contact page and not as a comment here. Remember there are plenty of people out there who have not yet read The Charmed Return, and I won’t be posting any comments that give the story away!
This is sad news, but I’m glad that you seem to be taking it well. I know we all look forward to your short story/novella as well as anything else you write!
I’m so sad to here that there won’t be a 7th book! But I’m glad that there’s hope on the novella that your going to write. Hopefully one day the publishing company will change it’s mind and let you properly finish your Faeire Path series.
Very sad news, but a short short would be great to tie up the loose ends. As long as we can read it on here, that would be awesome since I don’t have a Nook, Kindle, etc.
I will read it the instant you put it up!
I would totally read anything more from this series, whether it be full story, novella, or even deleted scenes, extras, or things like that. It’s awfully sad not to ever get another full story, but true fans will take what they can get
AFJ. Nickolyn, Deleted scenes, eh? Now that might be a thought…
I would love anything I can get. I think a novella would be wonderful.
Sounds good to me! I’d totally read it. A shame on not another book, but a short novella thing is better then nothing.
I agree, a novella would be great! But I have a question. What are the “other projects” you kept mentioning? Can you give us a hint?
I’m sad to hear that there will not be a 7th book, but I think a novella would be great! I’ll read it the second it is on the website.
AFJ. Sarah - the problem with setting out the details of semi-formed new ideas online is that they can get stolen, and before you know it, someone else has rushed out something suspiciously similar. As soon as I have something concrete, I’ll let all of you people know. Promise.
I’d LOVE a novella. Is the “Charmed Return” already out??? I can’t get it at the library. As soon as the novella is out I’ll read it, (of course I’d finish the “Charmed Return” first.)
I woulld love a short story your faeriepath books are amazing !!!
AFJ. Lauren - yes, The Charmed Return has been out in Hardback since January - so your library should be able to get a copy for you.
I am really sad to hear that there wont be another book. But would instantly read the short story, because i know it would be amazing!!!!
This is bittersweet we still get TFP but still there wont be a seventh book
I’d love there to be another book to the series but if there can’t be it would be great if there was a novella and I would happily read it
Can’t wait to read it!
Sad to hear that there won’t be a 7th book, but I think a novella would be great!!!!!
I still feel..you should finish it properly with the 7th book…for then it would justify the story of “Seventh daughter of Seven” and all the “seven’s” you created in faerie path..the seventh book will make it proper series.
Hello-
An extended short story( it WOULD be like Stephanie Meyers’ extended short story, right? You know, with like, rouphly 100-200 pages? This is what I’m going by…) would be just as good as a full book! After all, it will still have a plot and everything else a regular book has, but just setting the pace quicker so it doesn’t take up as many pages. A compromise is better than nothing- i’d much rather have a shorter story finishing up Tania’s and Edric’s adventure than no story at all.
Same here! Anything I can get, I’ll take!!!
I agree with Maya! Seven is a great number to end on given the great significance the number had throughout the series. I have SO many unanswered questions! What about the winged ones introduced in the first trilogy? I feel that they deserve some more backstory. Will the people of Faerie ever be winged again?? I have more questions, but I feel like they would be spoiler questions. But thank you for giving us this great story to read, I have enjoyed it immensely.
It is sad, but as soon as the novella is out it will give us knew ideas for things like fanfiction or short stories we can write! I know that the Faerie Path books have affected me deeply. I redid my room to look as close as it could to Tania’s, I read the books billions of times, I joined every chat room or contest, I even told my parents I was naming my kids Edric and Tania! I know Faerie Path will never leave me, it will always be there and I hope it will do the same for others!
I’m with Madelyn here The Fearie Path has made a big impact on me my imagination was before I read it but it with me now stronger then ever.
Madelyn,
You redid you room like Tania’s? That’s awesome!!! I would never have thought to do that! Neat idea!!!
I think a novella is a good idea. Me and my friend were racing to see who could finish all the books first. Of course I won, and she has yet to finish “The Charmed Return”. I had to wait forever for it to be in the library!!!
Please don’t stop with out these books me and my friend Emily will be heart broken please make a seventh book I understand what your saying but please. I started reading them in September of 2010 and that’s how me and Emily became friends these books can start alot of things for different people thanks to these books I’ve learned so much about London. I told my mom that I wanted to live in a place like faerie. Me and Emily are going to be Tania and Eden for Halloween. Please just write one more book
Happy September!
Loved the series - it was lots of fun and hope you decide to take the time to do up a novella. I think that there would be lots of people that would take the time to read it! There are quite a few possibilities as far as storyline goes - Perhaps Harper would go ahead with publishing it!
I Love your books and when the last one came out I was sad to see it end but then the way it was ended was kind of a (Oh no he didnt) lol I would love it if you wrote that short story I am so looking forward to it until then Love and Light
One could argue that life is unfair, but it seems unsatisfying for a series to not have closure when the author is alive and well enough to share the fantastic world. I would be happy to pay for an electronic self-published novel or novella–so many options now with Kindle–if that’s what was needed to support the author and encourage writing the conclusions (or explanations) to tie up loose ends.