Thursday, 4 April 2013

Fractured is here! Book Two Trials, Tribulations, and Celebrations

by Teri Terry

Today is the official UK publication date for Fractured, book 2 of the Slated trilogy! And I'm celebrating in true writer style: I've bought a new desk chair. In fact, I'm writing this as I wait for it to be delivered. And reflecting on what got me into the chair (assuming it ever arrives)...

Actually 'into the chair' kind of fits the journey.


Slated was a dream to write. Literally and all the rest of it. It started with a dream, and ended with one when it got published. But once I decided to go for it, it was also one of those stories that rushed to write itself, that insisted on its own pace and structure. I used to think writers were mad when they said that characters can take over: Kyla did just that.

Fractured, on the other hand, fought, kicked and screamed a lot of the way (come to think of it, so does Kyla in Fractured, but you'll have to read it to get more of the details).
Why the difference? 
My crystal ball wasn't working
When Fractured was finally finished, done, dusted, off to the printers, I was really happy with the end result. But I spent time I probably should have been spending writing book 3 thinking about what I went through to get there. I was scared to go through the same for the third book with less time, and thought if I could analyse 'what went wrong' I could have more control when I was writing the third one.

Good one, eh?

With Fractured, I think there was a part of it that was Book 2 Terrors. I've never had to write something to order with a deadline in place before, and I don't like the 'dead' in deadline.
US Fractured: out in September!

But sitting back with the benefit of hindsight, I can tell you why it went through all that agony before it sorted itself onto the page. It just had to. It was a different story to Slated, and it needed to go through a process that was different and unique to that story.

An interesting question at the end of it all, one that I've been asked a few times already, is this: which of the two am I happiest with? The book that dreamed itself into being, or the one I had to do battle to get out? In a way there is an enormous sense of satisfaction in the latter. Yet....Slated is my first, and will always hold a special place because of that. I can't choose.


To celebrate the launch of Fractured, I'm holding a special competition on my website teriterry.com: leave a comment there to have a chance to have a character named after you in book 3. Unlike book 3 itself, most of the characters in it have names, but a few need help.

Special MASSIVE thanks to my very patient editors on both sides of the pond: Megan Larkin and Rosie Turner at Orchard Books, and Nancy Paulsen and Sara Kreger at Nancy Paulsen Books.

Now time for some of this:

I'd put up a picture of my new chair, but it hasn't come yet.


17 comments :

  1. Many congrats, Teri. It doesn't seem that long ago you were posting early drafts of Slated on our ecrit group. How time flies.....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks.
      And time has been weird - it seems both not long at all and AGES!

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  2. My congratulations also. Fascinated by the whole question of organic creation versus terrible birth pangs so many thanks for your take on it. Loved the new cover too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks.
      And the cover finish is rather cool, too - hard to tell in an image.

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  3. Congratulations Teri! Those cakes look fab!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thanks! alas - they are virtual cakes. Think I'll have another...

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  4. This is such an important post! That first book is full of dreams,aspirations etc, and most importantly full of TIME. You just don't get that with subsequent books - that's when it really hits you what being a writer is about - promoting your first book, trying to write your second, keeping a full time job, wondering whether you'll ever be able to do it again . . .

    Can I have a glass of champagne and a cupcake please?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Have put them in the teleported, they will be there in about a second

      Delete
  5. Congratulations Terri! Enjoy your cakes, champagne and most especially (because you'll spend a lot of time there) your new chair!
    I am still hoping to be able to buy a signed copy of Fractured - was it possible to set up anything with your local bookshop?

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    Replies
    1. I'm still waiting for the chair to arrive! and I forgot to ask about signed copies being sent - I'll email them & get back to you

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    2. Thanks Teri - I hope your chair arrives soon!

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  6. I am SO happy for you! And very impressed by your dogged writing discipline. Slated has had an amazing year and Fractured (great title!) is going to be great! Hail Teri!

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    Replies
    1. The telling post will be about book 3: but can't write that one really until I see what all my editors make of it
      *gulp*

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  7. Well done Teri, very exciting - hope you have a fabulous party and eat far too much cake ;) As a pre published author I am going to try and enjoy the gift of time I have to write my books - deadlines do sound very scary!

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    Replies
    1. Some I know write better with deadlines - I'm not one of them! But have learned to try to pretend they don't exist. Most of the time

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  8. Congratulations Teri! Thanks for the insight. Did I read in the comments on Words and Pics that you've finished writing book 3? If so (congrats again) and would love to read some reflections on writing all 3 on Slushpile when/if you've got time. Things like: how long did each take? Did you plot and if so how and how was that different for each? Did you just bang out a first draft each time and then refine? What was your ratio of writing:editing? How much editing/redrafting did your editors require (any examples!)? Did you cut any characters you loved? Or is that all a bit personal?! If not we'd love to hear!

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  9. Congratulations! I can't wait to get my copy. My other half has one, of course, but has promised not to drop any hints! Seriously though, what a great achievement. I hope you're basking in the glow of publication.

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