I was going to just let it drop and see if you noticed. Of course you'd
notice, Gentle Reader. No actually, I wasn't, there was never a time
when I wouldn't have confessed all. You know me, I'm not that kind of
lady. But this one, Gentle Reader, this one is a difficult confession.
So I rode out the launch of
Etiquette & Espionage, because really I had no other choice and now is the time, otherwise I will have left it too long.
Prudence is going to be pushed back. Again. A whole lot.
Joe Dallek In An Ivy Hat
Basically,
my failure. Now, I rarely see failure as a bad thing. I am after all,
trained as a scientist, so in the end failure is merely proof in the
form of negative results. At least, when I have proof, I can rule that
avenue of approach out in future, save time, and move on, hopefully in
the direction of more positive results. So for me, this is if not a good
thing, hopefully beneficial in the long run.
Here's a British breakfast to make you feel better
Here's what happened...
I'm
a weird hybrid of analytical logical-loving scientist meets creative
airy-fairy wordsmith. Yes I know, Gentle Reader, there are a number of
us out there. I write, and I imagine and I wander crazy invented worlds,
but I do it armed with a spreadsheet and an outline and notes (not in
notebooks, but in ledgers, I LOVE ledgers). I draw maps of non-existent
lands, and diagrams of battle sequences, but the lands are fake and the
battles are between preternaturals and vampires. I have internal
schematics of the ships and houses my characters live in, sometimes I
think someone looking over my notes would be hard pressed to decide if
they belonged to a writer or a brigadier.
I'm accustomed to my analytical side enacting a sharp disciplined schedule ruthlessly upon my creative brain.
"Here's
the plan," says Gail the Scientist. "Just hit these deadlines, make
these marks, write at these times every day and everything with stay on
schedule."
"OK," says Gail the Author, "That seems fine to me."
The Experience in images:
What It Looks Like To Others
What It Feels Like To Me
What I Want It To Be
The Truth Of The Matter
I
genuinely thought I could do it. I thought with a schedule and
everything in its proper place I could write one book and then another, I
could flip flop between two different main characters and two different
Victorian time periods. All it would take was lots of notes and spread
sheets and . . .
My creative brain revolted; in a smack down "what on earth were you thinking?" kind of way.
Turns
out I can't balance two books a year, in two different worlds, along
side book tours and conventions and an actual life, no matter how many
lists and spreadsheets my analytical brain churns out.
For the
first time in my life, my creative brain took a most decided stance on
the subject and there was nothing my analytical brain could do about it.
Lets use the gentile term and say I had a meltdown. If, perhaps, there
were copious boughts of sniffles, and vast quantities of custard, tea
and Thai food applied, you won't tell, will you?
So what does an
author do under such circumstances. Eats crow, goes hat in hand to her
agent, who goes hat in hand to her editors, and . . .
I did make my deadline with
Prudence
(my analytical brain insists that I make this known) but no one, not
me, not my editor, not my beta readers is happy with the resulting
manuscript. In the end, my creative brain simply can't hand the flip
flop and so for my own sanity I have had to put the rough draft of
Prudence aside for 2013. Instead i have to focus in on one project,
complete the Finishing School series first, and then do a 50% overhaul
on
Prudence before anyone will be satisfied with the result.
Daybreak
I'm
heartsick that you who are waiting for the new adult series will have
to wait quite a bit longer. My analytical mind is terribly embarrassed
but it could not wrestle the creative author beast into submission. In
the end, I'm hoping what everyone wants the most is the best possible
book. Right? The creative brain reliably informs me, when we are on
speaking terms which isn't often right now, that this delay will have
that result. The very earliest you can expect
Prudence is Spring 2015. And that's quite optimistic. No promises.
Please please don't be too angry with me. I really did try.
Stupid creative brain.
Your, Gail
GAIL'S DAILY DOSEYour Moment of Parasol . . .
1806 The Los Angeles County Museum of ArtYour Infusion of Cute . . .
Georgia RussellYour Tisane of Smart . . .Weird victorian term explained,
Spirits of Hartshorn.Your Writerly Tinctures . . .First Look at a First DraftPROJECT ROUND UPWaistcoats & Weaponry ~ The Finishing School Book the Third:

Writing rough draft.
Curtsies & Conspiracies ~ The Finishing School Book the Second:

Release date November 2013. Await ARCs.
Manga ~ Soulless Vol. 3: (AKA
Blameless) Available serialized through
YenPlus. Print edition
possibly Nov. 2013.
Prudence ~ The Parasol Protectorate Abroad Book the First:

Delay. Begin rewrite in 2014.
Book News:PW writes about
you, Gentle Reader, as well as me.Quote of the Day:“A
‘first appearance in public’ took place at the Globe Theatre, Boston,
one evening last week, when a sleek looking cat came before the curtain
between the second and third acts. The debut was not a successful one,
as kitty ‘broke down’ without saying a word, and hastily sought the
nearest dark corner.
Cats are very fond of the stage. There was a
“first appearance’ at the Chestnut Street Theatre the first night Miss
Cushman played Meg Merriles. The applause was divided, but the cat’s was
a little ahead.”
~ Godey's Lady's Book and Magazine August 1872