Let me tell you about Rose Marshall...: seanan

Let me tell you about Rose Marshall...

Let me tell you about Rose Marshall—
Might be the last thing you’ll ever see.
They say some stories will never die,
Well, she died back in fifty-three,
Kept her prom night date with the cemetery.

—"Pretty Little Dead Girl."

"Have you ever heard the story of the woman at the diner?"

—Rose Marshall, "Good Girls Go to Heaven."

Sparrow Hill Road is finished now. Twelve stories, twelve stops along a single stretch of highway. We didn't blow a tire or take any unexpected detours along the way, and that's good. And now here we are, and it's time to get out and stretch our legs, at least for a little while. The first part of the story's done.

I knew when I agreed to do Sparrow Hill that it was going to be a one-year commitment. Not only was I not sure how much of the story I'd be able to get through in a year—there was a very real chance that I'd finish the setting completely, leaving nothing untold—but I knew that 2011 would be extremely busy, which would make agreeing to a two-year tenure suicidal for me, and dangerous for Jennifer. A year looked just about perfect. That didn't stop it from being nerve-wracking at times. A few of the stories were turned in just as the ragged edge of my deadline was approaching, and the schedule I was on didn't really give me time to say "you know what? This story needs to be benched, let's do something else." But I never missed a deadline, and I never turned in a story I thought was bad. I can look back on the year with a sort of smug pride. I did that. I turned in one complete narrative a month, every month, for a year. And now I'm finished.

If you know me through filk, you may have met Rose as far back as 2004, when I wrote the song "Pretty Little Dead Girl," although most people didn't "meet" her until I was the OVFF Toastmistress in 2005, and did the song, along with my Rosettes, in a bright pink prom dress on the convention's main stage. I went on to write a bunch of songs about Rose, showing different sides of her story. I always knew I wanted to write the "what really happened" version, eventually, but it seemed too complex for lyrics.

Then Jennifer asked if I wanted to be one of the 2010 Universe Authors, and everything started falling together.

Sparrow Hill Road was challenging, exciting, and complicated in a way that neither novels nor short stories tend to be complicated. It was, essentially, my Green Mile: a serial novel told in strange installments. And like The Green Mile, I'm planning to revise it, turn it into a coherent whole, and see about finding a publisher. But that's going to need to wait a little while.

My big, big thanks go to Jennifer, for being the best editor I could have had on this crazy project; Amber, for taking amazing pictures; Torrey, for being Rose Marshall (and doing a bang-up job of it); Vixy, Amy, Brooke, Kate, Rebecca, and others, for editorial, copy-edits, and letting me talk things through with them; and Phil, always Phil, without whom none of this would have happened.

It was a good ride. It's over now, and there were ghosts in the eyes of all the boys I sent away, but it was a good ride.

Thank you for taking it with me.

I'm not through all of the stories yet...

darkkatpouncing

December 17 2010, 17:02:07 UTC 6 years ago

New comment

...and I'm enjoying them beyond anything I could ever put into words :) Thank you THANK YOU for creating them and for sharing them with us!

Re: I'm not through all of the stories yet...

seanan_mcguire

December 17 2010, 18:07:34 UTC 6 years ago

I'm so glad you like them!

markbernstein

December 17 2010, 17:06:20 UTC 6 years ago

And thank you for driving. It's been a great ride for us, too, and when the next one comes along, I'll be there with my thumb out.

December 17 2010, 18:07:44 UTC 6 years ago

You're very welcome.

jenk

6 years ago

One pink prom dress....

semy_of_pearls

December 17 2010, 17:12:50 UTC 6 years ago

Re: One pink prom dress....

December 17 2010, 18:07:52 UTC 6 years ago

Heeee.

ladymondegreen

Deleted comment

December 17 2010, 18:08:51 UTC 6 years ago

No. Because I, as the author, have told you that the song is filthy libel. The stories, while they're definitely "Rose's side"—Bobby Cross probably considers her a selfish bitch who needs to stop running and die already—they're also true.

If Rose were an unreliable narrator, I would have told you through the text.

sirriamnis

December 17 2010, 17:19:49 UTC 6 years ago

Thank you for writing it. I'm looking forward to the someday novel. I can't wait.

December 17 2010, 18:08:58 UTC 6 years ago

Yay!

Love CLEAN ALL THE THINGS

dulcinbradbury

Re: Love CLEAN ALL THE THINGS

brownkitty

December 17 2010, 17:22:02 UTC 6 years ago

I don't want the ride to be over. You have a knack of putting in words some of the worlds that feel like home.

Thank you for sharing it. I'll be on the lookout for it in print.

December 17 2010, 18:09:06 UTC 6 years ago

I'll keep you all posted.

natf

brightlotusmoon

December 17 2010, 17:39:27 UTC 6 years ago

I really loved and adored the Sparrow Hill stories and I believe they would make one extraordinary novel one day. Reading each segment was like watching a movie in my head.

December 17 2010, 18:09:16 UTC 6 years ago

It'd make a great TV show!

lysystratae

aliciaaudrey

December 17 2010, 17:41:49 UTC 6 years ago

I gotta say, I really, really loved this world, which I found to be quirky and unique and creepy in an awesome way. I want to know more about routewitches and ambulancers (pardon the spelling if I botched it) and the kinds of road-ghosts. I never quite felt like Rose told me enough about her world--and that's GOOD, because it meant I was never confused but I was hooked enough to want to read the travel guide.

I think it would benefit greatly from being revised and stitched together, as the progression occasionally seemed a little odd. Given that you were writing them progressively as the year went on, I think that's kind of inevitable--you can't go back and edit something that's live in quite the same way. It's an observation, not really a complaint.

I'll be happy to queue up when you sell it. Good job.

December 17 2010, 18:15:57 UTC 6 years ago

It would, and will, absolutely benefit from being rewritten into "one piece." I couldn't edit, as you say, and it occasionally drove me batty.

Thank You

maverick_weirdo

December 17 2010, 18:03:12 UTC 6 years ago

It was a pleasure and a privilege to read Rose's side of the story. When it does come out in paper format someday I'll buy it.

I do understand that doing a second year in a row of "Sparrow Hill Road" is not feasable. Last December you had 1 novel in print, and 5 more under contract. This year you have 4 novels in print and another 8 under contract (that you have been able to tell us about).

I simply look forward to the next story you come up with to share with us.

Re: Thank You

December 17 2010, 18:16:05 UTC 6 years ago

Thank you.

pyre006

December 17 2010, 18:22:52 UTC 6 years ago

I really enjoyed reading the Sparrow Hill stories. Not a few times I would be bummed about work and go on my break and another installment would be waiting and it was like the day went from 0 to 10 (10 being best ever). I don't know if it's okay to say that a ghost story made me feel warm and fuzzy but I don't care. These stories are amazing. Saying good job doesn't even cover it. You are a phenomenal and exquisite writer. Thank you for sharing the Rose Marshall stories :)

December 18 2010, 17:41:58 UTC 6 years ago

You are very, very welcome.

textileowl

December 17 2010, 18:38:47 UTC 6 years ago

It was a fantastic ride, one that made me very glad for the middle of the month. You reminded me of my own love/hate relationship with ghost stories and that for several summers in a row I would read through all the Haunted Ohio and other various series from the library.

I can't wait for a hardcopy version to come out, but will have to since you are crazy busy. I guess I'll just have to read through it again. Darn.

December 18 2010, 17:42:13 UTC 6 years ago

Poor you!

dornbeast

December 17 2010, 18:39:15 UTC 6 years ago

"It was a good ride. Thank you for taking it with me."

Next time you're headed down this road, I'll chip in for gas money.

(And yes, it would make a good TV show.)

December 19 2010, 07:34:06 UTC 6 years ago

That would be awesome.

December 17 2010, 19:08:36 UTC 6 years ago

there were ghosts in the eyes of all the boys I sent away,

As a minor note, I love the song Thunder Road. First time I heard it live I was in the front row in New Jersey, right in front of Steve Van Zandt & Patti Scialfa, and I just bawled. I loved it, I was happy, but I bawled.

The first time I heard Melissa Etheridge sing Thunder Road in concert the meaning of "there were ghosts in the eyes of all the boys you sent away" kinda went "tilt", but that's cool too. :)

December 19 2010, 16:03:20 UTC 6 years ago

The first time I heard "Thunder Road" was during a Counting Crows concert, where it was used as a mix-in for "Rain King." Instant, undying love.

hamletkitty

December 17 2010, 19:13:02 UTC 6 years ago

I enjoyed Rose's story so very much. Each installment was a highlight for my month.

I will happily buy a hardcopy when it happens!

Thank you!

December 19 2010, 16:03:31 UTC 6 years ago

Very welcome. :)

tereshkova2001

December 17 2010, 19:54:35 UTC 6 years ago

Aww, thank you for suggesting me. I had a ton of fun, and I really hope Amber puts together the Sparrow Hill Road tarot deck she's been talking about.
Advantage of serial publishing: I do love love love how, instead of editing the Last Chance Diner out, you made it a pivotal plot point.
I'd love to see a print edition. If the publisher happens to keep the original illustrations (and I know they very well might not) I'll send copies to all my relatives. :)

December 19 2010, 16:03:51 UTC 6 years ago

You were ideal.

solarbird

December 17 2010, 20:01:00 UTC 6 years ago

I've really enjoyed this series. I like it as a collection of short stories, tho' - I mean, I trust your ability to make it into a novel, and that's cool, but I like the anthology approach a lot and I think it works really well with these. That's just my opinion, anyway. Thanks for writing it!

December 19 2010, 16:07:00 UTC 6 years ago

It won't be a fully linear novel, I promise.

dr_zrfq

December 17 2010, 21:46:55 UTC 6 years ago

December 19 2010, 18:41:59 UTC 6 years ago

kyburg

December 17 2010, 22:11:28 UTC 6 years ago

Haven't read the last one yet - don't have the box of tissues handy. Because I am certain I am gonna cry like a little baby. Sure of it.

Getting the strong stuff out now too. These were wonderful, okay? Just saying.

December 19 2010, 18:42:06 UTC 6 years ago

Awww.

wcg

December 17 2010, 22:29:55 UTC 6 years ago

Thank you for taking it with me.

Thank you for taking me along. I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

December 19 2010, 18:42:17 UTC 6 years ago

I'm glad you came.

gorgeousgary

December 17 2010, 22:53:12 UTC 6 years ago

Thanks for sharing the stories with your legions of adoring fans. Looking forward (hopefully) to a print collection.

Also still amused about that little pas-de-deux Miss Marshall and Mr. Zimmerman danced across my cerebellum. 8-)

December 19 2010, 18:42:33 UTC 6 years ago

Watch this space for updates.

carlamlee

December 18 2010, 15:35:56 UTC 6 years ago

Sparrow Hill Road was one of my favorite parts of 2010. Thank you so much for it.

December 19 2010, 18:42:43 UTC 6 years ago

Very welcome.

fullcontactmuse

December 18 2010, 23:22:40 UTC 6 years ago

I had a lot of fun working on this project with you. It was a hell of a ride and I always looked forward to getting the story from you and shooting the photos.

December 19 2010, 18:42:51 UTC 6 years ago

Yay.

December 19 2010, 03:11:56 UTC 6 years ago

I loved every word of the Sparrow Hill Road stories. I am sad that there will be no more.

December 19 2010, 18:43:05 UTC 6 years ago

Someday.

biguglymandoll

December 19 2010, 05:28:52 UTC 6 years ago

I found the Sparrow Hill stories just recently, and read the first 11 in one sitting. My eyes were coming out of their sockets, but I couldn't go to bed without finishing them ALL. Haven't read December's yet, but I will in the morning, and I'll look forward to a book version!

I notice a bit of Toby Daye's voice in Rose sometimes - any influence of one on the other, or just your yummy flair for language?