Current Projects

March 27, 2008

The short story for Wolfsbane and Mistletoe is done, Cry Wolf is done except for looking over the page proofs in a month or two, and I'm way behind on the next Mercy book, Bone Crossed.

I've been behind the 8-ball for so long it's starting to feel normal. One of the strangest parts of being moderately successful as an author is that I suddenly have to think, at least a little bit, like a businesswoman. I am under contract to deliver a product, which other people depend on being available at a specified time. I'm trying to balance a budget, do some promotion, answer some of my email, attend conventions and still produce a product in a timely fashion.

However, writing is an artistic pursuit, as I've so often explained to my exasperated husband. If I'm stressed about deadlines or worried about putting a certain number of words on the screen every day, the creative part of my brain shuts down. The creative part of my brain thrives on tranquility, long walks, staring blankly out windows and occasionally sleeping in. It's also apparently allergic to stress. It doesn't like to worry about word counts or production schedules.

In the early days of my writing career I worked in my spare time. No schedule to worry about. Writing was a way to relax and refocus after a crazy day at work. Now it is the crazy day at work. Don't get me wrong, it's absolutely wonderful to be able to devote my time to writing. It's a dream come true. But I suspect even Cinderella eventually found that the prince snored, or that he wouldn't put the cap back on the toothpaste. Every opportunity is also a challenge.

So, I'm learning to live with a slightly split personality. I need to be responsible and businesslike. I need to be dependable, trustworthy, and deliver the goods I've promised. At the same time, I need to cater to my unpredictable, irresponsible, carefree creative side if I don't want the resultant book to feel like it was cut from Styrofoam. Trying to be creative when a deadline is long passed is a little like trying to ignore the fact that you're sitting on a tack. Practice makes perfect, they say, and I'm getting better at it. The next Mercy book isn't as far along as I'd like, but it's coming, and it feels good so far.

The Dabel Brothers, who do some absolutely amazing graphic novels, have agreed to do a series based on my Mercy Thompson novels. In fact, the series will start with a four-part original miniseries. I'm so excited about this project. The official press release is on newsarama. I'm very excited about this project. I'm also a little scared -- both of the Dabel brothers seem to be intelligent, sane people. However, they've asked me to write the text for the graphic novels -- and I know nothing about graphic novels except how to write them. They're providing lots of hand-holding, but if you'd seen my stick-figure art you'd join me in wondering just how sane they really are. On the other hand, the early art samples I've seen are amazing, and it won't be my stick figures in the final publication! Maybe there's hope after all.