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]
My goodness Diana, I am exhausted just reading your schedule!
I am looking forward to reading Echo! I finished writing my book and it has now has been published. Thank you again for your kind and encouraging words early in my writing process. It was fun to write! I need to work on scheduling more book signings. I have several weekends of re-enacting events coming up…. plus my 'day job' at the university.
Again, welcome back!! : ) I knew you would eventually find time to re-visit your blog. : )
All I can say is YAY!!! I got goosebumps just thinking about ECHO; and Roger's parents' story sounds wonderful! I'm very glad you're back!!!
wooo hoooooo!
Hey Diana I'm your fan from Brazil my name is Juliana and I'm 19 years old , I'm here to say that you are the best writer I ever ever ever saw ! And you can belive me I read a lot of boods and you're books for sure are the best ones ! Love Outlander series and congrutulations you are FABOLOUS !!!
Bye take care ( sorry 'cause my bad english)
It was so exciting to see you on my friends list (I read your feed on livejournal) this morning. I am counting down the hours to Echo and I love the idea about a story on Roger's parents. Welcome back!
Oh my, your brain must be….well, can't really come up with a word to describe it. Anyway, glad it works and continues to create the greatest story ever told(outside of the Bible of course!). You are the master of teasers as well, a story of Roger's parents, how fantastic!!
Yaay! I am so pumped for the new book! So glad to hear you are back to writing new stuff. Only 12 more days and the last few years of waitng will seem like a distant memory. Only it will be back to waiting again after i have finished reading Echo in record time
PS Would love to see more of your graphic novel on your website, specifically drawings of Jamie
Hope you're enjoying a little down time before the touring starts. Can't wait to get my hands on Echo. And Roger's parents story…Oh, that will be wonderful. Maybe we'll get another glimpse of his granny that had all the husbands but only took one to bed?? Hehehe.
Can't wait to get my hands on ECHO. I'll probably have to wait an extra day or so, though because I ordered it through the Poisoned Pen. I wanted to add it to my collection of autographed copies of your books. Worth the wait, I'm sure. Can't wait to hear more about the Graphic Novel as well. Any news on when that will be coming out? I know- you just finished ECHO, but I read fast and addiction is addiction…
Ooh! My husband and I are big fans of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series as well…anything being collaborated on by the two of you should turn out amazingly.
I just ordered my copy from The Poisoned Pen. Only because I MISSED OUT on the super-crazy-100-people-to-get-a-box-of-books frenzy earlier in the summer!
I CANNOT wait to received my personal autographed copy! I would LOVE to come to the book launch, but have already taken/booked too much time off work (school). Rats.
Best wishes for an exciting Launch Party!
p.s. My husband still has not been offered a book deal, but works contentedly with his agent at Sanford Greenburger–month nine. Keeping our fingers crossed.
Yeah! Yeah! Yeah! I'm so excited for the 22nd!
Diana,
So glad to have you back! It must be a thrilling (and exhausting) feeling to completely finish (yet another) book! Something I hope to someday experience.
I am beyond excited to hear that you'll be writing a story (however short) about Roger's parents. Since discovering the Outlander series, I've been quite interested in learning more about Roger's parents; Claire's and Jamie's too, of course *vbg*
Thank you!
Welcome back! I can't wait to read even this book!!!
Oh–to those folks wondering about Brian and Ellen's story. Yes, of course. But that's a _book_. This one (about Roger's parents) is just a short story.
That's fantastic news! I'm practically swinging from the ceiling fan in acticipation of Echo's release. The story of Roger's parents sounds intriguing too – can't wait to read that! Glad to have you back on the blog, Diana!
oh Yay!!! I'm so happy to hear it
Looking forward to hearing about Roger's mum & dad too.
Dear Diana:
Welcome back! It's a pleasure to see you post here again. Thank you for all your hard work and I look forward to reading Echo in just a few short days. And, what a joy it'll be to read a bit on Roger's folks.
Good luck on the book tour — so sad that you're not coming into Los Angeles for a signing date. Oh well, there's next time (I pray).
Midge
In one week and six days we, several of the Outlandish Lusty Lassies, will have the pleasure of meeting you at your book-launching party at the Biltmore in Phoenix. Woo-hoo. Please don't let me say "I love your books" even though I do! Phew, there, got it out of my system. Now get some rest. You deserve it.
Well, Diana,
I'm so glad that you are both breathing in AND out now – gives that active brain of yours what it loves most after your hectic last months!
It was a delight to see and hear you at the Fergus Scottish Festival (Remember that? A really loooooong time ago?), and now as I re-read ABOSAA I hear your voice narrating. Great fun!
Of course I am excited along with everyone else about Echo, but I'm thrilled to hear that there will be a short story of Roger's parents, and a real book about Brian and Ellen.
Thank you so very much for sharing your outlandish talents with us.
Irene (in MI)