First, thanks for understanding about last night’s postponement. As the day wore on, I actually started to feel worse, and was worried I was legit getting sick. Since I haven’t really been in contact with my students this last year, I haven’t really been getting sick either so I was completely out of meds. I did some storm shopping this morning, and grabbed some sinus meds. I’m already feeling better after one dose. I didn’t go grocery shopping last week and realized I literally had not gone outside in more then ten days. With the weather being so cold right now, I’ve been cooped up in my office working most of the time, and I think the air in my house just started to bug my sinuses.
I’m pretty sure at this point (at 10 AM) that I’ll be able to update tonight, but if that changes, I’ll let you know.
Second, and the reason I’m posting this morning is to give you some news about Fool Me Twice and that February 23 date. I really, really wanted the entire story to be done by then so I could put it out of my head, take a week off, and then dig into Broken Girl. However, you guys already know that January was a bad month for me, and it didn’t really start to turn around for me until the last two weeks. I wasn’t ever able to really make up for those first two weeks and a half weeks of editing time lost. I should be at least halfway through the story by now, but I’m still on Chapter 12. Yesterday, I started to feel like I was rushing edits so I could get them done and that’s not what I want to do.
There’s just no way to have 38 chapters fully edited and cleaned up to my standards by February 23.
So I have two options — I could postpone FMT entirely for about a month OR I could split it into two big updates. I thought about putting this to a vote, but I know you guys and I figured you’d rather read something sooner rather than nothing and waiting a whole extra month. Plus, this is only the second time I would have released a book at once, so it’s not like you guys are used to this schedule anyway.
That’s my news — I’ll be publishing the first 20 chapters of Fool Me Twice on February 23, then the final 18 on March 23. This gives me time to do two full round of edits which the story needs to be smoothed out and preserve continuity. I talked it over with Ang, and we both agree that Chapter 20 is a good place to leave you guys for a month and for me, it also feels realistic. I can get the next nine chapters done by the end of this week and I have two weeks for the second round of edits. Just making the decision makes me feel better.
Fool Me Twice is the last novel that was on the old production schedule where I really didn’t leave myself enough time for certain parts of the project, so I’m pretty sure this is the last time we’ll have this schedule crunch. I just want to give you guys the best product I possibly can and this book is REALLY important to me. It’s ambitious and rewrites a time period on GH that a lot of people didn’t watch or didn’t enjoy, so I want to do it right.
I’ll see you guys tonight!
Comments
Take your time.
I love that your so organized but sometimes I believe that you put too much pressure on yourself. It’s important that you take care of yourself first and do what’s best for you. I know that all of us will wait patiently because we love your stories and they are always fantastic. We want you well and pleased with your books.
I totally agree with Arcoirsis- I absolutely love your work and updates, but your health is top priority! Don’t beat yourself up when you need to readdress things. Give yourself grace. We’ll all be here, waiting in our own homes (a year later, haha) when you can make any updates!
I’m sorry you are under the weather. Take care of your self.
I’m with Arcoiris and Sarah. You put a lot of pressure on yourself and your health comes first. We will be here. If it takes another month, then it does. If you release some in Feb and then some in March, that is fine as well. I however, certainly won’t discourage you from releasing half shortly and half later. I’ll read whatever you have to give and be splendidly happy. As I’ve mentioned before you are one of the few writers, who gives us beautiful and complete stories on a regular basis, however you want to post is met with gratitude and dare I say downright giddiness.