O . . . M . . . G!

[jpskewedthrone]

I just had the most harrowing experience driving home from work tonight. In case you aren't living on the east coast, we're in the middle of a rather nasty snow storm. (They keep proclaiming is the storm of the decade or something, but it's really not that bad.) Also, if you're just tuning in, I own a sports car.

So anyway, I drive in to work this morning with the snow already starting and the roads are pretty nasty. I'm skidding here and there a little, but nothing serious. I teach my two algebra classes, go to the department meeting, tutor a few people for office hours, the usual. All this time, it's snowing.

I finally get a chance to leave . . . and the roads are worse than this morning! I mean, sure, it's been snowing all day, but I figured they'd at least get out and plow, maybe cinder, especially on the one hill I have to climb. They CALL it a pass, but really it goes to the top of the hill (which they call a mountain here, but that's an entirely different rant).

But no. No cinders. I can tell they went through with a plow, but that had to have been hours ago.

So, in my little sports car, I manage to fishtail my way through the twisty back roads, climb the hill at an astounding 10mph, NOT skid down the far side, and get home.

But I've learned a valuable lesson: I will not go to school with snow on the ground and more snow in the forecast. Luckily, the school has closed tomorrow, since we're supposed to get snow all night and most of the morning.

In other, less harrowing news, DAW has decided to buy another book. Yippee! They're currently working on a contract for Well of Sorrows, book 1 in the new trilogy featuring new characters. The title isn't fixed, because I also proposed Wellspring of Sorrows. What title do you guys prefer? The final decision is up to my editor though. I'm waiting to title the other two books, based on your reactions to the other proposed titles. I don't need those titles at the moment anyway.

Also, I have release dates. The Vacant Throne is scheduled to be released in January 2008. And Well of Sorrows is scheduled for January 2009. All dates tentative of course, although I think Vacant's is rather firm.

The only bad news is . . . well, my editor wants a more detailed plot synopsis from me. I don't work from a plot synopsis, so coming up with one is difficult. I don't know what happens, that's why I write the books! In any case, that topic is for a future "writing tip" post. Not this Friday though. That's going to be called "The Idea Machine", with my answer to the "Where do you get your ideas?" question. Tune in Friday for that.

Comments

[tyger-raven.livejournal.com]

Eeep, I'm sorry that you had a scary experience, but very glad that you're all right. Congrats on the new book deal. I hope it goes great. I like Wellspring of Sorrows over Well of Sorrows, personally. Hope your editor likes it too. :)

[jpsorrow.livejournal.com]

Yeah, at this point it's the editor's decision. I think she's going to go with Well though. Just a gut feeling.