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The Kate Elliott Home page has been entirely redesigned by Jeanne Reames-Zimmerman, who is obviously a much better person than I am. [Jeanne's note:  I'm not sure I'd claim to be a better person. <laugh>] Much of the information remains the same, but the look is different, and I'm hopeful that the new layout will allow me to update more easily, and thus more frequently!  But I never make those kind of promises, since I have another book to write.

August 31, 2006

I know that I am sadly behind on major updates for this web site.  Because I juggle other responsibilities in my life, I usually have to choose between writing and messing about online.  And even so, I am not really writing quickly enough.

Some links:

Do really check out DeepGenre, a blog I have started together with other writers.  I think it's a pretty interesting discussion mix, and anyone can join in.

If you're on livejournal, I am also there as kateelliott.  Come over and visit!

And don't forget the message board here, with its excellent group of well-read and intelligent readers.  Because of their commentary, I was reminded of a small but crucial detail (Alain's staff) in the final Crown of Stars novel, and therefore added it into the plot during revisions in a way that gave additional resonance to the book and to one particular encounter (between Alain and Anna).

Orson Scott Card wrote a lengthy (and positive) review of the Crown of Stars series, which you can find here.

I will be attending World Fantasy Convention in Austin, Texas, from Nov. 2 - 5, 2006.  Their website is here.

I continue to work on Shadow Gate, the second Crossroads book.  In fact, I need to go do that now instead of messing about here!  It's a darn good thing I don't play MMORPGs, although in a way I'm doing that all the time as I write my novels - it's just that I play all the roles and make up all the encounters.

February 6, 2006

Crown of Stars: Crown of Stars Volume Seven should be available in the USA officially as of tomorrow.  I have already seen it in bookstores.  The Orbit edition should be available by early March.  The paperback editions (both USA and UK) of In the Ruins (volume six) are in stores now.

The final version of Spirit Gate:  Crossroads Book One is complete and turned in.  Publication date in the USA by Tor Books is October 2006.  Stay tuned for other information and, I hope, some chapters.

Finally, a note about email:
I truly appreciate all the letters I receive from readers.  It is safe to say that, working in isolation as I do, your emails mean a great deal to me as they are often the only feedback I get.
I answer all email myself.  I am not the swiftest in this department, unfortunately, but I do try (eventually) to answer everything I receive.
In September 2005, due to hardware problems, I jettisoned my old computer and started over on a new one (from Windows to Mac).  I saved everything I could, but the upshot is that if you sent me email between March 2005 and September 2005, and have not received a reply, it is likely that your email is now lost.
There also seems to have been a batch of emails from June - September 2004 (!) that were not answered due to a difficult recovery from knee surgery.  I am so very sorry.
However, email me again if you feel so inclined.  I’m working on a better reply mechanism.  Hope springs eternal.

Nov 11, 2005

My first attempt to post the DAW Books (USA) cover of Crown of Stars: Volume Seven, Crown of Stars.  It may not be sized correctly, in which case, sorry.  Anyway, it's stunnng.  The Orbit (UK) will follow when I have more time.

Jody Lee's cover for Crown of Stars #7

Sept 15, 2005.

The Burning Stone has appeared in translation in Russian;  the cover depicts the scene in which Kansi-a-lari battles Bulkezu.  I would reproduce the title here, but I don't know Cyrillic.

NEWS

Excerpts from Volume Six: In the Ruins

Prologue.

Chapter One

Chapter Two Scene 1.1

Chapter Two Scene 1.2

Chapter Two Scene 2

A first try at a Cast of Characters Listing.
Let me know if I missed anyone you think is vitally important.  (that's a trick question, actually)

PUBLICATION NEWS (January 2005):

In September 2004, I completed the first draft of the sixth and final volume of the Crown of Stars series and turned in the manuscript to my publishers.  I’ve been waiting several months for publication plans to be finalized.  Now they are.

As all of my readers know, this has been a long and complicated series, with a long and complicated plot.  Indeed, after a certain point in writing this series, there was simply no way to turn back.

In the two years it took me to write the final volume, I considered only the needs of the characters and the story in order to write as strong an ending as possible to CROWN OF STARS.  I am satisfied that I did my best and, as much as I could, achieved the ending I envisioned.

However, at approximately 430,000 words, the manuscript I turned in to my publishers is simply too long to bind as a single volume.  I was left with a choice.  I could cut several hundred pages out of the book -- and weaken the end of the series by leaving plot threads and character's fates unresolved -- or I could split the manuscript into two volumes, each of which would run about as long as PRINCE OF DOGS.

I spent a lot of time agonizing over length, wondering whether any book needs to be this long.  In the end, however, I couldn't  see a way to make the cuts without losing a significant amount of the story's impact, so I chose to make the split in order to preserve the story.  This means that CROWN OF STARS will be published in seven volumes, rather than six.

In retrospect, I note that the number 'seven' echoes the mage's ladder, so perhaps in some way this was inevitable.

For those who welcome or are at least resigned to this development, thank you so much for your patience.  For those who are understandably irritated by it, please accept my apologies.  I had no idea what I was getting into when I started.

Volume Six, In The Ruins, is scheduled for publication in both the USA (DAW Books) and UK (Orbit Books) in early August 2005.  Volume Seven, Crown of Stars, is probably (but not quite definitely)  scheduled for publication in February 2006 (if not February 2006, it will be very close to that date).

Here’s a short update on the writing:

Revisions for the final portion of Crown of Stars are not yet complete.

The first two thirds of Volume Six is in pretty good shape and will mostly need some cutting, polishing, and line editing.  However, because of the structural change from one huge long volume into two “shorter” volumes (each of which is still almost twice the length of a ‘normal’ sf/f novel), I have to perform some moderately significant alterations to what are now the final chapters of Volume Six - this means that you Hugh fans will get some extended scenes in which he has (naturally) the starring role.  Volume Seven - while needing the usual boat-load of rewriting, revisions, polishing, cutting and trimming, and line editing - will pretty much stay as is.

Meanwhile I am about three quarters of the way through the first volume of my new project, with a working title of “Crossroads”.  No publication date set yet.

(Sept 2004) FIRST DRAFT COMPLETE.

It has indeed been so long since I've updated that I've half forgotten how to use Netscape Composer.  Sorry for the delay.  I have waited to post a progress report until I could say that I have completed the first draft of Volume Six, the final volume of Crown of Stars - to be titled "Crown of Stars" like the series title.  I didn't know it would take me this long to finish it.

Which means that - yes - the first draft is done!

I still have to rewrite and revise, but the first draft - during which I lay down all the important textures - is the most difficult and exhausting part of the process for me.

It's long.  Very very long.  I say this neither with pride or with shame, just as a statement of fact.

Publication dates?  Orbit (UK and Commonwealth) currently has Crown of Stars #6 (Crown of Stars) listed as a May 2005 release.  No publication date has yet been set by DAW Books (USA).  I will post firm publication dates as soon as I know them.

Also, I plan to attend World Fantasy Convention in Tempe (Phoenix) Arizona, October 30 - Nov 1, 2004.  I hope to do book signings and other publicity in the U.K. in June 2005 (more information on that to come when I know more).

Finally, I have quite a backlog of reader email, most of it asking when Volume Six will be released.  As soon as I have firm publication dates I am going to answer it all in one fell swoop.

Thank you for your patience.  I will begin updating the site in general over the next month or so.

And if you were wondering where it was, here is the Prologue.

Best wishes, Kate Elliott

In other news:

The first two volumes of Crown of Stars sold to Azbuka, a Russian publishing house.

The third volume has been published by Zysk in a Polish edition, titled Glaz Gorejacy and translated by Joanna Wolynska (not all the Polish characters are properly reproduced).

If you can't find copies of any of the Jaran books (His Conquering Sword seems most difficult to find), write to DAW Books and ask them when they are going to go back to print.  Their contact email can be found at their web site DAW Books.

My short story set in the Jaran universe, "Sunseeker," is available in the 30th Aniversary DAW Science Fiction, published in May 2002 by (natch) DAW Books.  A fantasy volume is also available.

The 10th Anniversary Edition of Jaran is still in stores.  It includes a forward I’ve written especially for this edition.  The cover illustration is the same but the layout and style of the lettering are different.
 

Old News: 

The Gathering Storm excerpts:

Here is the new Prologue.  Here is Chapter I: scene 1.

Here is Chapter I: scene 2.  Here is Chapter II.

Here is Chapter III: scene 1  and Chapter III: scene 2.

Here is Chapter III: scene 3  &  Chapter III: scene 4  &  Chapter III: scene 5.
 
The revisions for The Gathering Storm: Volume Five of Crown of Stars are finished.  Publication date:  January 2003 Orbit Books (U.K. edition) and February 2003 DAW Books (U.S.A. edition).

Jody Lee has completed the USA cover (DAW Books), which features Stronghand.  The Orbit cover is once again by Melvin Grant.  They're both wonderful illustrations.

Child of Flame Excerpt

Prince of Dogs is available in Poland as Ksiaze Psów, published by Zysk in an edition translated by Joanna Wolynska (Netscape wouldn't read some of the correct Polish letters).

OLD UPDATES

March 5, 2005:  Chapter Two Scene 1.1 excerpt posted.

January 30, 2005:  Chapter One excerpt posted.

January 27, 2005:  Publication News - Major Changes - plus a short update.

September 8, 2004:  First Draft Complete.  Plus, an Excerpt!

December 4, 2002:  Chapter Three scenes 3, 4, & 5 added.

October 22, 2002:  Chapter Three scenes 1 & 2 added.

September 14, 2002: Chapter Two added.  News.  Link to Nimisha's Jaran page added.

May 2, 2002:  Chapter One, Scene Two added.  I'm attending Wiscon! (see Conventions)

End of March 2002: New prologue for Volume Five, title, and update.  Links and proper formatting not yet made.

November 2001:  Excerpt from Volume Five (see link below), a fairly long update, and some minor updates.  I also updated the FAQ page (found under "Information").

August 2001: Convention appearance (see below), and minor updates.

December 2000:  Minor updates, including a new Message Board link.

August 2000:  Signings updated.  Worldcon convention schedule posted.  Also, information on a pre-publication copy of Child of Flame to be auctioned off for charity at Worldcon (see under conventions)

May 2000:  The Kate Elliott Home page is now The Official Kate Elliott Web Page.  Take a look around!

CONVENTIONS AND SIGNINGS

Upcoming Book Signings:
 
  see the Tor Books tour blog for the most up to date information.
 

Upcoming Conventions:

World Fantasy Convention, Austin, Texas, Nov 2 - 5, 2006