careless talk costs lives

[ewein2412]

finished Code Name Verity this weekend. Am a bit of an emotional wreck. As the paternal interrogator says to the girl pilot at the end, "Not quite out of the trenches yet, are we?"



I love this poster--I remember being fascinated with it hanging in a pub in Marlow (I think it was an original there) back in the mid-90s. I have had a postcard of it stuck on my fridge for the last three months or so. I know that the implication is that the girl could be working for the enemy, but the men talking over her head are just so much bigger and more powerful-looking than she is that all my sympathies are with the girl, always.

Thank you, o flist, for being so encouraging during the writing of this book, despite the fact that I never tell you ANYTHING about what's actually going on. There is a kind of unofficial Official Secrets Act attached to unpublished books, you know? But also, I don't like to get people all excited about stuff that's still years away from publication.

I will keep you posted, as I think it's the BEST DAMN BOOK I'VE EVER WRITTEN. though I may be a little biased.

Comments

[lauradi7.livejournal.com]

I remember seeing a much more sedate poster that said "Be like Dad, keep Mum."
We were just talking about D-Day yesterday, wondering how even a dozen people (or however many it was) could have kept the Normandy location a secret. Seems unimaginable.

[lauradi7.livejournal.com]

Can you get your publisher to agree to some sort of buy the manuscript online now arrangement? How long do we need to wait for the BDByou'veEW?

[ewein2412]

that would be nice! for a number of reasons "beats me" is the real answer but hopefully i'll have a better idea soon.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

I just finished my own book this weekend and am similarly emotionally wrecked. We can flail and fret together.

But I am tremendously excited about this book (yours, I mean) just from the little bit you've said about it! I'm sure it's wonderful.

[ewein2412]

*flails sympathetically*

[ashfae.livejournal.com]

Wheee!!! Really looking forward to this book. =)

[ewein2412]

me too!

[kchew.livejournal.com]

Hooray! Can't wait!

[ewein2412]

thank you!

[tiboribi.livejournal.com]

It's years away from publication really? That is distressing. I cannot imagine how you are feeling about it being over.

I love the girl in the poster. I think the only guy whose face you can see looks so malevolent.

[ewein2412]

he is a pilot. he's got wings on his tunic. Notice the men are all smoking like chimneys! I think this actually adds to their malevolence--the hand of the guy standing over her is like TWICE as big as her own hand and his cigarette is about an inch away from her bare arm. And she's all cool and collected but those fingers below his cigarette are digging into the arm of the chair.

maybe i'm reading a little too much into this. i have been staring at it for a few months.

[tiboribi.livejournal.com]

I was looking at the pilot's face. He doesn't have a friendly face. I hadn't noticed her hands.

I love this poster. I am going to buy this poster when I move.

[ewein2412]

oh and like I said to Delia, I like that icon, it feels vaguely appropriate. what is it?

note my orange writing sweater. it is a coincidence.

[tiboribi.livejournal.com]

See! You are wearing orange in your icon, for Dani and Verity.

My hug icon is Amy and the Doctor, it was the Starwhale episode towards the end. I thought it was pretty, and seemed appropriate.

[ewein2412]

i thought it was but I wasn't sure!

[tiboribi.livejournal.com]

That episode was full of pretty images of Amy, and I love Amy.

[deliasherman.livejournal.com]

I'm very excited you've finished this book, since that brings it that much closer to my bookshelf. I love the stories you've set in this period (up late last night, working on my own monster, and am feeling dumb and loggy, so examples are lacking).

[ewein2412]

thank you! hope the monster is being cooperative.

i love seeing the obscure icons everybody is coughing up in their responses to this post! what is that besides that it appears to be a parachutist?

[deliasherman.livejournal.com]

1crowdedhour linked to it, ages ago. It's from a WWI Balloon Corps poster, as I recall. I usually use it when I'm feeling beleagured (which is not spelt right, but wth), but it seemed appropriate to your book.

Monsters do not cooperate. It is not in their natures. This one is full of tricksters, so I'm getting what I asked for, I guess.

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

I am soooo looking forward to it!

[ewein2412]

thanks and fingers crossed!

[mhari.livejournal.com]

\o/

[ewein2412]

thank you for the hedgehog!

[mhari.livejournal.com]

hedgehog applauds you!

[meener.livejournal.com]

I CAN'T WAIT TO READ YOUR NEW BOOK. "something worth doing" was one of my favoritestestest stories in that firebirds collection.

i have also dug out a vaguely appropriate icon in celebration of this post.

[ewein2412]

very excellent icon.

i gave theo lyons a cameo in the novel.

[meener.livejournal.com]

i gave theo lyons a cameo in the novel.

!!!! now i REALLY REALLY want to read this thing. D:

[tigertrapped.livejournal.com]

Brilliant, brilliant news! Can't wait to hear about the next steps...

[ewein2412]

thank you. You are definitely In The Loop.

tanita says :)

[(Anonymous)]

WHEE! Congratulations! I finished my month long revision only three weeks over schedule and sent it off last Friday as well.

Time for the collapse.

Re: tanita says :)

[ewein2412]

awesome! everybody on my flist is so productive--I love it!

[katranides.livejournal.com]

I hope the cover is in the mode of the poster. Looking forward to holding it in my hands!

[ewein2412]

i think the poster would make a great cover but it's probably too retro for the projected audience... sigh. (I imagine it with the title in place of the "keep mum" message).

how do you look my awesome icon tiboribi made me? now I just want to make another post so I can show it off!

[hirnverbrannt.livejournal.com]

i was thinking the cover would be beautiful as the poster too, but yeah. those crazy publishers and their crazy ideas about marketing.

i also have finished my book and am working on stupid query and synopsis stuff which is maddening. i have no idea how people have the faith and perseverance to actually take their words and send them out into the world with the dedication that they actually become published. i applaud you people.

[ewein2412]

hey, nice to hear from you! I have still got the picture you did for me hanging over my desk.

I hate, hate, HATE the query and synosis stuff. Verity actually originated as a query and synopsis, rather than the other way around, and I had to be very coy and leave out the ending because there was a twist I really didn't want to give away. And I don't think anyone ever did anything with the stupid synopsis anyway, as all the key players have been waiting for the finished product anyway...

but now it's just a waiting game and if my current publisher doesn't go for it, which is a possibility, it'll be a fresh start.

thank you for the applause. And congratulations on completion! The submission process isn't any fun, but if you persevere it can have its high moments!

[resoundingjoy.wordpress.com (from livejournal.com)]

oh oh oh! So when should I start haunting eBay looking for ARCs?

[ewein2412]

hahaha!

let me know when you find one and i will try to outbid you.

[cyphomandra.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!! (if somewhat belatedly) I'm very excited to hear that you've finished, and look forward to further developments.

(also, I've always liked the name Verity for a certain sort of heroine - is that what you're using, or is it a mission code-name?)

[ewein2412]

it's the heroine's code name, but they do eventually apply it to her actual mission when things are coming unraveled and they're opting for clarity over accuracy.

"clarity," such as it is when you are going by at least six different names and no one is sure where you are.

i love my book.