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Friday, May 7, 2010

Sorcerers and Seers: First Draft Completed

Yes, today was a landmark day. I just finished the first draft of the novel Tennis Shoes Adventure Series, Book 11: Sorcerers and Seers. Don't get too fixated on whether the word "Sorcerers" comes first or "Seers." My publisher is still toying with that. Maybe they'll insist on another title altogether. Never can tell.

In any case, I just wanted to report that there is no greater feeling for an author than finishing up a book. Especially a book of this caliber and magnitude. The research was dizzying. The plot is mind-boggling. The book's length is actually 30,000 words longer than any book I have ever written. That means that it's 30,000 words longer than Kingdoms and Conquerors. But not so fast. I wouldn't take any initial report of the book's length too seriously. I still have several weeks of polishing on this puppy before I turn it over to the publisher. Usually a book ends up shrinking a bit during that process. But with all the polishing that I've done along the way I wouldn't expect it to shrink too much. This means the book will be one-fifth thicker than my previous "Tennis Shoes" volume. Yeah, so everyone is going to get one-fifth more story and suspense and action than they've gotten from any other TS adventure. Do I expect this to moderate the complaints about leaving characters in various binds and predicaments and not getting the next volume out quickly enough? Absolutely not. My readers are welcome to haunt me to the high heavens. The only thing worse than anxious readers is silent readers who don't care one way or the other. So feel free to complain, to vex, to torment, and to keep me on my toes and writing the next volume as swiftly as possible.

So I already know what everyone is wondering: When will the book be on the shelves? This Fall. That's the best estimate I can give you. And even that's just my best estimate. I gave the publisher all my suggestions for a cover months ago. I'm hoping it will involve a mammoth motiff. I don't care if its an entire mammoth, just the head, or even just a tusk. But mammoths are a fairly important part of this story. So the image seems appropriate. We'll see how the cover artists at Covenant end up executing such a concept. Maybe they'll go a completely different direction. Again, you never can tell.

I just wanted to take a moment at this late hour and revel in a massive feat accomplished. It's been five long years since I've released a "Tennis Shoes" novel. It seems like a lifetime ago. SEVERAL lifetimes ago. I know that many readers have born this burden with incredible patience. Some with not-so-incredible patience. But that's okay too—so long as you haven't given up on me. Many will feel a need to go back and re-read Volume 10 before diving into Volume 11. Maybe you'll feel a need to re-read the whole series! (I know that recently on family trips I've offered that opportunity to my own children, and I've been surprised at how many details I've forgotten!) To aid readers with the challenge of re-acclimating to the story I am including in this newest volume an exhaustive list of characters—at least of the characters who are mentioned in Sorcerers and Seers. That way it'll be easier to keep track of all the crazy Hebrew, Nephite, Roman, and Jaredite names—to say nothing of keeping track of all the modern characters, many of whom have been a big part of the story since the beginning. This quiet time-travel tale has become an epic unlike anything I could have ever imagined. (Okay, it was never that "quiet.)" But the challenge has been so indescribably rewarding. I've had the opportunity to explore subjects that no novelist has ever dared to explore. Did you realize this is the very first attempt ever to dramatize the setting for the battle of Cumorah? And yet I'm most proud of the way I've tackled events surrounding the last week in the life of the Savior. The moment I lose the courage to explore those kinds of things, I suppose it's time to hang up my keyboard (so to speak) and find another career.

Everyone already knows that this is not the end of the series, right? There will definitely be a Volume 12, tentatively entitled Thorns of Glory. So does Volume 11 leave the reader hanging? You betcha. Even the final sentence will drive readers nuts. Hey, it just wouldn't be a "Tennis Shoes" novel if it did anything less. But does Sorcerers and Seers contain some of most intense scenes and sequences I've ever written? Man, I sure hope so. I know many scenes were a bear to design and incorporate. And as for the cliffhanger thing, just remember my promise: I will be diving almost immediately into Volume 12. No five-year breaks. No in-between movie projects. I may spend part of the summer doing a sequel to Passage to Zarahemla, but this will be a breeze compared to the complexities of a Tennis Shoes volume. And there will a few surprises in all of these novels that I hope will thrill readers to the core.

I'm just so happy—SOOOOO happy!—to finally have it done.

38 comments:

  1. Congrats Chris! I am so excited for you! I cannot wait for the book to come out. I've been on pins and needles for over a year now (I interviewed you for one of my websites a while back about this book - and I intend to publish that interview along with a review of the book when I eventually get to read it!)

    Wanted to mention also that I've got my husband reading book 3 out loud with me every night (before scripture reading of course) and I've loaned the 1st and 2nd books to a friend who is already hooked. I often re-read book 4 myself, if only to get a good cry out.

    So congrats again! By the time 11 comes out, I promise to have you at least 2 new fans!

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  2. Yipee! My hubby was JUST asking me when the next volume was coming out! I have to tell you my kiddos and I are on the second book now--sure is fun to read together--We had to pause in our reading for a few months due to a VERY hectic schedule--but they TOTALLY remembered what was going on! Fall or WHENEVER can't get here soon enough! Thanks for writing such fun books!

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  3. Okay Bro. Heimerdinger. I've been patiently bearing the wait for the next book. Glad to hear that you have a rough draft ready ;). A sequel to Passage to Zarahemla would be appropriate since that story needs to be finished. I'm okay with that going on this summer. My question for you, however, is WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO FINISH EDDIE FANTASTIC?? It was a personal favorite when I read it about 10 years ago (and subsequently re-read it). After my mission I saw it one sale at Deseret Book and noticed the story was left WIDE OPEN! Feel free to work on that one this summer as well.
    Take care :)

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  4. Hey, modelrockets, you are not the only one who has pushed me regarding an "Eddie" sequel lately. I do want to do a sequel. I just want to assure fans that I will pursue my "unfinished" Book of Mormon series-es (plural) before I do anything else. Folks have waited long and hard and patiently for those. When those are done, then we worry about Eddie and other projects. 24 hours is not a long enough day. I wish I had more time. All I can say, one project a time. :)

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  5. Congrats, Chris!

    I'm excited to read your book when it is released. I've followed your work since the early '90s and have never been disappointed -- you are an excellent author.

    I've been waiting patiently along with everybody else to see what happens next in the story. Keep up the good work, and I'll keep reading!

    Alexander

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  6. I was just wondering if you are going to write another Eddie Fantastic book to finish the story that you started there. I would like you to finish the Tennis Shoes first, but would like to see another Eddie book. I have truely injoyed you books and am wondering if you will be doing any book signing tours up in Ogden I have a lot that I would like you to sign. Thanks and good luck with your publisher.

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  7. I can't wait! My family recently rekindled their interest in the Tennis Shoes series. You have five more fans in the club now as 5 of my brothers discovered their love of your stories. Thank you for all of your writing. I have been reading your books since I was 8, now I'm 18 and I still can't put them down as I am rereading the series. Keep up the good work and I can't wait to read what you have in store for all of the characters.

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  8. CONGRATULATIONS!!! What a thrill for you to have finished this part of the task. Must feel GREAT!

    I'm in the camp who will be listening to the entire series in ancitipation of the new book. But then again, I never stopped listening...

    Again, WAY TO GO!!!

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  9. Wahooooooooo! I can't tell you how excited I am for that news! I have been anxiously waiting the five years. Congrats on finally finishing the first draft!

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  10. I am so completely over the moon about this. (I'm not too happy about all the tantalizing hints about the plot, but i forgive you, chris!) I like the idea of the mammoth on the cover! wow i'm just freaking out about this post, it gives me so much to think about! thank you so much! now get on with number 12! hurry up, or i'm coming to get you! (just kidding!)
    Thanks again chris!
    let us know if and when and where you'll be doing a book signing!

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  11. oh by the way, i like your first idea for the title. Seers and Sorcerers just fits better, in my mind, and on the book cover. (i'm thinking the words "Seers And" will be in small print, and "Sorcerers" will be in Large print in that five sided box thing on the cover of each book. i think it'll look funny if "and seers" was the larger print) haha

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  12. Congratulations Chris!!! I am so excited to read it. Right now, I'm slowly reading Eddie Fantastic. It's alright so far. It would be so cool if you did a book signing in or somewhere near Provo.

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  13. I am so excited! I feel like I have been waiting forever, but I am so, so glad it's coming out soon! Thank you so much!

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  14. Congratulations! I'm really looking forward to this one.

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  15. how can you have forgotten so many details? lol you wrote the books! i always thought you'd be the Tennis Shoes expert, and i'd be a close second. i guess i'm the expert, then! i've read the entire series so many times, i've actually memorized paragraphs from each book!. just ask me anything about the books, and i'll know the answer.
    anyway, just wanted to say congratulations again! i hope you're getting along with the polishing!

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  16. Wow Chris! I am so excited to hear that the latest book is on it's way! YAY!

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  17. Chris,

    I became acquainted with Jim, Garth and the gang in 1993 on my mission. One of my companions had the audio recording of the first two books in the Tennis Shoes series. Since that time, I have bought and read every book in the series (and I LOVE how you reintroduced Boaz as "Jacob Moon" in book 3, and how Todd Finlay resurfaced in 8.... but nothing was as exciting as discovering whop Shika was in Book 8. I had no idea who he was until he revealed himself as the wicked Akish. Sadly books 3-7 were left behind when I moved from home 9 years ago and due to recent troubles with the folks, they are lost to me now (they are where I can no longer have access to them) - including 2 signed copies I bought from the bookstore, but I hope to buy them again soon, and I look forward to reading 11 AND 12. I also loved Eddie Fantastic and hearing the audio of Daniel and Nephi.

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  18. I am so excited for this next book I can hardly wait!! My mom got me The first one on CD in 7th grade because I had such a hard time reading, and I loved it. Now my nose is almost always in a book of somesort. Thanks to you and and the Tennis shoes series I found a love for reading.

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  19. Remember, Patrick, you can always order new autographed volumes from www.heimerrecords.com or simply by calling me directly since I have a merchant account. (1-801-495-0555. Sometimes it seems the heimerrecords.com website has technical "issues") Soon I'll put "Sorcerers and Seers" up on that site for pre-order. First I gotta know how much they're going to charge. :)

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  20. Chris, I am so glad to know that you are working hard and #11 will soon be out!I must share our TS story, about 1997 my husband and I were driving a diesel truck around the country, our immediate supervisor handed us the first two of your books on tape, my husband, Joe, is not a book reader, never has been (the oppisite of me, I'd rather read than eat, and I'm not skinny) we left here, it took getting to Denver before he said "Ok put in the tapes" When we reached Chicago (about 10 or 12 hours later) we finally finished the first story and he finally parked the truck.He has been an enthusiastic listener since We of course have all of the books, one year for Christmas I gave the first book to each of my Children's families, my son's family read all of the series out loud, before they read their scriptures, my daughter's family read each one individually, my 16 year old grandson another non reader keeps asking me when the next book is coming out, he will be estactic, your stories have helped both families feel closer to the Book of Mormon. your books seem to fill out the stories we read in it and make the BOM more real thank you!! two other families have yet to get excited but they will Grandma will bug them till they try the first they will be hooked!! I am dancing around and yelling "yoo hoo, it is coming it is coming"

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  21. Chris, that news is so very exciting. Thank you for sharing. I look forward to seeing what happens with the story. I love that "Kingdoms and Conquerors" scene where Pagag gives Stephanie the anesthetic leaves. "Mr. Pa-gag-me-with-a-spoon" and "Mr. Piggly-pig-a-pig-gag"! So funny. I laugh just thinking about it. Any chance you'll spill more of the plot? Come on. You know you want to. I'm dying here! Next fall? It might just as well be the next millenium! The suspense is killing me! Don't keep us waiting any longer than you can help it. Let me know if I can be of help to you in any way. Keep up the great work!

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  22. One other thing. For the record, "Seers and Sorcerors" sounds better to me than "Sorcerors and Seers." I don't know why. It just has a better ring to it. That's my two cents on the title.

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  23. Sweet biscuit. I need a good book to read. I'm excited to read this one. Thank you for telling us in advance that it will leave us hanging and that the last sentence will drive us crazy. I'll hold back when I review this on my blog. Haha.

    So excited. Thanks for being awesome.

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  24. Congratulations!! I am so excited that it is done. I can't wait until it comes out so I can read it. I loved all the other tennis shoes books. You do such a good job. I am glad that you have the talent, and are sharing it. Thanks!

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  25. James,
    I agree with you on the title sounding better with Seers first. but i've been talking to Chris and he said his publishers are leaning toward calling it Sorcerers and Seers, to make the Seers word bigger on the cover. he didn't say why, but i think it has something to do with marketing strategy, making the book more 'sellable' because the word sorcerers would scare buyers away, sort of the same as when JK Rowling was first published, the publishers feared a woman wouldn't be able to sell a book better than a man, so they asked her to make a middle name so it would show as her first initials, making it seem like it could be a mans name... anyway.. thats my opinion, don't know if its right. haha

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  26. That's correct, Dustin. The publisher wants "Seers" to appear bigger. But it's not 100% certain that the title will work well enough for them at all. We'll wait and see.

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  27. This news is better than a hallelujah!!

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  28. Yay! This is so exciting! I just have to keep remembering that 'fall' over there is spring over her in Aus! 5 years ago I bought book 10 for my hubby for his birthday before he knew it was out, maybe I can get away with that this year too (that is if I'm capable of keeping it under my hat =)) Guess what everyone's getting for Christmas this year?!

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  29. Well, whatever the title ends up being, Chris, i'm sure i'll love it. i wasn't a fan of your idea for the title at first, now i like it, and if it doesn't end up being either of the two,i'm sure i'll get used to the new title. same thing happened when you announced KaC! lol i guess i just can't go by first impressions, because you always seem to know the right way to go, and it just works.

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  30. So EXCITED!!! It's about time. Some of us were wondering if you had gone inactive. Your books have definitely brought a love of the scripture stories, by bringing them to life. Thank you for working on this. My kids are almost old enough to understand them. So by the time book 12 is done, my oldest will be able to understand what he is reading (he is almost 7).

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  31. I have not bugged you about the next book, but that doesn't mean I have been patiently waiting. Every few months or so we would browse the internet for any news on number 11. We were sorry to hear about the complications in your personal life and happy to hear that life seems sunnier for you now. And not just because it means we finally get another book. Thank you for all you do in interesting young people in the scriptures. I started your books in my teens, and now as an adult I find I still love them. My ten year old has read/listened to the tennis shoe series several times. Some I know he has listened to or read over a dozen times (The Lost Scrolls is his favorite!) He loves to go to the scriptures and see what comes straight from them and what your imagination and other research has added. We are sooooooo looking forward to another book!

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  32. Thanks for all your comments. The book is done! I'll make a longer post about it.

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  33. Congrats Chris. I just really want to know when/if any of the tennis shoes books will be available on the kindle. I have one, and highly recommend it. It would be awesome to be able to carry all (12) Tennis Shoes books eventually on such a tiny device and be able to access them at any time and place. If not available through Amazon's store, is there any other way to make it available through another ebook retailier?

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  34. I know that this is the wave of the future, but fot the Tennis Shoes books, making such available for Ipads or Kendles, etc., is up to the publisher. I'm sure it will happen very soon. The LDS market is often 2 years behind the national market on such things.

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  35. Thanks for the info Chris. Can't wait for the next book, and keep up the great work.

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  36. Greg, I got your message about narration. I listened to your sample and it doesn't fit the single male voice that I'm trying to fill for the latest Tennis Shoes. I wish you the best and next time contact me through my regular email at cheimerdinger@gmail.com

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