Kathe Koja | Writing about writing

Under the Poppy is the first book of a duo; the second is The Mercury Waltz. All told, this story will be, by far, the longest work I’ve ever attempted – five years and counting, of research, reading, writing, pleasure, weariness, elation, puppets, whores, war, betrayal, flight, the darkness backstage and the dizzy heights of the catwalk, a love that nothing can alter and a love, now, newly-born . . . When you waltz with the gods you take your chances, and there are some days you wonder if anyone else will ever hear the music that sets it all spinning.  But you trust the story, and the process.  So you dance.

And the work gets done.  And fun is had.

And Under the Poppy will come out in a paperback edition, and The Mercury Waltz will be published next year (both from the estimable Small Beer Press), and the process of the story as immersive performance goes on, flowering in interesting new ways, unforeseen ways.

And the music goes on. And Mercury is the god of writers and travelers. And fun will continue to be had. Long live chance, faith, and working for love!

I remember this copy, and this day – both were a pleasure. Thank you, Peter Seiruta! And thanks, Cary Loren at the BookBeat, for pointing me Peter’s way.

I’ve got a new blog happening, that’s all about the novel I’m writing, called Under the Poppy. So come on by, and learn something cool about puppets, or share something cool that you already know – it’s a vast, articulated, sideways world, that universe of performing objects (people count as P.O.s, too). Poke around in the research pile, hear soundtrack snippets, and track the progress of the new book. I plan to post excerpts as well.

BTW, this is not a YA project, as I have mentioned before, so please be aware: mature content.