Cast in Silence Cover, attempt one

[msagara]

I have been so absent lately I can almost hear crickets, and I've been dusting cobwebs off my hands and feet while I try to make a bit of space in the Michelle-clutter.

I finally have a scan of the actual cover flat for Cast in Silence which is an August 2009 release. I really like it.

It's in theory behind the cut:





The surface itself is a matte; the words are gloss. The overall cover is darker than it appears (on my computer), but the central image is blue and gold, and while the colours are darker, they're richer than they appear here (again, on my computer).



The book is finished.

Sadly, House Name is not finished. A small author-is-not-very-clever misunderstanding about the conversion of MS Word wordcounts to page run-off counts means that the book I thought was a bit on the long side, while unfinished, was, ummm, very very very much on the long side. I haven't taken much of a break from writing; I just haven't reached the magical "the end" words. This reminds me a bit of writing the planned two volumes which comprised The Sun Sword. Which, of course, is six volumes.

So... I'm still working on that. I have also started the tentatively titled Cast in Chaos, which is the first of the three new Cast novels I just sold Luna. It is the book I affectionately refer to as the Refugee Book. This won't hopefully be as dark--to me--as Silence.

*edited because a good friend pointed out that 'mat' and 'matte' are not the same word.

Comments

[dreyslibrary.blogspot.com (from livejournal.com)]

Yay! *happy dance* Can't wait for Cast in Silence! & more Cast books? *drool*

*skipping off to do more happy dances*

[vsherbie.livejournal.com]

Nice strong cover. Really conveys Kaylin's attitude!

As for the word count thing... I believe you said in the intro to one of the Sun Sword books that you "have a little problem with length."

So books set in Avaralan running long is a surprise to, well, nobody.

Glad to see you're still writing and glad to see that the cast books have brought you a bunch of new fans!

[msagara.livejournal.com]

I believe you said in the intro to one of the Sun Sword books that you "have a little problem with length."

Yes, but I keep telling myself that this time things will be different. I always think that things will be short when I start. Yes, a logical, practical person would realize that "thinking" in this case is not perhaps the right word, given past evidence.

And, of course, there's the usual absolute terror that people will think that it's a total waste of extra words, and that the book really should have been, well, much shorter.

But I did remind myself, when I was getting more than the usual ulcer over this one, that this is, in fact, what happened with Sun Sword.

[(Anonymous)]

There are still plenty of us out here who hang on your every word and get really really *really* happy when we hear that you are being you.

I for one am willing to wait a little longer if it means that I get a whole lot more to read. Not that I'm going to wait patiently, mind you, but I'm still willing to wait.

Are you going to be doing the convention circuit this year? And if so, which ones? I need to get my (as yet non-existent) copy of Cast in Silence signed, and I really want to hear some more rants...

Michael

[msagara.livejournal.com]

Are you going to be doing the convention circuit this year? And if so, which ones? I need to get my (as yet non-existent) copy of Cast in Silence signed, and I really want to hear some more rants...

I am definitely going to be in Montreal for the Worldcon this year, and I think I'm also going back to Confluence, although it occurs to me that I may not have actually answered that email. It's been one of those months. I came into work today and said, after some discussion, "You mean Ad Astra, which is next week?"

And there was a long pause, after which I was informed that what was meant was the Ad Astra which is tomorrow. I man the store during Ad Astra because pretty much everyone else who works here goes to work there for the weekend.

And as for rants... ummm. I, from the wrong country, plead the fifth.

[vsherbie.livejournal.com]

yes it happened there largely because the whole thing with the voyani kinda exploded. I think your extra words stem from adding an unexpected level of complexity rather than unnecessary description. This is a good thing in my book.

I recently re-read Broken Crown and I resonated with totally different characters this time around. The first time I read it, I was 21, graduating college, getting engaged, etc. And Diora totally broke my heart. This time I'm 30, back in school for a PhD, married for 7 years, etc. I identify much more with Theresa and, umm, I'm blanking on her name, but the Serra that was a hostage with Valadan and served as his mentor.

It's a sign of a complex and well told story that what I bring to the table affects the story so much.

/fangirl Is a problem with length catching?

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

I am delighted to hear about the new Cast book; they're my comfort reading. In fact, I tend to skim the first time around because I HAVE TO FIND OUT, then I do a slow reread later; even so, it can be on the third or fourth reading that I pick up interesting bits.

[motteditor.livejournal.com]

Add me to those who are happy to have a longer story. I go through books way too quickly, so six books of good length in the House series would make me happy.

[sphericaltime.livejournal.com]

Yay! More House Name books! I am so very much looking forward to those! Granted, I'm looking forward to the post-Sun Sword books the most, but for prequels The Hidden City was amazing.

As a True Fan (http://www.kk.org/thetechnium/archives/2008/03/1000_true_fans.php), I eagerly await more chances to splurge on your books.

[tinachristopher.livejournal.com]

Wow, great cover and thank God there will be three more Cast books! Yippeeh!

Thanks for sharing the good news!

[ldydarkstr.livejournal.com]

Just when I consider deleting my Livejournal because I never use it, I see this lovely post by you.

SQUEE, more Cast books!! I just recommended your series to my creative writing professor, and she said she enjoyed them immensely. Keep up the amazing work, which is amazing, even if you think it takes too long. It's worth it.

Is it evil of me to hope that there is more Kaylin/Nightshade interaction?

Pre-ordering as soon as I can!

[daydream-13.livejournal.com]

*seconds the vote for more Kaylin/Nightshade interaction*
;)

[alexkenobi.livejournal.com]

I'm adding my vote to more Kaylin/Nightshade interaction, plleeeeeeeaaase *does puppy dog eyes*

[holmes44.livejournal.com]

love the cover and pre-ordered the book today.

House name is a bit on the long side? Bring it on!

[(Anonymous)]

I am thrilled to hear that House Name is more than on its way. I am also pretty much juggling myself on the edge of my chair when i hear its going to be on the long side.

Hidden City was marvelously long, and at the same time agonizingly short. Why short? Because the book had to end sometime, and i didn't ever want it to end! Probably very faulty logic there, but this series is simply too enchanting to care much about that!

Therefore, when i hear House Name is going to be long, i am sincerely running out of my skin in joy.

Thank you, very, very much for writing such a wonderful story.

[e-booklover.livejournal.com]

Congrats on selling 3 more Cast books :). The cover is really nice too.