Real News: A WALL #4 Update
Yes, dear readers, I “do” have real news for you, which is that at 9.35 pm on Thursday 20, I typed “the end” on the WALL #4 manuscript, which means that the narrative arc for the final book, and for The Wall Of Night series are both now captured “end to end.”
If you are thinking, “I bet that was a red letter moment!” you are quite right. It was. It also feels very good to be able to share the news with you, because we have definitely been on this long and winding road together, even if—quite rightly—the blood and sweat component, if not the tears, have been all mine.
By way of qualifiers, the reason this post is not titled “The End” is because the manuscript is not yet a publishable work. Now, I must read through the entire story from go-to-whoa, if only because the timespan between writing the beginning, midsections, and the end, will require a close eye to continuity and consistency. There are also some rough patches that require smoothing and straightening, as well as considerable repetition to be addressed and loose ends tied up, so I can’t lay aside my pen and put my feet up just yet.
In terms of a publication date, my expectation is that will be determined when the publishable manuscript is on my editor’s desk and she is satisfied it’s up to scratch.
Still some spinning & weaving to do…
Yet although the onus is still very much on me to keep going and make that so, what this post signifies is that there is now a completed story and by far the major—and hardest—part of the work to get a book to you is done.
As I wrote to my editor yesterday, the feeling is like standing on a high pass, with the road ahead clear below you. So although there are still a few updates on that road to come, I hope you will celebrate reaching this very significant milestone with me today.
Lindis Pass (NZ)
Yayyyyyyyyy!!!!! I know the work is not yet done, but I’m still so excited and delighted for you (and everyone like me who loves the series). Definitely time for celebration!
Thanks so much, Courtney! I managed to celebrate by promptly getting the cold/flu (or maybe Covid: Day 5 test tomorrow!) but am still pretty happy despite a few sniffles — & rarin’ to go on the revise. 🙂
YAY! Well done. I know what that stage feels like, being in the throes of it myself. But commiserations with the cold/flu/Covid. I hope you get better very soon.
Thank you, Marion! Although I’ve never translated a book, from our discussions I know the processes overlap closely.:-)
I think the health arrow has settled on a “cold” as I’m feeling about 90% better and today’s Covid test was another “C for Clear.” So huzza on all fronts! 😀
Woohoo! Thank you so much for sharing this update with us Helen. It’s happily coincided with one of my many rereads of the series so far, so very excited. Hopefully you start to feel better soon and it’s a smooth revision process!
Thank you, Ruth — I am definitely pouring libations to the Muses, “that they may be kind” through the revision. All digits pretzelled!
This is the Most Awesome Book News I have gotten so far for 2023 !!!
All the best for the editing, revision and final touches. Can’t wait to read the final product.
Sorry to hear you are ill. Here’s to a quick recovery with no lingering after effects.
Most Awesome, eh? 😀 I’ll take that, June, with many thanks.:) Thanks, too, re the health best wishes, with the change-of-season cold now on the run. So no excuses for not leaping back into things!
Wow congratulations! This is the best news I’ve had all year. Your work is truely amazing and inspiring! I know this book will be as great as the last three were! Hope you feel better soon! Your books are my favourite fantasy writing of all time and the only works that come a close second for me personally are JK Rowling’s and JRR Tolkien’s! Your stories and writing style are fascinating for me in a way nothing else I have read is. Love it!
Thank you, Nick. I don’t think any writer alive could not be gratified by the “crown” of creative company that includes JK Rowling and JRR Tolkien — as indeed, I am! 🙂 And really extraordinarily glad I’m finally able to deliver real progress news for WALL series’ readers.
HUZZAH! Good on you, Helen! I can’t wait to read it! Time to start the umpteenth re-read.
Thanks, Kristen. While sorry for my part in the “umpteenth”, I’m very glad if, like my own “old book friends”, the story still delivers enjoyment.:-)
Helen, you champion!
Thank you, thank you! 🙂
Yippie Kai Yea‼️‼️
❤❤
Thank you! 😀
Your stories are definitely “old friends” at this point, and I find new pieces to enjoy everytime i read them!
😀
Great news!!!! Cheers to a speedy recovery!! I look forward to your next update on the Wall. But for now, I’ll celebrate this milestone with a very cold beer. So again CHEERS!!!
Thank you, Leon. There may have been a wine or two in my life, to match your beer — but I’m saving the bubbly variety for that publishable manuscript. 😀
this is exciting news, I am happy that you have this news for us all. What an achievement. May your cold dissipate quickly (it really is a waiting game here at the moment to know if you have just a cold or the spicy variety of respiratory illness, Covid, so much transmission here right now. I raced to get my booster before it got me so fingers crossed. I am so excited to know we are at the next point. I have the rest of the series sitting looking at me waiting to time that reread…..
Thank you, Jacqui! Fortunately, the cold has indeed gone. 🙂
How absolutely fabulous!!! So excited for when the book is published and available Helen. Huge congrats to you – as well to all who support you.
Thank you, Atrayah! It does feel fabulous to have some concrete and very positive news to share with readers — and I can assure you I am “rocking on” with the revisions already. 😀
Helen remembered to look for update today. Congratulations can’t wait for the final installment. Well I can and have and will continue to do so lol
Thank you so much, Neil — I am very glad that you not only feel it’s worth looking, but that I have real news to report!
Congratulations! I’m sure there’s no bigger relief in saying a story is complete, if not yet finished. I suspect 90% of visit’s to authors’ blogs are from people looking for an answer to the question “Is it finished yet?” followed by “Well, is it close to being finished?” and then “Has there at least been some progress?”. I’ve appreciated all the updates on The Chaos Gate’s progress, even when timelines are murky and every couple of steps forward seems matched by a couple of steps back. I could point to a couple of other more famous authors in the fantasy space who are far more reticent to report on how things are going. Hope the editing process feels like a downhill run with a tailwind, and very much looking forward to seeing how the journey ends.
You are correct, Chris: it is a major “made it!” moment. 😀 And I suspect you’re right about the visits to author blogs – which is why, although I find it hard to talk about the book at all when it’s still a work-in-progress, I have made myself do the updates, i.e. chiefly so readers can have some sense there actually is a w-i-p! In which spirit, I shall do the same with the revision process. 😀
Well done Helen. I know there will be a wait until publication but this is very exciting news to brighten the days as we slide into winter. Am so looking forward to the outcome of Malian’s plunging the sword into the table and presumably freeing the powers of each of the Derai houses.
best wishes, Sue Colyer
Thanks, Sue. I have all fingers tightly crossed that the story resolves, so long awaited, will prove satisfying for readers such as yourself. 🙂
That is great news indeed.
Thank you for sharing.
You’re welcome, Conrad — glad you were able to find the updates. I’ll do my best to keep them coming at least semi-regularly.:)
Fabulous news! I am so very thrilled and excited for you, Helen… this is an important milestone, to be savoured and celebrated. 🙂
Thanks so much, Mary. Not quite as exciting as your soon-to-be-published “The House At The End Of The Sea” (can’t wait!) — but am getting there!
Thank you Helen – I feel like a fraud next to YA or adult fantasy writers, as middle grade is much shorter. But I do enjoy writing for a younger audience…
Some might argue, dear Mary, that writing a satisfying story within a shorter narrative arc is a more exacting art — so am not having a bar of any “fraud” epithets here. 🙂 Am sure the new book will be fabulous and I am very excited, in anticipation, to read it!
This is fabulous news indeed. I can’t wait for your next update and news of publication. This will definitely go on pre-order and I look forward to re-reading to he first three books in preparation for the final book.
Thank you very much, Carolyn! I think another update is due very soon, so keep ‘watching this space.’ 😀