Back in October, on the train heading home to New York from Raleigh Bouchercon, I got an idea for a short story. Now it had probably been percolating for a long time, because I can trace its origins to a personal experience I’d heard a man recount perhaps thirty-five years ago. But now for the first time I saw how it could be a story, and one I seemed interested in writing.
So I let it percolate a bit more. And when it didn’t subside, as most ideas do, or waste away of Failure to Thrive syndrome, I knew I wanted to write it. But I couldn’t, not right away, because my first priority was the expanded and updated edition of Writing the Novel from Plot to Print.
So I got on that, as I’m sure I’ve told you, and it went well, so much so that I’ll be publishing the book, larger by half than the original and now cleverly retitled Writing the Novel from Plot to Print to Pixel, sometime after the first of the year.
Now I can relax, I told myself, but Myself wasn’t having any. Now you can write the short story, the swine replied.
So I set out to do that, figuring it would make a nice compact story of 3500 to 5000 words.
Shows what I know. I seemed to have a longer story to tell than I’d realized, and watched it grow from short story to novelette. I’ve just now reached the end, and since the end seems to be 20,000 words away from the beginning, I guess we can call the thing a novella. Not that these distinctions mean anything much. It’s a story, is what it is. A long one. My novels lately have been running around 80-90,000 words, so it’s perhaps a quarter the length of a book. (My early novels were more like 50-60,000 words. Just so you know.)
It’s not part of a series, nor is it the start of one. It is what it is, and its title is Resume Speed.
And how can y’all get to read it? Good question. I don’t know exactly what I’m going to do with it, but we live in fast times. My guess is it’ll be eVailable within the next couple of months.
Cheers,
Very cool. Will be looking forward to it.
That’s E-xcellent news!!!!! ?????
So excited about an upcoming LB book!
Have been hoping for another Scudder or Tanner novel.
The sooner the better, Sir.
Let us read it and we will let you know how good it it!!!!!
Thanks CaryLory
Two words or two million words, it doesn’t make a difference. As long as you are writing them, I will read the words you put together. And I can’t wait to put my eyes to task on Resume Speed.
Thank you for continuing to put the words together for us, Mr. Block.
Can’t wait to read it!
Shouldn’t be too long a wait, Candace. I’ll keep y’all posted.
Keep writing! A few years ago I thought I’d write a novella backstory for my fantasy novel. That didn’t happen quite like I planned. The characters had been in my head for twenty years, so I knew them well. But, once I put them on the page, they took over. I suppose the opportunity for them to express things they wished to say for over twenty years made them a bit greedy. Needless to say, the book (at that time) was the longest novel I had written. Instead of a novella, I ended up with an epic fantasy.
Look forward to seeing where this one takes you!
I can see how it could happen. In this instance, I think Resume Speed came in at just the right length. I wouldn’t want it longer or shorter.
I am looking forward to reading Resume Speed and as it is short I won’t insist on a printed version. But I want a hard copy of Writing the Novel from Plot to Print. And Merry Christmas Larry.
Pamela, there’ll be hard copies of both—a hardcover edition of Resume Speed from a leading small-press publisher, probably available Summer/Fall 2016, and a trade paperback of Writing the Novel from Plot to Print to Pixel (aka P2P2P) on sale when the ebook releases on January 4.
“e-vailable” .. hah! maybe for my Kindle?
Definitely, Ann.
Please, please make sure that there is a print version too, I just can’t take to these ebooks. Tks.
Tony, there’ll definitely be a print version. We’re presently in negotiation with an outstanding small-press publisher. Details soon!
Thank god for e-books! I know some folks hate them, but for me they have been a godsend. I am disabled and use a cane or walker to get around. We spend huge amounts of time down at Medical City Dallas Hospital (good care, but incompetent billing department) getting cancer treatment for my wife. Carrying a print book is impractical and nearly impossible. E-books help me statay sane while she is going through these multi hour visits.
This is such splendid news! I am looking forward to reading this new book. Above all, I am so heartened to see that you have decided to continue writing, at least for a bit, rather than retire completely. Keller and Scudder and Rhodenbarr have become integral parts of my world. Thank you for keeping on.
Peter
Thanks, Peter. It’s becoming increasingly clear to me that I’m not cut out for retirement. And I’m having far too much fun to wish it otherwise.