I'm debating whether or not to write Broken Mirrors -- the fifth full-length Marla Mason novel, which will resolve the cliffhanger in Spell Games -- this spring, to be published online as a reader-funded serial in the summer or fall.

If you're interested in reading that (and more importantly interested in donating, so I can actually afford to spend time writing the book instead of hustling up paying gigs), send an e-mail to tapratt@marlamason.net and tell me. I'll put you on a mailing list and notify you when/if the book goes up. (Comment and include an e-mail address and I'll put you on the list that way instead.)

I suspect I'll use this model: I'll put up the first chapter, and post subsequent chapters as soon as I receive a certain amount in donations for each chapter (probably between $200-$300 depending on how many chapters there are), not to exceed one chapter per week. (Probably be around 25-30 chapters, but it's hard to say until I get into it. Making $7500 on the book would make it worth my while -- that's only about five grand after taxes, for probably three months of hard work -- so I'd aim for that as a minimum total.)

If I get a pretty healthy response to this call for interest, I'll do it. If I only get a handful of responses, well... I probably won't, because even though my wife got her old job back (yay!) we're still broke from her half a year of unemployment, hospital bills, the new need to pay for part-time day care, etc. I can only do this if I'm reasonably sure enough people want it and are willing to pay for it. So if you're dying for book 5, tell me, and tell any of your friends who might be interested.

I would probably follow up the online serialization with e-book versions and a print version. I'd also want to offer people who donate over a certain amount some kind of freebie -- like a signed never-before-published Marla Mason chapbook. Details to be worked out if this actually happens.

And if I get a really good response to book 5, I might even decide to do book 6 next year...