[alison]

.. and share chocolate in bed too ...



Dear Kate, you are wicked - poor Juzzza will be all dishevelment at the thought...

Congratulations on the poetry publication! Who put the book out?

And I think by far the best way to read my books will be end to end...they are all one continuous story.

As for the aspect of being a mother - there's been some talk over on Caitlin's forum around this. Being a mother has been so absolutely entwined with the processes of my own work that I can't really separate it from writing - I found motherhood and writing went together in a very complementary way (actually, I think it occupies a place similar to Mishima's recommendation that writers do martial arts - the tying to the physical world and the actual, for otherwise, as he says, "writing is a stomach that eats itself").

[Rocket Sheep]

I find writing goes better with house renovating than with parenting. There is something about sanding down walls and painting, that leaves the mind to wander, whereas children's needs fill it up. And the older they get, they seem to need you less physically and cause more anxiety mentally and you wonder how is that Henry the VIII project going and where are you going to find a costume and what about the training for the district aths and which highschool, and when are you going to have the time to look up this stuff... etc... etc...?

Anyway, I'm always turning people and opportunities down and it's a hard balance to get that homework done in a structured way and children to bed on time and still look like you're serious about sf and keeping friends. SF usually loses because, as you said... you only get them until they leave home at 26 ;) I think it's important to show kids that you are pursuing a career, that everyone works... but it's still important to give them a good start in life, and a bit of family time... I always think there'll be time later for me.

Robin sent me the start of her talk on parenting but unfortunately the rest of it is currently misplaced, and she's off travelling again. She spent most of her life solo-parenting too (solo, as in husband at sea).

[sabir]

Hi Kate,

This is probably incredibly rude, because I think your an immensely talented writer, but WHAT HAPPENED????????? The Witches of Eileanan have been my favorite fantasy since the series came out here in the states. They've been the books I've continually used to relax to escape and just something to immerse myself for a while. I mean just this past year I've probably read the entire series (minus HOTS) six or seven times. It's actaully really funny cause sveral times after I've finished reading the series, I'll try and start another book and find myself unable to get into it, and I just go back and reread the series again.
I was so excited for HOTS that I ordered it from Australia and waited eagerly for it to come. The book in parts was well written, but particularly at the end the characters and dialogue were really divorced from their surroundings. The characters themselves even appeared less like themselves. It felt as if you just stopped trying. And I mean the book was filled with countless small confusing errors which I'm surprised you didn't pick up on. And as long as it was, not veyr mcuh happened. And what did happen was over too fast. I expected more because you've always delivered more.
I was glad to hear that in the future you were planning to write more books in the series, but please do better then you did on this last one. The first six books in the series were beautiful and brilliant. The first two books of Rhiannon's Ride were dark, well written, and fast paced. Heart of Stars was disappointing... I feel betrayed by it.

[Elizabeth]

THANKYOU for being so forward and saying exactly what I wanted to say but was too pathetic to do it.

Betrayed. That's the word. I have also read and re-read this series dozens of times and I really felt 'jaded' by HOTS. I too have tried to start other series or even just another novel but I find that it doesn't keep my attention :( I'll just grab 'Dragonclaw' again in the afternoon and it all starts again :)

As pointed out in another thread, there were mistakes that, as a writer, I would have NEVER allowed to go to print. But, then again, I gave Kate the benefit of the doubt, what with the kids and editors and LIFE!

But yes...feeling very ripped off by HOTS :(