But really, the _next_ next book will be different

(Cut and pasted this directly from one of my third-draft Thief Eyes letters. Funny how I didn’t have to change a word to apply it to the third draft of Faerie Winter as well. Apparently my process really is my process. :-))

Dear Book,

My next book won’t be like this, you know.

My next book there won’t be any letters to my characters (let alone to you), because the words will all leap from my fingers to the page, and everything will fall into place like magic, and there won’t be any time left over for writing letters, to myself or the story or anyone else.

You do realize this, don’t you?

Me

P.S. Also, no one will get hurt in my next book. Not like in that one scene we had to write. Or in the three scenes that came after it, either. My next book will be a gentle book. A nice book. I like nice books.

P.P.S. Why are you laughing?