Labyrinth

[Harper]

Book 5 has a strange history already, since it's the continuation and wrap up of Book 4 (Vanished), the end of the initial vampire cycle, and the only book in the series (I hope) that can't stand on its own.

But after a struggle with the title (first my editor wanted to change it, then my publisher wanted to change it) I got to keep the one I preferred and today I sent 110,600 words of first draft in to my editor.

LABYRINTH is officially in editorial for hardcover release August 2010.
:roll:

More interesting announcements coming soon....

[Anthraxus]

Woohoo! So exciting. Can't wait to see the cover for the wiki.

[Harper]

I don't have an official cover yet. Only an initial concept draft I'm not allowed to show. But it's very nice!

[Hagelrat]

Very exciting news!! can't wait for more. :)

[whitetrash]

that is awesome

[Sakutian]

I love that title to no end and I'm glad you got to keep it. So...will Harper be seeing any Minotaurs in the Grey this time around?

[Harper]

No minotaurs this time, though lots of allusions to them...

I'm now done with the first pass on the revision and going to take one more look at it after New Year's Day. The word count went up to 121,000+ and the ending got a big re-write that's still a little off, but it should be fixed now, but for a bit of tweaking.

I find this book very tiring to work on: it's the toughest thing I've done so far and I'm looking forward to the next one, just because anything has to be easier. Though the amount of research for Book 6 is already daunting. Anyone with knowledge of Voudon, Santeria, and/or Chinese Alchemy (not medicine, but the old-fashioned mystical stuff with demons and minor gods) drop me a line... Also anyone living in or near the Olympic National Forest....

I have an official cover now, but I can't yet show it off due to catalog restrictions. I'll get it up as soon as I can.

Meanwhile, Thea Maia and her husband Eric are busily re-designing my main website, which should make it easier to update and maintain as well as a lot sexier--with hidden ferrets!

[rse2412]

I am really looking forward to Labyrinth and am very pleased it is getting longer in the rewrite, though obviously not pleased it is giving you grief.

Is the book still on deadline for late in 2010?

Rae

[Anthraxus]

Though the amount of research for Book 6 is already daunting. Anyone with knowledge of Voudon, Santeria, and/or Chinese Alchemy (not medicine, but the old-fashioned mystical stuff with demons and minor gods) drop me a line... Also anyone living in or near the Olympic National Forest....

By Chinese Alchemy are you referring to Neidan, or just general classical Taoism?

[Harper]

Rae: Yep, still on track for original release date of Aug 2010.

Anthraxus: See... I don't know. Suggestion from a friend was to combine the folk magic/religions of the two prominent ethnic underclasses in the Washington state area during the Territorial days. Those were the blacks and Chinese. Now, Voudon and Santeria I have a little idea about, but when the Chinese show up, I know only the politics, not the magic and religion. What would be the differences and details be?

[Anthraxus]

Neidan is really the focus of internal alchemy with the ultimate goal of immortality, similar to the western practice of alchemy. In doing some more digging on the subject there is actually an old form of chinese magic called Gu (蠱) that is uses dolls identified by the name and birthdate of the target to transmit pain and suffering, similar to vodou. Interestingly, the war god of Dahomey (a nation of people in Benin, Africa) is named Gu.

There are a lot of analogies that can be drawn between ancient Chinese shamanistic principles and Santeria as well. Both deal with the possession of the practitioner by spirits of the gods (Lau in Santeria and Vodou).

there is an interesting discussion of various aspects of the history of chinese magic here: http://www.chinahistoryforum.com/index.php?/topic/1896-chinese-black-magic-and-witchcraft/

[Harper]

Thank you, Antrhaxus, I shall read that!

[Anthraxus]

If there is anything else I can help with, research-wise, just let me know.

Oh, btw, I really like the uniqueness you flavored the Greywalkers with in Vanished. I figured she would run into another at some point, and I like the spin that you put on it to allow each to maintain their unique flavor.

[Harper]

Thank you. That's what I like to hear!

[Harper]

Revision is now in the can and has been received by the editor. Now all that remains is the copyedit and proof.

[Baelfyre]

Best of luck!

[BlueNinja]

So, I finally finished Labyrinth yesterday. (Then went through the first two Percy Jackson books in no time flat. :D)

SPOILER ALERT!

You've been warned!

No kidding now!

It was good. I'm not quite disappointed in finding out that Will is such a pussy, I mean, it's sort of expected. His brother at least has a spine and half a brain. The other Greywalker was a tad bizarre, and it makes me wonder what the late Mr. Blaine's Grey ability was - or if that somehow got passed down to Harper. Also what other Grey abilities other Greywalkers might have ... and how many others Wygan might have tried making, since Harper's obviously not his first try. That said, I'm confident she'll whoop his pasty ass into a dust pile.

[ImzadiDragonfly]

So, I finally finished Labyrinth yesterday. (Then went through the first two Percy Jackson books in no time flat. :D)


You read Labyrinth already? Color me jealous. I’m so looking forward to it.

Do you recommend the Percy Jackson series?

[BlueNinja]

Whoops. No, I read Vanished. I am way off. Gyah, I hate being out to sea, it screws up my head. Ignore me. :D

[Harper]

Yeah... I was a little worried there....

[Harper]

LABYRINTH is out today in the US and Thursday in the UK! Send me a photo of you and your copy of Laybrinth (preferably in a strange location or situation) and I'll send you a limited edition puzzle.

[Mist]

Hmm, must think of strange location for a picture now.

Really looking forward to reading this. If only I didn't have to work and could just sit and ready today.

[rse2412]

My copy of Labyrinth has arrived!

Big question time - do I spread out the time it takes me to read it so I can enjoy the pleasure for longer or do I gobble it all up in a couple of sessions, which is what the greedy me wants to do?

And where do I find to take a photo of me and the book that is unusual? That I will have to think about. Hmmmmmm ...

Rae

[BlueNinja]

OK, now I've read Labyrinth. :grin:

Maybe it was my mood at the time of reading, but it felt like taking down Wygan was a bit too easy.
Also, poor Quinton.

[rse2412]

Why 'poor Quinton'?

Rae

[BlueNinja]

Well, he's been pretty understanding about the whole situation between Harper and Will so far - but how's he going to react when he finds out she's now the eyes and hands of her ex-boyfriend the Grey Guardian?

[rse2412]

I have only read the book once and then I gobbled it up because I loved it so much and I will read it again, slowly and taking everything in, but I didn't get what you mentioned from my reading of the story. Did I miss something?

[BlueNinja]

Perhaps I misinterpreted something. However:
1) Harper is stated to be the eyes and hands of the Guardian in the 'real' world.
2) Will appears to become the Guardian after Wygan destroys it at the end of Labyrinth.
3) Ergo, Harper is now Will's eyes and hands.

There's no way that could possibly end badly, right? :sarcblink:

[rse2412]

I agree with 1, 2, and 3 and yeah, LOL, not going to end badly at all. But ... is Will still Will? How much of the man remains as the Guardian?

Rae

[Harper]

*giggle* oh, that's not going to be any of Quinton's problem, my dears. he has a whole different set of them....

no spoilers, now: I only just turned the sixth book in a month ago and haven't done the revisions yet. But yeah... not the problem you may be thinking.

Meanwhile, I had a chat with my editor's boss on Saturday and we'll be doing more Greywalkers. Just have to iron out the contract details.

And I'm hoping to get the mass markets out a month earlier or so

and there might be a Mickey book or a Cameron book, if things work out. Probably not a Marsden book soon, but if I can get the time to do the research that's a longshot maybe.

[rse2412]

Oh no, now that is so not fair *g*. What are you going to do to Quinton?

After Harper and Chaos he is my favourite character. Please don't kill him off; you can hurt him, beat on him (I just love the h/c thing anyway) but please don't write him out. I am really enjoying Harper's relationship with Quinton.

I am really, really pleased that there will be more Greywalkers. Not to get all mushy and all, but the series is at the top of my must read list. A Mickey or Cameron story would be cool, but if push come to shove, I just want to keep reading Harper and Quinton, and Chaos, of course.

Thank you Kat.

Rae

[Harper]

Well, I'm not sayin what happens to Quinton, but I'm not writing him out.

I've been talking to my editor and she's kind of interested in a couple of books I proposed with Cameron and Carlos, but we still have to do actual negotiation and contracting stuff.

[rse2412]

Good luck with all the negotiations, Kat.

With all the stuff you have to do, I am amazed you ever find time to just write. Do you feel frustrated at all the things that pull you away from playing in the world you have created?

*Phew* I am so relieved about Quinton.

Rae

[Harper]

Really, I've been frustrated with a lot of things which actually kills my creativity. So I'm kind of glad most of it's being squared away now so I can get back to doing what I'm good at. Because I suck at paperwork.

[rse2412]

Being a lawyer, paperwork is my life. A necessary evil. I just wish I had an extra hour in the day to give me time to write. Not that I am ever going to be very good at it, but writing for me rather than for work is a lot more appealing.

Rae

[Harper]

Totally understandable. I used to be a technical editor (which actually requires a lot of writing). It felt like drudgery. What I do now is harder, takes longer, and pays less. But I like it a lot better.