Seanan McGuire (seanan_mcguire) wrote,
Seanan McGuire
seanan_mcguire

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Twenty-five days. When will you rise?

(Since there's some unclarity surrounding the release date for Feed, which Amazon insists is April 27th, and my publisher insists is May 1st, here's my official party line: The book comes out May 1st. It may actually come out earlier than that; it won't come out later. I am reserving my panic for May 1st, that being a good day for freaking out, and fully expect to be hyperventilating by late April regardless. But May 1st is the date that sits at the end of my countdown.)

The little "days until Feed comes out" counter on today's planner page reads "25." If I had a penny for every day between now and book release, I would have...a quarter. Which is still enough to buy a super high-bounce ball from a vending machine, or maybe some cheap generic M&Ms that look kind of like candy-coated bunny turds. Quarters are cool. I like quarters.

This is my third book release and my first book release at the same time, which isn't exactly an experience I was ever anticipating having. I mean, half of me is like "I should be so zen right now," and the other half is going "HOLY SHIT HOLY SHIT I AM RELEASING A BOOK WHY IS THE ENTIRE WORLD NOT FREAKING RIGHT THE FUCK OUT?!" Then the zen half is forced to punch the hysterical half in the face, thus increasing the hysteria while reducing the zen, and eventually I just slink away to play with my My Little Ponies until the screaming in my head stops. Also, there is a lot of television involved in this particular healing process. Without cable, the world would be in serious danger right now, that's all I'm saying. Only Fringe and America's Next Top Model stand between you and the death of all mankind.

It's very difficult to yank my brain from fairy tale mode into politics-and-zombies mode, despite the fact that I'm currently ass-deep in edits for Deadline (and sinking deeper every day). It doesn't help that I can't do my normal "carry your netbook and work while commuting" routine, since my back is giving me trouble, and that means I need to minimize what I'm carrying. My netbook is small, yes, but it's dense, and it represents a fairly substantial carrying-capacity commitment, especially when I'm also toting around my purse, my lunch, and reading material for the day. Right now, my writing time is confined to those moments when I am sitting in front of an actual computer. And yes, it's driving me batty. But that's really nothing all that new, now, is it?

It all seems a little break-neck and terrifying, because Feed has been such a fast journey for me. I finished it and sold it inside of six months; the second two books in the trilogy were sold before they were even written. It's a trilogy, which means there's a beginning, a middle, and an end, unlike Toby, where the story gets to go as long as I think it needs to (and I think it needs to go a long, long way). This is the first time I've told a story this big that actually knows where to stop, rather than continuing to spread and grow. I've lived with the Masons for a few years now, but in the grand scope of things, those few years haven't been that long. And now I get to share them. And it's scary. And it's wonderful.

Alive or dead, the truth won't rest.

Rise up while you can.
Tags: contemplation, feed, math is awesome, mira grant, zombies
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  • 34 comments

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Run-on sentences are good. Also, yay.
Congratulations on your upcoming release!

As for lack of writing time, look at it this way: At least you have something to write. I tried doing NaNoWriMo once and stopped when I realized I didn't have a novel burning in me, waiting to come out.
I don't have a novel burning in me, waiting to come out.

I have about fifty.

It's crowded.
::hugs you so tight::

By the way, you and Jim Hines made my daughter's 17th birthday.
We did? Yay us!

xjenavivex

7 years ago

I'm about 2/3 through my ARC of Feed and it's so engrossing. I've been staying up late to read it. Honestly, if people haven't noticed your work with the Toby Daye books (clearly, with the Hugo nod, they have!), then Feed should do it. I'm absolutely loving this book! You are one extremely talented woman. :)
Thank you!

I'm hoping Feed gets noticed. Both because, well, human, enjoy eating, enjoy feeding cats, but because (selfishly), I really want the tiara.

I hope you enjoy the rest of the book!

jawastew

7 years ago

Syfy this weekend is debuting 'Megapiranah', and I know the director. Enjoy your giant mutant carnivorous fishies!
I fully intend to!
Bring on the zombies!!!!! Oh yeah! After tearing through both Toby books, I'm excited and curious to see what you'll do with the living dead.

Hint: there's shooting involved.
Sorry to hear your back is acting up again. *offers sympathy, assumes Seanan is more capable, willing, and knowledgeable about anything else she needs for recovery*

I'm still leery on getting Feed for myself - zombie apocalypses are not my thing. On the other hand, politics and zombie apocalypses are so very, very definitely the thing of one of my good guy friends. He's in the UK, though, and I have no idea if/when Feed is being released over there. I'll almost certainly wind up buying a copy to mail him.
If I'm not misremembering, Feed is being released simultaneously by Orbit and Orbit UK. Also, I'm so not a horror chick, but I love love love this book (bloggers and politics and virology, oh my!). Pick it up in the library if you're not sure, then buy a copy when you get totally hooked. :-)

seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

The one I have on order from Amazon UK is expected 3rd June, and from the ISBN seems to be the US import (Blackwells agrees with that). However, Amazon UK also have another entry saying:

# Mass Market Paperback: 608 pages
# Publisher: Orbit; Original edition (27 April 2010)
# Language English
# ISBN-10: 0316081051
# ISBN-13: 978-0316081054
# Product Dimensions: 19 x 10.8 x 3.2 cm

but that is listed as "Currently unavailable. We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock." (Yup, 'back' in stock. For a book which isn't out yet. Hmm...)

seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

Waiting with baited breath and enjoying Local Habitation on my iPad. :)
Yay!
The next zombie walk in Melbourne is scheduled for May 1. Which will actually be the day before after after Feed comes out.

I've ordered in Rosemary and Rue, but I was told it would take six weeks to come in, so I think we're down to four now. :)
Oh, awesome!

Also, bleah. Let me know if you like Rosemary, maybe I can bring a copy of book two with me to Melbourne.
Just to toss my two cents into the ring. 27 April is a Tuesday and 1 May is a Saturday (also my anniversary).
Yeah, I know.

orcaarrow

7 years ago

seanan_mcguire

7 years ago

And Glee returns next week! So please don't destroy the world before I get a chance to see it.

nolly

April 7 2010, 17:46:37 UTC 7 years ago Edited:  April 7 2010, 17:46:57 UTC

Normally, I avoid zombie books. I just don't see the appeal of zombies. I may have to make an exception this time.

As for the release date, but understanding is that new books usually show up on a Tuesday. 4/27 is one, 5/1 is not. But they could be doing something odd. I shall see whether MG has it on the 27th, and if not, I'll have to come back later. Cause, y'know, it's not like I ever go there....
Oh no, a trip to a bookstore. Whatever shall you do...

nolly

7 years ago

seanan_mcguire

7 years ago