|
 The
weather in Dorset may still be a bit chilly, but try telling that
to the lambs! They think it's spring and they've started arriving
around the clock. One proud mum, pictured right, even gave birth
to triplets this week! While Minette's husband Alec is busy overseeing the
woolly deliveries, Minette is furiously working on a delivery of her own
- the finished version of her 11th book! Read on for some information
about the book's publication and to learn how you could win a signed
copy of The Tinder Box!
The new book: The story so far
We've had emails from quite a number of you asking when Minette's new book will hit the bookstores. Like you, we've seen the information on Amazon.co.uk's web site about the book's title and release date, so we thought we'd take a minute to explain.
When a book is going to be published, the publisher creates a numeric code (ISBN) for every edition, often well before the author has finished writing it. This basic information - ISBN, draft title, provisional publication date, perhaps even the provisional price - is stored on the publisher's electronic system and is automatically accessed by the systems of some of the Internet retailers (such as Amazon) as soon as it becomes available.
This means that when you do a search for Minette's name on one of these sites, you may see results that include a listing for her new book. If you click on the new title's link, four or five different listings may appear. These usually include the hardback, paperback and perhaps the CD and audio cassette editions. As the publication date gets closer, this information is updated and becomes more detailed.
As you know from reading this newsletter and from visiting the web site, Minette does not plot her books in advance. Rather, she "flies by wire", allowing her characters to develop as the story progresses. As she says: "If I don't know who did it until half-way, the reader is going to be fairly fazed, as well! So it's very "suspenseful" for both the author and the reader."
Since even Minette doesn't know "whodunit" until well into a book, that means major changes can happen right up to the last page. As a result, Minette doesn't normally put an official title to her books until quite late in the process, sometimes even waiting until the book is finished.
And we can tell you on good authority that the book is not quite finished! That means the provisional title of "The Devil's Feather" could change, as could the provisional publication date of 7 October 2005. However, as soon as the title and date are official, this information will be posted on the web site, and we will announce it in the newsletter. We're also hoping Minette will share some "inside info" on the book with newsletter subscribers as soon as she's finished writing!
Take our survey - win The Tinder Box!
 We are always working to improve our web site, and we'd really like to know what you think! We've created a quick online survey that asks for your feedback on several key issues regarding the site. For those respondents who include an email address with their response, we will enter them into a drawing to win 10 signed photos of Minette. We will also pick one lucky reader who will receive a signed copy of Minette's novella, The Tinder Box.
 More video clips now online
We've added two more clips from SCRIBBLING. Filmed as Minette was writing The Shape of Snakes in late 1999 and early 2000, the programme offered an intriguing insight into the writing process. The new clips are: "It's all in the details", which examines the often painstaking process of choosing that perfect descriptive word; and "Doing the research", which follows Minette as she gathers information on prison visitations. View video clips > >
Minette
answers your questions
Q:
Your novels have featured a number of different topics from racism to paedophilia, senility to fox-hunting. Homosexuality has been referred to briefly in a number of your novels, from the "lesbian" rumours in The Ice House, to the gay pornography in The Breaker to the younger "paedophile"
in Acid Row. I feel that the way that you have portrayed homosexuality shows that you do have an understanding/sympathy with it, and that you see the stigma attached to it from certain sections of the community, but there has yet to be a positive role model included in your novels for the homosexual reader.
In reply to another readers' question you wrote that you created the strong black character in Acid Row in order to balance out the negative associations that Annie Butts had in The Shape of Snakes. Can we expect a similar positive gay/lesbian character/storyline in a future novel? -- Chris, in the UK
A:
As you clearly appreciate, I write about groups/individuals who are/have been marginalised by the rest of society, and this doesn't always make pleasant reading for people who identify with those groups since I try to show the prejudice and ignorance that surrounds them.
Sadly, as I never reveal stories before they're published, I'm afraid you'll have to keep reading to see if I take your point on board! I'm still considering a letter from a psoriasis sufferer who objected to my giving the complaint to a character in The Scold's Bridle, and several from overweight ladies who felt my portrayal of Olive Martin in The Sculptress was injurious to the extra-large. However, the hardest balance to redress will be the gun-owning lady from Canada who wants to me write positive things about guns. No chance! -- Minette
Minette answers more readers' questions in the Q& A section > >
That's it for this edition of the newsletter. We're waiting anxiously - as you are, too, no doubt! - for news of book number 11. As soon as we have word from Minette, we will pass it on to you! In the meantime, we hope you continue to enjoy her current books and thank you in advance to those of you taking our survey!
--The Editor
MinetteWalters.co.uk |
