February 2008
Dear readers,
Updates first: The end of the Keller story, Thicker Than Water, has been posted. Also a new story, Ash and Mary-Lynnette: Those Who Favor Fire, is now up, and should appeal to all those who (like me) like fervid romance. There are new pictures in both stories, and three new pictures that have nothing to do with the stories. There is one for Cassie and Adam readers, and two for Jenny and Julian lovers. These are great pictures, done by Jan in response to the many special requests for them, so please appreciate but don't steal.
Also, if you'd like to see what I'm thinking at any given time, you can check on Amazon, where I'm keeping a blog. Just go to my biography and blog page here.
And news! I'm very pleased-and, yes, proud-to let you know that the Night World series is going to be reissued in the US by Simon & Schuster. On an expedited basis. I know that for some readers, getting hold of these books was very difficult, and I've been very moved (translated: I've really felt awful) hearing about their efforts to get them. So here's the schedule: a new edition that contains Secret Vampire, Daughters of Darkness, and Spellbinder will come out this summer (summer 2008), Dark Angel, The Chosen, and Soulmate will come out this fall (fall, 2008), Huntress, Black Dawn, and Witchlight will come out next spring (spring 2009) and Strange Fate, which is going to be . . . quite long . . . will come out the next summer (summer, 2009).
I'm happy to at last have a firm answer when people ask about Strange Fate. And, no, I don't know when Vampire Diaries V: Damon will come out, but I know that I'm writing it as quickly as possible. Please understand that right now I'm doing two books simultaneously and that that doubles the normal time when either might come out. And another thing . . . both these books are monsters. If Strange Fate was the length of my ordinary books, and heaven knows I've wished I could write it that way, then I would have been finished over 100 pages ago. But these new books are longer, because they are more important, and because they tie up loose ends (Strange Fate) or are about my favorite vampire and a complicated situation (Damon).
This page will become my blog, I guess, but since this entry was addressed specifically to readers, I won't go into my thoughts about various things that have gone on, except to say that there's no secrecy about the short story I am writing this month. It's for a vampire anthology for young people, by young writers. It's a Borders Exclusive anthology, so I'm sure it will be available there. If you don't have a Borders near you . . . I'm sorry. Anyway, that's what I'm working on, and like the White Rabbit, "I'm late! I'm late!" Not, in this case, because of not being able to write, but because I was only invited to contribute recently, undoubtedly because I've had a "Closed For Business" sign up before.
Most of you have already heard my very enthusiastic response to the e-mails I've gotten. Going to my inbox has been a bit like going to the Italian villa in Enchanted April; a place where I can just feel the love and kindness and appreciation flowing into me, giving me new inspiration and making me want to hug everyone. If you wrote me an e-mail or letter I want to thank you and hug you and thank you again.
Incidentally, I'm wondering about the psychic abilities of my readers. One came very close to guessing a large part of the plot for Strange Fate. Another, in two innocent paragraphs either did suggest or came close (sorry, I forget) to the crux of a project I have been toying with, and that a publisher once asked me to do: an adult story about Julian, of Forbidden Game. By the way, if you haven't yet written and think I've had my fill of hearing about people who enjoyed Forbidden Game, you're wrong. I'm always tickled to hear this. Forbidden Game ought to have "softly and suddenly vanished away" according to at least one boojum. But. . . not all snarks are boojums, and the love I put into the Game did find a readership. For which I am eternally grateful.
Also, for those of you who want to know in more detail what I was doing while I was away, then follow this link: What I Did on My "Vacation." I have purged it of many of the details that almost made me ill, and certainly made me weep, but it's still not for anyone under 18 years of age or anyone who gets even slightly queasy over medical details, or is even somewhat upset by pages of real-life horror. I honestly think that it's better to just trust me when I say that I was completely unable to write during this period, because my imagination was broken. But if you feel you must know, follow the link.
Blessed be,
