Updated FAQ
Thanks to questions from Mum’s KTL Writer’s Discussion Forum, I’ve added a number of new items to the FAQ. If you’re interested in getting published, you might be interested in the new additions.
–Todd
Dragonsblood update
I’ve been remiss in keeping up with this blog because I’ve been busy working on Dragonsblood revisions.
I’m now working on the third draft and hope to have that sent out to my third draft readers on Monday.
My fourth draft will go out to the editor at Del Rey.
Dragonsblood is now over 162,000 words and 922 manuscript pages. I’m sure it’ll get smaller again (maybe).
Well, back to work!
Letter from David
Dear Todd,
Thank you so much. I just recently finished reading Dragon’s Kin. I enjoyed that very much and am eagerly awaiting Dragon’s Blood and more of Nuella. She’s such a spritely girl. First time in my life I’ve ever used that word, but it seemed appropriate, just popped into my head.
Also read your open letter to Dawn. Touching and tragic all at once. I never met her, but I can’t help feeling a sense of loss myself. Mine’s a different kind though. I’m working on my first book myself and the loss of her story Andavan to the rest of us stuck here for the duration seems such a shame. My dad’s younger brother has been after me to publish mine when its done for that very reason, to share the story with others. I hope her family and friends will consider sharing it with the rest of us mere mortals.
I wrote to your mom (mum) last year to thank her for her stories and the inspiration they’ve been to me. I told her of my beginning to write myself (Nov.26,2002). I misnamed the title of one of her books and misspelled the title of another and bless her heart, she replied to me anyway. The first words she wrote were “Finish the d—ed book!” I’ve never been so tickled in all my life. Just what I needed to hear. I’ve never met your mother in person but I swear it sounded just like her, or at least my perceptions of her. Tell her I’m still at it.
Godspeed,
David
Dear David,
I’m glad that you liked Dragon’s Kin. Mum and I are talking about doing more books with Nuella, Zenor, Kindan, and even Cristov as they grow up.
Dragonsblood will be much more like Dragonflight than Dragon’s Kin which bears more of a relation to Dragonsong.
I agree with Mum. Stop talking about the book and finish it. And then start another one. Most writers will tell you that they didn’t sell their first book until they’d written several more. Usually it’s the second or third book that sells. And yes, one of the lessons from Dawn’s tragedy is the reminder that none of us are guaranteed more than this day — any future days are all merely possibilities. So it’s up to us to use are days wisely.
Cheers,
Todd