Seanan McGuire (seanan_mcguire) wrote,
Seanan McGuire
seanan_mcguire
  • Mood: grateful but sad
  • Music: Dar Williams, "I Am the One Who Will Remember Everything."

When will you rise?

Blackout is on store shelves today. After more than six years of work, and after three years of publication dates, the trilogy is over.

I may have seemed a little quiet lately. That's honestly because I'm sort of in shock. I just can't believe it's over. I've been living with these people for so long that knowing that their book is closed is just...it's stunning. It's difficult to wrap my head around.

It's finished.

When I finished Feed, it was the best thing I had ever written, and I truly believe that writing it is what enabled me to grow enough as an author to become publication-ready (the final revision of Rosemary and Rue happened after the first draft of Feed). Each subsequent book has stolen that title from its predecessor. I am proud of these books. I am amazed by them. And no, I am not ashamed to say that. It's my book-day. I get to be proud.

This trilogy has earned me two Hugo nominations (three, if you count "Countdown"), a place on the Publishers Weekly Best Books list, and so much more. It has brought me into contact with amazing people from around the world. It has allowed me to indulge my passion for viruses and pandemic preparedness without freaking people out (too much). It has changed my life forever, and I am so grateful, and I am so pleased that you have all been here with me.

I'll open the discussion thread for Blackout tomorrow or Thursday, after more people have had time to finish the book; please, no spoilers here. But...thank you.

Thank you all so much, forever.

Rise up while you can.
Tags: blackout, gratitude, mira grant, pandemic time, zombies
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boltgsr

May 22 2012, 22:15:46 UTC 5 years ago

This series has been brilliant, and I can't wait to crack open Blackout.

And let me just say: Ms. McGuire, seeing your journal, having so much fun with all your works and talking with people who love it and all that - I think it probably helped get me back into writing a little bit. It's never going to be a career for me, but it's plenty fun, and seeing people enjoy something you've written is an amazing feeling (even if you personally want to light it on fire and then apologize to the President for writing such dreck). So for a fantastic trilogy and a fantastic attitude towards writing and life, thank you.

seanan_mcguire

May 23 2012, 14:36:30 UTC 5 years ago

That is wonderful.

Thank you, for telling me, and I wish you all the luck in the world.

hasufin

May 22 2012, 22:36:54 UTC 5 years ago

*hugs*

I just ordered mine earlier today. Sadly I wont' get to reading it until June, but it'll be in your 1st week sales. I guess I'm up for a belated rising.

seanan_mcguire

May 23 2012, 14:36:41 UTC 5 years ago

Yay!

wendyzski

May 22 2012, 22:37:10 UTC 5 years ago

I was one of the people whose pre-order arrived early, so I wrote a review but locked it until yesterday

I have to say that reading it for a second and more leisurely time (as opposed of OMGWHATHAPPENSNEXT!!!) it's almost a different book. A couple of things that bothered me slightly on the first read make a bit more sense when I go back and actually notice that you set it up.

seanan_mcguire

May 23 2012, 14:37:09 UTC 5 years ago

That's fabulous!

yellowblackhaze

May 22 2012, 22:43:43 UTC 5 years ago

I picked up a copy yesterday and am now waiting impatiently for my wife to finish it so I can read it.

celticdragonfly

May 23 2012, 01:35:43 UTC 5 years ago

Two copies - does wonders for marital harmony. That's what fordprfct and I have been doing for her books. Now I'm getting them as ebooks, but I expect I'll go buy a physical copy to give to somebody.

lejays17

5 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

5 years ago

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bzarcher

May 22 2012, 23:01:40 UTC 5 years ago

Hm. I preordered on iBooks but it hasn't dropped yet. Guess I need to be paitent. Or buy a second copy in paper....

Also, re: the latest news? OMG, yaaaaay!

seanan_mcguire

May 23 2012, 14:39:31 UTC 5 years ago

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

choirperson

May 22 2012, 23:46:54 UTC 5 years ago

I started reading at 12:01 this morning and finished at 3. I am so glad I checked my e-mail before I went to bed: otherwise I wouldn't have expected it to pop up on my Kindle until June.

seanan_mcguire

May 23 2012, 14:39:40 UTC 5 years ago

Yay!

themysteriousg

May 23 2012, 00:09:15 UTC 5 years ago

Yesterday I was at B&N in WC fussing out some poor bookseller because their computer said there were 5 copies in the store. And since I worked in a bookstore I threw around terms like "street dated" so the poor guy ran all over the store trying to find it because he thought I knew what I was talking about. I told him it was fine, I'd be back the next day and get it then. I was buying the first two for my friend anyway and I had an amazon order coming - I just wanted one off the shelf too. I posted to my facebook all grr and arghs my book isn't here and it wasn't till midway through that post that it hit me that the book wasn't out till today. Poor B&N guy. So then, in an effort to circumvent the system I tried to download to my kindle because it was after midnight eastern time but to no avail. I did get to BART to work today and I'm about to BART home though so at least I've got that:) And there should be a hardcopy on my front porch:)

All this leads to...HOORAY.

seanan_mcguire

May 23 2012, 14:40:03 UTC 5 years ago

HOORAY!

And also, hee.

thatrainbow

May 23 2012, 01:14:20 UTC 5 years ago

Thank YOU.

Thank you for writing this trilogy. These characters. I don't know why I've empathized with them as much as I have, but while Toby and her crew, and the Prices, are all beloved characters, somehow over the course of these past two years, the Masons and the crew at After the End Times have become almost like friends. I feel so deeply for and with these characters that it's crazy, and you've made them feel well and truly REAL.

I have sobbed disgustingly over these books. I threw Deadline across the room at least once because I was so overwhelmed by OH FUCKING HELL WHAT THE FUCKING FUCK JUST HAPPENED OH SHIT FUCK BEARS.

Two years ago, sitting in the break room on my lunch break and crying into my noodles, I couldn't imagine how you could possibly top Feed. Last year as I was on the verge of nodding off at work because I'd stayed up all night to read Deadline, I knew you'd topped Feed and couldn't imagine how you'd top Deadline, though at that point I was certain you would. And today, 5 hours after I finished Blackout and I'm still trying to process all the emotions I feel about it, I know you've succeeded.

I feel like I'm pretty much guaranteed to enjoy anything you write, because your characters are awesome and well-rounded and your worlds are intriguing, and we have similar taste in stories. But Newsflesh, to me, will always be the story that wormed its way into my heart and soul and became part of me.

So, thank you. I'm sad that there won't be any more stories with this particular team of bloggers that I've fallen so deeply in love with, but their story's been told, and I can't wait to see what you do next. I know I'll love it.

wendyzski

May 23 2012, 04:22:04 UTC 5 years ago

You too? When pitching FEED to my friends I tell them "I cried twice and threw the book across the room once"

thatrainbow

5 years ago

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wendyzski

5 years ago

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thatrainbow

5 years ago

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wendyzski

5 years ago

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thatrainbow

5 years ago

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dornbeast

5 years ago

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faecat

5 years ago

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wendyzski

5 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

5 years ago

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rukia

May 23 2012, 01:15:52 UTC 5 years ago

As a fan of the first two books in the trilogy, I am so excited to buy Blackout!

This is perfect. I've got a long bus ride a head of me this memorial day weekend and I can spend the whole trip reading this!

Congratulations on completing the trilogy! Thank you for this fantastic adventure.

seanan_mcguire

May 23 2012, 15:19:29 UTC 5 years ago

Thank you, for reading.

dragonsally

May 23 2012, 01:20:57 UTC 5 years ago

I can't wait to get my copy, surely the postie will deliver it today?

Congratulations you awesome thing.

seanan_mcguire

May 23 2012, 15:19:36 UTC 5 years ago

<3

gorgeousgary

May 23 2012, 01:27:20 UTC 5 years ago

Yay new book!

We will acquire our copies on Friday from Mr. Smith at Balticon.

starmalachite

May 23 2012, 03:45:07 UTC 5 years ago

Ditto for stevemb & me.

seanan_mcguire

5 years ago

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vincentursus

May 23 2012, 01:36:35 UTC 5 years ago

And there was much rejoicing.

Allow me to add to the congratulations.

seanan_mcguire

May 23 2012, 15:20:14 UTC 5 years ago

Thank you, honey.

calico_reaction

May 23 2012, 01:40:47 UTC 5 years ago

My pre-order downloaded today! But I have a book club pick to read first. Once that's done though... BLACKOUT is at the top of the list!

seanan_mcguire

May 23 2012, 15:23:32 UTC 5 years ago

Hooray!

It's weird. I'm having to be a lot more cautious about reading reviews on this one, because it's over, and so "she did this wrong" is a lot harder than it is when I'm reading reviews of a series that's still ongoing. (Which is not me saying "do not review negatively," it's just something I'm learning.) It's like...I can learn and fix in the long term, but this book is closed. Y'know?

calico_reaction

5 years ago

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paksenarrion2

May 23 2012, 02:24:00 UTC 5 years ago Edited:  May 23 2012, 02:25:02 UTC

I finished my re-read of Feed and Deadline last night at 11:58. Then I sat there for the longest two minutes of my life until Blackout popped up on my Kindle.

It took me four hours but I finished Blackout. Then I sat there stunned because OMG, there will be no more Newsflesh Universe. And *flail* and I want to talk about the book and *flail*.

So thank you from the bottom of my heart for creating a group of people that I have grown to love and grown to hate. For scaring the crap out of me OMG, this could really happen and ZOMBIES!! and touching my heart. For making me laugh, making me cry and making me do research on virology and the best way to survive a zombie apocalypse. For introducing me to a myriad world of characters who are because they are organic in who they are-not just generic female character/generic asian character. You write from the heart and it shows. So thank you.



And don't tell anyone but I fell asleep at work on my lunch break and ended up taking an extra 15 minutes. Ooops.

sorry for the multiple edits. I dropped two tags. Still tired.

seanan_mcguire

May 23 2012, 15:23:47 UTC 5 years ago

You are so very welcome.

amanda_nye

May 23 2012, 04:35:36 UTC 5 years ago

Here's hoping for another great showing on the NY Times lists! I'll keep my finders crossed. It's a great book, and a fitting end to the trilogy.

seanan_mcguire

May 23 2012, 15:23:58 UTC 5 years ago

Yay!

dormouse_in_tea

May 23 2012, 04:54:45 UTC 5 years ago

I will congratulate you once I can FINISH. For now, it is bedtime, I have work tomorrow, and I'm only on page 122, and wtf is up with book releases on a TUESDAY anyway? Warghl! Inconvenient author is inconvenient and messes with my sleep schedule. :P

(bookstore report - B&N in Albuquerque did NOT put them out early, and they had a huge chunk of the "new SFF book" front display. So yay!)

seanan_mcguire

May 23 2012, 15:24:10 UTC 5 years ago

YAY!

isabelknight

May 23 2012, 05:01:36 UTC 5 years ago

Hurrah for Blackout! I got it on my nook as soon as I saw this post, and read it straight through. It's rare for me to read a trilogy where each book is even better than the previous one (trilogies with excellent first books don't often live all the way up to the promise of the first one), but this was an incredibly satisfying ending to the series. I can't wait until July, when I can finally get my hands on the last novella!

seanan_mcguire

May 23 2012, 15:24:23 UTC 5 years ago

That makes me so happy to hear.

joecoustic

May 23 2012, 09:10:15 UTC 5 years ago

Congratulations, accolades, good wishes, and *hugs*. :)

seanan_mcguire

May 23 2012, 15:24:30 UTC 5 years ago

*hugs*

Also grateful but sad as per your mood on this post

natf

May 23 2012, 10:50:02 UTC 5 years ago

/me waits for the release in the UK - 7th June according to Amazon.
/me knows you have no control over this stuff.
/me headed straight to amazon.co.uk when you said it was out, though.

*hugs* and congratulations in advance for when I get to read it!

seanan_mcguire

May 23 2012, 15:24:44 UTC 5 years ago

Eep.

I hope it gets to you soon. :(

antinomic

May 23 2012, 13:04:05 UTC 5 years ago

Well Done! And get thee to Borderlands, where Jude has a request from me. Simply, to sign as Seanan. That tickles me for a Mira book. But if you can not break character, all is forgiven. I'll still be a loyal fanboy. And congrats on the next epic 3D extravaganza, coming soon! Can I be a shambling wreck of a zombie in the movie? It's perfect typecasting.

seanan_mcguire

May 23 2012, 15:25:00 UTC 5 years ago

I did, in fact, sign as Seanan!

myuki_chan

May 24 2012, 04:36:49 UTC 5 years ago

I'm curious - since Canada won't have a release until June 1, how does that work for your first-week numbers? Would a pre-order help?

deakat

May 24 2012, 23:05:31 UTC 5 years ago

You can get it in Canada now if you want the ebook version.

myuki_chan

5 years ago

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seanan_mcguire

5 years ago

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pbristow

May 26 2012, 14:37:24 UTC 5 years ago

HOORAYYY!!!! [WAVES POM-POMS ENTHUSIASTICALLY] =:o>

seanan_mcguire

June 3 2012, 20:34:16 UTC 5 years ago

<3

mkellis

May 26 2012, 22:42:01 UTC 5 years ago

Doing too much running around Europe to pay proper attention here but...

Congrats, seriously. You amaze me.

seanan_mcguire

June 3 2012, 20:57:15 UTC 5 years ago

Love you, too.

There was a guy at my signing yesterday who looked so much like you I almost cried when he wasn't you.

mkellis

5 years ago

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