This will not be a long post. I took a couple of days off to travel to Oregon for a long weekend, and I am still trying to reorient myself to being back home. It's a long drive from North Idaho to Gresham, Oregon--about seven or eight hours, depending on weather and pit stops. I'm sure other people can do it faster, but I can't. 70mph speed limits are great, but it's still about 420 miles, and it's going to take some time.
In any case, I was mostly there for my daughter. We rented a house for her squad to hang out together. I chaperoned, but they didn't really need much of my attention, so I enjoyed a couple of long visits with my son and a shorter visit with my bestie, sat on the deck and read a fair amount, and worked on Unquickened.
And on Sunday night, I officially finished the current draft.
(That's my internal happy dance. I did not want to embarrass my daughter.)
It's not publishable yet. I need to read through it once more and smooth out some wrinkles. There are a couple of spots that need a little filling in, and I think I need to tweak the timelines a bit. But the story--the piece that has been giving me absolute fits for months and months, the hardest and most complicated part--is done.
And you know what?
I think it's not bad, if I do say so myself.
Several weeks ago, I actually pushed myself to commit to a date to send the manuscript to my editor. The contract is signed, and the date is firm. I have about three weeks to do this final read-through, which I think is doable.
SO... The moment you've all been waiting for... An actual, honest-to-God, I've-marked-it-in-ink-on-the-calendar release date for Unquickened:
Why am I waiting so long?
Well, a few reasons...
I want to release the print and e-book versions at the same time, so I need to make sure I have enough time built in for print layout, ordering proofs, and reading through with a fine-toothed comb to make sure the print version looks good.
I would love to actually find some advance readers this time who can read and review ahead of the release date and hopefully drive up interest.
I intend to do a REAL book launch this time, and I need to plan it properly. I am hoping against hope to do something a little splashier than I have with other books. I'm not sure exactly what yet, but watch for details.
So yes, y'all have to wait another eight-ish months for Unquickened. BUT--there is good news...
Once I get this read-through done, I am planning to return to the Ian Mac Roy stories.
You all know that Ian shows up in Bloodbonded, and I've always intended to write two more stories between Deception at Sea and the moment he arrives on Taura in Bloodbonded. I am going to write those two stories this year and release them between now and November 22 so that y'all have something to enjoy in that world before the release of Unquickened. Watch for those release dates...
In the meantime... Please do subscribe on Substack, and if you're on Goodreads, follow me there. I will be more active on both this year, and I'm sure they'll both play a key role in upcoming releases.
I know I'm asking my loyal threes of fans to wait a little longer, but I promise you all--this is as close as this book has ever been to being done. If you need something to while away the hours during the wait, may I be so bold as to suggest that you could promote me to your friends and family? Maybe suggest they read Ravenmarked and Bloodbonded? I will be eternally grateful.
And now that I've really, truly given you all a date.....???
I'd better get that read-through started.
So hoping the sarcasm referred to is not the release plan, LOL.
Glad to see this and your happiness at writing it. Best wishes and I hope all goes well for you!