And it’s Away!

[lagilman]

http://www.lauraannegilman.net/and-its-away/

The first "Sylvan Investigations" novella, that is.

This is the first of the Kickstarted novellas, following after DRAGON JUSTICE, spinning off half-faun PI Danny Hendrickson into his own series.

We sent the file off to backers last week, and I've...well, been a little on edge, ever since.  I got one "I loved it!" from someone I saw at Lunacon (bless her, I may have made her repeat it *g*), and the rest has been...silence.

Probably, that's because they haven't had a chance to read it yet.  Or they're not the sort to gush.  Or...they hated it.  Ack.

*does NOT hide under the bed, damn it*

EtA: I'm not asking for reassurances.  Okay, maybe I am.  But it's okay.  ;-)

I'm really hoping they like it.  I'm really hoping they're looking forward to the next installment (PROMISES TO KEEP, currently in production).  I'm really hoping they like them both enough that I get to write the 3rd novella, which in my head is called SOME MISTAKE...

Whatever happens, though, this was - and is - one of the more enjoyable Publishing Aventures I've had, working with my very own team of stalwart freelancers and lunatics.  The fact that none of them throttled me may be a small miracle.  :-)

(and yes, the novellas will be available to the open market this winter, so if you missed the Kickstarter, you'll get a second chance)

Comments

[cypherindigo.livejournal.com]

I have been savoring it, like good spirits and dark chocolate.

[nomercles.livejournal.com]

I haven't gotten to read it yet! But that icon over there? That was absolutely a self-portrait when I got it!

[lagilman]

Heh. Yeah, I figured - considering the state of my own TBR list...

but one does twitch.

[jslinder.livejournal.com]

File me under not read it yet. Pesky work.

[lagilman]

Bah, work should not stop one from READING! ;-)

[wood-dragon.livejournal.com]

Loved it! Loved! It!

(I finally had to the chance to read it - mostly on the bus during my commute home. I've always loved Danny and I like him even more.)

[lagilman]

And, in my newfound appreciation for casting my stories (since H'wood seems disinclined to do so), I found the perfect Ellen:

http://www.funbaz.com/nicolebeharie/biography.html


Her nose isn't quite right (not prominent enough, lucky girl), but everything else is.

[wood-dragon.livejournal.com]

I can see her as Ellen.

[lagilman]

She has the perfect range of expressions for Ellen's backstory and dialogue. Alas, for her far-too-pretty nose. *g*

(she's even the right age, which I've found really hard to do, when casting.... the actor who inspired Danny is only the right age if we go by a faun's natural aging process....)

[controuble.livejournal.com]

Mark me down as "haven't read it, yet." I have it, but my TBR piles are HUGE.

[jamileigh17.livejournal.com]

Ditto on the "it's on my to do/read list" for this weekend. I'm using it as a bribe to get through a crit I don't really want to do for a friend (it's a case of slogging through REALLY bad prose to see if the concept is worth his reworking it.), and I'm trying to catch up after spending the weekend at the SO's parents helping prep for/run a ~50 people seder. :)

[lagilman]

....50..... wow. And here I thought our 25+ all-comers-welcome seders were intense...

[jamileigh17.livejournal.com]

That's small for their family. The first year I went was double that!! (Granted, it was also the family matriarch's last one, so relatives came from all over the world for her.) Talk about jumping straight in the fire and not even stopping to look for the frying pan!

[lagilman]

"All who are hungry, come and eat; all who are needy come and celebrate Passover...." but would it kill you to bring a bottle of wine, and maybe help clean up, after?

Oh no, wait, that's from our family's Hagaddah, never mind...

[damiana-swan.livejournal.com]

Oh... sorry. I pretty much swallowed it whole the moment it arrived in my inbox, and have been jonesing HARD for more.

And have been quietly trying to be polite about it, because I am told authors don't want to hear "when is the NEXT one going to be done?" when they've just busted their ass to get this one out.

[lagilman]

Heh. I can't speak for everyone, but for me at least I love hearing from readers...and appreciate the occasional push back to the desk, so long as it acknowledges that I have to sleep and have A Life, too...

[cgbookcat1.livejournal.com]

I loved it!

[joycependle.livejournal.com]

It's great! I hope it is the beginning of a long series.

[lagilman]

I had planned out five stories, originally. But I'm not sure if I'd Kickstart the next three all at once, or do them one at a time...? I should probably do a poll on that, once people have the first two in-hand, yah?

[joycependle.livejournal.com]

Either way, I want them :)

I haven't given you any info for sending the bookmark, as I live in England. Take the time and expense of posting abroad as my thank you to the author.

[alicebentley]

I am grateful for this reminder! All my reading time these days is during my commute, but of course the file is on my machine at home. A restless morning and some time with my mobile device, and now I'm set for the very next book in my TBR pile (I'ma gonna finish the current work, The Lies of Locke Lamora, first.)

Thanks once again for putting this project together!

[lagilman]

Oh lord, following after Scott? Just shoot me now...

[lietya.livejournal.com]

I usually read a book a day (I hit 425 last year). I've been forcing myself to read only a few pages of this every night as a treat, to make it last. :)

So far, I love it! And I especially love that we're getting to see some follow-up on [spoiler] who pairs up with Danny.

Can't wait for _Promises to Keep_, and I'll buy any and all subsequent novels/novellas/stories as well.

If you want an official review (and who wouldn't, I am married to an author and should have known better than to engage in Ominous Silence), this was more than worth the money and a delightful character exploration of both Danny and [spoiler], and I've only read about 1/3 yet.

[lagilman]

:-D


(also: a book a day? HOW? Even when I didn't have to read-for-work, I was more of a book-every-four-days sort....)

[lietya.livejournal.com]

I do feel kinda guilty when I consume an author's hard-fought year of work in a few hours...

I read really, really fast. :) As in a 300-page book will take me about 2 hours. It's not a skill I can take credit for; I'm just lucky that way. Also I do in fact have to read for work, since I technically work in publishing (a pretty specialized subsection of it).

[nomercles.livejournal.com]

I just finished it! It was marvelous, as I expected. I adore Ellen. She is so completely herself, even when I can see clear bits of Wren and Sergei in there.

*happy dance*

[lagilman]

<3

Ellen surprised me, both in DJ and the novellas. I always knew she would be a match for Danny, but I didn't know quite HOW.

(Danny knew, though. He's much smarter, in his own way, than anyone else in the Cosaverse. Except maybe Madame.)

[vierran45.livejournal.com]

I really liked the story and can't wait to read the second one! I love how Ellen & Danny worked so well together.

I'm sorry to say it, but I noticed several typos in my copy. Do you want a list of the ones I noticed? (Oh woe, I have to read it again :D)

[lagilman]

Please!

[chaoticgoodnik.livejournal.com]

I keep checking my unsorted-incoming and stuff-to-read folders (where PROMISES TO KEEP should end up now that I know it's coming from a different address) to see if the second one is here yet. :) (Not meant to pester. Just a note that yes, I am looking forward to the second one.)