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hi, new here, and just love all fiona's books. was totally thrilled when fiona emailed me back a few years ago so imagine how i feel now seeing that she actually answers the members, was just logging on to see when goddess is due to be released as i am dying to finish,as i suppose we all are and just noticed that you also write childrens books, will defiently be buyng these for the kids for xmas in the hope that they will love her books as much as i do. well just want to say its nice to see that you are down to earth and obviously think as much of your fans as they think of you, so thanks and keep up the great work and i will personally be looking forward to all future works, you defiently have a devoted follower in me . have great one all, see ya.

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Hello there I'm really sorry that I can't see your name at the board....is it kristi? Let me know. Hate to just talk 'at' you. How very kind of you to write and say such lovely things. I'm glad the books bring you such pleasure and you can be sure I'm writing as hard as I can to get Valisar ready for submission worldwide in December. It will likely hit UK in hardback first, then Australia in trade for November 2008 and US in trade probably around the same time. Now Goddess will be released across Australia in trade format at the end of November - probably around the 26th is the earliest most bookstores will get it onto shelves. PLEASE READ SLOWLY! It's a year between fantasy books these days (and not my decision for it to be that way) Which is why I might guide you to a new novel called Bye Bye Baby by a debut crime writer, Lauren Crow. I know her extremely well and if you like crime and you as you enjoy my books, I think you might find some extremely genuine similarities in the storytelling Her website is: www.laurencrow.com (but only if you enjoy Brit crime) Thanks also for trying out the Shapeshifter series with your children. Probably best suited for eight, nine, ten year olds. Drop in again - always love to talk to readers. Bye for now. F

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Omg, yes it is kristi and as you can see I get very excited easily. It is extrememly cool to have one of your favourite authors writing back to you.

Well I do read a bit of everything including crime so I will defiently buy the book you have suggested , as will I be buying the childrens books and reading them with my son at xmas time. He is almost 8 and as you probably know it is not so easy to instil a  love of reading as some people just dont read, so here's hoping my boys love it as much as I do.

Ok, so will head off and just wanted to say that waiting a year for another book although not an ideal situation, is one that builds anticipation i suppose and it does not really matter  because when I see your  books about to be released I get hugely excited and that is all that matters. I think reading should be an experience to look forward to and I will be looking forward to a new series, even if it is 12 months away. 

Well thanks for writing back fiona you don't know how much that means to me , kristi

 

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Hi Kristi, Welcome to the BB, and I must add that I was in a similar boat when I first joined up about Fiona writing back to me as well. It does add another dimension to the books that you read. I can thoroughly recommend Bye Bye Baby by Lauren Crow, if you are looking for a book to tied you over. You will definately find that the writing style is similar to Fiona's in her fantasy books so you should enjoy reading it just as much. Anyway, welcome again and don't forget to drop by the other forums including Fun and Games and join in in any of threads that take your fancy. We always welcome new input and ideas in any discussion. Ciao Ailsa

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HAIL the fantasy writer!

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I know exactly how you feel Kristi. Fiona was the first author who I'd ever bothered to email to say how much I enjoyed the book and I was amazed when I got a response - a fast response too! An actual response!! Not an automatically generated message even. On that note.. Fiona, have you ever really thought about the sort of elevated (celebrity?) status that I'm sure many of your fans/readers give you? I'm sure if it were an author who was on tv a lot, or who had books converted into movies, they would realize it. But I wonder if authors who aren't in those boats do..

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That's an interesting question, Maniac. The thing is - and this is probably something few of you consciously realise - is that I give you guys elevated status. I think you're all marvellous and this is not just me spouting rhetoric. I come to this board eternally grateful each day that I have a readership base who not only offer endless support and friendship but you lot rush out and buy the books the moment they're released and you tell other people about them. You're amazing! Amazing to me and I have to pinch myself sometimes that I'm lucky enough to have all of you on my side. I consider myself one of the luckiest fantasy writers alive to have a small army marching beside her and to be able to talk to a gang of people on a daily basis who respond, answer questions, join in competitions, visit often, tell me what they think of not only my books but plenty of others. Stop and think about how much I can learn from just the regulars who post at this board. You are a welath of information for me. And at the end of the day you are the people who will always give me a pat on the back. This is a lonely business what I do. No one can help me, no one can get into my head and sort through the tangle or see the clear path for the story. I have to work it out and a lot of the time I'm just freefalling and hoping the story will somehow work itself out if I just sit here and keep tapping away at the keyboard. And as 'celebrated' as you may think I feel, I don't. I sit here with no make up, cargo pants and a t-shirt, with my silly red glasses that keep slipping off my nose and I feel terrified that Valisar won't deliver what you want. This is real terror but then I felt that way about Percheron and the Quickening before it. I almost didn't give Myrren's Gift to my editor because I thought it was just plain stupid and no one would want to read such a quirky tale. So you guys are my solid foundation, the ones I need, the ones I'm ever grateful to for always being so generous and so I will never stop writing to all of you or answering your questions or joining in your discussions. You are my link from this quiet little leafy garden studio in Adelaide to the outside world. You talk to more people than I ever could. You are my chain of command and my bedrock! THANK YOU!!!! p.s. any author not staying in touch with his or her readers - who allow him/her to keep writing in other words - is daft!

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Just to clarify, I didn't mean anything beyond that many fans view their favorite authors as something like celebrities. I wasn't implying that you should feel any which way elevated by it. Personally, I think that the authors really need to remain down to earth to continue doing what they do. If cargo pants, t-shirts and frustrating glasses are part of your wonderful book-spawning repertoire, then don't change a thing I say. Oh and Fiona.. I really will rush out first thing in the morning to pick up my copy of Goddess. And by the Goddess (har, pun), I'll have read it by the end of the day! Furthermore, I'm sure I - and the rest of your fans - will love every minute of the final leg of the wonderful journey.

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Good morning all, firstly can I say thank you to Ailsa, Maniac and Fiona for replying to my post. I have always been put off by forums and chat rooms as I find them very clicky and hard to access so this is a pleasant surprise for me. Ok I wanted to say that that yes I do rush out and buy the books as soon as I am aware of them (which now I will know straight away, and did so on monday to buy the shapeshifter series, 2 to be exact for xmas presents, oh buy the way does anyone know where I can get the Whisperer?)and I was telling the girl in the book store who by the way loves fantasy and has never read any of fiona's books (I know I was shocked too lol)that she was defiently my favourite fantasy writer. So I agree that word of mouth is probably Fiona's best friend. I don't know how many people I have told about her books so I can see why you are also appreciative of us. Also I wanted to say that the reason that I love Fiona's books is because not only are they fantastic storylines that pull you in quite quickly they are never dull, I don't know about anyone else but if you can't pull me in within the first 50 pages then I have to say see you. For instance I am just finishing the last book in a series at the moment and although I love the storyline of the books,I have to say that it is a struggle as I find that the book is more descriptive than storyline and I find myself pushing myself to read it all just so I can finish the series, which by the way I hate. So now to get to the point, although I know that is human nature to not trust in ourselves enough I really don't think that you need to worry to much Fiona, I personally think you get better with each series and I'm sure you have a devoted fan base with me amongst them. So that is it for me today and I will write again soon. Kristi

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Here here Maniac!! 

I will be going into a book store at some point on the day of the release of Goddess and I don't care what that price is I will have that book!!

And Fiona, I want to thank you for those beautiful words about us fans if I wasn't at work I would probably be crying. I am glad to see that in some quirky way I, in my own little corner of this universe, am able to help a fellow human being achieve their dreams and goals just by typing a few words.  Keep going because I definately will keep promoting your writing and you as a person for the kind and down-to-earth personality that you are.

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HAIL the fantasy writer!