urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:seanan_mcguire The Journal of Seanan McGuire Seanan McGuire 2008-08-13T15:17:54Z urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:seanan_mcguire:24985 2008-08-13T14:19:32Z 2008-08-13T15:17:54Z Hairspray, 'Good Morning, Baltimore.' 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, <i>Rosemary and Rue</i>, 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, <i>A Local Habitation</i>, was ready to be turned in to my publisher, and I was just getting things underway with book three, <i>An Artificial Night</i>.<br /><br />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 <i>is</i> going to happen. It's all happening <i>right now</i>.<br /><br />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. <i>An Artificial Night</i> is almost ready to be turned in, now. I'm working on <i>Late Eclipses of the Sun</i>, aka, 'book four.' I've finished <i>Newsflesh</i>. I've finished <i>Lycanthropy and Other Personal Issues</i>. 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.<br /><br />We don't have a publication date for <i>Rosemary and Rue</i> 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.<br /><br />I am the happiest blonde there is.