BWANGGGGG……feeple, feeple, ploop.
Which is—lest you not recognize this masterly example of onomatopoeia—the sound made by a rubber band that’s been tightly wrapped around a newspaper and is suddenly pushed off to shoot across the room, spin slightly and fall limp. It’s also the sound of my brain, suddenly decompressing.
Which is to say—it’s DONE. AN ECHO IN THE BONE went to press a couple of weeks ago, and the first hot-off-the-press copy arrived on my doorstep a few days ago (and a jolly good thing, too, since it’s due out on the 22nd of this month). It’s absolutely beautiful (huge thanks to Virginia Norey, the book-designer) and I’m Way Thrilled with it.
All my books come together differently; this one was undoubtedly written in more different places than any of the others. I wrote part of it during a short night aboard a plane to Scotland (the stewardi were most concerned, and kindly brought me endless Diet Cokes all night; if caffeine does anything bad to you, I expect we’ll find out here shortly)—thus arriving in the Highlands next day having slept only two hours out of the preceeding 36, which gives a whole new meaning to jet lag.
I wrote another part of it on the floor of the debating chamber of the Scottish Parliament, though this was more or less an accident (I was kindly invited to witness the first-ever Clan Convention (a gathering of all the clan chieftains, and heads of clan societies), and was walking along with the chieftain of clan MacKenzie, whom I’d been fortunate enough to have dinner with earlier in the week, and was inadvertently shooed into the main chamber with him, rather than up to the Visitor’s Gallery—and then was unable to get out. So I nonchalantly sat down at a delegate’s desk, took out my netbook and flipped it open, in hopes that people would assume I was a journalist reporting on the proceedings. And…well, there I was, and there the computer was, and…
The more-or-less final bits were written during a long night in the Algonquin Hotel in New York (very appropriate, given the hotel’s literary history) on our way home (we have to break trips to Europe, as my husband is very tall, and Suffers Intensely on long flights, even in business class). I emailed the last chunk of manuscript to my editor just after dawn, and just before running out the door to catch a cab to the airport.
In the cab, naturally, I realized that I’d left out a couple of short bridges—and on the flight back to Phoenix, realized that there really had to be another scene in Part Six, and…well, anyway, I tidied up all the little subsidiary chunks and addressed the (luckily, very few) editorial comments on the earlier parts, all this while reading the copy-edited and/or already-typeset versions of the earlier chunks, which had been chasing me around Scotland for the preceding two weeks.
All of which is why I haven’t written anything but answers to interview questions and replies to (some of) the backed-up email for the last couple weeks. But my brain is beginning to twitch feebly again, and bits of this ‘n that are bubbling up. Just in time—I have a short story (well, sort of. Maybe. We hope) under contract for a new anthology (edited by George R.R. Martin and Gardner Dozois) titled STAR-CROSSED LOVERS. I don’t yet know what my story will be titled, but at least I do know what the story’s about: I’m going to tell the story of Roger MacKenzie’s parents.
In other words….I’m baa-aack. [g]
I turned on my computer, opened my blog and saw you've come back. My smile is so big right now as I jump for joy. Welcome back!!!
I'm glad you're back — but that's nothing compared to the little bubble of joy that filled me when I realized how soon I get to read a new Gabaldon book!
So nice to see a new post from your blog on Google Reader! Loved hearing how Echo came together. Can't wait for that release AND for the story about Roger's parents. Lots to look forward to! Enjoy decompressing.
Waving…I was beginning to think the blog was a casualty, but so glad when I was browsing through my favs and saw a new post. Yah!
Can't wait for Echo and am really surprised that you were still making changes so close to release date. All I can say is wow!
Hooray!!!! I can't wait to receive my copy of Echo in the Bone so that I can get a Jamie & Claire fix! I can't wait to read your store of Roger's parents as well.
Glad you are back, and looking forward to experiencing ECHO very soon
Roger's parents – love the idea! Can't wait! I'm eager to get my hand's on Echo when it comes out!
YAY! I'm looking forward to your reading in Asheville, NC at the end of the month!
I knew eventually you would have time to blog again [g]
Thirteen days until I have that beautiful work of literature in my hands! Now if I can convince everyone to leave me alone that day so I can read!
And there was much rejoicing. [g]
Welcome back. I'm so looking forward to savoring the new book.
Yay yay YAY! To all of the above. I was in the balcony at the Decatur Book Fest, and thoroughly enjoyed your talk and Q&A. After you read a bit from Echo, the uninitiated friend I brought along looked at me (with pink cheeks!) and said "Now I see why you like those books…" Welcome back, we're all ready to skyrocket this one to the top of charts too!
Congratulations! I'm off to Scotland next week and a re-read of "Breath" so that I'm already for "Echo" upon my return! Ya' gotta' love a good adventure!
Thanks for all,
Susan
Happy dancing here in Saskatchewan! Glad to see you're back! And I can't WAIT to read the short story!
Welcome back! Eagerly awaiting Echo and love the idea of hearing Rogers parents story. Any news on the Graphic novel? I just reread ABOSAA would have waited until closer to the 22nd but Dan Brown's book comes out the week before. So far loving this September for books.
you'll have to let us know when the anthology is published, i've always wanted to know more about roger's parents. are you ever going to do anything about claire's parents/uncle lamb?
I'm so happy you're back…It's fantastic!!
I don't know when An echo in the bone will be translated here in Italy… I can't wait! I love you
Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Judie
Sweet! I finished Breath a week or so ago for the third time in anticipation of Echo. I. CAN'T. WAIT!!
Hooray for you Diana!
My goodness you have been busy. Can't wait for Sept. 22, and Roger's parents story sounds wonderful. And some day will we hear Brian and Ellen's story?
Lisa
Congrats! Glad to hear the book is done – I've preordered by copy.
Looking forward to meeting Roger's folks.