I have to pass along some unhappy news, but before I do that, I have to tell a story. (For those of you who have been reading the blog for a while, or who have read the book for that matter, this behavior should not come as any particular surprise.)
A couple weeks ago, I was home for Christmas. While I was helping my Dad get ready for dinner, we talked about his Christmas letter. You know, the sort of thing I’m talking about: the yearly cute picture and Cliff Notes version of your family news.
My dad and I had talked about the letter before because this year’s was a lot harder to write. It’s been an odd year….
Wow. Look at that. “It’s been an odd year.” That, my friends, is what we call a classic Midwestern understatement.
Let me try again. This post is meant to pass along some important news, so I might as well speak plainly….
In some ways, this has been the best year of my life. The book that I’ve worked on for over fourteen years finally hit the shelves. I have met countless fans who have stunned me with their cleverness and kindness. I got to meet Tad Williams and Neil Gaiman and a host of other incredible authors. The book has gotten stunning reviews, and won awards, and they’re currently translating it into twenty foreign languages.
I would say that my dreams had come true, but honestly, I never had dreams this big.
But in other ways, this year has contained some of the worst things I’ve ever lived through. My mom died this February, about a month before the book came out. She was my biggest fan, and liked me back before anyone else had a reason to. She was so exited about the book….
Later, my dad discovered he had cancer too. Just in time for last year’s Christmas. His was, by comparison, a good cancer, and they removed his lung in January.
Yeah, as we say here in the Midwest, it’s been an odd year.
Anyway, because of these things, writing the Christmas letter was tricky. Still, my dad managed to get all the family news summed up in a page and a half. Included was the most recent news about Name of the Wind and information about the release date of book two….
So, as I was saying, my dad and I are making dinner, and he tells me that two days after he sent out the letter, friends started to stop by his office at work. “The publication date of book two, was that a typo?” They ask. “Or is that really when it’s coming out?”
My dad tells them that it’s not a typo. That is when book two is really coming out.
Telling the story in the kitchen, my dad mimics their posture when they hear the news: the disappointed slump to their shoulders. One person went beyond disappointment and seemed truly distressed when he heard the news “This is awful!” the guy said, standing in the doorway to my dad’s office. “I can’t tell my son about this, it’ll ruin his whole Christmas.”
The story was pretty funny the way my dad told it, but my stomach still twisted into a knot when I heard it. It confirmed what I already knew, that people were going to be really disappointed when they heard the news about book two. I’ve known for a while… but I’ve been putting off making the official post here. It’s easy to tell jokes and post up good news about awards. It’s hard to make an announcement that’s will make people unhappy.
But here it is: As of now, book two is scheduled for April of 2009.
I’m sorry. We were sure we could have book two out in a year, but it just wasn’t the case.
There are reasons. For those of you who are interested, I’ll cover them in the second half of this post, but the heart of the announcement is simply that: Book two has been delayed. It was unavoidable, and I am sorry.
The Reasons Behind the Delay
Or
Answers to Your Questions
Or
Why Pat is a Total Dick
“I thought you said that books two and three were done?”
I did. It wasn’t a lie.
In some ways all three books were done way back in 2000 when I managed to write the story all the way through to the end. But there’s a HUGE difference between a story that’s finished, and one that is polished, revised, and refined into something really, really good.
I tend to revise A LOT. Over the years these three books have been put through hundreds of revisions. That’s not an exaggeration. Some of them are small, just me tweaking words here and there to make things sound better.
Other revisions are huge and involve me moving chapters, removing scenes, and adding characters. On more than one occasion I have gone through this first book cut out over 10% of the total text. Then sometimes, in later revisions, I put some of it back. There’s a lot of trial and error. A good book doesn’t happen by accident.
(Warning: Minor spoiler alert for those of you who haven’t read Name of the Wind.)
For example. If you were to go back in time and read The Name of the Wind one major revision ago, you’d discover that there wasn’t any trip to Trebon, no draccus at all.
If you were to go back two major revisions, you would lose Auri and Devi. Their characters didn’t exist in that version of the book.
Three revisions? You wouldn’t have the scene where Kvothe and Elodin go to the asylum. Or the scene where Kvothe saves Fela from the fire in the Fishery. Or the scene where Bast talks to Chronicler at the very end of the book. I hadn’t written any of those them yet.
Think about that version of the book. Would you want to read that instead? I wouldn’t.
Were those early drafts finished? In some ways, yes. They had a beginning, a middle, and an ending. They probably could have been published, and people would have liked them fairly well, but they would not have been the best book possible, and that’s what I want to write for you.
Hell, just thinking about the book without Auri nearly breaks my heart.
So when I say that book two needs revisions, you have to trust me. What I have right now is good, but it’s not the best book possible. I want to give you a great book. A book that is as perfect as I can possibly make it. I want you to read it and laugh, and cry, and be horrified.
But that takes time….
“Fine, book two needs revisions. Why aren’t they already done, you dick?”
Two reasons.
1) Mental Exhaustion.
As I’ve already mentioned, we found out my mom had terminal cancer in September of last year. That meant that I had to do my final revisions on The Name of the Wind while coming to grips with that, working my day job, and driving down to Madison to spend as much time with her as I possibly could.
Needless to say, it wasn’t a lot of fun. Trying to re-write a scene so that it captures the delicate magic of budding young love when the main thing on your mind is your mom dying… it’s kinda rough.
What’s more, I didn’t tell my publisher about my mom, because everyone at DAW and Penguin was really excited about the book, and the last thing I wanted to do was take a big old shit on their enthusiasm. We were just getting to know each other professionally, and I didn’t want our first interaction to be me backing out of a bunch of commitments, no matter how good my excuse.
Plus, sometimes when authors go through heavy emotional stuff, they stop writing. Sometimes for years. I didn’t want the publisher to start worrying about that before my first book was even out.
But because I didn’t tell them, I had to cowboy up and do all the pre-publication promotional stuff. I went to a lunch with bookbuyers on the same day my mom had to go in for emergency thorastic surgery. (This was made easier by the fact that my mom told me she’d kick my ass if I didn’t go….)
Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t all bad. In some ways it was nice to get away and be around people who didn’t know. It gave me a much needed vacation from that traumatic part of my life.
A few months later, when my dad found out he had cancer too, I finally fessed up to my publisher. Betsy was very supportive and cut me every piece of slack possible. However, at that point we were looking at unmovable production deadlines. Because of that, the ten days I had to look over the final page proofs for The Name of the Wind, were the same ten days my dad spent in the hospital after getting his lung removed. I remember red-penning corrections into the manuscript while he slept in the ICU, the tubes everywhere and a machine helping him breathe.
In the end, I did it. I managed to meet my deadlines and get the Name of the Wind out on time. But I felt like I’d done the writing equivalent of running in the game-winning touchdown on a broken leg. We won the game, but afterwards, I really didn’t feel that great…
I don’t know. It was like I’d pushed things too far and pulled a muscle in my brain. Following my dad’s surgery and my mom’s death, I didn’t even want to think about working on the next book. Not for months….
2) Unexpected busyness.
Just yesterday I read something that Charlie Stross wrote on a message board. He said, “The epiphenomena of a writing career can easily occupy about 30 hours a week, on average.”
This, is some capitol-T fucking Truth.
Before my book was published, I had no idea how much extra work was involved in being a published author. I’m not talking about the writing itself. I’m talking about doing interviews, going to conventions and booksignings, answering fanmail, corresponding with the editor and agents, looking for promotional blurbs from other authors, answering questions for my foreign translators….
That means when my book came out, I suddenly discovered I had brand-new 30 hour-a-week job. That, plus teaching at the University, plus, teaching fencing, plus working with the College Feminists as their adviser…. Assuming that I still wanted to sleep, eat, and occasionally kiss my girlfriend, there just weren’t enough hours in the day, and my writing time was slowly eaten away.
Also, the timeline for publishing a book is a lot tighter than I ever knew. It takes a lot of time to print, promote, and edit things. Because of that, for the book to come out in April of 2008, I actually would have had to have it pretty much finished this last August. Five months after my mom died. I tried, but I just couldn’t make it happen.
“So what are you doing to make sure that you don’t delay the book again, you dick?”
For starters, I’ve quit my day job. Starting this semester, I’m no longer teaching at the University. It was a hard decision to make. I’m giving up my health insurance, my office, and the ability to act as adviser to a lot of student groups that I really enjoy. I really love teaching, but it takes a lot of time and mental energy, so I’m leaving it behind to focus on my writing.
I’ve also trimmed a lot of the extracurricular things out of my life. I’ve given up the fencing class that I taught at the YMCA, and the College Feminists don’t hold their meetings at my house any more. I’ll miss them, as they’re some of the coolest people I know, but I need to buckle down and streamline my life.
Whew. Longest post ever.
In summary, I suck and I’m sorry.
That said, I’d rather disappoint you a little now by delaying things, than by crapping out some half-finished turd of a book and disappointing you a LOT in April.
Hope I didn’t retroactively ruin your Christmas….
pat
250 Comments
arghhhh!
You are probably NEVER gonna see this post and that really sucks… because I feel TERRIBLE!!!I sent you an email (which you may or may not have even seen) that told you about how I’d bought your book on Feb 28th and I finished it in ten days… etc etc. (Just so you have some sort of reference)Well, in it I said I didn’t know how I was gonna survive until April 2009 for the next book…. *cringe*I swear, I knew nothing about your mother or father until today. Good grief… how selfish I must have seemed. What a bitch, etc etc.I’m so sorry. I will be fine. Take as much time as you need!! :o) LOLGoddammit, I feel like a putz.Hang in there, man. I’m so sorry you are struggling and hurting. I think it’s amazing that you’ve managed to “man-up” and do so MUCH in the midst of everything that has happened in the last year or so.Amazing!
Shorty: No worries.
I can wait that long especially after reading this entry. Sincere. <3Thank you for the first book.
I’m very sorry about your mother, I lost my mother to cancer as well.About the delay, don’t worry about it, people might be disappointed but that’s just a part of the process. Besides, it will give me the opportunity to go through the first book a few more times. I will, too. The characters just stuck in my mind, even after one time through, so it is definitely something I would want to revisit.I understand about revisions, too. One of the best things I ever wrote (which unfortunately got lost when my computer crashed), was something I’d read through and changed by bits almost every day. I’m picky about what I read, and I’m happy that I found another series to satisfy my tastes. I’m sure book 2 will be just as great as book 1.
I’m okay with you taking some time off, and pushing back a deadline. Just don’t die on us. It’d be hard for brandon sanderson to cover your books as well as rigney’s.
Hi,I just discovered that it was delayed on amazon.com and somehow I got here and read the post. If it helps, I can say I feel with you. Not only that you have lost your mother and had to worry about your father but you also had to make many hard decisions. I hope you did not regret them, and for those which consequences are still in the future I hope you will regret neither.For the release date itself, it first shocked me a bit but after I read your post I had enough reasons to be glad to wait. Take your time with Day 2 and release it when it’s finished.Honesty, being the geek I am I can’t stand any more half finished computer games and certainly don’t want to see that happening to what promises to be a great story.Thanks (and sorry if my English has some errors.)
I do not want to be overly critical but having just read your book in soft cover maybe you need to curb your revisionist urges.The name of the wind started out like it would be a classic fantasy type book but got kind of hackish as it went along possibly due to your overthinking your writing. You obviously can write characters that people care about I’d like to see you write a book that ranks with Ursula Le Guin or Stephen Donaldson and I am sure you could do it.
Hackish?Your standard bearers are LeGuin and Donaldson? Bah.Everyone I’ve shared Name of the Wind with from EVERY walk of life has thoroughly enjoyed it. That is what truly makes a classic. The same can’t be said of your uber-authors. Mr. Rothfuss should take his time and continue his extremely fine work.
I read a story about someone who was visiting a kindergarten class and saw these amazing drawings by the kids when she asked how the teacher got them to draw so well the teacher replied “it is not hard to get them to draw well the secret is to know when to take the drawings away”, that is how I felt about the Name of the Wind-that you might have had a better book if you walked away sooner.
you should have made the new publication date later than it actually will be so you could move it up to make up for the delay, and surprise people.
I am very sorry to hear about your Mom and glad to hear your dad is working the sickness out. I had problems with both my parents last year, and that did taking me back to Italy for more than two months for taking care of them; thanks to God, at today I can just imagine the feeling of the lost of somebody close to me: again, I’m sorry for your lost Regarding the book: take your time. I had received the communication from Amazon regarding the delay.. after I have researched the reason for de delay, and hear I’m. Sure I wanna read the next book, but then again “good things are worth wating for” as a previous comment said. In one other note, my daughter Chiara as read your first book in the Italian translation: the title is logically “Il nome del vento”, finishing it in few days, four weeks ago: I bought it for her and she love it… I wish you well, also to be extended to Your love one. Ciao and BRAVO!
Do not beat yourself up Pat! Life happens. You would probably beat yourself up even more if you had not paid attention to your parents when you did. From personal experience, I know how bad it can be.Moreover, anticipation of the upcoming books will make them even sweeter. You have a good thing going; I’d like it to get better and better.I agree with others’ comments about your teaching job. Quitting a job that you truly love is a bummer.And by the way, you do not suck. :)Cheers.
Soooo, I finally found this post and am a bit upset with Amazon. I preordered Wiseman’s Fear along with another book that was to come out about the same time.When neither book was recieved or listed as in transit I wrote to find out why and was told it was because your second book wasn’t out yet. They didn’t bother to change the date for release or mention that it may be another year.For you though, I understand the delay. My mom passed three years ago in Febuary. Though I still have moments of laughter when I feel her with me, she isn’t here in body any longer. I miss her.Also, I teach and am married to a retired professor. You have given up much for your writing.Please know that I consider “The Name of the Wind” one of the best fantasy books I have ever read and do look forward when I can know the rest of Kvothe’s story.Blessings to you and your family.
Terribly disappointed to hear about the delay in publication, but life tends to get in the way of the best laid plans, huh? I think you are doing the right thing. Nobody can blame you for wanting to take some time off after the death of a loved one. Besides, if book 2 is as good as book 1, I’m sure we will all forgive you come next April!
Wow. Talk about some major life changes. It’s good to know about the book. I kept checking and now will wait patiently. The first was so good, it was truely amazing. Whatever process it takes to do it again, do it. Take another 2 years. Many really great fantasy authors take tons of time between books and generally the time spent perfecting is worthwhile. Thank you for your first book. Hopefully we won’t get anymore snowstorms up here huh? Stupid stupid blizzard.
Your books are worth the wait. The first book was stunning, my husband and I have already read it six times between us. The next book will come at the perfect time. My very best wishes for your family’s health.
Pussy says what?grow a pairjackasslol
pussy says what
Pat- OMG!!! I can’t imagine how one person can manage all of that in their life and still manage to function, much less deal with getting a book out! My grandmother just died of Lung Cancer this past Labor Day, and I wasn’t able to function well for months!! You are a truly amazing person with a clear view of the proper priorities and their order. Those of us who truly appreciate your artistic writing ability will wait for as long as we need to. WAY TO GO!!!
I just picked up Name of the Wind recently and let me tell you, reading it was like rain after a long, long drought. It’s been a while since I found such a well-written book.Give your readers some credit. Yes, we may be disappointed, but we’re human too. We understand. And those who don’t are idiots who I wouldn’t want as part of my fan base.You already went above and beyond, considering the circumstances you were in. I am extremely proud of you for showing such integrity and being able to fulfill commitments to your family, your publisher, and your fans. It’s great that you’re prioritizing, but quitting your job and trimming your extracurricular activities seems a little extreme… I understand the need for a little “Pat-time” but is it healthy to leave everything familiar behind? I know it’s a little late to be mentioning it, but it’s still something to consider.I look forward to The Wise Man’s Fear. It’s worth waiting for. Good luck.Best wishes to you and yours.
Just wanted to add my thanks for writing such a great book which I found to be the most enjoyable book I’ve read in years which is saying alot since i get through about 10 books a year! So you have my thanks and goodwill karma which hopefully will make you do a funky dance on the spot :>Can’t wait for book 2 and I’m sure that it will be brilliant. Thanx most of all for creating a more human character in the fantasy genre instead of the stereotypically “savior”. Well hope you have a good year and don’t be too hard on yourself about changing release dates as a true piece of art takes time and consideration :)
A year isnt that long to wait for a book, I say you should take your time and make it as best you can. Anyone who whines at you needs to shut up =)Really sorry to hear about your parents. =(Love the book =)
Hi Pat;I just finished blazing through your Name of the Wind in these last few days. I have been reading Science Fiction & Fantasy for about 48 years – some good, some pretty bad. Everything from Asimov’s Foundation to Hobb’s Ship of Magic.Yours is a milestone, a refreshing exciting read. Yes, I immediately slavered for my next fix even before I turned the last page. And, yes I understand your very good reasons for the wait on volume two. I just lost my Dad and the spiritual drain was more than I ever expected. I do appreciate the need to recharge. Coming from a family of teachers, I might venture to suggest that the decision to step back from that arena could serve you well. It may allow you to steep in the roiling waters of reality outside of academia and thus contribute some layers to future tales. All of this said, send us the next volume as soon as you possibly can. I have many other authors I can read if I must – you are the best I have encountered in years and I am frankly, hooked. Thanks again for the great new world and adventure. L Monroe
No worries, Pat. Your LIFE comes first…and if writing has a place in it, then that’s super (for us and for you!), but not as important as other issues. I’m now halfway through Book 1 … and I’m confident you will produce a Book 2 at some point. :D
I just finished reading <>The Name of the Wind<> about 5 minutes ago. I stumbled across your post while desperately searching for more — a white-toothed sweet eater, shaking and fumbling…I will confess my immediate disappointment, HOWEVER…Please accept the disappointment for what it is: a true and heartfelt compliment wrapped in a thin layer of selfishness.Your compassion and drive to accommodate your fans is very clear in your blogs – but hey, a lump of coal is a diamond rushed. Don’t let the pressures of compassion override your dedication to excellence. As long as it’s not the sequel to “<>The Arsonist’s Daughter<>“, we’re cool!Thanks! – I thoroughly enjoyed the tale of Kvothe’s genesis and look forward to the rest – whenever it may come.God bless you and your family. Sincerely, Your Newest Fan
Hello, I just found your book in stores. I had seen such nice things about it that I took it home.I read 52 pages the night before last and spent the entire next day immersed in it, finishing the other 668 pages at 2:30 last night.I jumped on the web immediately to search for more news (I feel that I must echo the previous comment by James about feeling akin to a white-toothed sweet eater) – and here I am. You have my complete congratulations. I’ll be sure to reread it several times before tWMF comes out…As for the delay? Don’t beat yourself up about it. In your story you call Kvothe a hero; he has nothing on you.
Just another new fan writing to say I picked up your book on a lark (and on the strength of those blurbs), and have found myself anxiously anticipating each new stretch of available time to read further (pg 550 at the moment). Just this morning I was commenting to my wife on the chapter devoted to Kvothe’s ride to Trebon. Turning an essentially unremarkable horseback ride into 15 pages of compelling reading takes some mad talent! So, thank you for your years of labor. I am sorry for your loss and the challenges you have faced. Rest assured that you can count me as one more reader who will snatch up the next volume as soon as I see it in the stores.
Man I could read Name of the Wind 500 times and still be entertained, so i say take all the time you need to bring out the next one. I would rather read a hardcore badass book than something thats rushed, so i don’t care how long it takes, so long as I don’t get hit by a car before it comes out, and that it’s just as good or better than the first book. Oh and just to let you know The Name of the Wind is my favorite book of all time!!!!!
April 09! SHIT!I’ll just have to sit pretty and wait like a good girl.
My brother introduced me to The Name of the Wind last week and I chose it over several other of his recommedations when he told me the other books in your trilogy were already written. Yesterday, with 50 pages left to go, I went to B&N to buy Book Two. My first reaction on seeing the release date on the inventory lookup screen was that my brother was a dick for saying written, but not published. I mean, he’s a librarian, for Tehlu’s sake. But the clerk said the date might be wrong and maybe they just didn’t have it in stock. I left feeling dismayed but not panic-stricken.Now, obviously, I know the truth and it ain’t pretty. It is, however, cruel. So I will perforce abandon my headlong rush into sheer, sweet reverie and instead approach it more slowly than I before could have deemed possible. Thank you, by the way, for that lesson, Pat. And a bright note in this comedy of arrears… perhaps I won’t lose my job due to another 700 pages of neglecting my duties. Then I can afford the hardback edition. Woohoo!
At first I’d like to thank you for a great peace of fantasy. I read your book a couple of days ago and I read it twice (which doesn’t happen that often…). Usually I’m a pretty fast and therefore not very patient reader. As soon as a storyline catches me, I want to know it all. But you’ve gone through a lot of weird stuff during that last year. I’m very sorry for that. Being a teacher for German and English myself I also know how demanding but also satisfying this work is. It must have been a hard struggle to give it up.I very much like your attitude of not selling something halfready if you can do better. That’s something many other, well-known authors should get a piece of.Take your time man, do what you have to do and don’t let anybody press you into something you don’t really want to do.Keep it up, you’re doing a great job there. I love that first book and I expect the next to be at least as good. ;)P.S.: If you want to do me a favour: Over here in Germany I’ve already told some very good friends of mine about “The Name of the Wind”. Could you PLEASE tell your German translator not to mess it up or split it into two parts? They tend to do a lot of splitting recently and it would be a shame doing that to this novel. Again, take your time and keep up your great work. Best wishes and a big ‘THANK YOU’!Marc.
Your my biggest hero *Makes face*…no really. I get ticklies thinking about the next book, but more so from your obvious display of humanity and no BS attitude. It’s good to see that people are still allowed to feel. I admire the work you do and await with unbridled excitement for the next installment.My best wishes.
I have scoured all the bookstores in the Philippines just to find a book that could make my heart skip a beat, gasp, smile while shedding tears and make me ask… no… beg for more. The Name of the Wind is beyond that.Your book is not marketed well in our country so i don’t even know what kind of book im paying at the counter. I was intrigued by the brief description of the book so I said to my self, “Looks good to me.”Turns out it was a jewel, hidden in the sands. Come to think of it, it was like the book was calling out to me. And i was thinking i hope im not waiting a long time for the next book. Guess i am.The book could not be described by a flood of words. Timeless tale. Hard as it is, i will wait for the next book knowing that next time i would be spending a cup of coffee with Kvothe.
You DICK!!!! Just kidding… When it’s ready, it’s ready. There’s a space waiting for it on the shelf, in between Tad Williams, Gaiman and Susanna Clarke
Wow, just finished Name of the Wind. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. What an incredible story. I couldn’t put it down. I have to say it caused several arguments between me and my better half. He was feeling slighted lol. Of course after finishing it I had to find out about the release of Day II and then I found this blog. I am so sorry to hear of your loss. Now I just feel selfish cause I just wanted more story. Well in any case I thank you for sharing your story.
im so sorry to hear about your parents…and it just makes me feel horrible that you would apologize for the delay…for a story such as this all the wait is worth it :)im not the one to post comments but seriously after just finishing the name of the wind…wow..thank you for this incredible story with such fascinating characters! so thanks i really really appreciate a good book from start to finish and i dont mind waiting…one’s again thank you for writting!take care,Mira
psorry for your losses, i know how you feel i am in the navy and have been out to sea for the last 7 months and have lost 2 very close family members and can not vene be there, i would like to say on a good note i have been reading fantasy for over 16 years now and your first book was by far one of the best books i have ever read and i will patiently wait for anything that is anywhere close to as good as the first one, i was just wondering if you had anything set up for people like me who are out to sea or stationed somewhere that you will not be at to buy a signed copy of your hardback book when it comes out? well just being curios you are an excelent writer and i can not wait for A Wise Man’s Fear, thanks for your hard work from a new fan, if anyone has any info on getting a signed copy of a 1st edition hardback please email me at rodgers.jamie@cvn72.navy.mil , thanks again for all your hard work through so much adversity MR. Rothfuss
Patrickit’s always terrible to hear of anyones suffering, if you didn’t care it wouldn’t hurt.Just fnished your book and I have to say that after the loss of David Gemmell I didn’t think anyone else would come close!Well you seem to be on the right path.I’m sure that when the time is right you’ll continue and the rest of us will just have to be patient.May you find the strength to deal with the pain.YoursPatrick English pat@enigmasigns.com
Patrick: I read your book and gave it to my sons who are geeks extraordinaire and I was waiting and checking for your next release. I spoke to them about your book and they told me about your website and the things that had happened in your life. I am sitting here at work and commenting on a blog for the very first time. I wish to extend my sympathies for the loss of your mother I hope your Dad continues to do well. Needless to say I really enjoyed the first book and place you within that group of authors who can write and tell a great story, Gaiman, Pratchett, Lois McMaster Bujold, David Weber. Be well and keep striving and we’ll keep waiting patiently for the next books.
I truly hope that you stop beating yourself up about this. Thank you for taking the time to produce great literature. Those of us who love your characters, landscapes, themes, and storytelling are blessed.
Thanks for taking your time. The idea of no Auri breaks my heart as well.
I just recently read The Name of The Wind, and I very much enjoyed it. It was my favorite book that I have read in a very long time, and I thank you for writing. On another note, yes the news is sad that the book is coming out later, and it is something that most would rather not happen, but it is your book, your life and your family. I would feel the same way, but there is no reason to take out how other people will fell on your self. It is very hard to lose someone that close to you, and to learn that someone else that you care about might be lost as well. I am in no way trying to say that i understand what you are going through, but i am saying that it is no ones place to judge you for your decision. Without you there would be no books, and your family is way more important than any thing else in your life. You can delay the books as long as you need, and I will wait as long as it takes.
Well, I just finished reading The Name Of The Wind, and there’s two words I’d like to use here: Bloody Brilliant. I was mildly disappointed about the delay, but then again, I didn’t expect the second book to be out so soon in the first place. At any rate, I could stand waiting for the Dune sequels for years and years, so waiting a few more years for the sequel won’t kill me. (Though it’s highly possible that it’ll be out as early as Fall 2009. Right?)
Sorry to hear about your family troubles. I cannot even begin to imagine how that must have felt or how the hell you finished such an excellent book as Name of the Wind under that kind of pressure/pain. Take all the time you need. I will still read the second book regardless of when it comes out, you dick. P.S. You are the first author who managed to be placed before (I said before as in 1st place with a cookie and a little blue ribbon) LotR on my bookshelf. No one else has ever made it there before. Not Brooks. Not Martin. Not Salvatore. Not Goodkind. Not Jordan. Not Erikson. Not Haydon. My wife was beyond shocked when she noticed. She almost read you book (which is an even bigger compliment considering she would be the one baking your cookie). Best of luck.Don
Hi Pat,You know life tends to pass away faster than we think. Your priorities in life should be your family. The rest follows. The strain that you put on yourself during the last year is inhuman. I would have got a heart attack with such a struggle to accomplish what you have got done during that period. Much as I look forward to your book, I would rather see you happy and comfortable in tending to your family and then writing the book when you are in a proper fram of mind to do so. My thoughts also go to your father who despite his fight with cancer, has been with you throughout and your mother who had the courage and the guts to kick you into attending the meeting while she was so ill. My condolences to you and my regards to your father whom I salute for his courage.RegardsArun
Pat you are a fucking dick and I hate your guts for pulling a Grrm bs on us readers. However I hope your second book coming in April amazing because if it isn’t i am just going to forget you just as i dont give a shit anymore about the crap that GRRM cranks out. All of you dick writers should stop listening to your money men and write from your hearts I know it doesn’t pay the bills but it gives ya immortality of course if thats what you want, you fucking attention whores.
Pat,A lot of people said it very well when they said family comes first. I just finished Name of the Wind and thought it was amazing. Of course I would love to go to the store and read Book 2 immediately, but I appreciate how much you care about delivering quality and trying your best to give it to the readers as fast as possible. Please ignore some of the more callous posts I have noticed. I am embarrassed for those people.My sincere sympathies to you and your family.
Just finished the first book, and I’m speechless (though, thankfully, not “typeless”) with amazement. It’s so good it makes me want to bite the floor. Regarding the publication delay, I’m siding with those who encourage you to take enough time to get it right. I know what you mean about the demands put on a published writer. My sister (Mindy Starns Clark) has eight novels and a non-fiction out, and no life whatsoever beyond fulfilling all her literary obligations. I worked on and off on a novel for years (much as you did, as a way to procrastinate my Lit dissertation in grad school), but once I saw the treadmill Mindy was thrown onto, I decided against taking it any further. I don’t need the ego boost of seeing my name on a jacket badly enough to deal with the stress.I’m not suggesting, of course, that you do it for the ego gratification. A writer must write (I’m a musician who must play, despite the hassles and limitations imposed by the music industry). Just keep it all in perspective and focus on continuing the same astounding level of storytelling quality you managed–without a single misstep–in “The Name of the Wind.” Cheers.
Guys i think for pat’s sake we should all suck this up and be happy he isn’t mad that were all pissy about this whole thing. I think we shouldn’t get mad and enjoy that he’s put so much time and effort into this already. (Anna Schedler)
PAT I GIVE YOUR 100% support for all your desitions. Good luck with the revising. And don’t let everyone get you down! I’m everyone thinks that your terrible for lying and i sorta do too but keep your work going.
Pat, Thanks for your explination and your honesty. I was thrilled to find “Name of the Wind”. I am an avid reader and my biggest complaint is weak structure. I was delighted to find your book, and even more delighted to find that you were writing more. If I have to wait until April for that book, that’s okay. I’ve waited years for a book before, what’s a few more months? Besides my birthday is in April, which means I know now what to ask for. Again thank you for deciding to take your time, I truly believe it will be worth the wait.
Heya Pat,I just finished the book for the second time, and I have to say it was much better this time. Not that it wasn’t everything I wanted and more the first time, but well…ah, hell, why am I trying to describe this. You know what it’s like reading a book again, a little older, a little wiser, a little less drunk, etc. Anyway, I just want you to know that I’ve never considered you a dick, not even for the briefest of moments. Well, there was that tiny part of me screaming it the first time I finished, and realized I couldn’t immediately hop in the old accord and jet to the library to pick up the next book, but I do that with every author so it’s nothing personal. You’re a fantastic writer, and if you need an ego boost today, here it is. When I first read your book, my wife asked me, “How was it?” I (desirous to one day produce my own fantasy novel) responded, “When I write my first novel, that quality and beauty in writing is what I’m shooting for. Rothfuss is my measuring stick, and if I come up a little short, it still might be the best novel that year, unless it’s going up against one of his books.” So there, egos away, my boy! I haven’t lost a mother or father, but I feel for you as much as I can without experiencing it myself. I didn’t post this back when it originally happened (I’ve been wandering your site for quite a little while now) because I wanted time to dull things just a little bit before I put my two cents in. I hope you still read the comments on this page, except the raving lunatic somewhere above this comment. Sheesh! Anyway, take your time, and the only thing I’ll say about due dates is just keep writing. Don’t give up, you’ve got something wonderful going here, something epic. I’ll stop licking your boots now and go to class, but have a great day!
Hi Pat,A friend of mine recently dropped a copy of your first book at my place. As he handed it to me he said “I bought you a copy; its a keeper and merry christmas!”.Now I fancy myself as a bit of a fantasy reader. It has genuinely been a long time since I have read a book cover to cover in a day. I salute you sir, its a rare occurrence indeed. I’ve just looked you up, hoping to find some news on book 2. Imagine my delight to find I only have to wait a few months.I hope all is well at home and you are finding time to revise and revise again. We are all behind you, your readers, the silent legion I now belong to.Keep the faith, we are happy to wait and I look forward to reading your work to my kids as my parents once did to me.Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Pat – I read your first in April of ’08, and was dreaming about where the story would go on the second day. So, yes I was irked to find out I had to wait a whole year for day 2 to come out.However, I’ve waited for books, games, movies, my son, all kinds of things so the irki-ness lasted for all of 2 seconds and was replaced with mind-boggling anxiety! It didn’t matter if I had to wait 3, 4, 5 years or more for the next one to come out. The first made such an awe-some impression I would wait. Months later, as I’m reading more books with my new found free time, I’m checking again to confirm the release date, then found this. No amount of pithy words can wrap semblance to the experience you went through, still, I am sorry for your loss. That’s no excuse to beat yourself up though. We readers are tough, and you can tell the true caliber of fans you have to those who wouldn’t care when the second book comes out as long as it comes out, right? And I must add that it’s unfortunate you no longer teach because I would have attended your class. There’s always creative writing sessions though… ; )
I am sorry to hear about your mom and dad I am sorry about the your fencing gig but the rest , college ,FEMINISTS sounds like you got rid of a bunch of dead weight.
Dear Anonymous. Thanks for insulting me and most of my friends. Why do you think I would hang around with the feminists if I wasn’t one myself? Feel free to die in a fire. Love, pat
I’ve been reading the Wheel of Time series since I was a freshman in high school two decades ago. So,what’s a year here and there in the birth of a saga? Keep plugging Pat, we’ll wait.
Awwww, sad. I just finished reading The Name of the Wind and i wanted to read the next one straight away. It was a good book, i decieded to borrow it from the library because i liked the front cover! Lol One of my fav books
Take your time. Do the books right. Do them well.Just don’t become a tiresome old windbag like Jim Rigney. If you do, and the trilogy becomes a rambling, turgid 16 volume exercise in linguistic masturbation, I’ll be waiting for you in hell.
Patrick, let me first say that I’m a big fan. Second let me say that The Name of the Wind is the greatest science fiction book I’ve ever read. You put so much into the book. And it came out being beyond perfect. From the moment I read the back of the cover i knew that it was a book i would remmeber forever. I can’t even put into words how i feel about the book. I’m terribly sorry about you’re parents. My Dad is an alcoholic and my mom Just got diagnosed with breast cancer. They caught it early so I’m hoping that she’ll be fine. Im so exited for the book to come out this April. I’m almost scared to read it.. I’m afraid that it won’t have the magic and flair that The name of the Wind did. I’m afraid IL be disapointed. But i trust even with all this stuff going on in you’re life you will bring us a book that will shock us and reach into are hearts. I wish I could say more about it , to let it all about how I feel. Words simply seem useless. I will never forget you’re book. Good luck with everything. The best wishes.Dakota.
I just finished “The Name of the Wind”. WoW! Magnificent.Jumpin’up and down that the new book is due in April 2009Thanks.Tommy Ray
PAT!My favorite book ever is The Name of the Wind. In anticipation for the new book, I have read The Name of the Wind 5 times, and will probably read it again before April. I hope all goes well, don’t quit too many things you love. It could hurt more than helping. Hope you can go back to doing what you do after you’re finished with the books (teaching, fencing and everything else). I wish you well and know that you’re parents are very proud of you for the work you’ve done. The Wise Man’s Fear will be kick-ass and that’s a major understatement. The anticipation nearly kills me everyday. I resolved to hide the book to avoid staring at it. Then I lent it to some friends to read and they loved it. We talk about it all the time. You have a great sense of humor and sarcasm and I hope that carries to the next book. I hope to someday meet you. You are and IDOL and role model to a senior in high school on the road to becoming a writer. =] Best of wishes. -Jesse Moore~avid reader of the Kingkiller Chronicle.
Kudos you to for doing all that you do. I like the fact that you refuse to forget us. I’m kinda new to the blogger world. I don’t like the format of blogs. I’m a message board person, but you’re the first author I’ve read who has a personality I like and has the talent to back it up.I do hope you can someday return to teaching and being the awesome leader you are in those groups. Your attitude towards fans is comforting news considering my past favorite authors let their own dogma or con appearances get in the way of their writing. By reading your blog posts these past few days, I have seen you. And you are not the man who looks like he’s gonna screw us over by any means. Thank you. =)
Hi Pat,I just wanted to say, THANK YOU for taking the time off your crazy life to come to California so we could meet you, chat with you, and get our books signed. You are already a Super Star, and you only will get greater. Your after burners are throttled up at full power.I am the older man that had the video camera at Borders in Pasadena. You still need to get to San Diego. Hopefully I will see you at the Com-Con. Too bad this year I will be working in England for whole summer and will miss it this year.Take care of yourself. Your fans will kill you if you die on us.
Hi Pat,Condolences about your mother and I hope your father is doing is well. I just finished reading <>Name if the Wind<> this morning and came here to check when the second book was due out. So this may have been bad news when you first revealed it, but today, for me, it is fantastic news. I only have to wait a few short months! Yay! I’m sure the book will be worth the wait (for those poor bastards that had to, anyway). And greetings from Madison! I hope the snow up there today is as pleasant as it is down here. Take care! I’m so looking forward to the rest of the series.
Pat,Been awhile since I wrote, so thought I’de drop a line and say howdy. Hope you had a great holiday season and had a chance to get some “me” time. All good things come to those that wait, so all of us know that when the next book is released it will be like a second christmas. We’ll all be whooping and hollaring and celebrating! Take all the time needed to get it right, you don’t suck, you are a professional, talented story teller that we all cherish. Oh yea, don’t forget to stop and smell the coffee and kiss yer girl, several ties, the more the beter actually.
Hey Pat, I won’t lie I was really pissed that the second book got delayed. That said anyone who really loved “The Name of the Wind” should have been mad because it was such an amazing book. I was always the kind of guy who saw scifi books and thought it was a waste of time until I read “The Name of the Wind”. It showed me that reading doesn’t always need to be about keeping up with whats going on in the world or to learn the latest published theories. Basically your book made reading fun for me in a way that I have not experienced since I was a kid. And for that I will wait however long I need to. Thanks Pat
I loved name of the wind. i actually read for 14 hours straight and finished it from front to back. anyway, to get to the point, its fine to postpone the book. nothing is more important then your well-being, and that of those around you.P.S. I am a lot younger than you may think :)
I cried when he got his pipes. And so did my friends. Thank you.Take your time, we appreciate it.
Im sorry to hear about your mum and dad. Yet it is good to see you are still doing something you love.Your book is good. Not the best I have Read but probably one of the top 5 I have read.Thanks Liam
About two years back i started reading nonstop, all books about magic, right now I’ve probably read close to 100 books about different types of magic, A lot of the books were good, A lot weren’t my favorite. But your book was absolutely amazing, its definitely in the top 2, I personally love to see the advancement/learning experiences the main character has to go through. Amazing job, I can’t wait to see the next book, hopefully it will be as good as the first, and if we are all lucky, Even better!Thanks!
I’ve just discovered your blog, mostly because I was looking around for decent NAme of the Wind yaoi and came across the post you did on it. And an authour who actually DOESN’T MIND having his male characters getting it on? Fucking brilliant man. I normally get enough abuse from the people reading my sad attempts. I tend to shudder to think what the original owners of the work must think of me. But ANYWAY, on towards the point. The second book is coming out in April??? REalise that I am writing this response AT THE END OF MARCH AND THAT MY BRAIN ALL BUT STOPPED WHEN I REALISED THAT SOON I WOULD BE ABLE TO STOP WHINING AT PEOPLE ABOUT WANTING THE NEXT PART AND ACTUALLY READ THE DAMN THING. And yes, caps lock was totally essential.I am really sorry for you about your mum. I hope your dad got better. My parents died when I was fairly young, my mum from cancer my dad isn a car crash, but even though that was a while ago I can remember how bad it felt. I hope life gets better for you. Good luck with the writing.
No prob Pat! Anything as good as this is worth the wait. U just focus that Alar, and get back on ure feet. Life is what life gives, and takes. And u my friend have recived something most of us only dream of, the most wonderous of minds. Right up there next to mr. Tolkien.ure newest norwegian fan.
I am so sad that only now I have known about your blog. If I had, I would have read this post and said the following:DONT QUIT TEACHING.I had a teacher of Math in NYU, Professor Shapiro. He was this big huge grandfather guy. Great guy. One time a Japanese kid in the program lost his father (suicide). So Prof Shapiro took this kid under his wing and guided him from that point on.I have a feeling that based on what you’ve written on your blog and bio, and based on what you’ve written that you are probably just like this professor. I’ll bet a hundred bucks that you are exactly like that guy. And that means that your daily work is simply too beautiful to forgo for the sake of a book. Even for a fantastic book like yours.I think Name of the Wind is one of the best books I ever read. Period. But I still think that the good you must do with every person you meet is more important.I hope this wasn’t insulting. I have tremendous admiration for you.
While it is a disappointment that book two won’t be released at it’s originally scheduled date…You know what?Suspense makes the best gravy.So, there’s a delay, it just means that when book two is released, the story will seem that much better because I had to wait to read it.Silly instant-gratification society.I just finished the first book this morning (making myself 15 min late for work to do so), having been informed I should read the book by a friend about a week ago.You, Sir, are a fabulous storyteller. I patiently await your next book.
Sorry to hear about your hard times. I know what you mean about mental exhaustion and “pulling a muscle in my brain”. I’ve taken a stab at writing myself and it is incredibly mentally exhausting, especially after the first edit. I also went through some very hard times and as a result, quit writing. I understand well what you were saying.
I was just out looking for your book 2, and when I couldn’t find it I went searching google and found your blog.
I’m willing to wait. Do what you have to, you are an excellent author and had an incredible first book. It would not be good for you, your career, or for your fans, to release a book sub par to the first as so many authors do. You set the bar with the first one, it’s worth the wait time to make sure the 2nd book is at least that good.
Take care Patrick.
dude that sux royally – better luck on the morrow m8. but on the upside, you’re the new Eddings! and i always have the utmost respect for a man who isnt afraid to swear in his blog.
fine work. i hope you’re still young and enthusiastic enough to read comments on your blog, and that ive managed to get one in before you become a jaded prick :)
Ok… so
I will accept that your new book will be another masterpiec that will take 10 years to write, leaving most readers richer for reading it, bu don’t leave your day job,or you probably won’t live to write it.
So when is the release date. It is april 2009 and still no date listed?
Hey! I read somewhere that you will be putting a ranndom fan’s name into your book.. Is this true and if so,, when would you be deciding on which fan?
your book is my new all time favorite now replacing ‘playing the jack’. if there was never another book following your first, i count myself lucky to have the one. thank you.
my father is dying of cancer. we found out too late. between the chemo, the infections, the watching, the waiting, the not ever knowing what is coming next- there is not too much i can bring myself to care about right now except for the immediate. and isn’t it funny how all of a sudden cancer is everywhere? you can’t watch a tv show without someone dying of cancer, drive without seeing a billboard about cancer, go out to eat without overhearing the strangers at the next table talking about how someone they know has cancer, etc etc. it is everywhere, all the time. you cannot escape it or be allowed to get away from it for even a little while. nobody understands until they are there too.
so you do whatever you have to do and don’t worry about anything else.
Is there an updated release date on book 2?
I am new to your enourmous fan club. I read it two weeks ago and immedaitely pre-ordered the next one. I have been telling everyone what a fantastic adventure it is. It was a joy to read. It would be wonderful to read the next two even if I have to wait 50 years! Fabulous!
Don’t worry about being a bit late. None of us would be happy if the final product wasn’t as good as Name of the Wind. Please, don’t let you publisher make you add a couple hundred pages of crap to the third book so they can charge more. It’s very annoying. I’m realy intereseted in how the relationships with Auri, Devi and Fela develop.
I have come to the conclusion, that you have gotten the money and stung everyone on, way to long, that I beleive you are wasting our time.
You can KEEP your precious books 2 and 3 to yourself, I’m done waiting! I will not read them when released and I diffently will not waste my money! Even if you sent them to me, they’d be trash now.
P McClellan, Herndon, VA
Patrick, it might be a good idea to set your commenting system to not allow anonymous posts.
the last one was obviously written by someone trying to get under your skin for laughs. (ha ha. funny. get it?)
Please ignore it completely.
Thanks.
@tickletik – Well, it wasn’t so anonymous as they left their name, city, and state.
Now now… Let’s not go on a witchhunt.
It does make me feel better when people come to my defense in the comments here (or on forums, or facebook, etc) It provides a balancing voice and gives me a tangible reminder that the mouthy person is usually the exception rather than the rule.
But let’s not take it any farther than simple refutation and disagreement. The post I removed gave a good guess at the person’s real name, address, and a google map to their house.
But for all we know, the person who left that anonymous comment was just trying to stir up trouble for P. McClellan.
Trolls are worthy of our ire, but not much more than that. There are other people more deserving of our wrath out there, like child molesters, and people who talk in the theater.
Love y’all, thanks for coming to my defense,
pat
hey pat, have just read this blog & this is my first post…anywhere….ever. the reason? your awesome story and books. like everyone else, I too am waiting for book 2 and will wait for as long as it takes. hopefully, we down here in australia will get the next installment when the rest of the world does.
Thanks Pat =)
Pat,
Don’t worry about the delay. If you don’t have children then you probably don’t understand that those who’ve been rude, crude and uncalled for are behaving like a child in the midst of a temper tantrum. They aren’t getting what they want RIGHT NOW!
I’m 38 and have been reading since I was 5 (yes, reading). I do not “speed read” but I am devoted and since I’ve done it so much for so long, I’m REAL good at it. *smiles* Needless to say, I KNOW a good book when I read one. I have to say yours isn’t … by far.
Wait! Let me explain.
Rarely, rarely do I ever find a book that I’ve finished then immediately turn and flip it open at the beginning to read again. So I can wait for perfection. After all I’ve waited over 25 years for a 7 book series by Jean M. Auel and so far she’s only at book 5. She averages one book every 5 years. Though the last book (5) took over 12 years between publishings.
Kudos! You also immediately upset my top 10 favorite authors.
I will tell you something else, as a general rule, if I have to stop a book a few pages in and start over because it didn’t QUITE catch my attention, I usually set it down for later (don’t have nothing else) reading. Yours I stopped and went back to reread because it sent such great shivers through me.
Because, as a general rule, I can tell within pages whether the author is mediocre, should’nt’ve been published, good, great, excellent, outstanding, or Super Nova.
You, Sir, are Super Nova!
My regards,
WintuSage
Does anyone elese see the dangers inherent with writing something that might be read by an English Professor who is also a published author???(I do).First, my deepest condolences to you and yours in regard to the death of your Mother.. I too lost my Mother to cancer,and I wouldnt wish it on even Ambrose.Pat, I really don’t think too many of us who have read your fantastic first novel could think of you as “a dick” perhaps you are hyperbolizing a touch…anyone who writes as wonderfully as you cannot possibly be ALL bad.I truly,truly enjoyed NAME OF THE WIND,and I wait with great anticipation on the release of the next installation.
Did you hear an echo..? I thought I heard it whisper: <>Pat for president… ;P<>
I don’t think that you have to apologize. You are the one writing the book not us. If you feel that it needs work, then that is your choice and yours alone. I think that NOTW was one of the best books I have read in a long time. I wouldn’t want AWMF to disappoint the standard which you have attained. Patience is a virtue and your book will be the just reward.
Please don’t apologise for needing time to finish a book – nevermind the emotional and physical wherewithal! Writing can be an exhausting process, especially when it produces something as good as your first book. But the end efforts are worth it. If it takes another few years for you to edit book 2, I’m more than happy to wait! (I’m a grown-up, I can cope.) Just hope you enjoy the process and don’t disillusioned with being a really good author!
Frenchie there!
Not gonna make a long post, cause i’m not truly skilled in english but whatever…
I’ll just say that firstly you’re the best author ever, and that the best books of the best authors MUST take a while to come out, you shouldn’t even have to announce the reason for that !
It’s a godly law that humans must gain what’s best in that world after a great struggle, and ours’ll be to wait until April… so what ? If someone was to complain about that, HE will be the real dick…
We’re all with you Pat, see the proof, even a frenchie like me suppot yo with all his might.
_______
Waiting for Kvothe, quickly but not so quickly, Frenchie.
(And sorry for the bad english ;)
Well, instead of me posting something cool to get a book signed, why not stay a few days here in Madrid :)
Actually, quit reading these blog posts and keep up with the revisions… :)
your book changed my life and i have been waiting for the second one to come out forever like everyone else. your style of writing ruined other authors for me. so, keep up the great work and i look forward to future pieces that you create.
thanks
Disappointed, of course, but real life happens to all of us. I can’t imagine the way your life must have changed since The Name of the Wind came out and was so successful… and that’s without the personal tragedies. I’ll wait (maybe not too patiently)for next book which I know will be most wonderful.
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