Cyndere's Midnight is complete, the book arrives in September '08, and now we get to the fun stuff.

Watch this space.

I'm just about to unleash an informal survey, where you can share your opinion on which of two cover designs is the best one.

By the way, the third book is called Cal-raven's Ladder. I'm writing the first chapter this week. The book is due to the publisher by Christmas. (And yes, I still have a full-time job.)

There is no rest for the weary Jeffrey.

I'm looking forward to reading Cyndere's Midnight. I'm already lining up a spot for it next to my autographed copy of Auralia's Colors.

Ditto. I'm really, really excited for you, Jeff. And I'm excited for me, getting to read a great book soon.

How should one pronounce Cyndere?

Sin-dare?

Sin-de-ray?

Sin-deer?

sin-der

As in Cinderella. Or the cinders of a fire.

I just posted two of WaterBrook's cover-art designs for you to ponder. Please explain your preference.

[OPTIONS REMOVED, AS THE POLL HAS ENDED.]

As I mentioned on your blog, I think option B is better. Not that either are bad, but leaving the person out of the illustration makes it more symmetrical, less cut-and-paste fantasy cover-ish.

Thanks.

Folks, just so you know, your comments are more likely to be seen on that blog than they are here. Feel free to chat wherever you like, but if you want WaterBrook decision-makers to see them, be sure and share your feelings in a comment on the blog.

Click to view attachment


Introducing... the finished cover, as determined by the folks at WaterBrook. I hope you like it.

!!!

:-D

Yay! I'm very excited. I think I originally voted for the other option, but I still like this one. And the blue color for the title is super pretty. I'm rather looking forward to this. Thanks for sharing!

Very nice! I voted for this one, so I'm thrilled!

Jeff, as it's technically Tuesday on my side of the country, here's a big CONGRATULATIONS on the release of Cyndere's Midnight!

Thanks so much, Jason.

It won't seem real until I actually see it in the store. I've been so busy, I haven't had time to get excited yet.

I'm offering a little free bonus here.

I received an email from amazon saying my copy has shipped. It should be here today!

I received a $15 Amazon gift card as a bonus for participating in a survey pool, and was wondering what to buy with it. Well, it's spent, and Cyndere's Midnight is on it's way to me via 5-Day shipping.

My copy should be waiting on my porch when I get home today.

Even though I pre-ordered it (along with Marilynne Robinson's new one), it still hasn't arrived. Grumble!

mucho nice Jeffrey!!!

I started reading last night and I'm really enjoying it. It could be that I'm added by my prior knowledge of the Expanse, but I'm enjoying it even more than Aurailia's Colors. I'm really liking the parts that focus on the beastman. Particularly I'm liking Jeffrey's physical descriptions of them. I can see why they strike terror in the hearts of the people. I'd be scared too.

Congratulations Jeffrey on a great novel. I thoroughly enjoyed it. As much as I enjoyed Auralia's Colors, I thought Cyndere's Midnight was a step forward. It was a great movement into the greater history of the Expanse. And kudos on the ending. Wow. I never trusted Ryllion, but I never saw the depth of his betrayal coming. That was a stunner. Let's just say I'm looking forward to the next installment.

Thanks so much, Kyle. It means a lot to me to hear from friends here. After all, I've been hanging out here at A&F since I was just rough-drafting these stories for the amusement of myself, Anne, and a few friends, with no confidence that I'd ever get to share the stories with anybody. It's surreal to get a message like yours and realize how much has changed, and how fast.

Just came back from spending my anniversary in a library at the University of Washington, working, working, working. I wrapped up Chapter Five of the third book today. So far, I'm having more fun with this one than either of the first two. Every chapter has led to surprising changes of plans. I love that.

glad to offer the encouragement. It really is a good book.

So does that mean you don't have the ending of the series in mind or are you just changing how you get there?

I know *where* the story ends, and I know who the key players are in the closing scene, but the picture of what actually happens there keeps changing...

I hope you bought it through the A&F / store ... since you were using Amazon 'n all ... since it's the same ... but supports A&F ...

Or use this link...

I've finished reading the book, and I loved it! I was moved by Jordam's story and how the Colors continue to factor into the narrative, and I like how Jeffrey keeps unfolding details about the world he has created.

New podcast interview with Jeffrey up at our site! Thanks very much, Jeffrey! I know Stephen enjoyed talking with you.

That was a fun conversation. And it was a privilege to be a guest on Stephen's show.

I enjoyed listening to it.

Okay, I'm about 3/4 of the way through Cindere's Midnight, and I'd love to discuss it with folks who have read it. First of all, wow. I'm having a hard time putting it down for such necessary things as bathing, eating, sleeping, or preaching. The story is at least as involving, plot-wise, as Auralia's Colors, but seems to have more breathing room. Auralia was like (rrLike...) the rush of imagery in the Matrix, when Neo learns kung-fu: like everything is rushing at you at once, a million brilliant ideas and colors and images all trying to jump into your consciousness simultaneously. Cyndere takes its time, and I think unfolds a lot more elegantly. But all the stuff you liked about Auralia are here aplenty - Auralia herself, colorful and interesting characters (both familiar and fresh), ravishing descriptions of a world that seems so real that you could touch it yet remote enough to inspire longing, and the fairy-tale underpinnings that surprise you with recognition and delight. Well done, Jeffrey!

On to a topic for discussion, and if you've not read the book, you may want to skip this, as there are some spoilers embedded in these topics:

It seems to me like there's a parallel developing between the religion of the moon spirits and the beastmen's thirst for Essence. The one seems like a more "civilized" version of the other. The religion of the moon spirits glorifies the pursuit of one's desires above all else, but so does the draught of the Essence. Fueled by the Essence, the beastmen are driven almost mad, and run wild and unchecked to do whatever it is they lust to do.

It seems like both Cindere and Jordam have rejected the respective paths of their countrymen, and have embraced an other-centered ethic, rather than a self-centered one. Love instead of lust, so to speak. They have committed themselves to restraint rather than rampant gratification, and for both of them, it is at great cost.

Am I barking up the wrong tree here, or does anyone else see this connection?

I don't know much about moon spirits so I didn't make that connection. However, like you, I equated the Essence with lust - the lust for more stuff, power, prestige, sex, you name it. It represents idolatry at its finest. Rather than being focused on a Thou (God expressed through love of neighbors), it forgoes Thou for I.

I've been avoiding this thread, since I didn't want any spoilers (I can't avoid them once I see them on the page). I've been slowly pecking at the book since I got it in September; I was also reading a few other novels, all dense, and wanted to finish them first. And finish I did. I'm plowing through Cyndere's Midnight now and love it. I'm about halfway through.

I have to say, Jeff — the chapter "Bel's Request" kept me on edge like nothing else I've read in a while. And it was just as moving. Great work!

On a day full of thanksgiving, I'm deeply grateful for the feedback. It's really encouraging when I get comments from guys like you whose critical sensibilities have been demonstrated again and again here on this board. Thank you so much.

I need the encouragement right now too. We skipped our annual trip to be with the family on the holiday simply because I need to make progress on the third book, so I'm feeling a little bit down today.