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]
Whew! I'm dizzy from your description of the Final Frenzy! Congratulations on completing another of your ever-growing list of projects! I keep checking the countdown clock on your website (as well as looking eagerly at my calendar) with anticipation, gleefully awaiting the moment when I get your book in my hot little hands! Oh, yeah, and then I'll even get to read said book.
I'm looking forward to your book signing at SiWC again this year. Thanks, Diana!
Great to see you're back! I loved reading about the many places you wrote ECHO, and I am so excited that it's coming out in less than 13 days!
Woot! JUST what I need to gird up my metaphorical loins for the coming winter in AK. Gotta love the timing.
Travel safe!
Dear Zahia–
Well, on the one hand, I was pleased to find that at my advanced age [g], I can still stay up all night working and not suffer any particular ill-effects (nothing, beyond a slight feeling of surrealness brought on by seeing dawn come up around me)–I had to do it four times during the Final Frenzy on this book, whereas I only had to do it once for ABOSA–but on the other hand, I'd really rather _not_.
Greetings from Spain!
Just a quick note to tell you that I JUST CAN'T WAIT to start An Echo!!!! I've always read your books in english, thank God! I couldn't wait for the Spanish version (hehe)
Well, I have a question (2 really)
Are you planning a promotion trip to Spain? You have a lot of Outlander fans here too!!
How much -less or more- caffeine contains this book? (in comparison to Outlander, i.e)
Mucha suerte!
Libertad
(Minerva my nickname)
Dear Minerva–
This book has somewhat more caffeine in it than the last one [g], owing to the staying-up-all-night thing (I average four cans of Diet Coke during an all-nighter, plus the occasional ephedra tablet (I have these for asthma–rarely need them–but one side-effect is a guaranteed four hours of wakefulness)).
I won't know about a Spanish tour until after they do the Spanish translation–and since they haven't yet started that…
Dear Diana,
Oh yes, that's true, It usually takes a loooong time to get your novels translated to spanish, It's a pity. Hope you come for vacation or something like that
Mmm… 4 diet coke per night! Not bad, not bad… but now you should take care and have some rest as soon as you possible –Isn't it very early at USA right now?–
Even Jaime would need some sleep from time to time!!
Kind regards and best wishes.
Libertad (AKA Minerva)
Diana,
It was so exciting to meet you in Edniburgh at the gathering (I was wearing the black cloak). I am, as always, in absolute awe of your stamina – the pace you set with only the use of Diet Coke…no Red Bull in sight!
Just like everyone else I am doing a happy dance at the final count down to Echo's release. I am one of the UK fans who are so grateful you stepped in so we can read it at the same time as our American cousins! A Big Thank You Diana – You Rock!
I love the bit about the Scottish Parliamentand I'm looking forward to Echo and a story about Roger's folks. My favorite character though, aside from the obvious is Young Ian and I can't wait to see what he gets into. I hope as usual he manages to avoid too much trouble, he has so much potential (imo) as a character. I love him!
Hi Diana,
just poking my nose in for any whiff of anything new about 'Echo in the Bone'. It is sad to be addicted!
Sounds like you need to slow down or else you'll be overtaking yourself. That story about writing whilst attending the clan gathering made me laugh. Hope someone has caught it on camera!
With love and thanks from the UK
Anette
Diana,
I am due to have my first baby on Nov. 2nd. Typically it doesn't take me very long to read one of your books and I get very little sleep doing it. I've decided though that I'm going to wait a few weeks before I start reading, THAT WAY, your book will keep me occupied while I'm waiting for the BIG DAY. The release date of this book worked out perfectly for me and I've been planning this ever since you first announced when it would be available. CAN'T WAIT!!!
YAY! I've been massively busy lately and hadn't been on my blog at all, I finally got some time to check on you the other day and imagine my astonishment when I hadn't missed any updates!!! Well here I am two or three days later and there are THREE! Lovely to see you back!
My children don't need fed, right?? 
xxx
And I'd just like to say a big awesome thank you to you and Orion Books – I was over the mooooooon when I read on your website that I can get a free copy of your new book in September sent to me, if I pre-ordered the hard-back to be released in the UK in January (as I was going to do ANYWAY!), I am absolutely DELIGHTED and now have to quickly read through all of your other books before Echo in the Bone comes!!!
I can't wait for Echo. I'm positive I'm getting it for my birthday whether I have to buy it myself or not!
Also, I can't wait to read the story of Roger's parents. I've never really thought about but it is now something I will be thinking about until I read the "official story."
Diana:
Here I was thinking I'd heard most of this before. Then I got to that last sentence, and let out an involuntary "Ooooohhh!" of excitement. What a great idea!
Karen
Diana,
Welcome baaaack! We missed you here on the blog.
I ordered my autographed copy from the Poisened Pen and can't wait to get my hands on it! This will be my first ever autographed-by-the-author hardcopy! I am so excited!
Slainte m'hath,
Shamrock
Welcome back . . .let me tell you, it's hard to wait these last few days for An Echo in the Bone. Reading one of your novels is always a pleasure. The only bad thing about it is that they have to end!
So pleased to hear that you are back. Have missed your comments. Loved hearing how the finish of Echo came about and can not wait to be able to read it. Shift over life / family / work there is a new Jamie and Claire out this month!!!
Awaiting eagerly to meet Rogers parents as well.
(I must also organise copies for both my mum and grandma!!!)
Hey! You're back!
How do you do this? I check this blog and check it and then one day there's three new entries.
Anyway, can't wait for Echo. AND the short story about Roger's parents. Too bad his dad didn't find out he also could travel through the stones.
Oh, and you should take it easy on your poor heart with all that caffeine!
Diana,
A most heartfelt and sincere welcome back. And thank you so kindly for the update on the Graphic novel. I'm looking forward to trying to discern which pieces of Echo might have been born on the floor of the Scottish Parliment and which might have been quickly keyed in a taxi on the way to the airport. I'm sure we'll never be able to tell, but it might be fun to guess.