[IndyB]

Alison, when your writing your books, do you start from the very beginning of the book and just keep writing or do you write the middle first and then the start or the ending and work backwards?? (curious) ;)

[alison]

Hi IndyB - yes, I take the Red King's advice in Alice in Wonderland ("Begin at the beginning...") - I start the story and just keep writing... otherwise it would be hard, I think, to "feel" how the story was developing. I know other writers who don't necessarily start at the beginning; everyone writes in their own way. But especially with these books, I would get very mixed up if I worked like that!

[IndyB]

I suppose you have a rough idea about what's going to be in the books, just not know how your going to get there? :)

[alison]

An advance copy of The Naming (known elsewhere as The Gift) arrived this morning - and I'm excited! In fact, everyone in the family was excited! This is the first time I've EVER been in hard covers. And I must say that it's a really beautiful book, both inside and outside. It has nice little details, like the title in copper foil, and the cover illustration with a gloss finish. All very smart.

So its release date is May 10, when hopefully it will hit the shops in the US. I hope some people over there sight it... :D

Candlewick's author/book page has details here (http://www.candlewick.com/cat.asp?browse=Title&mode=book&isbn=0763626392&bkview=p&pix=n)

[alison]

Hi IndyB - actually, I think what I know when I start is how I want the book to feel by the end. I rough out a plot, but yes, that changes a lot (I just had to write out a new synopsis of The Crow, and realised the one I started with bore hardly any relationship - just a rough shape - to what I actually ended up writing). For me, all the hard work is in the writing.

[Miriamele]

Congtulations, Alison! I agree that the cover is very nice. If I saw that book on a shelf at the bookstore I would pick it up to take a closer look! :)

Do you know if and when your book is being released in Canada? I looked on Amazon.ca and it wasn't listed.

[Radthorne]

Marked on calendar. Will acquire upon first sighting! (And congrats!)

[alison]

Thanks, Miriamele - I'm a bit ignorant about Canada. I guess it must be one of the many territories it hasn't been sold into yet. It's available on Amazon.com (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0763626392/qid=1113285814/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i2_xgl14/102-7336274-4552908?v=glance&s=books&n=507846) under a variety of creative misspellings of my name :cool: - is that easy for you to get?

And Kevin, you're a champ. If you do see it around, let me know!!!

[Silvia]

This is great news alison.I saw the cover on your website and i thought it was lovely. Im sure everyone in the us will be blown away :cool:

[Silvia]

Sorry guys i think i done that one wrong hehe i just registered today.