Saturday, October 25, 2008



The Sacred Scars manuscript, a hundred and seventy pages longer than Skin Hunger, is off to the copyeditor. I will see it twice more as the editorial process continues, and will change a few things, because I can never read anything I have written without revising--but the book is almost finished and will be released Fall 2009. I feel like I have just gotten back from a long, harrowing trip, a twenty hour flight, amazed to be alive. I have no idea what to do with myself.

The artists who worked on Skin Hunger have provided art for Scared Scars. Cover art copyright David Ho (Thanks David!)Interior art, Sheila Rayyan (Thank you, Sheila

16 comments:

Melody Marie Murray said...

This is exciting news! I can hardly wait to read it. I really enjoyed Skin Hunger and found your blog because of it. Thanks for letting your readers have a window into the process. It's fascinating!

kathleen duey said...

Thanks for writing.
I really do feel adrift today...you know, the end-of-the-huge-project feeling. I will start new work tomorrow.

I did just enough beadwork years ago to appreciate and understand how good yours is!

Unknown said...

That's fantastic! I know how you feel about revisions - I can always find more to improve in my own writing (hence, I suppose, my being unpublished). I can't wait for the chance to read Sacred Scars next year! I'm sure it'll be a great book.

kathleen duey said...

Writing the work in progress stuff really helped me out when I got lost in the woods a few times--so I am glad you found it interesting, at least sometimes.

Revision: To see anew. Sigh. Well it is what separates the good books from the best books so we all have to work hard at it. If you can see the mushy places, the ungraceful places, good for you! It's a very good sign!!
Build a critique group if you can. I ask writer friends to read for me on complex things...and it makes such a difference.

I hope your writing is flying along...

C.R. Evers said...

Wow! Awesome cover.

This is a cause for celebration.

Congratulations!

Christy

Anonymous said...

FANTASTIC! and whew that cover is great!

kathleen duey said...

Christy,

I found the artist on the internet and S&S's art director has been kind enough to loop me in an consider--and use!!-- most of my suggestions. I am so happy to have him doing the covers...

http://www.davidho.com/

Will do your interview today or tomorrow, promise!!!

kathleen duey said...

Candy,

http://www.davidho.com/

...to see more of David Ho's work. He is also an incredibly nice man...

I went searching for an artist to recommend and KNEW he was the one who could paint the feelings in the story.

the dragonfly said...

Hooray hooray hooray! I know it's not until next autumn, but I'm so very much looking forward to reading Sacred Scars. I'm certainly not expecting the answer to be "tomorrow!" or anything like that, but when do you start working on book three? This story just fascinates me, do you find yourself caught up in it?

kathleen duey said...

Dragonfly,

You are so kind.

Yes, the story drags me along, takes over my life. I carry a little ipod-sized digicorder and flip it off and on all day, keep it by my bed, so that I don't lose the flashes that come to me when I am not at the desk...I had 135 voice entries when I started the revision.

I will write two books for 2-4th graders (beginning a four book set: The Faeries Promise), travel a little, and then start the next Resurrection of Magic book in January.

thanks for writing...
k

JChevais said...

Good to hear that Sacred Scars is on its way. After reading Skin Hunger, which took me all of two days to read it was so good, I felt adrift.

I was so sorry to have missed your master class in Paris. Here's hoping that I'll be able to attend next time. There'll be a next time.... right?

JChevais said...

I should mention that my fingers are crossed.

kathleen duey said...

Mrs. C...
I love your art! I really love "shy"...

Thanks for the kind words. I hope you like Sacred Scars. I am beginning the third one now, just barely beginning, pre-writing stuff, talking to the characters...

...while I get two or three other things going and one or two others finished.

Overlapping projects have become the norm for me--for most of us, I think.

I am sorry we didn't get to meet in Paris. I would come back in a heartbeat, I loved it there.

May your art and your writing fly,
k

JChevais said...

Thank you for complimenting my work. It means a lot to me.

I'm sure that I'll love Sacred Scars. Fingers crossed that it does as well as Skin Hunger.

Now off to try and get some work done.

Carolyn said...

Beautiful cover... Can't wait to read it. (Wish it didn't take so long for books to come out.

Unknown said...

Oh, I just caught this post, I'm so excited for the next book. I really loved Skin Hunger. I didn't know much about it when I picked it up, it was recommended by some teen book site. When I realized the next book wasn't already out I was so upset! This will jump to the top of the list as soon as I can get my hands on it!

Yay to turning the manuscript in! That has to feel so good. :)

btw: The cover art is amazing.