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Bone Walker

Beta reading Bone Walker

And now, a status report on Bone Walker!

I am now in the final push to finish the first draft. As of this writing I have signed off on the new Prologue and chapters 1-4. I have chapters 5-25 yet to go, and am hoping to hand them off to editor JoSelle on Friday, or at the very least some time this weekend. (Since it’s a three-day weekend, I suspect I’m going to be blowing a lot of it finishing the sweep.)

The book’s current word count is 84,048 words, and I am pretty sure the first draft will be coming in at not too much above that–which means, still shorter than Faerie Blood.

What happens once I finish the draft will be this: I’m going to send it to JoSelle, who will then do her sweep through it. She’s going to be doing a thorough edit, both copyedit-level changes and bigger-picture development stuff.

However, I will also simultaneously release the book to anybody who wants to beta read it. Kickstarter supporters are going to get automatic access to the draft as well.

Since the book is being professionally edited, this first round of beta reading will not necessarily need to be as extensive. This is not to say, potential beta readers, that you should not beta read the hell out of it! It’s just to say that this is more optional than it would otherwise be if I hadn’t engaged an actual editor to look at the book. 😉

Note also that this will indeed be the first round of beta reading. When I finish incorporating JoSelle’s recommended changes as appropriate (and any changes from beta reading round 1), I will also need eyes on the resulting second draft. So if you don’t get into the first round of reading, there will be a second opportunity!

All beta readers will get their names into the Acknowledgements. I will offer a free digital copy of the finished book to beta readers as well–I cannot unfortunately offer print since print copies will be limited in number. But beta readers can definitely have a digital copy in the format of their choice if they’re not already getting it via supporting the Kickstarter!

So talk to me, people, if you want in on either round!

February 13, 2013 by
Bone Walker

First glimpse of Bone Walker cover art!

Oh my, this has been a long time coming–but look what Kiri Moth just sent me, you guys! I give you a work in progress glimpse of Elessir a’Natharion, and the forthcoming cover of Bone Walker!

Elessir in Progress

Elessir in Progress

This IS a work in progress, so even before it gets colored it’s going to change–but oh, this is exciting, and I had to share it with you NOW. I can’t wait to see what the final version is going to look like!

January 14, 2013 by
Bone Walker

Bone Walker status update!

As I’ve just posted off to my Kickstarter backers, and as I’ve been happily reporting to the social networks through the course of the day, I just finished off the last chapter in Bone Walker that’s from Kendis’ point of view!

This means that now I swing back around to fill in the bits from other characters’ points of view, stuff that will convey to the reader things that Kendis never sees. Step 1 in this is sticking in a new Chapter 15, primarily from Christopher’s point of view but which will probably also feature some Jude. I’m expecting an earlier chapter is going to be from the point of view of Jake.

And the real fun is going to be figuring out where all to put in bits from Elessir’s POV, because oh my yes, he’s going to get some camera time too.

I’ve done the multiple POVs thing before; I did it in the still as of yet unedited Queen of Souls, and all you fine folks are going to be seeing it when Valor of the Healer comes out in April as well. But this is the first time I’ll be doing it in the Warder universe, and I’m really hoping it’ll work okay with this story flow!

Soon, hopefully in the first half of January, my Kickstarter backers are going to get first crack at seeing whether it does. And anybody else who’s willing to beta read for me is going to get a shot too. So if you’re interested in a beta read shot at this book and getting your name into the Acknowledgements in the back, talk to me!

Looking forward to finishing this thing up finally and sharing it with you all! 😀

December 27, 2012 by
Bone Walker, Valor of the Healer

Long overdue update

Most of you who follow me on the various social networks, or who read the posts I make via my personal blog annathepiper.org (whether there or on LJ/Dreamwidth), know this already–but for those of you who don’t, a couple of weeks ago I was briefly, violently ill. I had to spend four days in the hospital, but happily, the problem was relatively easy to deal with. And I’m feeling a lot better now! This did mean though that I was thrown for a pretty massive loop for a couple of weeks, while I dealt with recovering.

The good news though (well, aside from yay! I’m feeling better!) is that Valor of the Healer is officially DONE and has been handed off to my editor. Now comes the waiting for exciting things like cover art! And final blurb copy! And learning about how Carina’s ARC process works!

In related news, I’ve also finally officially signed the Carina contract. You guys, I’m a contracted Carina Press author. I feel all grown up. *happysniff*

Meanwhile! Now that Valor is done, this frees up my brain for returning to Bone Walker. The goal is to try to finish this puppy up by the end of November. I think I have two chapters left, at which point I’ll be putting out a brief call for beta readers before the book is handed off to JoSelle Vanderhooft for formal editing. Those of you who backed my Kickstarter have gotten a longer, more detailed update about this!

Groundwork continues to be laid as well for getting the Bone Walker soundtrack ready. My belovedest Dara, rock star that she is, has thrown together a bunch of practice tracks of the various tunes we’re interested in for the instrumental sets, so that we can start learning how to play them the way she’s envisioning they should sound. It’s going to be exciting, and I’ve got a LOT of tunes I’m going to have to learn how to play really fast. This is what happens when an author is also a musician, you guys!

And, artist Kiri Moth (may her PhotoShop always swiftly load! May her pencils be ever sharp!) has sent me an initial sketch for the soundtrack’s cover art! Check it out!

Bouzouki Cat Says TWANG

Bouzouki Cat Says TWANG

So, lots of stuff still going on, and I’m hoping to finish the year strong–and with another finished book to show for it. Hopefully I won’t be flung any more health surprises. Wish me luck, folks!

November 15, 2012 by
Bone Walker, Faerie Blood

Kickstarter and Bone Walker update goodness

For those of you who haven’t already seen this update go out to my Kickstarter backers list, I’m delighted to report that there’s some movement on the Kickstarter front!

Backer and friend and fellow session player Ellen, who is made entirely of awesomeness, threw me a boatload of tunes recommendations that will plug very nicely into the instrumental set tracks for the soundtrack, as well as into the bridge of our take of “Lukey”. Moreover, since Ellen is a fine dulcimer player, she’ll be joining us on the soundtrack work! Dara and I feel that she’ll very well represent the presence of Kendis’ house brownies, musically speaking.

I’m feeling particularly happy about the selection of tunes for what’s going to be the battle track for the climax of Bone Walker–Pigeon on the Gate, Tam Linn (a.k.a., appropriately, ‘Howling Wind’), and Farewell to Erin. Those of you who are Irish/trad tunes people, you may be able to get an idea of what that set’s going to sound like just by that alone. I encourage you to seek those tunes out if you’d like to get an idea of what we’re shooting for!

(And this of course means now I actually have to LEARN these tunes. Eep! *^_^*;;)

I’m on tap for a copyedit run through Lament of the Dove–my first formal copyedit run, woo! But that’s due on the 24th. After that, my plan will be to charge through the rest of Bone Walker, which means finishing up Chapter 21 and then a couple more chapters of denouement after that. I’m talking with my editor for that about scheduling–whether this means she’ll be able to do the editing round in December, or whether that’s going to slide to January.

And, happily, the postcards and posters of the Faerie Blood art are now on their way to me! Kickstarter backers have claim on just about all of the initial run of postcards, though it’s highly likely I’ll do a second run if the first run comes out okay. The first run of posters will leave me with several extras, though. So I’ll have enough to offer to people if they want them, once my Kickstarter backers are taken care of!

Fun times at the Murkworks! 😀

October 17, 2012 by
Bone Walker, Faerie Blood

Seeking tunes help for the Bone Walker soundtrack

Things have been pretty wacky around the Murkworks these last few months what with this whole book deal thing going on with Carina–but I do still have the Free Court of Seattle books and related things going on for all you fine folks who supported my Kickstarter. And it’s time for Dara and me to get back to working on the soundtrack for Faerie Blood and Bone Walker!

Which means I need to make some musical decisions. Part of the plan for this soundtrack, as y’all may remember, is that it will include a few instrumental sets of traditional tunes. I am on tap to make final selections for the tracks that need them–but here’s the thing. I am hampered by lack of personal repertoire, and by the sheer staggering tsunami of tunes from the Irish, Scottish, Quebecois, and many other traditions to choose from!

Internets, this means I’m going to turn to you. I know a couple people who’re reading me on Dreamwidth are Irish music people, and I have quite a few musicians Friended on Facebook who may click over to read this. So for any of you who may be reading, I seek tunes to fit the following scenarios:

1) A jaunty hornpipe in G or D (though I am capable of transposition so will consider other keys if the hornpipe is suitably awesome). We intend to plug this in as a bridge for a take of the Newfoundland trad song “Lukey”. Since we would like to distinguish ours a bit from the versions recorded by Great Big Sea, the hornpipe should NOT be “Staten Island” since that’s the one they use in their original studio recording. I’d like something similarly jaunty, though, which does not need to be played super-fast in order to sound good.

2) Tunes to fill out the set which will represent the big fight scene in the climax of Bone Walker. I want these to be reels or reel-like tunes in minor keys, and I want them fast and furious and badassed. Tunes with more than two parts to them are acceptable, e.g., Farewell to Erin. (Which is a candidate for going into this set, but I want other options to consider.) Bonus points if the tunes have names that evoke storms, lightning, thunder, or wind, as severe weather will be a major factor in the scene in question.

So talk to me, session/tunes/music people! What tunes do you know and love that fit these bills? If you fling me a good one, I’ll get your name into the liner notes!

October 14, 2012 by