archive

June 2006

Here it comes again

Voice of the Gods returned yesterday, this time in printed form. It's set out as it will be in the book, rather than the usual double-spaced Times Roman format of manuscripts, which is always exciting to see. The map is in there, as well as a gap for a dedication and acknowledgement for me to fill in.

For the previous round of proofing I was required to read through the editor's corrections and fix or reverse those I disagreed with. I usually read through the book at this point to pick up anything else I or the editor may have missed, but because Conflux was going to take up half the days I had been given I just didn't have time.

So I'm doing it now. I have an extra week or so on top of the usual time I get. I guess it's time for another tally:

1 prologue and 2 chapters checked and corrected, 49 chapters and 1 epilogue to go

Fanmail - yes, I hadn't forgotten it

20 fanmail answered; 4 bounced; 372 to go.

I'm not really catching up. But that's because working on those pesky books has eaten up all my time. Naughty books!

Conflux 3 con report

My latest adventure in Canberra...

http://www.trudicanavan.com/abouttrudi.php?pg=about15

Fantasy Author Blog #2

I was hoping to post an author blog link more regularly than this, but life and books have been getting in the way.

Today I'm drawing your attention to Glenda Larke's blog at http://www.glendalarke.blogspot.com/. Glenda is a bird watcher and environmentalist along with being a brilliant fantasy writer and one of the most adventurous people I know. Lately she has been posting some very useful writing advice on her blog. Check it out.

Forums

Charissa said:

Anyway, a question, why isn't there a forum on the website? It would be really nice to be able to discuss about the books and discuss theories about how age of the five will end. And just fans talking to eachother really! Would be a great thing on this site!

I don't have the time to maintain and moderate a forum - and believe me, if the spoilers that turn up in guestbook entries is anything to go by, I'd have to moderate it very closely.

But there are forums out there in the world wide web. Visitors to this site have posted addresses for them in the guestbook, so have a skim through and try a few. I don't visit them (again, the time thing), but I am a subscriber to of Voyager Online, HarperCollins Australia's online forum. The topic is spec fic in general, not specifically my books, however.

Home and Heralded

I've arrived home from Conflux 3, and what a great convention it was! I just finished writing my con report, but I still need to choose some photos, format and upload it. When it's done I'll put a link to it here.

A nice surprise was awaiting me at home, too. The Herald Sun contained a small article about the BMT sequel and prequel contract on Wednesday. Page 13. Right down the bottom. Entitled "Fantastic Sale".

I managed to finish checking the editor's corrections and inserting my own into Voice of the Gods while at the convention. Next week the book will bounce back into my in tray all set out like a proper book, and I get to check it all over again. I think I shall nickname this book "boomerang".

Conventioning

I'm leaving for Conflux soon (see previous posts for links to the convention and the signing I'll be doing outside the con on the Thursday) and just wanted to warn visitors that I may not be able to approve guestbook entries every day.

If you're going, have a great time and do say hello.