The other thing(s) that happened

[ellenkushner]

The Glasgow Worldcon (August 3-8) was also significant for me because I went public there with a couple of pieces of big news for me. Here is the first:

My new novel now has a title and a pub. date. The Privilege of the Sword takes place almost 20 years after Swordspoint, and is narrated by Alec's 15-year-old niece Katherine (who also appears in The Fall of the Kings). It is scheduled to be published by Bantam Spectra in September, 2006.

(I am currently back in my favorite Undisclosed Location, frantically working on revisions. My friends the frogs seem to have grown cannier with age: I hear the ker-plunk! into the pond before I can get close enough to see them.)

I should also mention here that I've also finally written and sold another a short story: "Honored Guest"* will appear in Coyote Road, an anthology of contemporary Trickster stories edited by Ellen Datlow and Terri Windling, to be published by Viking Penguin in 2006. The Table of Contents page is a real dream, as exciting as their previous two collections for Viking, The Green Man and The Faery Reel. I am so glad /Terri kicked my butt/ I finally got it together to write something for this wonderful series.

*The "guest" of the title is Jessica Campion, justabout everyone's favorite character in The Fall of the Kings. People have asked for a novel about her - but tricksters only get short stories! This probably will not be the last one.

Comments

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

Cool! I loved Katherine.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

I actually began this novel *years* before we wrote Kings - having "met" Katherine as a teenager made it a lot more interesting to write her as a middle-aged woman - or rather, made it easier for me to realize that this was a complex individual, and not just Theron's Scarey Grownup Cousin, and work harder to do her justice.

[marinarusalka.livejournal.com]

Yay! *dances in anticipation of great new things to read in the future*

[rymenhild.livejournal.com]

I have to admit that while I'm pleased to hear there will be a novel about Katherine, I'm delighted to hear there will be a short story about Jessica. She's certainly my favorite character in Fall of the Kings.

-A humble reader/lurker

[nnaloh.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on it all! I *really* wanted to write a trickster story to submit to that anthology, but I just couldn't come up with anything.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Probably because you were doing too much else - it's so right up your alley! When one comes to you, you'll write it anyway; just be sure and let us know where it is . . . .

Though I must say, Trickster story plot was a real challenge: you have to come up with a really cool Actual Scam for your trickster to run, and, for the plot-challenged (of whom I am queen), that's not so easy!

I cheated, of course.

[widget-alley.livejournal.com]

My new novel now has a title and a pub. date.

And an unrestrained dance of fannish glee was done by all.

[northern]

I'm looking forward to reading the new novel. Sounds great!

Yay!

[musictwig.livejournal.com]

More wonderful new things to read! I can't wait to get my hands on the new novel.

[coyotegoth.livejournal.com]

Wonderful news; I can't wait to read it :)

[rochese.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you continue with stories from that world. Am looking forward to reading it.

[mroctober.livejournal.com]

::happy sigh:: Wonderful news. Now I want to hear you read your Coyote Road story.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Yes -- it's utterly maddening to feel I shouldn't read the short story aloud when I get a reading spot at a convention, because I want to be promoting/giving advance glimpses of the new novel instead!

I did read 8 minutes' worth of "Honored Guest" at the Broad Universe (http://www.broaduniverse.org/) Rapid-Fire Reading at Readercon in July - if there's another one at World Fantasy or wherever I'm at, I suppose I could do that. I hope there will be plenty of opportunities to read in the coming year or two - and since I don't write all that fast, you'll probably get to hear a lot of both!

[mroctober.livejournal.com]

Well, when the anthology comes out we'll have to plan for a good NYC venue.

[pariyal.livejournal.com]

Grr, a year to wait! (but happy dance anyway)

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Well, we'll probably put up a chapter or some passages on some website or other a few months in advance . . . I'll see what Bantam wants me to do - so Watch This Space!

[erzebet.livejournal.com]

Tricksters! I love those stories. I'm having a trickster tale published in Jabberywocky 2. I can not wait to read the anthology. 2006 is too far away!

[daughtermestizo.livejournal.com]

Hey, wow!

Sorry, I like your books, and I think it's neat that you have an LJ!

D-M

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

[suzanna-o.livejournal.com]

I'm looking forward to your new novel too! Please do post in LJ when you have a chapter or excerpt for us to read.

[joecrow.livejournal.com]

Aces. Looking forward to this one. Only a year to go, too!

[wheefactor.livejournal.com]

Being a shameless fangirl, I am thrilled to see another of your novels coming out so soon. Well, at least I hope that the time will fly. In any case, I'll be reading it for years, so one year is a very short time to wait.

This has nothing to do with anything, really, but I was curious whether you have ever visited the community of _riverside. As a member, I can say on behalf of everyone there that would be an honour to know that you knew about us. It's not a very lively place, but for what its worth..
:D Just a curious fan, is all.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

I'll be reading it for years, so one year is a very short time to wait.

Such a deft and elegant compliment!

I was curious whether you have ever visited the community of [info]_riverside.

Well *of course* I have - how could I resist sticking my nose - er, head in once I knew it existed? I was just afraid it would make you self-conscious to have the author looking over your shoulder, so have refrained from comment. But I am honored and delighted that you like my city well enough to want to give it its own special place on LJ.

[handworn.livejournal.com]

Wonderful! I've read Swordspoint many times. The Privilege of the Sword is a great title; it would pique my interest if I'd never heard your name or read your work.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

That is so good to know! Settling on a title was a real 3-ring circus. I hope "Privilege" - or PotS, as some are now calling it - works as well for everyone!

[handworn.livejournal.com]

It's the depth to it, I think.

Between the action implied by "sword" and the tapestry of law, history and custom evoked by "privilege," there's a world there in the title.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Thank you - that's a fine way of putting it, very encouraging and inspiring.

[chaoticgoodnik.livejournal.com]

I'm excited about the book, because honestly, I was more intrigued by Katherine than Jessica.

[ellen-kushner.livejournal.com]

Katherine & I thank you! Really, I think people will like her story very much. Jessica is flashy; Katherine is complicated.