Site Announcements 2005

This page archives the announcements that Diana sent in 2005, which were originally posted on the home page.

04 October 2005

Dear All-

OK…it's here! As in, A Breath of Snow and Ashes is actually published, delivered, and lying in big, shiny piles all over a bookstore near you!

I know this for a fact, because I've signed slightly more than 6000 of the dang things since last Saturday, when I began doing them for the folk who got early-release copies fot the National Book Festival in Washington, DC, and have continued through Lexington, Nashville, Chicago, Dayton, and Jacksonville (so far).

(And for those of you who so solicitously ask whether my hand hurts-while standing in front of me with your entire collection-yeah, but so what? [g] Writer's cramp is temporary, while a signature is forever-or at least until the dog eats it or you drop it in the bathtub.)

I have good reason to believe that the UK edition of the book is also now published and available, because I saw a bunch of them in Hamburg while I was doing the German tour (I have no idea why they were in Hamburg, but there they were), and I know for a fact that the Canadian edition (identical to the US one) is out and available as well.

So-my enormous thanks to those of you who have already bought the book, and even more to those of you who have also come to see me at signings and brought me Diet Coke, smoked salmon, chocolate, beer-bread mix and butter-toffee drink mix, china bowls, pearl-and-garnet jewelry, Scottish teddy bears, Florida smoked-sweet BBQ, refrigerator magnets in the shape of snowflakes, and all the other Really Nice Presents that my bemused literary escorts are having to ship home for me because there's no conceivable way they'll fit in my luggage. You certainly don't need to do that-I'm totally happy to sign books for you, regardless [g]--but it's very nice of you!

And while I wish I could sign books for everyone in person…well, the spirit is willing, but the flesh finds it impossible to be everywhere at once. (And I would just mention quietly that you have a choice-I can write the next book, or you can look at me, but not both. At the moment, y'all are lookin' at me-or some of y'all are.)

But I do hope that all y'all [g] will enjoy the new book, even if I'm not able to sign it for you on the spot. There are always bookplates, after all. [g]

Thanks!

--Diana

03 October 2005

Well, I'm back from Germany, and now have 48 hours to unpack, wash my underwear, rush my good wool pants and silk shirts to the dry-cleaner's, repack, and tie plastic flagging on all of the plants in my garden that require watering, so they won't die while my husband is taking care of things during the next round of absence (he's a dear man, and very responsible, but unfortunately plant-blind; they all look like weeds to him, unless they have enormous colored blossoms or fruit-and he regards my pomegranate tree as a giant weed, fruit notwithstanding (he's not fond of pomegranates)).

I had a wonderful time in Germany-thanks to all the kind people who came to have books signed, bought me beer, gave me T-shirts and roses, and contributed to the success (so far) of Ein Hauch von Schnee und Asche-which (I'm delighted to announce) opens after its first week on sale at #1 (!!!) on Der Spiegel's bestseller list-the German equivalent of the NYT list.

Now, I did promise all of the German readers that I would put up a copy of the limerick (well, it isn't really a limerick-but it's a short, rude poem, and I don't know the proper literary term for what kind of poem it really is. If any of you are poetry professionals and recognize the form, you must tell me) that I used to introduce the evening events there. A lot of people wanted me to write this poem in their books while I was signing, but we had crowds of more than 600 people in some places (and many other hundreds elsewhere), and if I'd done that, we'd all still be there. So here it is (with introduction):

Back in the day, when I was a university professor, I taught (among other things) a class called Human Anatomy and Physiology (this, btw, is where I got Claire's broad but shallow grasp of clinical medicine, for Outlander). It was a popular science elective, and most of the football players took it, under the misapprehension that it would be easy. [cough].

So I'd walk in at 8 AM and see 400 bodies sprawled in the chairs of the auditorium, most of them sound asleep. And so I'd walk up to the edge of the platform, microphone in hand, and say, "Well, this morning, ladies and gentlemen, we're going to talk about the History of Contraception." And a number of persons would start to blink.

And then I'd say….

"In days of old,
When knights were bold,
And condoms not invented….[dramatic pause]

They wrapped old socks
Around their cocks,
And babies were prevented!"

Yes. Well, it did wake them up. [g] And the German audiences all rolled on the floor, too ("They understood it?" my husband asked, incredulous. I replied that they must have-they all laughed. [g] And Barbara, my translator, refused to even try to translate it, on grounds that there is no casually-vulgar German term for the male appendage; the only choices are Latinate/clinical, or so foul you couldn't possibly say them in public).

With luck, I may be able to write up a brief impression of the German tour, but fortunately for me and my compressed schedule, my delightful and talented German translator, Barbara Schnell, has already put up a great tour-in-pictures on her own website.

Meanwhile, I'll look forward to seeing some of you in Washington, DC at the Book Festival this weekend-and to repeat, YES, we will have A Breath of Snow and Ashes on sale for the occaion! Then another 48-hour turnaround (those people in the dry-cleaner's are becoming very curious. I can't help it, though-it's dang hot performing in a converted warehouse filled with 650 other people), and we get the Official Publication of the book for the rest of the country. [g] (Oh-we've added a couple of extra signings to the tour-in Flagstaff, AZ (October 9), Albuquerque, NM (Oct. 15), and Tucson, AZ (Oct. 16). I'll check those dates once more to be sure I've got them straight, and add times and places-we'll post them on the Tours page as soon as I can.

In the meantime, thanks very much-and I do hope you'll enjoy the book when you get it

27 August 2005

A Lucky Break for DC -- National Book Festival Gets an Early "Snow"!

I'm delighted to tell you that the publisher, Random House, has graciously given permission to sell copies of the brand-new (and not yet officially released!) book, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, at the National Book Festival, held Sept. 24th in Washington, DC.

So any of you who live in the area (and are willing to trek to the vicinity of the White House, where the Festival is held) can get hold of your copy three days earlier than your less geographically-fortunate friends. [g] The rest of the country will be able to get the book on the Official Publication Date, Sept. 27th.

I now have a schedule for public appearances at the Festival:

Lecture/Talk/Reading/Whatever -- 10:35 to 11:05 AM, Saturday morning, Sept. 24th.

(Given that I only have half an hour, I'll probably talk for ten minutes or so, answer questions for ten minutes or so--and then try for a quick reading from the new book. If the talk gets interesting, though, we might skip the reading--since I'm kind of assuming that if you're willing to make the effort to fight your way through the DC traffic to get there, you probably intend to come away with a book for your trouble, and can then read it yourself. [g])

This looks like being a lot of fun--there are any number of cool writers who will be there--E.L. Doctorow, Neil Gaiman, and George R.R. Martin being just a few of my personal favorites who will also be in the "Fiction and Fantasy" tent with me (well, not so much "with"-more "before and after me." But you get what I mean. [g]).

Book Signing - 12 (noon) to 1 PM, Saturday afternoon.

I think it's a great idea to have the signings separate from the talks, and enough later that people won't have to choose between hearing the talk and standing in line to have a book signed. I don't know what the Book Festival's policy is on books to be signed, but given security issues and all that, my guess would be that they only want books purchased there to be brought for signing. I don't know that for sure, though.

Consult the National Book Festival website for locations of lectures and signings.

OK, NOW it's done! [g]

Which is to say, I finished writing the manuscript for A Breath of Snow and Ashes at 6 AM June 11, and emailed it to my editor with a cover message reading, "Over to you, ace; I'm fried."

I then staggered around bumping into furniture for awhile (you really do hallucinate from lack of sleep, I find. Nothing interesting, though--just bolts of lightning and those little things that run in and out of your peripheral vision, but don't let you look at them clearly), slept for a bit--and 24 hours later, the copy-edited first sections hit the doorstep with a resounding thud. (See below, for what is a copy-edited ms., galleys, etc.)

Worked madly for two weeks to finish the copy-edit, sent it off with a sigh of relief, and had another 24 hours of bliss before the galley proofs started arriving. No rest for the wicked, they say. Not for authors, either. [g]

BUT...I've now sent back the last of the galleys, which means...I'm free. FREE! [g] Well, sort of free. What it actually means is that now I can deal with all the small issues I've been resolutely ignoring for the last six months, like updating this website, answering my hideously neglected correspondence, sending back requested book plates, signing books, and all that.

(And my deep apologies to anyone who wanted anything urgently from me in the last six months. I'm truly sorry; it just couldn't be done. But do write me again, and I'll try to see to it now.)

But the bottom line here is that A Breath of Snow and Ashes is now completely, positively, absolutely done [g], and it will be released on September 27th--i.e., a couple of months from now. I'm really pleased with it, and I hope you'll all enjoy it, too!

Unabridged Audios on CD

Coinciding with the publication of A Breath of Snow and Ashes is another much-anticipated event--the release of the UNabridged audio recordings of ALL the Outlander books (including A Breath of Snow and Ashes, if the poor reader didn't drop dead in the middle of its 980 pages)--on CD!!

Recorded Books, Inc. says that owing to the press of popular demand (and my immense thanks to all of you nice, demanding people out there! [g]), they've finally broken down and decided to redo the Whole Staggering Thing in a CD format. They tell me that the new CD's will be available in September.

I don't know whether these are listed yet for ordering, but visit the website, if you'd like to check.

And in answer to the many people who've asked--YES, Davina Porter is indeed reading A Breath of Snow and Ashes, which is marvelous news for all of us who appreciate her terrific dramatic abilities and her vast array of accents.

German Premiere and US/Canada Tour

The next question after "Is it done yet?" is usually "When will it be out?"--followed pretty quickly by, "Are you coming to my town on the book-tour?"

Well, this time Germany is actually the first country to publish the book (thanks to the superhuman efforts of my amazing--and exhausted--German translator, Barbara Schnell). It will be released in Germany (and only in Germany) on September 6. Consequently, I'll be going to Germany in September, and will be doing events in four cities there: Munich, Bonn, Hamburg, and Berlin. For details visit the Tours page.

I'll provide more details about these evening events as I get them, but if they go anything like the last German tour I did, the format will involve whisky and beer, pipe-bands, a brief talk (in English, but translated as we go), a reading (I read in English, but very slowly), and question-and-answer sessions (translated as we go by the ever-helpful Barbara Schnell, who will be with me). It'll be fun. [g]

Anticipating the many kind offers to feed me, show me the cities, and offer hospitality--I'd love to take some of you up on these, but I'm afraid the publisher expects me to work (of all things) on a book-tour! [g] I'll be doing interviews most of the day, and traveling from one city to the next at dawn, every morning.

I do appreciate the offers, though, and I hope that one of these days I'll be able to come to Germany and have time to look around a little. (Sometimes, I have a day to sightsee. Last time I was in Germany, I was taken on a forced march down the Rhine, and then given Federweiss, a marvelous Reisling and Zweibelkuechen at a vineyard on the Drachenfels. It was lovely--and very good--and I've never been so close to dying of alcohol poisoning in my entire life. Luckily, this was at the end of the tour.)

Anyway, I'm looking forward to seeing you all there!

And then...

National Book Festival - September 24, 2005
Washington, DC

I'll be back from Germany in good time to make it to the National Book Festival, which the organizers have kindly invited me to participate in once more.

(There's a rumor to the effect that attendees at the Book Festival might be allowed to buy A Breath of Snow and Ashes there--but that isn't yet a certainty. I'll let you know as soon as I'm told it's a sure thing--or not.)

The Festival is held on the White House grounds, and we'll really hope that this year it doesn't rain and there are no snipers at work (which is what happened last time I came). I'll post the exact time and location of my talk/signing as soon as I have them.

And THEN...

English-Language Publication Day - Launch Party - September 27, 6:30 PM
Poisoned Pen Central
215 E. Grant, Phoenix, AZ

The official US/UK/Australia/New Zealand publication of A Breath of Snow and Ashes will commence with a signing party (including, I'm told, food and drink available for those who want it--i.e., there's a small restaurant on the premises that will be prepared to accommodate anyone who feels faint or feels that a glass of something bracing--like coffee--will enhance their experience of standing in line) at The Poisoned Pen's new downtown premises, Poisoned Pen Central.

The event will be at 6:30 PM on the evening of September 27, 2005. Here are further details, from The Poisoned Pen:

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 27

Diana Gabaldon 6:30 pm Poisoned Pen Central, 215 E Grant Street, Phoenix AZ 85004 (602) 252-0663; www.poisonedpen.com

Diana Gabaldon signs A Breath of Snow and Ashes (Delacorte $28), the latest in her Outlander historical series. This will be a launch party with a short program, open to all her fans. Arcadia Farms' citybakery will be open for sandwiches, salads, desserts, coffee and other beverages.

Admission to the signing line is by ticket--free with purchase of the book from The Poisoned Pen. We are accepting advance purchase/ticket assignment now via sales@poisonedpen.com or by phoning (888) 560-9919 or (480) 947-2974; fax (480) 945-1023.

[back to Diana...]

NB: British Cover --

We have three wonderful covers for this book, from Germany, the US, and the UK. [see pictures] I love them all, but I know that while most US readers like the US pattern of solid-color/icon, some would really like a more pictorial cover, to match their older editions of the first few books in the series.

Have a look at the British cover (which is lovely), and if you should be one who would prefer this cover, please email patrick@poisonedpen.com, to let him know. The UK books have to be ordered well in advance (and I should warn you that since they're imported, they do cost more than the US ones), so Patrick would appreciate some estimate of how many people might want this cover; he'll have some available for the signing. (He'll also have some of the UK hardcover edition of The Fiery Cross--that's the one with the flaming cover that looks like The Pirates of the Caribbean--for sale as well; as a special for the signing, those will be offered at the same price as the US hardcovers.)

The insides of the US and UK editions are completely identical; only the covers are different.

And Onward

Now, I should emphasize that this is the lineup for the tour AT THIS MOMENT. Tours do flex and change, and it's possible that we might add one or two things, or shift a day or a time--so please do check with the bookstores to be sure.

MUSH....

And then we head north, to Canada. [g] I don't yet have a schedule for the Canadian tour, but will be doing the Western part of the country between October 15 and October 20.

Surrey Writers Conference

I'm once again doing the Surrey (British Columbia) International Writers Conference, which runs from October 20-23. I'll post my schedule for the conference a little later--but I do hear that I'm doing a panel with Jean Auel at this one!

MUSH...

Following the Surrey conference, I may get a day or two to touch base at home, kiss my husband, change my underwear, that sort of thing--and then I'll be doing the Eastern part of Canada--Toronto for sure, possibly Halifax and the like. Details to come.

November

In other words, All Hell breaks loose in mid-September, and doesn't stop 'til the end of October, at which point it tapers off a bit. [g] I.e., I'll be doing various events in November--I'm appearing at the Foothills Public Library in Glendale, AZ on November 17th, 7 PM, and also at the Peoria Public Library (in, as you have doubtless intelligently concluded, Peoria), date and time not yet fixed.

The November events are likely to be mostly local, though--Phoenix, Flagstaff, and possibly Tucson--we'll see. Details to come.

What if I don't live in any of these places?!?!

Well, I imagine quite a lot of people don't. [g] But if you don't live anywhere that I'll be going, and would like a signed book or books--that can be arranged.

Call The Poisoned Pen at 480-947-2974, or email patrick@poisonedpen.com, and tell them that you'd like an autographed copy of A Breath of Snow and Ashes (or any of the other books, for that matter--they can provide any of the Outlander books in hardcover, trade paperback (the big ones), or mass-market paperback (the little ones)).

I'll be signing immense quantities of A Breath of Snow and Ashes on September 26, so that The Poisoned Pen can be mailing them off to people--so you won't have to wait long.

[I should perhaps note that I don't own The Poisoned Pen [g], nor do I have any personal interest in the place, financial or otherwise. They're just my local independent (and excellent) bookshop, and are kind enough to handle autograph requests for me. I stop by the shop once a week or so when I'm in town, sign any orders they have waiting, and they'll then mail the books out-and will send books anywhere in the world.]

So What Is A Copy-Edit?

Just as a matter of general interest, let me explain the mechanical process of getting a book onto the shelves (and what I've been doing for the last month)--this is called "Production."

Starting with a completed manuscript (well, ideally we start with a completed manuscript...), the author confers with the EDITOR about it. Different editors have different preferred methods of interacting with different authors--some like to write up detailed editorial letters, with comments, suggestions, requests, etc., whereas others may prefer just to chat via phone or email in a more casual mode.

An editor's job--beyond acquiring the manuscript in the first place--is essentially to help the author make the book as good as it can be. This does NOT mean (as some curious persons have suggested to me) that the author "comes up with the idea" and then some poor flunky of an editor actually writes the book. Nor does it mean that the author whaps down garbage and the editor "fixes it up." (Well, we hope it doesn't mean that, anyway.)

Editorial comment and revision may be very minimal (it usually is with my books; my editors and I are luckily on the same wavelength [g], and I don't send them a manuscript unless I'm sure it's pretty much as good as I can make it), or more extensive. Either way, the author listens to the editor's comments and/or suggestions, and IF any revision seems necessary, this is when the author does it.

With a revised, improved, and generally great story in hand, we then go to the next phase, which is COPY-EDITING. What the primary editor does is sometimes called "Line Editing," and may involve comment on all aspects of the story--structure, craft, motivations, etc. What the COPY-EDITOR does is called (logically enough) "copy-editing."

Copy-editing is a somewhat more mechanical process, in which the copy-editor carefully examines every single word in the manuscript, checking for errors of spelling, grammar, punctuation, or continuity. "Continuity" means the copy-editor is looking for any places where the text is not in agreement with itself, or the author may inadvertently have done something illogical. When the copy-editor finds anything of this sort, he or she marks it with a query on a Post-It note. Consequently, a copy-edited manuscript comes back absolutely bristling with sticky-notes, all carrying queries reading, "You have them eating apple pie here, but it was March in your last chapter and it can't be more than two weeks later now; they can't be eating apples." (To which the author swiftly replies, "OK...they're eating dried apple pie!"), or "You had this person's eyes as blue on page 284, but they're green here (on page 699)--which is it?" ("Oh...let's make 'em gray, just for fun."), or "Were there land mines in 1752?" ("You betcha.")

[Now, a publisher will often provide Advanced Reading Copies (ARC's, for short) to booksellers or reviewers, so that they can be impressed and order lots of books and/or say nice things about said book in public when it's released. An ARC is usually a manuscript that has been copy-edited and typeset into galleys, but has not yet been proof-read. That's why they always include a brief note to the effect that this is an UNCORRECTED manuscript, and therefore one should be cautious in quoting from it for review. FWIW, the ARCs of A Breath of Snow and Ashes (there are some, but not a lot, owing to the immense size) are missing a short chapter and a two-page scene that exist in the finished book, to say nothing of several hundred tiny corrections.]

OK. Once the copy-edit has been done and the billions of sticky-notes all answered, the corrected manuscript goes to the compositors. These are mysterious persons who type at the speed of light, producing what are called GALLEYS, or GALLEY-PROOFS. Galley-proofs are 8.5 X 11" sheets that contain the typeset and completely designed and laid-out book.

The galleys come back to the author for checking. This is the last chance an author has to find and correct any errors that still exist (and believe me, they exist). With luck, the publisher will also have a proof-reader going through the galleys, which is great--but the proof-reader can only catch mechanical errors, like words that were misspelled by the compositor, or logical errors that the author and copy-editor missed. If there are bits of text that need to be altered for clarification, euphony, or for general artistic reasons--only the author can do this.

All of which is to explain why my correspondence has gone to hell in a handbasket for the last several months. [g] But now I'm back, and will have an opportunity to work with Rosana to overhaul the website and provide general updates, new excerpts *, and so on.

Hope you'll enjoy the new book!

--Diana

15 April 2005

Update - Progress Report - Miscellany

We're Alllllllllmost there. [g] And the last bits of A Breath Of Snow and Ashes are coming together very well indeed--thanks to so many of you for all the good wishes (to say nothing of the food packages, toilet paper, and other kind gifts!).

At this stage in a book, the inside of my head resembles nothing so much as a pot of boiling spaghetti, with plot-strands roiling momentarily in and out of sight, and clouds of steam fuming from my ears--so I do apologize abjectly to anyone whose urgent emails or other entreaties have gone ignored. I'll try to catch up later, when the book is finished, but there's really no help for it just now, sorry!

I emerged from the fog momentarily, though, long enough to notice that I'm appearing next weekend at the Northern Arizona Book Festival in Flagstaff, Arizona, so thought I'd best note that fact.

The Festival takes place April 15, 16 and 17, in various venues. You can get an overview--and more details--from the Festival website. My personal appearances will be:

Sunday, April 17, 9:00-10:30 AM
Orpheum Theatre (in downtownFlagstaff - downtown Flagstaff is not a big place; if you get downtown,
you'll find the Orpheum, no problem. [g]) - A panel on the topic: The Author's Sense of "Home" (hey, don't ask me, I don't pick 'em; I just show up), with Miles Swarthout and Tom Miller.

and

Sunday, April 17, 2:00-4:00 PM
Orpheum Theatre
Readings,with me, Ron Querry, and Melissa Pritchard. Yes, I will be reading from A Breath Of Snow and Ashes.

The organizers haven't mentioned explicitly book-signing events, but I do know that they'll have all of the participating authors' books for sale, and presumably we'll all have a chance to sign books after the various panels, readings, etc. Personally, I'm always happy to sign books anywhere. [g]

In addition, I'm sure I'll be at the Friends' Reception at the Orpheum Theatre, 9:30-11:00 PM, on Saturday, April 16.

I'll be doing a couple of visits to local Flagstaff public schools on Friday, as part of the "Authors in Schools" part of the Festival, but those are not public events.

BTW, I believe you need tickets for the panels, readings, and other public events connected with the Festival; see their website (above) for details. See you there!

***************************************

Oh--as long as I've come up for air [g]...

Book-signing at Hastings

Saturday, April 30, 1:30 PM
Hastings Bookstore, Flagstaff (on Milton Road - just behind Chili's)
I'll be doing a signing (maybe reading, depending on the availability of a sound system). You don't need any tickets for this; it's totally free and open to the public.

New Address for Book-plate Requests

We have a new mailing address for book-plate requests:

Diana Gabaldon
10810 N. Tatum Blvd. #102-321
Phoenix, AZ 85028

Please send me a SASE (self-addressed, stamped envelope), along with a brief note telling me how many book-plates you need, and how you'd like them inscribed (just so you know, the average book-plate is 2" X 3", and has artwork along the top--so there isn't room to be writing long screeds, especially with a fountain-pen, which is what I normally use for signing these. [g])

(It's fine if you've recently sent a request to the old PO Box--that will remain active for several months.)

AND JUST TO PROVE THAT THE NEW BOOK REALLY EXISTS...[g]

We have cover art! Really beautiful cover art, too. So far, I've seen the proposed dust-jackets for the UK, German, and US editions of the book, which--if humanly possible--will all be published SIMULTANEOUSLY in September of this year (if my poor German translator doesn't burn out all her synapses).

The covers are wildly different, but all very beautiful. (Canada will have the same art as the US; Australia and New Zealand will have the UK version.)

Oh--and someone asked me recently whether the book will be released in hardcover first. Yes, of course--they always are, even in the UK (though in the UK, the hardcover printing is normally very limited, and the large paperback version is published simultaneously--owing to the fact that hardcovers are hideously expensive there, the hardcover print run is usually small, provided mostly for libraries. I understand that the average reader normally buys the large paperback edition, so many more of those are printed.)

UK - The UK publisher is recovering the entire series with similarly-themed cover art--beautiful landscapes.

Germany - Yes, I know Claire's wedding ring is silver; this is artistic license for the sake of a gorgeous cover. [g]

US - I'm sorry there's no way of showing this cover in its true glory--it's silver, not gray, and Very Eye-Catching it is, too!

Publication Date for A Breath of Snow and Ashes!!!

Well, as y'all might suppose from my absence of late, I've been working Really Hard. My profound thanks to all the kind people who sent me email, cards, gifts, and well-wishes for Christmas and my birthday. I'm sorry not to have been able to reply to you each individually--but I sort of thought you might rather I wrote, instead. [g]

So, it's not quite finished yet--but we're within weeks of The End, and close enough that Random House has in fact set a publication date--

September 27, 2005. Mark your calendars. [g]

--and barring any Major Disasters, I don't think there's any reason why we wouldn't make that date.

(Mind you, last week sixteen men with sledgehammers showed up to destroy the back half of my house--a renovation project meant to have started six months ago--and there is a gigantic ramhoe in my backyard, which fires up every morning at dawn and makes enormous thunking noises while breaking up the old swimming pool, knocking pictures off the walls and breaking ceiling light fixtures jarred loose by the vibrations. The neighbors are doubtless Most Amused. This morning, the gentleman operating this piece of equipment evidently got bored with staring into an empty swimming pool for hours on end, and took into his head to drive around the backyard smashing up the walks and patio slab (which were meant to be removed, all right, but not by a ramhoe, according to the apoplectic supervisor who arrived later in the day). We also have our very own Porta-Potty, sitting out by the curb; my husband said that as he was driving down the street this afternoon, a pickup truck with the logo of a pool remodeling company--but not the one doing our pool--pulled up, a man leaped out, entered the Porta-Potty, reappeared a moment later, got back in his truck and drove off. I had no idea that we were maintaining a Public Convenience, but I suppose that unless someone drowns in it or has a heat-stroke or something, the potential for lawsuits is low.)

Now, I don't have official confirmation on this, yet, but I'm told that the German publisher, Blanvalet, is Highly Desirous of getting their edition out simultaneously with the English edition, and my excellent and virtuous German translator, Barbara Schnell, is beavering away to this end.

So--definitely this year, and very likely in late September!

Public Appearances

Owing to the pressure of finishing the book, the impending production hoo-ha (there's actually a lot that happens to a book once it's finished--and as my husband observes, to a writer, "finished" is a relative term, until it's on the shelf), and the looming specter of book-tours, I've been trying really hard not to go anywhere or do anything.

However, I am doing a few things locally:

April -- I can't for the life of me remember whether I told the Arizona Book Festival I'd come this year, but I have this vague notion that I did. [g] If so, that's usually the first weekend in April (April 2, 2005, 10 AM to 5 PM, Carnegie Center, 1101 Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ.

Now, I know I'm signed up to do the Northern Arizona Literary Festival in Flagstaff, which happens mid-April (April 15-17). Again, more details a little later.

And in August (August 12-14), I'm doing the Fergus Highland Games, in Fergus, Ontario. Someone brought it to my attention that the Fergus website is advertising my presence there, which is great. However, they also state that I will be "reading from and signing her new book"--which, unless the Fergus Games has arranged to pull a fast one with the Canadian publishers, is not true, since the book in question won't be released until September. I.e., I'll certainly read from it, but I'd be wildly surprised if there were copies available in August.

Oh--and I'll be doing the Surrey International Writers Conference (Surrey, British Columbia, not the one in the UK [g]) in late October (October 21-23), as usual.

Now, it's entirely possible that I've overlooked some commitment, in the frenzy of finishing the book (I have no brain cells to spare at the moment, I'm afraid). If any of you have reason to think I'm meant to be somewhere other than the events mentioned above--please tell me. [g]