My editor and my agent and I exchanged emails over the past couple of days and I told my agent to accept the only slightly insulting offer that Houghton Mifflin Harcourt made for The Shade Of The Moon.
I figured I'd sacrificed so many brain cells to working out its plot and characters it would be a folly not to accept.
In a total fit of what the hey, I started writing yesterday. I know I must really be committed to the concept because I edited out about four pages I wrote and will edit out another four pages when I get back to it (the first four pages because they were about sex, which I have yet to figure out how to deal with in the book but realize I shouldn't deal with in the first ten pages, the second four pages because they were all explanatory of why things were the way they were, which fascinates me almost as much as sex, but unlike sex, drags the story down).
Also I got so involved in writing I didn't have supper until 8:30, which simply will not do. I've got to work out a schedule that allows me time to eat and breathe and talk to friends and family (talking to friends and family yesterday afternoon was why I didn't finish the four pages I will be dumping until 8:25).
If you can read between the lines (or under them or on top of them or on the lines right smack there) I have every intention of making the Sept. 1 (or as I think of it, the Sept. 6) deadline, so the book can be published in the Fall of 2012 (and let me tell you, if I make the deadline with the fabulous manuscript I intend it to be, and HMH dawdles so it doesn't get published until Spring 2013, the screeching and whining from these quarters will be heard on the moon).
Speaking of the moon, while I skipped the eclipse, I did gaze lovingly at the beautiful full orange moon in last night's evening sky. I love me some moon. In fact, I was thinking that if you can buy the naming rights for a star, you should be able to buy the naming rights for a moon (there are plenty of them out there; even poor sweet much maligned Pluto has a moon of its own). Somewhere there's an unnamed moon waiting for me to adopt it.
It's the least I can do, since the moon has been so incredibly generous to me!
16 comments:
I'm thrilled to hear the news! Here's to your producing a magnificent manuscript without experiencing much mental anguish. For what it's worth, I'd be tremendously interested in the sociopolitical changes that have occurred post-moonpocalypse. Then again, I'm not sure 25-year-old males are this series' target audience. Nonetheless, I'm sure I'll enjoy whatever comes our way. Best wishes to you.
I'm so excited! Thanks for sharing such wonderful news! Now we only have to wait 15 months to read it!
yes so excited in fall ill be in 6th grade so great!
Ha, my techer did that... bought some moon land... he jokes about it all the time.
I'll drink to "what the hey". I'm happy to hear you are excited about this. I watched the almost full moon rise over Sarajevo tonight, and it was totally beautiful. A good omen, I'd say.
Hi Jordan Gehrung and tigerlily* and Youryoungestbiggestfan! and anonymous and Mr. Cavin-
What a basketball team you all would make: And tigerlily* passes the ball to Jordan Gehrung who quickly passes it to anonymous for a three pointer!
Or something like that. Basketball isn't my sport.
My definition of the series' target market is me, but even I know too much sociopolitical changes makes Sue a dull author. I just deleted about four pages and am now ready to move on to some actual story!
I'm really excited but it's going to be a long year to wait! I'm excited about buying Blood Wounds in 87 more days!
Hi Paige Y.-
Well, it's going to be a long summer doing all this writing, but then the year will zip by.
And I do hope people will like Blood Wounds, even if it doesn't involved the end of the the world as we know and love it!
I am so glad to hear that there will be a forth book! You can only imagine how sad i was when i finished "this world we live in" without the next book to start. I can't wait until i can! :D
Thanks Zach Roland-
I must admit, I'm having a fun time writing these days.
I hope everyone will enjoy reading The Shade Of The Moon (and that I'll continue to enjoy writing it)!
Thank you for passing along the wonderful news. I enjoyed Blood Wounds very much, but I have to say that the delicious anticipation of the 4th moon book will be such fun. I hope that you enjoy the writing!
Good Sunday morning Nina and thank you-
I'm glad you liked Blood Wounds. I worry a little it will get lost in all this.
On the other hand, I'm having such a good time ending the world again, I'm not worrying about much of anything!
YES!
Also for the record I bought a goodish sized parcel on the moon. Also ironicly enough I'm a teacher as well.
Anywho .... I'd be willing to make some sort of trade with you. winky wink.
That is really wonderful news!!! I'm really excited. And my little girl was briefly thrilled and then asked 'when?' - I told her not for over a year and now she's (cheekily rather than naughtily) sulking and saying (amusingly) that Miranda's going to be old and wrinkly by the time the book comes out, rofl.
Anyway, we're really happy to know there will definitely be another book! :)
Yes the orange moon was really stunning!
Hi Fear Death By Water and Susannah-
It's always good to know people who own property on the moon. I might want to rent some of it for a billboard.
And Susannah, your daughter is right. Miranda will definitely be old and wrinkly. After all, I am, so why shouldn't Miranda be also!
Well quite right! ;)
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