Omigod.

[azurelunatic]

http://www.baen.com/cornerstone.htm

For immediate release July 20, 2006.
Baen Books Announces Cornerstone Acquisitions for Coming Year Key Deals Completed with Best-sellers Weber, Ringo, Flint, and Bujold

Baen Books Acting Publisher Toni Weisskopf has reached agreements for major new projects and series continuations with authors David Weber, John Ringo, Eric Flint, and Lois McMaster Bujold, four of Baen’s “brand name” authors and series anchors.

Included is a new Honor Harrington novel by David Weber, whose “Honorverse” books total nearly five million in print and regularly hit the New York Times best-seller list. John Ringo has agreed to write three more “Mike O’Neal” books in his extremely popular New York Times best-selling “Posleen War” series. In addition, alternate history master and New York Times best-seller Eric Flint has signed on for three solo novels in his groundbreaking and highly popular “1632” -- another New York Times best-selling series created by Baen Books. Finally, five-time Hugo Award winner Lois McMaster Bujold will deliver a new “Miles Vorkosigan” novel in her mega-hit best-selling science fiction adventure series.

“These are Baen’s ‘tentpole’ writers,” says Weisskopf. “Baen is set to maintain its rock-solid position in the marketplace. Having all of these wonderful writers aboard with new agreements is intensely satisfying and very exciting.”

Founded by Jim Baen in 1983, and known for its story-oriented approach, Baen Books is a dominant presence in the military science fiction and adventure genres, with over fifty million copies in print and over 35 New York Times best-sellers.

Miles. OMG. Miles.

I know what Darkside's getting for $HOLIDAY, either early or belated depending on timing.

Comments

[torrilin.livejournal.com]

OMG. What the *hell* kinda bribe did they use? :o *wobbles while trying to decide whether to faint or bounce*

[azurelunatic]

Dunno. Suspect a Countship was involved. That, or one might make speculation without basis about Politics involving the late Mr. Baen, Politics that might have cleared up following his death.

[thette.livejournal.com]

From what Eric Flint said at a Chicago dinner, I suspect sanity is involved.

If Mercedes Lackey would be a part of it, I'd know it to be true.

[azurelunatic]

Sanity good!

[crisavec.livejournal.com]

There was a lotta "In Jim's Memory" arm twisting going on on the Bar. I read Ringo's post where he decided he'd worked though the issues he had with the PosleenVerse and offered up that contract when Toni called him. She's actively working to lock in contracts, and is even soliciting ideas for ebooks we'd like to see for sale in Webscriptions.

Now if only Tom(head of Tor books) can beat the owners of Tor over the head and let them sell ebooks in Webscriptions..that'd rock.

[torrilin.livejournal.com]

From various things I've seen and heard over the years (none of which Officially Happened), I suspect Tor has an attitude of "it'd be a cold day in hell". No proof, but it would not surprise me one bit. There are some pretty serious cultural differences between the two publishers for one thing.

[crisavec.livejournal.com]

Actually, for about a week back in March they WERE selling on webscriptions...until the owning company came back and made them withdraw. Tom Doherty is all for it, and as he's the publisher and all thats a good indication that it'll happen SOME day.

[calligrafiti.livejournal.com]

Yay! More Miles! That's great news--thanks for passing it along.

[azurelunatic]

You're welcome! I figured my friendslist would appreciate it.

I'll definitely mourn the-character-who-is-probably-going-to-die-in-this-one -- there was noise that this was one of the reasons it was put off some.

[thette.livejournal.com]

I know, it'll be almost unbearably sad. Also: Yay! MILES!

[azurelunatic]

Yes! And I'm looking forward to hearing more about Mark and Enrique, too.

[thette.livejournal.com]

Definitely. And Kareen.

[tsjafo.livejournal.com]

Forward Momentum!

[azurelunatic]

Indeed!