Twenty-one short stories. This from someone who does not consider herself to be a short story writer*. 11 of them were for crowdfunded projects (ie, you had to buy in to get them, and still can, until Saturday evening, for the Old Races Short Story Project!). Two were for anthologies and two for next year’s BABA YAGA’S DAUGHTER collection of Old Races stories. The other six were Gryphon Beach stories, which I have faint hopes of selling to a children’s publisher at some point, so will not be making available for general consumption.

I am not going to be writing 21 short stories in 2012. o.O

I *do* anticipate doing some more Gryphon Beach Storytelling Hours, probably as a crowdfunded effort instead of just a free-for-all this time. And I have 4 more stories to write for the “No Dominion” Kickstarter campaign, and one short story under contract. So I may do a dozen or so shorts next year, but I believe I’ll restrain myself from doing a second ORSSP (though the temptation is MIGHTY), and try hard to just stick with the books I need to write. And the graphic novel script. :)

Yes, yes, I’m saying it here in public, where I will no doubt get mocked mercilessly if I go back on my word (which we all must admit seems very, very likely): a dozen short stories, a graphic novel script, and the contracted-for books/novellas.

Unless something irresistable comes along. :)

*Actually no longer true, and not just because of this year. It became clear to me a year or two ago that in fact I do write short stories. But for the longest time, no, I really didn’t see myself as someone who did. (And I thought I should, so I sat down and started practicing. See where that led?!?! :))

It all immediately spiraled out of control. Michelle Sagara is making popcorn to nibble on while she watches us do our Book Race. She alone among many seems to be holding out against the challenge–Laura Anne Gilman, Kari Sperring, and Kate Elliott have also signed on, and it looks like Alma Alexander is also teetering on the edge of doing so. :)

The book I’m aiming to write in 5 weeks is a middle grade novel about pirates and lost princes, and should only be about 60K words, which isn’t actually impossible in 5 weeks. Chaz is 13K into an 80K novel, Laura Anne’s 15K into a 70K novel, Kari’s 4K into a–I don’t know, actually, how long hers is!–Kate’s aware that realistically she’s not going to get one of her amazing behemoth epics done in 5 weeks, and Alma, like me, is just starting out.

So I think that while the stated goal is a novel in 5 weeks, that the average of what we’re aiming for is also around 60K in 5 weeks.

Also, *technically* this is going to be spread over 8 weeks, since Chaz, who instigated this whole thing, is otherwise occupied for 3 of the next 8 weeks. But since at least half of us have other stuff that needs doing, too, I figure those of us aiming for around 60K have 5 of those 8 weeks to work on the Book Race Novel, and those (like Kate) who are definitely going for the long end and who may not have other projects pending can have the whole eight and we’ll all announce a final wordcount on, like, October 1. Seems fair enough, right?

If anybody else wants to join the madness I see no reason you should not! We start Monday, August 8. :)

(LJ usernames in order, just in case you’re not following one of them and want to be: , , , , , .)

I’m guest blogging over at Temple Library Reviews about some of the differences between writing comics and novels. Thanks very much to Harry for inviting me to come play at his review site!

As reminded by several persons, THE PRETENDER’S CROWN has been nominated for the 2009 David Gemmell LEGEND Award for Fantasy. It’s on the long list, which is incredibly flattering, and it would be even more flattering to make it to the short list. My understanding is that voting between now and March will winnow the list down, so if you’ve any inclination, here’s the voting page.

And here’s this year’s publication schedule:

February: THE PHANTOM QUEEN AWAKES (anthology with a story of the Morrigan)


May: DRAGON LURE (anthology with a post-Negotiator-trilogy Janx story)


May 29: RUNNING WITH THE PACK (anthology with a Regency werewolf story)


June 1: DEMON HUNTS (book 5 of the Walker Papers. Birthday release date!)


August 31: TRUTHSEEKER (book 1 of the Worldwalker Duology)

Several people have emailed to ask when the next Walker Papers will be out. I’m delighted to let you know that book four, WALKING DEAD, will be out in September 2009.

It is, in fact, going to be a busy year for releases. This is what this year’s publication schedule looks like:

March: A FANTASY MEDLEY (anthology featuring a story of the Old Races)

May: THE PRETENDER’S CROWN (book two of the Inheritors’ Cycle)

June: mass market paperback re-releases of URBAN SHAMAN, THUNDERBIRD FALLS, & COYOTE DREAMS (books 1-3 of the Walker Papers)

September: WALKING DEAD (book four of the Walker Papers)

October: mass market paperback re-release of WINTER MOON (anthology featuring “Banshee Cries”, a Walker Papers novella); also, THE PHANTOM QUEEN AWAKES, a mass market anthology with an original short story about the Morrigan

November: TAKE A CHANCE graphic novel, compiling issues 1-5 of TAKE A CHANCE, my new superhero comic currently being released as monthly issues

Frankly, I’m exhausted. :)

It’s high time, too, that I showed off the cover for THE PRETENDER’S CROWN, and along with it, a teaser excerpt from the book. The scene is from chapter one, and Belinda has been summoned to discuss recent political developments with her mother the queen…
Read the teaser!