something of an announcement (after a long build-up)

[adelaidesean]

In March next year, I'll have three new books out--The Changeling, Earth Ascendant and The Force Unleashed--making them my equal-23rd novels. I'm quite excited about it, and not just because 23 is my favourite number.

What it's meant, though, is that I've spent the last month or so poring over three separate sets of re-writes, copy edits, and page proofs, plus many discussions about blurbs, cover quotes, maps, and cover designs. That wears a thin pretty fast, and can be a bit confusing on sleepy mornings with three books on the go at once. To keep things interesting, a French translation has also been popping up every now and again, plus the Pyr paperback reissue The Crooked Letter in paperback, also due in March.

Still, it's over now, and my brain can go back to normal (or what passes for normal around here). I'm about to launch into The Grand Conjunction (the last of the Astropolis books) and from there straight into The Scarecrow (the last in the Broken Land series). I have a couple of other loose ends to tie off after that, and then I'm free. What that means, I'm still working out.

But this might be part of it:

I've been accepted into a PhD in creative writing at Adelaide University.

Comments

[shadowsandice.livejournal.com]

So when you're done, we'll have to start referring to you as Dr Williams.

You'll have to grow your mo back. Can't be a mad scientist without the mo.

[maelorin]

I've been accepted into a PhD in creative writing at Adelaide University.

And here I was thinking all PhDs were exercises in creative writing :p

[I'm already nearing the end of Year One Of The PhD! Aaargh!]

Congrats, etc.

Does this mean your next novel will be accompanied by an exegesis?

[satimaflavell.livejournal.com]

I'm sure having a PhD is a good thing, Sean, but I suspect you could teach most of the profs a thing or two about creative writing.

[angriest.livejournal.com]

So will you use the PhD as an opportunity to write a less commercial novel than you generally write?

dr8

[callistra.livejournal.com]

It's Dr Sean... all the cool kids have a dr8. I really must buy one soon....

[mireille21.livejournal.com]

Wow, congratulations!
In my own exciting Adelaide news, I've just accepted a job over there. And will be moving in the height of summer :P

[karenmiller.livejournal.com]

Massively impressive all round, really! Woot!

[murasaki-1966.livejournal.com]

Congratulations. I'm back to working on the joint project next year (preliminary work has already started).

[frogworth.livejournal.com]

What's up, Doc?
Congratulations, that's awesome! And bring on the Astropolis books! :)

[psycho-warbaby.livejournal.com]

Dr Williams! (or soon to be!) Congratulations on the acceptance! Now only 2 more years of it... You'll probably be one of the few ppl who will actually enjoy writing up thier thesis :P

[fred-mouse.livejournal.com]

whee! congrats on the PhD scholarship etc. I got my notification in the mail today too! Race you to the other end...

[wistling.livejournal.com]

Congrats!

[robinpen.livejournal.com]

Very cool news, Sean.

[gumnut.livejournal.com]

And I'll sit back and admire your tenacity and drive :D

I hope you realise just how inspiring you can be, not just by what you write, but how you write. It is no small thing to do what you do - to sit down and have the self motivation and drive to complete these projects.

And congrats on the PhD! Perhaps once you get that, there won't be so much confusion every time you book a hotel room. You could simply say that you are the Doctor Sean Williams (and watch them jump :D).

Anyways, I will sit back and admire as I attempt to to embark on the novel I've been trying to write for a year or so. I know it is possible cos you can do it :D

Oh, and I owe you a wave from a while back ::waves:: :D

Nutty
(pregnancy interrupts the writing, damnit!)

[haloumi.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on your triumvirate 23rd novel and on being accepted for the PhD.

Having just completed my PhD at Adelaide (graduating next Thursday) I can tell you that is almost exactly, but not quite, like trying to jam a large sofa into your mouth while juggling knives. I'm sure that you'll enjoy it.

(I have always claimed that most computer science theses are science fiction - just slightly less well researched than most hard science fiction...)

Doctor, doctor!

[(Anonymous)]

Hey Doc, I've got this funny pain in my... oh, I see. Damn. Okay, so this Ph.D stuff will slow you down enough so we readers have a hope of catching up with your body of work?

Congrats and darn!

[(Anonymous)]

Snaps all around: for the glory of number 23x3, for the admirable tying up of loose ends, and for the PhD at Adelaide--but that's where the 'darn!' comes in, too. Little creative birdies were all aflutter hoping that Flinders might have lured you to its bisected campus for your PhD project... alas. Gorgeous sandstone buildings beat hideous 70s architecture again ;)
Congrats! :-)

[gloripebbles.livejournal.com]

Very big congratulations Sean. On the PhD to come not to mention the trifecta of 23rds :)

Mind you I get scared - Dr Sean & Dr Kim.......presentations will never ever be the same again ;)