Word count -- CHIMES AT MIDNIGHT.

[seanan_mcguire]

Words: 1,878.
Total words: 1,878.
Reason for stopping: it's time for bed.
Music: the Rock of Ages soundtrack.
The cats: Alice, bed; Thomas, bed; Lilly, cat tree.

It's official: as of tonight, Chimes at Midnight is properly and officially started. I've hammered through most of chapter one, I've established the initial conflict that kicks everything else off, and I've remembered why I am so damn in love with this world and the people that it contains. I know some people are frustrated by the fact that I've gone down to one Toby book a year to make room for InCryptid, and while I desperately hope that someday I'll be able to be full-time and write three urban fantasies a year, there's a beautiful homecoming aspect after having taken this long of a break that's just plain magical. It's like...this is where I wanted to be, and I barely even knew it. It's amazing.

Tomorrow night, I'll knock out another thousand or so words of the Rose Marshall story I'm working on (it's for an anthology), and then I'll finish chapter one of Chimes at Midnight. And then I'll probably cry, because here we go again.

Here we go again.

Comments

[spectralbovine.livejournal.com]

Oh, "Tongue Tied"! I love that song, having just discovered Grouplove at BFD.

So in this book, Toby turns into a pumpkin?

[vixyish.livejournal.com]

I suppose it's too much to hope that the "Tongue Tied" is the one from Red Dwarf? :)

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Noooooooooooooooooooo.

But I'll put that on the list for the future. She'll thank you.

[dragonsally.livejournal.com]

Woohoo!

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Glee.

[cgbookcat1.livejournal.com]

I am always very excited for a new Toby book (and now InCryptid as well). However, we have seen your "current projects" lists and noted the crazy number of items there. Given that you have a day job and a life, most people will gladly anticipate anything that comes their way.

What is the name of the anthology that the Rose story will be in?

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

I can't say until the story is finished, submitted, and accepted.

[denisen1.livejournal.com]

There's a special sort of bliss, I think, in doing what we love and getting public regard for same (not to mention a paycheck, although - and I'm swearing you to not mentioning this to my editors, natch - I'd probably do it for free just for the joy of it all). Thanks for sharing your wonderful gift with us!

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Thank you for reading!

[beasting-quest.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

Sweetie. Getting one Toby book a year is awesome and a privilege. Getting an InCryptid book on top of it is like the cherry ice cream... on the chocolate ice cream. (Or something. That metaphor kind of ran away from me.) You have an amazing output as it is, so don't stress yourself over this.

(formerly wee_warrior, btw, just in case you're wondering who this strange person is. :))

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Your name! It has changed!

[katyhh.livejournal.com]

Wellll, I personally am overjoyed about any work you put into InCryptid, cuz I enjoyed Discount Armaggeddon immensely. It is more my kind of read ... granted, I've only read the first Toby book and found it very depressing, to be honest.
I know, I am likely a minority, but I kinda like my books better when they occasionally cheer me up a little. With Rosemary and Rue, I was about to cry all the time and curse the injustice that makes Toby have a shitty life. Now, please note, this isn't a "quality" criticism, because the book *grabbed* me and pulled me in. So, that's good! It just pulled in a way that I personally am not too comfortable with.
InCryptid is more "fluff" but it makes me laugh, so ... bring it on :)

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

The early Toby books are super-depressing, Rosemary and Rue most of all, because Toby's just so wrecked. She does get better, but she never has that sense of joy that Verity has. I like voluntary heroes as much, if not more, as involuntary ones.

And I promise, the fluff doesn't last.

[alitalf.livejournal.com]

I enjoyed Discount Armageddon, and I don't at all feel cheated that there is only one Toby book a year, because InCryptid is also so much fun. Tell me another story, and on the evidence to date, I am expecting to enjoy whichever story you most want to tell at the time.

It seems to me that it is easier to achieve a high output if you have a change of pace, or at least style, periodically. It certainly has seemed that way to me on the occasions when I have been designing, for example, the works of a consumer product and something Mil. Spec. concurrently. This is one of the saving graces of the freelance life. I would still be very cautious about relying on freelance income in the USA because of the potential problems in getting health insurance at an affordable cost.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

That's why I'm not a fulltime author yet.

[jenjen4280.livejournal.com]

You spoiled us by giving us two Toby books a year initially, that's all. We can make room for Verity. ;)

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Oh, good. :)

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

Looking forward to Toby's new adventure!

Hmmm... I wonder if Orson Welles's "Chimes at Midnight" is available on NetFlix.
(goes to check)
It's not.
Bah humbug.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Aw.

[pickledginger.livejournal.com]

Go, Toby!! Don't feel rushed on my account, though -- I have several Dayes yet to track down and read. ;-)

Besides, and seriously, this time, your output is outstanding and leaves no room for complaint.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Yay!

[lielac]

Whoooo! Go Seanan! Write like the wind!

And speaking of Toby, I need to go fish that library copy of Rosemary and Rue out from where it fell and finish reading it...

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Awesome plan. I applaud you.

[qnofhrt.livejournal.com]

Books from Seanan (from whatever world) = WIN!

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

YAY!

[mythos-amante.livejournal.com]

I am ok with whatever doors you leave open to your worlds, whether it's one a year or what! I am re-reading the Toby series (again - it keeps taking longer every year!), and it's awesome. A Local Habitation is always the hardest one for me to get through. LOL, did you come to the local Fry's on your research foray? This Fremont city Toby is in being the one I am in, our Fry's has a Tesla coil. :D

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

I love that Fry's.

[ironed_orchid]

Hmm, maybe I'm in a Toby reading mood tonight.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Yay!

[laurenthemself]

Oooh yay! It makes me happy to see your progress updates, especially since I just finished rereading all the currently in print Toby books.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Awesome.

[yellowblackhaze.livejournal.com]

I actually kind of love that we're lucky enough to get 1 InCryptid book and 1 Toby book a year. Plus there's also a Mira Grant most years, too. 3 books a year, we're lucky, lucky people! Not many authors can do that, Seanan, and I really appreciate that you can and do.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

<3

Thank you.

[pbristow.livejournal.com]

One Toby book per year is far more Toby than I deserve.

(Plus, a guy has to have time off for re-reading his entire Bujold collection at least *once* a year, y'know? =;o} )

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Totally reasonable!

[kveberle.livejournal.com]

yeah!!! I will admit that I am dying for the next book, but 1 a year plenty- especially, since it gives us other books-like Discount Armageddon.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Yay!

[vincentursus.livejournal.com]

Rejoice!

More InCryptid is appreciated.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

I am glad.

[azurelunatic]

Miles Vorkosigan is apparently a very elusive fellow to write about, and that was what set my expectations for a series. I feel immensely spoiled and lucky to be able to expect anything close to a regular release schedule on a series that I care about, let alone several.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

<3 <3 <3

[lisa-marli.livejournal.com]

Welcome Home! I look forward to the next Toby Book, and the Next Toby Book. I admit they are currently my favorites of yours. See you at the cons.

[seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :)