Chatterbox: Chirp at Cricket

STAR SHARD UPDATE

Hi Chatterboxers!

Your fellow Chatterboxer Hannah posted the following question--

Ummm, sorry, Admin to bother you once again about the same question I think I've asked you guys twice, but do you have any idea at least what month The Star Shard will be published? And do you know if Emily F. will be the illustrator? I'm sorry! I'm just really excited and ancious! *and impatient*

--and we decided to ask the author himself to respond. Here's what he said!

 Admin

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Hi, Everybuggy,

I have definite good news about The Star Shard (the book)! We are on schedule for a Fall 2011 publication! I don't know an exact month, and I know that's still almost a year away, but the wheels of the Thunder Rake are turning, and the Urrmsh are rowing toward that season!

I am just now working on the final revisions of the book and will be sending the manuscript to the editor soon. The editor has been wonderful in helping me to shape the novel. With her notes, my new ideas, and the passage of time (which nearly always helps in writing), I think the book is nearing its true form! Readers who enjoyed the story in Cricket will find nearly all the familiar parts intact, but will discover many new parts, too--some new characters, new towns where the Rake holds markets, new shadowy spaces aboard, new dangers, and new challenges for Cymbril and Loric. In its book form, the adventure will be much longer than before!

There was briefly some discussion of changing the book's title, but in the end we all agreed that The Star Shard is best!

I don't know what decision the publisher will make concerning the artwork, but I can promise two things: one, they'll choose artwork that they feel is the very best for the book; and two, I have strongly recommended Emily Fiegenschuh. The publisher is aware of how popular her artwork has been with readers and how much I support her illustrations as being perfect for this story. Whatever happens, it's generally true that a story in Cricket has many more accompanying illustrations than a novel does. I don't know at all what the publisher is planning, but most novels only have artwork on the cover. Emily's illustrations will always be the artwork for the story as it appeared in Cricket. It can be enjoyed in those issues of the magazine and on her website. If the publisher should happen to choose a different cover artist--well, then we'll have one more perspective to enjoy!

And to the reader who wrote in with this question, and all who are waiting for the book, THANK YOU! The Thunder Rake crawls slowly, but it is moving steadily forward, and it gets where it's going. The book is coming! I think I can hear it now: squeak--boom! Squeak--boom!

Warmest regards,

Fred