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Some of you have mentioned wanting more Paksworld stuff. “What about X?” “Will Y ever do [mumble-mumble]?”
The honest answer is, I don’t know. There’s definitely more story going on, but there’s also another story that wants to be written…not in Paksworld. Like you, I want to know what the entire alphabet of characters will do next, especially the ones whose arcs were not even close to being completed in Crown. I want to write in that world again. But toward the end of this group, I realized that some things would have to change so I could. I can no longer pull 16-18 hour days writing, 6 1/2 day weeks, without a break, for a year. Physically, I was wearing out; now I’m building back up. Mentally, too, I need time to read other things, experience other things, refill the well.
The questions you’ve asked are good ones, and for a few of them I know (I think I know!) the answers, but the answers are best given in the story itself. And this other story keeps shoving me around, so I’m going to have to spend some time trying to write it–I’m not sure it’s more than a powerful idea without much story attached, and I can’t tell without committing some time to it. But, “God willin’ and the crick don’t rise,” there will be more stories from Paksworld, some short and some…given my history…are likely to be very long indeed.
Comment by Fred — May 27, 2014 @ 10:25 pm
16-18 hour days, 6 1/2 days a week, for a year?
Great Scott!
I knew careful writing was hard, but I’ve never had that kind of stamina – my brain just stops at some point well shy of that.
Whatever comes, whenever it comes, is welcome, you know!
Take care of yourself and yours.
Comment by Annabel Smyth — May 27, 2014 @ 10:58 pm
But congratulations on completing this post of the story. I am half-way through Crown of Renewal, which I succeeded in downloading to my Kindle while on holiday (I hoped I would, which is why I bought the electronic version as well as the dead-tree one, which will, so Amazon tells me, be waiting for me at home. And I am totally engrossed. Thank you. Any more you can tell us about that works, as and when, will be gratefully received.
Comment by Annabel Smyth — May 27, 2014 @ 10:59 pm
Part, not Post. Tablets have many advantages, but it is difficult to write a sustained sentence without allowing at least one typo to creep in.
Comment by Wickersham's Conscience — May 27, 2014 @ 11:31 pm
I am deeply grateful for the stories you have given us. Especially Paksworld stories, of course. Rest, recover, recharge. If I may be permitted a request – and I have no right to ask – it would only be that it’s not quite so long as it was from Deed to Legacy.
Thank you again.
Comment by MaryElmore — May 27, 2014 @ 11:32 pm
Just finished Crown. Enjoyed it very much. Will start a new read soon.
God bless you in all your endeavors.
Comment by Sherri Campbell — May 28, 2014 @ 2:19 am
Finished Crown… The sign of a good story is it leaves you wanting more… Which I wholeheartedly hope will be soon, but whatever you write will be welcomed. Thank you for returning to Pak’s world with these stories. On a side note, I haven’t read the two books about Luap and Gird, (total block, dislike Luap badly…) and while missing some of the connotations, still enjoyed this book. (Wicked me, think it should be longer. ;). )
Thanks again…
Comment by Gareth — May 28, 2014 @ 2:52 am
Both electronic and dead tree arrived in the UK. To me surprise I’m reading the electronic. I’m starting to find that the recent change to a smaller font with bigger line spacing really destroys my paper reading. Beauty of the tablet is that I can alter the font size to be perfect for speed reading the column. Can do that on older paperback but find it very hard on the newer font/line spacing.
Rationing myself to a few chapters a day (at least for a few days – doubt it will last). Really enjoying so far.
Looking forward to whatever story grabs you – have loved both the SF and F series so huge thanks for the labour in crafting the legacy series. Refresh the well and see what comes up.
Comment by Jonathan Schor — May 28, 2014 @ 4:28 am
Take your time and rejuvenate. Write what you want since you do the work, and I do mean work. I don’t think people realize just how much effort goes into a book.
I am well into Crown of Renewal, the Kindle version.
Comment by Tuppenny — May 28, 2014 @ 8:12 am
Take care of yourself. Whatever the Writing Gods roll the dice for will be wonderful – After you recharge.
It is a sign of a well invented world that so many of us perceive it to be continuing beyond the bounds of the book covers. That is one that has reality in some universe …
Comment by Marianne — May 28, 2014 @ 8:31 am
Just finished Crown last night, and I want more! So happy that you are considering the idea! So many stories waiting to be told…!
THANK YOU for publishing in the middle of my final finals week, I really needed a distraction! 😀
Comment by Abigail Miller — May 28, 2014 @ 11:37 am
I have one Paksworld question that doesn’t need a book to answer — do you know how long a glass is? I have been noticing actions said to take “less than half a glass,” (a phrase perhaps more easily skimmed over in print, but it jumps out in the audio). The actions seem closer to 15-minute tasks than 1/2-hour ones, so I wondered if you knew the details of that bit of the world-building.
Comment by elizabeth — May 28, 2014 @ 11:51 am
Abigail: A “glass” is a sandglass (also known as a ladyglass, shaped like our hourglass). A glass is about like an hour, but not exactly, and not all glasses tell time the same (no standardization except within the area of one glassblower…though most of the full-glass glasses will be within 5 minutes.) They come in different sizes, too, just to make life complicated. But “less than half a glass” is probably a 15-20 minute task in our terms–so you’re on the right track.
Marianne: I’m delighted to have eased finals week for someone. My distraction when I was in college was Doc Savage books, then being reprinted in mass market paperbacks. That and drawing dragons on the blackboards of classrooms scheduled to hold exams. Blackboard decoration was something several of us did; I always did dragons.
Comment by Ed Schoenfeld — May 28, 2014 @ 4:46 pm
Thank you, that was wonderful, and I’m waiting for things to settle a bit before re-reading.
Please rest and recover well and then write some more (but not so much that it’s a strain). I want to learn more about all the Paksworld characters and legends (the world you wrote is deep and, I think, deserves more description), but I will also be happy to hear more about the Vattas or the Familas, or (dare I suggest) even something new . . .
Comment by peter — May 28, 2014 @ 9:36 pm
Heroines and authors deserve to recharge and relax after their great deeds are done. Go ride a horse, though if a dragon offers you a ride, I am not sure of the wisdom of saying yes.
Comment by Susan — May 28, 2014 @ 10:39 pm
Just like everyone else here, I’m loving the story. And the cow was a wonderful touch! Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Comment by Ellen McLean — May 29, 2014 @ 4:03 am
I’ve known you long enough to tell you to just go ahead and start writing on the one that is getting rowdy and find out if it is a short story, a novella, a novel, or a world. Either that or make bread and it’s too darn warm to fire up the oven.
Comment by Eowyn — May 29, 2014 @ 8:50 am
Woot for more Paksworld stories. Bigger woot for you taking care of yourself.
I love the idea of decorating blackboards for finals week.
Comment by elizabeth — May 29, 2014 @ 11:12 am
It was another way to relieve the tension, Doc Savage books (for me) being the other.
Comment by elizabeth — May 29, 2014 @ 11:13 am
You’re probably right. But I don’t like the characters in Book I as planned, and I’ve bombed before trying to write characters I don’t like as POVs. I’m conversing with one of them now, trying to find redeeming qualities. There were reasons why he’s in the fix he’s in, a fix I think he richly deserves.
Comment by GinnyW — May 29, 2014 @ 4:50 pm
Much as I want more Paksworld, (answer all my questions NOW), I have to tell you that I loved some of the mavericks. So recharge the batteries, and do what feels right. June is a lousy month to be stuck in front of a computer anyway. Especially a new computer that is not a seamless part of the work process.
Comment by Sharidann — May 29, 2014 @ 11:38 pm
Write what you fancy, I know I shall like it. (ok, perhaps not if it is a knitting treatise 🙂 )
And reduce the working hours and enjoy life a bit more. We would like to have you healthy and about for a long time.
Comment by KeithL — May 30, 2014 @ 2:52 pm
I have loved all of your work not least your latest (second reading in process!). The quality of writing and storytelling makes your workload only too believable. Take care of yourself and family, recharge batteries and write whatever you like – it is going to be great
Comment by Chris — May 30, 2014 @ 9:41 pm
…..and now I’m saddened and just a wee bit depressed. In anticipation of Crown, I went back to the beginning (just as I did prior to each of your new books) and re-read them. Of course, prior to that I had read all 3 books of Deed numerous times, just for sheer enjoyment).
Now that I have JUST finished Crown (which, by the way I loved but found too short, damn you! I wanted to stay immersed in that world longer!) and without the anticipation of “the next book”, I don’t know what to do with myself! What am I gonna do now!? I have to wait at least a couple of weeks before I start everything again from start to finish!
I want to find out what happens to X & Y, and the rest of the alphabet! Come on Marine! You can pump out another couple of thousand pages! 🙂
Comment by elizabeth — May 31, 2014 @ 7:28 am
Chris: hysterical laughter. “…Pump out another couple of thousand pages?” Have you not read the posts about computer problems? I’ve been spending my days under a desk with a mass of wires, or lugging parts of computers from one place to another (sometimes in the car, sometimes from car to house or car to store or store to car), or installing things that don’t work (or work finally, or quit working after they were working finally) and uninstalling things (again), or driving from here to the city or the city to here. Yes, I will write more pages. When every computer in this house and son’s apartment works and nobody, including me, is having to cope with the Price of Progress in computer form. Patience. I know, praying for patience only gets you the opportunity to exercise the Patience Muscle (something I’ve complained about myself for years) but there it is. Think of it as opportunity. (I rarely manage to do that, but you may have a better character than I do.)
Comment by Chris — May 31, 2014 @ 8:05 am
Elizabeth: if it were even remotely possible, AND if a Marine would ever be willing to accept help from and old ARMY Computer Tech, I’d be there in a heartbeat, if it meant even a little less wait!
Every time I think of the end of the latest series, it keeps reminding me of a scene the movie Forrest Gump: Forrest has been running for a couple of years, and then one day in the middle of the desert he just stops and says: “I’m pretty tired. I think I’ll go home now.” But in this case you’re Forrest, and I am one of the followers that say: “What are we supposed to do now!?” 🙂
Comment by Marian — May 31, 2014 @ 5:32 pm
16-18 hours … ouch. When I was writing heaps of garbage, if I did more than about 5 I was history the next day .. but then that was deep and meaningful philosophical garbage requiring high energy moments of inspiration, like shifting wool bales without the benefit of a baling hook 🙂 I think I could probably manage more when story-telling. (Wistfully considers how wonderful it would be to be able to live by writing … instead of, well, the stuff I do 😛 )
However, do what you have to, a break is definitely called for, and I will await Crown’s arrival in deep frustration that there’s nothing readable in the big to-read pile beside my bed.
Seriously though, whatever you write, whenever you get to it, I will read with great enjoyment.
Comment by elizabeth — May 31, 2014 @ 9:48 pm
Marian: Fiction writing varies in intensity and difficulty. Writing short stories is quite different from writing a novel, and writing a one-volume is quite different from writing a multi-volume work. I have written lighthearted fiction that didn’t hurt much on the way out. The deeper stuff…requires more mental energy. But it also benefits from long stretches of work, to hold the thing together. The days that run past 12 hours hurt physically–even with trying to get up every hour or so to writhe around loosening shoulders, elbows, neck, back, etc. But when a story is moving fast, or when the deadline is the onrushing train in the tunnel coming at you…then you have to get in there and work it to the limit, every day until it’s done.
Comment by Dawn Roseberry — June 1, 2014 @ 11:32 am
“Gird, you b@st@rd.” Oh, my! I laughed for five minutes before I could turn the page. Thank you for a fantastic story. Rest up and I’ll keep an eye out for more wonderous words from you. Right now, though, I’m going to reread Crown of Renewal.
Comment by Mette — June 3, 2014 @ 6:22 am
Uhhhh…. Due to a seriously stressfull period (started new job – bought new house – planned new garden – took care of sick two-year old – etc.) publishing date went by without my realising it.
JUST ordered Crown from a danish webshop today, and CAN’T wait!
I am astounded an impressed by the amount of work you put into a book. Having written tiny little one-page stories for my kids, I can’t imagine having the patience to work on the same story for that long. I am in awe! (and quite inspired to pick up the writing I did when I was younger. I do actually have a full story in notes somewhere, that I just know my daughter would love when she grows up)
And of course I am looking forward to any new stories you publish, but unlike the rest of your fans in here I’ve only read one of your sci-fi series, so I will have some reading to do while I wait. 🙂
Comment by Kristina — June 3, 2014 @ 10:56 am
I grew up with the Deed. I think I was 11 or so when my dad bought the first one for me. I had a bad time at school back then (kids can be cruel), and escaping into fantasyworlds was my salvation. I didn’t understand it at the time, but I learned a lot from Paksenarrion and her world. I learned that, despite what society tries to tell me, I don’t need to be in a relationship to live a happy and full life. I learned that homosexuality exists, and why fuss about it? I learned that even when I’m at my lowest, I can survive it and become strong again.
I won’t say the Deed in particular saved my life back then. But BOOKS did, and the Deed was one of them. So finding out you were writing more about Paks’ world, and reading Paladin’s Legacy, was quite an emotional thing for me. I would love to read more, because I too want to know what happens to X and Y and the rest of the alphabet. I do understand the value of rest however, so do get some of that.
I just wanted you to know that your books helped a silly little blonde girl who was too tall, too shy, and too innocent. You helped me imagine myself a paladin.
So thank you, Elizabeth Moon.
Comment by Terri — June 3, 2014 @ 3:58 pm
I have ordered Crown and am anxiously waiting for it. I’m a missionary in a third world country and so will not be able to lay my hands on it until a short trip through the States (on my way to another third world country). In the meantime, I am re-reading the entire series (starting with the Gird books) so that all is fresh when I get the final book. Actually, I read the Paks books pretty much every year anyway because I love them. Thank you so much for your dedication and hard work bringing us these tales. I have long considered the Paks trilogy as my favorite books and was beyond myself with excitement when you decided to return to that world. It has been a sweet 5 years and if you do ever make it back then I am sure I will do a little jig. In any event, thank you again and may God bless you and your family abundantly !!
Comment by Terri — June 3, 2014 @ 4:21 pm
I missed a letter in the website link.