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 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 DOSE
Your Moment of Parasol . . .
1806 The Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Your Infusion of Cute . . .
Georgia Russell
Your Tisane of Smart . . .
Weird victorian term explained, Spirits of Hartshorn.
Your Writerly Tinctures . . .
First Look at a First Draft
PROJECT ROUND UP
Waistcoats & Weaponry ~ The Finishing School Book the Third:
Curtsies & Conspiracies ~ The Finishing School Book the Second:
Manga ~ Soulless Vol. 3: (AKA Blameless) Available serialized through YenPlus. Print edition possibly Nov. 2013.
Prudence ~ The Parasol Protectorate Abroad Book the First:
BIG FAT SPOILER ALERT on the Parasol Protectorate series! Really, DON'T READ THE BLURB ON AMAZON if you haven't read the other books first!
The Omnibus hardback editions are limited run through the SciFi Bookclub only.
The manga editions, both now available in print.
Most short stories available in ebook form world wide!
The first Finishing School book ~ OUT NOW
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
