Rachel Hartman's Blog, page 33

Wherein I am the grumpy

I’m afraid I have a bad mood to sort out. But all is not lost! Here’s Firth of Fifth, by Genesis, and that improves the world on several fronts at once. Isn’t that piano solo at the beginning the most gorgeous thing ever? And that line (or possibly pair of lines) — “He rides majestic, de blah de blah”. Almost doesn’t matter what comes next, “he rides majestic” is perfectly sufficient.

Back later. Sometime. In all likelihood.

Wherein I am unimpeachably innocuous

I am indeed! Like plaid, or peanut butter sandwiches, or wafting butterflies!

Argh, you’re right. Butterflies are ornery.

I’m afraid I have a bad mood to sort out. But all is not lost! Here’s Firth of Fifth, by Genesis, and that improves the world on several fronts at once. Isn’t that piano solo at the beginning the most gorgeous thing ever? And that line (or possibly pair of lines) — “He rides majestic, de blah de blah”. Almost doesn’t matter what comes next, “he rides majestic” is perfectly s...

Done! (for now)

I sent the sequel to my editor last night! It’s out of my hair! And if any of you have seen the vast thicket that is my hair, you know that’s an accomplishment.

Now, let us have no illusions about this: there will be revisions. Probably many stages of revisions. There always are.

But! For now let us bask in one of my favourite parts of the writing process: pretending I’m done! Woooo-hooo!

I celebrated last night by going to choir practice – I know, I know, I am out of control. Off the hook. But...

This week

I see the end of this, friends. Just one last big push, and I think the sequel will be ready to hurl at my editor, like a rotten pumpkin off a trebuchet.

Or, y’know, a flaming piano. I’m not sure which one this manuscript most resembles, to be honest.

In any case, that’s why I will not be here much this week, barring unexpected and exciting news. I’m working.

Back soon, I hope!

I (re)write the songs

Those of you who are new to The Rachel Hartman Experience (with Rachel Hartman) will not have been exposed to this side of me yet, but it has to come out sometime: I am an incorrigible filker. Filker may not be exactly the right name for it; I’m not a member of the filking community, after all, and my subject matter (and source songs) aren’t genre-standard. But I don’t know what else to call what I do.

When my son was very small, I used to rewrite song lyrics as a way of turning my frustration...

More nice news

My writer friend Elizabeth May just brought to my attention that Seraphina made the Summer 2012 Kids’ Indie Next List’s Top Ten. (say that ten times fast!) Looks like Seraphina clocks in at #2, behind Kristin Cashore’s Bitterblue. I’ll take that!

(Technically, my agent and editor also pointed this out to me, but Elizabeth’s mention let me know this information isn’t a secret.) (Hey, some things are secrets. I’m bad about spoilers and secrets, both.)

If you look further down the list, you will a...

Two months, and a teaser!

Seraphina comes out two months from today, friends! (In North America, that is. I understand there’s some variability around the world.)

In honour of the very exciting fact of time passing, I have something special for you: a short excerpt from the book! Yes indeed. I will pause whilst you caper merrily about.

Prancey-prance. Aw. You’re cute.

Anyway, without further ado or silliness on my part, the teaser is under the fold. Enjoy!

[The dragon Imlann] turned with a serpentine ripple, swiping at us...

More merry music

I seem to be on some kind of Breton music kick. I blame my husband for this. Anyway, today’s theme song is Tri Yann’sHañvezh ar bonedoú ruz. Isn’t it merry? The “Lalalala lalenola” chorus is almost madrigalesque in its silly cheerfulness.

Er. Never mind that the song seems to be about some sort of rebellion with people being hanged and all.

In other news: I am reading through the sequel! Parts of it are glorious! Parts of it are, uh, sub-par. But! I will fix those parts and make them glorious!...

Maurice Sendak, RIP

I am so sad to hear that Maurice Sendak has died. His books were a huge part of my childhood, of course, but he was also someone who inspired me to write as an adult. I saw him give a talk when I was in college, and he was cranky, yes, but also so unabashedly, unapologetically himself. Seeing him helped give me the courage not to go to graduate school, but to pursue art and writing instead.

One particular quote stuck with me: “People ask why I write children’s books. I don’t write children’s b...

I can’t not share this

A lovely review at Amazon.co.uk.

I mean, it contains the phrase “artistic mathematism,” a phrase custom-made for me if there ever was one.

“Is mathematism a word?” you may ask.

It is. I believe in it, absolutely. I have adopted it and given it a home in my heart.