Back Chat #3
- thekingofrhyenovel
- May 24
- 3 min read
Dear friends and followers, it's nice to see you.
A genuine apology for such a delay between updates. Indeed, it isn't for lack of news, but rather the lack of time to sit and provide an update. But fear not, there is plenty to say.
TL;DR:
Release of 'Singalongs & Lullabies'/completion of The Rhye Saga
Event appearances for 2026
'Rise of the Black Queen' - a Prequel (plus new merchandise - link provided below)
Bonus Material: 'In This Soil Remain' (on Patreon) - link provided below
Since January this year, the major News of the World is that 'Singalongs & Lullabies' is complete, published, and out there in the wild to join its precursors. The Rhye Saga is now complete in literature form, and the sense of relief as an author has been palpable. It has been a thrill to see the reactions of followers everywhere, and to see the first review pop up online. Do grab yourself a copy - available on online platforms worldwide to buy as a physical paperback, or as an e-book for Kindle.
So here we are, in the aftermath of a project I have taken almost seven years to fulfill. But who said that my party was all over? In the aftermath of the Rhye Saga's completion, already there are new developments popping up like fungi in Banwah Haunte.
The first thng to announce is that I'm going on tour! Well, it's a small tour, and it's my own region, as I've never done anything like this before and getting logistics right is a thing. But I'm spreading my wings, and taking Seven Seas of Writing on the road in regional Queensland (because of course) in the next couple of months.
Fans of Queen and literary fiction will find me grinning like a fool at:
Wide Bay Sugar Pop Con, Bundaberg (Saturday 6th June)
FraserPop Pop Culture Festival, Maryborough (the birthplace of Mary Poppins! 18th & 19th July)
The Childers Festival, Childers (23rd - 26th July) ... and the big one:
Freddie Days 2026, Montreux Switzerland (2nd - 6th September) - the 80th Birthday Celebrations for Freddie Mercury!
I will have signed physical copies of all three Rhye Saga books on sale, as well as a swag-load of freebies including stickers, bookmarks and more (except in Montreux, where there will be only me, because travelling rom Australia isn't compatible with bringing all of that stuff).
Next! This is one I've been bursting to mention for many, many months: The Saga is getting a prequel!
No, not another doorstop of a book from me, but something possibly more special, more lively, more bursting with colour. A GRAPHIC NOVEL. For a long, long, loooong time, artist extraordinaire Luc Hudson has been painstakingly planning and piecing together a wonderful new adventure, featuring the characters and whimsical nonsense you've come to recognise. In 'Rise of the Black Queen', you'll read all about our heroes before they were heroes, and our villains when they were ... discovering how to be as villainous as possible.
Imagery has already started to circulate, ahead of the graphic novel's release; you can also find updated goodies at the merch store:
Lastly, but far from leastly, I have an admission to make.
I left some words out of 'Singalongs & Lullabies.'
This is quite often the case when an author edits and polishes their work before release, just as a film editor's job is to leave bits and pieces on the cutting room floor. Deleted scenes have been a thing in film and literature since probably the dawn of time. Or printing press and film, at least.
Long story short, I have a brief passage of bonus material for keen readers. It comes as a wrap-up of Lily's character arc, which just didn't seem to fit comfortably anywhere without disrupting the flow of much bigger, more pulse-pounding events.
Rather than have it stay deleted for good, I've published the Lost Chapter 'In This Soil Remain' on my Patreon. Not to worry: joining my Patreon and accessing all content is absolutely free. There's no paid tier. Here's the link:
Phew! I really shouldn't leave these updates so long to post! That's about all for now. I'll see you in the next one.
Best wishes,
Craig
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