Biog - progress report, November 2007

I have finally completed the third book, though 'completed' is a relative term. I may have nurtured it to full term, but giving birth to it is another matter...

In June, I submitted a copy of the book to my agent, Victoria, but, as it turned out, she didn't have time to read it before going off to have a baby of her own. Her husband - also an agent - did read it, however, and said some very nice things about it. The next reader was my stand-in agent, Jennifer, who, rather bravely I thought, decided to get up to speed by reading all three books (and is thus the first person to have read the whole trilogy from start to finish in one go). I was pleased at how much she enjoyed the experience. It was around this time that I reestablished contact with my UK editor, Simon. (Since the Stone Dance was published first in the UK, it is Simon who is my primary editor.)

This seems to me a good place to explain some realities I have had to adapt to. Being for so long focused on reaching the finish line, I had not really given much thought to what might happen once I crossed it. Simon was surprised to hear from me. He reacted as if he thought I might have died. Well, what he actually said was, that he had feared I had given up. Not that I blame him for thinking that. The third book (and the entire trilogy) is, as you may have noticed, very late - so much so, that Victoria and I decided, some time ago, that it might be better if I were to lie low - so as not to vex my publishers too much. A consequence of this is that I have been beavering away beyond the ken of most of mankind for years. Even a year in publishing is a long time, never mind five. Not surprisingly, my various editors have more than enough on their plates and so none have read the book yet. This is the reason I have not written something here before. I had been waiting until I had more concrete news to pass on to you. However, responding to your emails, I have decided that some news is better than none.

Back in June, Simon told me that the first opportunity he would have to look at the book was likely to be in a couple of months. I took advantage of this 'dead' period to move house. After twenty years living in the centre of Edinburgh I had begun to crave outdoor space, but I could not even contemplate a move while I still had the trilogy to finish. I am now fully ensconced in the wilds, in a house set among woods and near a stream where I can do my yoga and T'ai Chi in peace and, more importantly, write blissfully undisturbed.

There are other, more intangible reasons for this move which I can best characterize by saying that I want to watch snails. There is a peculiar way in which my life has come full circle and it is the completion of the Stone Dance that has freed me to follow this path. One aspect of the Stone Dance is a telling of the way that I achieved my freedom. It's not impossible it might help you do the same, who knows.

If I am not coming over as exuberant as you might expect, this is perhaps because this whole period has been difficult for me. I have been prone to mood swings. Sometimes I feel numb, which is, almost certainly, a way of protecting myself from the inevitable pain of separation. After all, I have lived and breathed the Stone Dance for twelve years... and, now, barring editing, it is over - at least, for me. On the other hand, yesterday, when I sat down to do some light revision, the light and life there is in the books embraced me with its glow, and I felt exhilarated. But I have had to face the truth that the tears there are in the Stone Dance, the joy and catharsis and, even, transcendence I believe are there in its completion, are now more for you, my reader, than for me.

It is perhaps inevitable that I shall fret a little until I can put it in your hands. Frustratingly, the wheels of publishing turn exceeding slow, but, be assured that, as and when I get news myself, I will pass it on to you.

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