The Cauldron

Hmm. She's probably still working out the exact plot dynamics/ writing, so can't give spoilers anyway 'cause they could be different when published

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Avatar by me.

"And then upsp'ke the Fairy Queen,
'Tam Lin, if I had known,
I would have pulled out both your eyes,
To give you eyes of stone.'"

I'm sure that another reason why they are publishing these two series (The Symphony of Ages/The Lost Journals of Ven Polypheme) so far apart is because they not only want the readers to be able to digest both stories, but want them to buy each one in hardcover, money.

One can walk into a bookstore, pick-up ether book, but than try to decide which one to get (if they don't have enough money to buy both in hardcover at that time), they might want them to buy the hardcover versions so the publishing companies, and her Majesty, can get more money and to even out the time the hardcovers become paperbacks. Giving enough time between each publications might guarantees that, I think.

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"Fire-child, star-child, what is kel? Sword-bearers, song-weavers, that is kel."
-The Faded Sun trilogy by C.J.Cherryh.
My Avatar is my cat, Niun.
*Keeper of The Dictionary of All Symphony of Ages Knowledge & The Ven Polypheme Dictionary Guide.*

Could be. A lot of people prefer the hardback editions, as well, so it could be what you are saying, but with an eye on what the customers might wish to do, as well. Probably a combination of those things.

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Avie pic by me.
Elwood: It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses.
Jake: Hit it. ~ The Blues Brothers (1980)

Also, kids tend to be a little less *patient* than we older folks when it comes to having stories told to them, leaving them more likely to lose interest, sooner, if a series is taking too long between the "episodes".   I would think that it is in the author's and his or her publisher's best interest, that once starting a series written for a younger age group, to have them available on a more regular schedule.

It has been almost 2 years since The Floating Island was released, so with The Dragon's Lair the schedule seems to be one book a year for The Lost Journals. The kids who started off with it have had nearly 3 years of growth in between...giving a chance for them to mature a little bit each year so that they can more easily make the transition into the SoA.  If the publisher is able to stretch out the anticipation between the two related series, an entirely new market base can develop, yes, increasing profits but also giving them a stronger franchise which can compete transgenerationally with other series in its genre. 

*Something off topic that came to me while writing this*

One thing that is very unique about these different but complementary series is that we are being given both adult and juvenile voices, which don't "speak down" to its readership, yet are adaptable and enjoyable to almost everyone.  All the stories "happen" in the same universe, yet take on totally different styles in the storytelling which breaks a mold - you can't pigeonhole the "EH Formula", because it is constantly evolving.  The Ven books seamlessly go from First Person to Third Person narration, letting the story tell itself like a writing prompt given in the classroom.  The stories are believable, because they unfold within the imagination from a series of clues given at the beginning of each chapter...while the SoA takes on a more "whodunnit" style, blending the fantastic within a parallel universe which is still very similar to our own, full of description while we sit back and have the story told to us like a beloved bedtime story.

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"No, they're not real, but thanks for noticing"! WoW Dwarf Female /silly
Avatar by Krinsel

That's why I love Elizabeth Haydon's books so much, Krinsel. What you said right there. When I was younger, I couldn't stand reading first person narration. I wouldn't even read a book if it was in first person. Of course, that is not the case now. But if I had read the Ven journals when I was in the target age group, I think would have gotten over my dislikes for first person earlier in life. I always thought the way Elizabeth Haydon wrote the multiple third person in SoA was masterfully done. It is not as easy as it may seem. But she makes it seem so effortless.

And I love her explanation for the reason that Ven is in first and third person. It gets you in this mind frame that these stories really happened, and it really gets you into the story. That trick worked on me, and I'm not even a kid anymore (only at heart ). I am constantly in awe of her talent.

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"All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream."
~Edgar Allan Poe
"Darest thou now O Soul, Walk out with me toward the unknown region, Where neither ground is for feet Nor any path to follow."
~Walt Whitman
~Avatar made by Me, madhatter.

Exactly madhatter!

Elizabeth Haydon always has me in awe, I'm so jealous of her writing talent. And she has the experience to boot. I also love how she portrays her worlds and how she makes the characters communicate with one another. Just amazing.

It was kind of strange after reading the Symphony of Ages for so long, being in that "mind-set," of Elizabeth's style of writing, and picking up the Ven Polypheme books and being thrust into a new style of writing of hers, I was blown away! At first I couldn't believe that Haydon actually wrote these books, but all the elements are there of course, just sugared over with sweet meats and the like for a younger audience!

I wonder, what truly is next for these books? I mean, some things are quiet obvious, but I'm worried for are fellowship trio and the rest of the SOA Crew. All those Iacxsis (yeah! Actually used my Dictionary for once! ) that Talquist used to attack Sepulvatar or going to be "rampaging," on the rest of the Alliance. Ashe, Anborn, Gwydion and the rest of the gang at Haguefort are going to have their hands full. Grunthor and Rath are going to go after Faron/Titan/Hrarfa, Achmed and Rhapsody are going to try to figure out the Lightcatcher. And the Raven's Guild, Spider's Clutch Guild and Beliac are going to join forces with Talquist, creating a massive force of annihilation to bombard Ylorc as well as the other nations. And what of Faedryth and his Lightforge? What if he tickles or evens awakens the Wyrm? And what if, somehow, Hrarfa gets past Grunthor/Rath and gets into the Vault of the Youngest Sleeping Child?!

I must say, things aren't looking too good for the Alliance, even if Achmed has his Lightcatcher.

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"Fire-child, star-child, what is kel? Sword-bearers, song-weavers, that is kel."
-The Faded Sun trilogy by C.J.Cherryh.
My Avatar is my cat, Niun.
*Keeper of The Dictionary of All Symphony of Ages Knowledge & The Ven Polypheme Dictionary Guide.*

Well, there has to be some sort of hope open for our Alliance (gosh, that sounds so World of Warcraft! lol), because at the end of The Assassin King Meridion is just an infant, and in Destiny we have this passage in the Epilogue:

Destiny, American Paperback, p. 831

The door in the tower room opened, and she came in; Meridion watched her out of the corner of his eye as she set the tray she was carrying down on the table next to him.  He smiled at her, then turned in his seat and regarded her thoughtfully.  Many years had passed since the day of her wedding, and she still looked exactly the same, although her face held a look of wisdom that had not been there in her youth.  His father still had the appearance of youth about him also, though time had etched a few more lines around his eyes, visible when he smiled.

So it just seems to me that a lot of time has passed and both Rhapsody and Ashe are still together, living as a family with Meridion who still lives at home. 

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"No, they're not real, but thanks for noticing"! WoW Dwarf Female /silly
Avatar by Krinsel

Yeah that's how I know everything will turn out all right...but who knows how many years done the line it is? Wyrmkin age differently.

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"All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream."
~Edgar Allan Poe
"Darest thou now O Soul, Walk out with me toward the unknown region, Where neither ground is for feet Nor any path to follow."
~Walt Whitman
~Avatar made by Me, madhatter.

I wonder if Elizabeth Haydon is going to pick-up in the next book where TAK left off and have Meridion a little wyrm during the War of the Known World, or if she is going to make it jump ahead a few years?

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"Fire-child, star-child, what is kel? Sword-bearers, song-weavers, that is kel."
-The Faded Sun trilogy by C.J.Cherryh.
My Avatar is my cat, Niun.
*Keeper of The Dictionary of All Symphony of Ages Knowledge & The Ven Polypheme Dictionary Guide.*

I think she's getting tired of him? (aka, it skipped ahead to when he was older a lot, during Destiny, so maybe that's what E.H. had in mind?)

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Avatar by me.

"And then upsp'ke the Fairy Queen,
'Tam Lin, if I had known,
I would have pulled out both your eyes,
To give you eyes of stone.'"

Perhaps eternal light. It would be a bit boring if Meridion was just a little toddler all the time, and Rhapsody/Ashe having to worry about him while the war is going on.

---

"Fire-child, star-child, what is kel? Sword-bearers, song-weavers, that is kel."
-The Faded Sun trilogy by C.J.Cherryh.
My Avatar is my cat, Niun.
*Keeper of The Dictionary of All Symphony of Ages Knowledge & The Ven Polypheme Dictionary Guide.*

Meridion's Terrible Twos  *shudders to think about it*

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"No, they're not real, but thanks for noticing"! WoW Dwarf Female /silly
Avatar by Krinsel

Krinsel wrote:

Meridion's Terrible Twos  *shudders to think about it*

Oh no! And we've seen what he's like with tantrums/ irresponsibility as a baby! It can only get worse

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Avatar by me.

"And then upsp'ke the Fairy Queen,
'Tam Lin, if I had known,
I would have pulled out both your eyes,
To give you eyes of stone.'"