Off to copyediting

Blessed release: Magic’s Child is now on its way into Polly Watson’s genius copyediting hands. Thank Elvis!

I confess I was worried. Especially when Penguin’s spring catalogue arrived with Magic’s Child listed as if it was an actual finished book. Gah! I thought. Booksellers will be ordering a non-existent book!

Well, it exists now—in finished form even! And, if you don’t object to a moment of skiting, it’s not too foul, not too foul at all. Phew!

Rather than thanking all the peoples what helped (their moment of glory is in the book’s acks) I’m gunna list the music what got me through the last few gruelling weeks:

Benny Goodman Sextet (with Charlie Christian prominently featured)
Billie Holiday
Blur (Think Tank—thanks Andrew)
Cat Power (Moon Pix—thanks Richard)
DJ Dangermouse (The Grey Album)
Fairuz (Zikrayat—thanks Tina)
Gorecki: Symphony No. 3 Sad and Sorrowful Songs (Gritton, Simonov)
In The Mood For Love soundtrack (Michael Galasso—thanks, Adrian)
Missy Elliott (The Cookbook)
Piazzolla (Yo-Yo Ma)
Ray Charles (Modern Sounds In Country and Western Music and The Very Best Of Ray Charles)
Sarband (Sepharad)
The Shangri Las (“Past Present Future” cracks me up every single time. Genius! Thanks Ray for telling me about the Myrmidons Of Melodrama compilation)
Shuggie Otis (Inspiration Information)
The Streets (Original Pirate Material—thanks Rob)
Sufjan Stevens (Come On Feel The Illinoise!—thanks Mike)

I wonder if the resulting book is at all influenced by any of that music? Looking at the list also makes me realise it’s time for some new music. Should at least get the new Cat Powers . . .

Reading things like this and all your encouraging comments here and in email also helped me get through my toughest novel writing experience thus far. Who knew that wrapping up a trilogy would be such a bugger?

I’m so happy it’s finished. Doesn’t the complete trilogy look fine? Imagine it sitting all together on the bookshelf!

And now I sleep for a week or more. (Scott, wake me up when the copyedits arrive.)

PS Today is the official pub date for the Australian Magic Lessons and is currently featured on the front page of Penguin Australia’s kids’ books. Spread the word!

Posted by Justine at 2:25, 28 August 2006 under Listening, Magic or Madness trilogy, Praising, Whingeing, Writing goals & milestones | 24 Comments »

Comments

innle Says:

Oh, yay! That is so awesome, go you!

August 28th, 2006 at 7:55 am
robinwasserman Says:

Congratulations — must be the best feeling! And I’m sure it’s as far from foul as can be.

August 28th, 2006 at 8:46 am
marrije Says:

hallelujah! i’m so happy for you.

so does this mean you didn’t go to the worldcon or (gasp) does it mean you showed the extraordinary fortitude to be at the worldcon and work while there??

August 28th, 2006 at 8:47 am
Jason Erik Lundberg Says:

Congrats on finishing! It’s a big achievement to finish a novel, but an even bigger one to finish a trilogy. Good on ya!

August 28th, 2006 at 9:29 am
Barry Goldblatt Says:

Hurray for you! Perhaps you can send some good completion vibes Libba’s way now.

August 28th, 2006 at 9:31 am
maureen johnson Says:

YAY! You have inspired me. I, too, can finish my book.

August 28th, 2006 at 9:59 am
7. Justine Says:

Thanks, everyone! I still can’t quite believe it. I wrote a whole trilogy!

I’m not sure my good vibes will help Libba or anyone else given how astronomically late I was, but I send ‘em anyways! And to you, Maureen!

Marrije: I did not go to WorldCon. I stayed in rainy NYC and wrote and wrote and wrote. Seriously, I managed to get less sleep than the folks at the con, which is saying something. Going back to bed now!

August 28th, 2006 at 10:05 am
marrije Says:

you rock, justine and sleep well.

August 28th, 2006 at 10:13 am
Jenny Davidson Says:

Congratulations!

i’ve got an academic book to finish (hopefully) in the next few weeks & had an amazing reprieve on friday, another essay i thought i had to spend this week writing for an early sept. deadline has had the due date postponed at the last minute till march 07! so exciting, now i can actually finish my book before school is terribly well underway….

August 28th, 2006 at 10:45 am
orangedragonfly Says:

yay yay yay!! (i get spastically happy when i finish a poem i’ve been working on for a few days/weeks/months. how much more amazing to finish a novel…and a trilogy!!) i’m so very excited to read magic’s child. only…i’ll be in germany by then, so who knows when i’ll actually get to read it. perhaps i’ll have to have a friend buy it for me and send it in the mail.

August 28th, 2006 at 4:26 pm
claire Says:

congrats! now all you have to do is get that book to ME.

August 28th, 2006 at 5:03 pm
John Scalzi Says:

w00t! Can’t wait to read it!

August 28th, 2006 at 5:23 pm
Richard Says:

Congratulations! And, you’re welcome.

August 28th, 2006 at 7:47 pm
margo Says:

Onyer, Justine. I had my face all scrunched up for you to finish (kind of like crossing my fingers, only more complicated), so I can relax now.

Wow, she’s done a trilogy. She’s the author of the MorM trilogy.

*looks balefully at sad broken standalone*
*standalone does not react*

August 28th, 2006 at 8:35 pm
da Says:

Ah!! at last. it will be brilliant. Now if your handing out thanks: dot point 1, 10 and maybe 2???????

August 28th, 2006 at 8:37 pm
Little Willow Says:

Congratulations on the completion of your book and, in turn, the trilogy! I am happy for you and impressed by you.

August 28th, 2006 at 9:27 pm
shelly rae Says:

Hazzah Justine! And when you’re done napping then it’s time to go outside and play! Or at least go for a nice long swim.
Congrats!
et
Anon

August 29th, 2006 at 12:46 am
Cecelia(C.C) Says:

OMG! I’m so happy! When is it going to be in stores? I can’t wait to read it. I have to know what’s going to happen.

Congratulations!

August 29th, 2006 at 1:13 pm
dylan Says:

when’s it comming to the bookstores? Can’t wait to see reason again!

August 29th, 2006 at 1:18 pm
20. Justine Says:

Cecelia & Dylan: It’ll be out in March 2007. You can see a cute countdown here.

August 29th, 2006 at 3:40 pm
Susan Says:

I spotted Magic Lesson’s in a Sydney bookshop this weekend just been.

Next pay it’s Magic Lesson’s for me!

August 29th, 2006 at 6:28 pm
Rebecca Says:

fantastic!! i’m so happy for you and i can’t wait till it’s out!!!!

August 30th, 2006 at 4:08 pm
katerate Says:

YAAAAAAY. Since I’ve read Magic Lessons, I’ve had soem theories and things about how magic works and whatnot. So I am super excited for this . AND. Sufjan Stevens is the man.

August 30th, 2006 at 4:50 pm
Dawn Says:

Amazing! The trio is beeeeeeeautiful! They look good on computer desktops too! How many times a day do I hear, “Where’s THAT one?”:) You and Scott have changed my mind about sci-fi!

September 3rd, 2006 at 12:54 pm