Three month milestone. A quarter of a year.: seanan

Three month milestone. A quarter of a year.

Three months ago today, we officially sold the first three October Daye books to DAW. At that time, we'd just finished putting the first book, Rosemary and Rue, through the editorial wringer to end all wringers; I could practically teach a seminar based on the process of revising that book. A month after that, book two, A Local Habitation, was ready to be turned in to my publisher, and I was just getting things underway with book three, An Artificial Night.

Two months ago, I was in New York, meeting my editor and my publisher and -- in a weird, sort of existential way -- my future, because this is what I've wanted my whole life, and it's become basically impossible to say 'but it's never going to happen.' It is going to happen. It's all happening right now.

In the past three months, I've learned more about the publishing world than I had managed to learn in the previous thirty years. In the past nine months, I've learned more about myself as a writer, and the craft of writing in general, than, again, the previous thirty years. I've finally figured out where the pieces go. An Artificial Night is almost ready to be turned in, now. I'm working on Late Eclipses of the Sun, aka, 'book four.' I've finished Newsflesh. I've finished Lycanthropy and Other Personal Issues. I've outlined InCryptid, in all its weird and wonderful glory. I'm moving forward, and I've come so far, and I've got so far to go.

We don't have a publication date for Rosemary and Rue yet (obviously); my new website has yet to launch; all the frantic writing and revision has done a number on my social life and my recording schedule; we haven't even started shopping the next few books. There's going to be a lot of work that has to get done before I can actually start saying 'go buy my book' and praying for an audience. I know that. And it doesn't matter, because three months ago today, we sold my first novel.

I am the happiest blonde there is.

songwind

August 13 2008, 14:25:49 UTC 8 years ago

New comment

That's so cool. I hope *I* can share a story like that sometime.

seanan_mcguire

August 13 2008, 14:31:14 UTC 8 years ago

And I will applaud like whoa when you can!

jimhines

August 13 2008, 14:30:30 UTC 8 years ago

I'm jealous -- I still haven't gotten the chance to meet Sheila or anyone else from the DAW offices.

"I am the happiest blonde there is."

You think so? Wait until the first time you're holding a copy of your book, or the first time you walk into a bookstore and see it sitting there on the shelves :-)

August 13 2008, 14:32:34 UTC 8 years ago

They're all crazy-sweet people, and were really, really nice to me. Even if my suit did make me look like the new Mayor of Halloweentown. (I have very distinct fashion tastes.)

...see, when I was holding my first album, I burst into tears and had to be coaxed out of the pantry. I think seeing my book in the bookstore may result in shock, hypoxia, and fainting.

vixyish

August 13 2008, 17:26:13 UTC 8 years ago

And we'll be there with DDP and kittens to revive you!

(If they allow kittens in the bookstore.)

8 years ago

ayoub

August 13 2008, 14:50:59 UTC 8 years ago

So very, wonderfully, awesome :D

August 13 2008, 15:18:09 UTC 8 years ago

Yay. :)

dawn_metcalf

August 13 2008, 14:51:20 UTC 8 years ago

May I offer a "WOOT!" in congratulations -- sounds like you are on *fire*!

August 13 2008, 15:18:44 UTC 8 years ago

Woots for all!

(What's sad is that this is actually a focused period for me, largely because The Agent has sticks with which she gladly beats me.)

kyrielle

August 13 2008, 15:03:14 UTC 8 years ago

GLEEE! And yay!

August 13 2008, 15:18:54 UTC 8 years ago

*dances with you*

popfiend

August 13 2008, 19:12:00 UTC 8 years ago

WHOO HOO!!!

August 13 2008, 21:07:18 UTC 8 years ago

*beam*

joecoustic

August 13 2008, 19:18:40 UTC 8 years ago

I'm so happy for you!! And happy I'll get to read them too :)!

August 13 2008, 21:07:35 UTC 8 years ago

Yay!

TOBY FOR EVERYONE!

vaspider

August 13 2008, 19:52:26 UTC 8 years ago

I am more proud of you than I can properly express.

August 13 2008, 21:07:45 UTC 8 years ago

Thank you so very, very much.

talithakalago

August 14 2008, 01:54:10 UTC 8 years ago

Yay!

You being happy made me happy, because I'm just a few years behind you. I'm looking forward to all this.

August 14 2008, 06:22:22 UTC 8 years ago

There's so much I didn't know I needed to know before I started this process. It's just amazing. And when you get here, I will totally jump up and down and scream for you.

August 17 2008, 00:40:56 UTC 8 years ago

My novel is being given to the head honcho at TOR, like, tomorrow, by one of the other editors. I'm trying so very hard not to think about it and just to edit the next project. :P

amanda_nye

August 14 2008, 04:55:07 UTC 8 years ago

so much done in such a small amount of time, and a whole lifetime behind it getting you here. I hope you get to enjoy it and keep going through the rest.

and I hope we all get to buy your books for many many years to come