The Hardest Part Is Done!

I finished the first draft of The Long Hunt, book 4 of the Strongbow Saga, on Tuesday evening. The final chapter–which ended up becoming two chapters–took longer to write than I’d anticipated, partly because I just got stuck a few times, and partly because, as I was researching various sources about the town of Birka, trying to determine what it would have looked like, I discovered some actual historical events that were happening there about the time the story is taking place, and they suggested a new, dangerous situation that Halfdan and his companions might find themselves in.

That’s often the way this story unfolds for me: I’m writing it with a very broad outline in mind, but my research often suggests details, scenes, incidents, and the like that I had not anticipated. A completed book is never exactly like what I thought it would be when I began it, although this one held more surprises for me than the first three.

Yesterday I took a break from my computer–I’ve been practically chained to it the last few weeks– and enjoyed a hike and working in my garden. Today I’ve begun the next step: a reading through of the entire draft, from start to finish, making minor tweaks and changes as I go along. During this stage, I read it aloud, because that helps me hear how the writing and dialogue flow and what kind of rhythm they have. At the conclusion of this read-through, which should take less than a week, I’ll have my second draft. Then I’ll send that out to my three volunteer content editors–my wife Jeanette, an author friend, Luc Reid, who has been a first reader for each book since I first began the series, plus a new editor, a very dedicated fan who has, in email correspondence over the years, shown a remarkable degree of insight into the story and characters. When I receive their suggestions and comments back–and while I’m waiting for them, I’ll be writing the Historical Notes, glossary, list of characters, and working on the the maps, some diagrams, and the cover–I’ll complete the third and final draft. Then there will be a final copy edit, to check for any missed typos, etc. After that we’ll go into the pre-production phase, formatting the book for various types of editions, getting it copyrighted, and the like.

In other words, there’s still quite a lot of work to be done, but I’m still aiming to release it by the end of the year. The long wait for The Long Hunt is finally nearing its end.

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9 thoughts on “The Hardest Part Is Done!

  1. Happy to hear book 4 is close to publication. I knew Halfdan would have to confront Toke eventually. Hope I’m able to purchase it before long.

    • Should be just a few more weeks now. The editing is completed, the maps and diagrams are mostly done, and we’re beginning the formatting process for the various editions.

    • There won’t be a way to pre-order it. Amazon and other vendors won’t list it until I upload the book files and enter the other required data, and once I do that, the book will be on sale within 24 hours. Watch this site–you can subscribe to receive email notices of new postings by me–and I’ll announce when it will go on sale, once the formatting of the files is complete.

  2. Great news! Its nearing my birthday so if it releases on the 27 I think I can spend the night responsibly 🙂 the sample is just so little to go by.

    After the strongboe saga you have in mind a new series?

    • If you mean December 27th, you’re in luck. If not… The second draft just went out to my editors last night. They’ll be getting their comments back to me within two weeks, but the formatting to actually get the book into publishable editions takes quite a bit of work and time.