I was determined to send my editor the entire Queen of Swords ms. today, but alas and alack, I can’t fool myself into believing that the last chapter is done.
But I did send her everything else, 198,000 words. Now I have to finish futzing with this chapter and the epilogue, and then I will be done done done.
I hope you’ve all had a good holiday (pick a holiday, any holiday) and that you haven’t forgot about me entirely. I’ll start posting again regularly as soon as I possibly can.
And finally, here’s a statement I feel I have to make.
I get email on a regular basis from people who tell me with great seriousness that they really hope that Elizabeth and Nathaniel are the main characters in this novel, and how disappointed they will be if that is not the case.
That is not the case.
I understand the attachment to Elizabeth and Nathaniel, I really do. But the story has to be told in a certain way or not told at all, and this piece of it is mostly about Hannah and Jennet and Luke. It takes place in the Caribbean and in New Orleans, and the view you get of Paradise is restricted to an occasional letter. So those of you who are going to be angry about this, maybe you can vent now and then by the time the book comes out, you’ll be prepared to enjoy it for what it is. That’s my hope, at any rate.
At some point there will be another book in the series, one that will take place in Paradise and will have Nathaniel and Elizabeth as main characters. It will also resolve Daniel’s story, and Gabriel’s. But at the moment I don’t have a contract for that book, and so it will take some thought on how best to proceed. It won’t be soon, I’m sorry to say, but it will happen. Though there be mountains and lyons in the way.
You've stumbled across my official website and landed on the front page of my weblog.
I love Elizabeth and Nathaniel, but I also love the other characters just as much and I am really looking forward to seeing what life has in store for Luke, Jennet and Hannah. (Thanks for the preview that Jennet is OK by the way.) I want happiness for Hannah though – she’s been through too much!! I’m also wondering if the dreaded Jemima is going to turn up again in Martha’s life now that she has money, if Daniel will ever be the same after the war and what kind of man Gabriel will turn out to be! All I can say is Thank Goodness there will be another book after QOS!!!!! I have just read all four books for the first time (yes I’m new to the fanclub) and can’t believe how much I love this series – I’ve even put together a Gedcom file of the Bonners and extended family members complete with page references so I can find things again!!! I suppose many would think that’s tragic, but I’m a genealogist! Thank-you so much Sara for so many hours of enjoyment to escape to another time and I for one will not be disappointed in what new adventure lies waiting in the next book…or two….or maybe three :) !!!!!
Kathy,
I am tickled pink by your gedcom file. Genealogy is one of my hobbies, and I have done family trees for all the characters as well. Obsessive? Moi?
So glad you’ve enjoyed the story thus far, and welcome to the weblog.
Hi Sara and thanks for the welcome! I realised later that maybe anyone reading my posting might not know what a Gedcom file is….very happy we think alike!! Would you like me to email mine to you?? Maybe you wouldn’t….found conflicting info when compiling! :) I will send it if you like…it has 122 people in it! Thank-you again so very much for your wonderful novels…I’m telling anyone who will listen how great they are! Is there any way we can petition Bantam (or other publisher) about your next novel…or two???? I’ll sign first!!!!!!!! :) Happy New Year!
I guess Im slightly befuddled by your post because who am I to tell you what to write about? I feel like Im the lucky recepient of YOUR stories, and I believe you have the integrity to take the story where it needs to go. It is Hannah’s, Luke’s, and Jennet’s time and their(YOUR) story to tell. But I agree with Kathy J and I would gladly put my 2cents in and be the second signature on that petition :)
I will just be happy to read the next book in the series, regardless of whose story is told. I am looking forward to it very much. I only found these books last year so had the pleasure of reading the first four in one continous thread.
Leica
Sounds great. I love Elizabeth and Nathaniel but they’ve had the stage for a while and I can see there are others clamoring for their story to be told. I want happiness for Hannah of course and I have a sneaking regard for Jemima. She’s one of those characters you feel sorry for while she’s behaving so badly. Good luck with the revisions and Happy New Year.
Hannah, Luke, and Jennet are who I’m most concerned about at this time anyway, so I’m thrilled that this book is about them. I am also very excited about the possibility of another book. My only request is that you don’t leave us hanging in the middle of a crisis again, especially as you don’t know how soon the next book may come along. I’m one of those readers that gets extremely involved in the story and I don’t think my nerves can take it!
Sounds like you’ve made great progress! Way to go!
I am _thrilled_ that the new book is about Hannah, Luke, and Jennet although I’d hoped for more about Daniel in this one too. Good to hear that his time will come.
What I am is more worried about the extent of the evil of the evil characters; I’m hoping I can read it and not have a bunch of nightmares induced by it. I get a wee bit attached to the characters I like, and cruelty really bothers me.
So, here’s hoping…
:)
SaRa,
I agree with all above, i LOVe your writing and have thoroughly enjoyed all of the books so far and i am waiting impatiently, for the next one to hit the stores… just keep writing from your HeART with PaSSiON… JMHO.
Please, keep up with the BeAUTiFUL WoRD PAiNTiNG that you do.
{{{{{{{{SaRa}}}}}}}}} just me taking a break from my work…*G*
my mom got me started on your first book, then i read them all in perphaps less then a month, I litterally coudlnt put them down…i cant wait for the Queen of Swords to come out, just wondering if you have any idea, like any estimate of when if will be at all ?
-truely love you writing, Amanda my mom got me started on your first book, then i read them all in perphaps less then a month, I litterally coudlnt put them down…i cant wait for the Queen of Swords to come out, just wondering if you have any idea, like any estimate of when if will be at all ?
-truely love you writing, Amanda my mom got me started on your first book, then i read them all in perphaps less then a month, I litterally coudlnt put them down…i cant wait for the Queen of Swords to come out, just wondering if you have any idea, like any estimate of when if will be at all ?
-truely love you writing, Amanda my mom got me started on your first book, then i read them all in perphaps less then a month, I litterally coudlnt put them down…i cant wait for the Queen of Swords to come out, just wondering if you have any idea, like any estimate of when if will be at all ?
-truely love you writing, Amanda <3
One of the things that I love about your Wilderness series is that you have created a true family saga…each generation of Bonners and other families has captured my interest and heart. Already, I am hoping to watch Annie, Martha and Callie grow up. And a part of me would love to see Hidden Wolf roots will reach as far as California, the Civil War and Wounded Knee.
Frannie
Frannie: wow. you are ambitious, or should I say, farsighted. I haven’t dared think that far ahead for any of the characters. But I do sometimes get little glimpses of the future, of Hannah as an old woman, for example.