The Distant Hours is done!
Monday, September 27, 2010 at 11:35AM 
Which means I'm back in the real world and it feels wonderful. That is, it does now. It didn't immediately.
The final period of a book's creation is such a dense and lush and all-encompassing place to be, that when the final pages are finally wrested away and sent to the printer, there comes an inevitable slump. A hole. A gap. A nervy, tic-inducing period in which people say things like 'you must be so pleased', and 'now it's time to relax', and although you smile and nod, what you really want to whimper is 'but I miss them all so much!'
At least that's how it always plays for me. It doesn't last forever (the new characters 
and stories are too determined to let that happen) but it's a dazing and distancing time, characterised by a strange sense of something that feels an awful lot like loss. I find myself standing in my office, aimlessly surfing my computer, rearranging my desk, flicking through my research books, and feeling oddly unsettled.
Then the ARCs go out, the first editions arrive at my door (pictured here are the Australian and the UK Distant Hours; my ears are tuned to the doorbell awaiting the courier with the US edition), and slowly, slowly, a few eager, early books begin to find their way to readers.
And that's when the sense of being untethered starts to disappear. Because no matter how much I adore writing, no matter the pleasure my stories give me, it isn't until books are read that they really start to breathe.
***
PS There's a brand-spanking Events page under construction that will list all the upcoming tour dates. Until it's finished, though, US readers can find details here.
Reader Comments (10)
Hi Kate! I'm Sara, writing from Italy, and I must say that...if you aren't pleased now it doesn't matter, I'm pleased enough for both! :):) It's amazing that you love so much your characters, I think it's quite like the moment we, the readers, finish reading your books and desperately try to find a way to make them last one more minute, because we feel abandoned, as if a part of us has been attached on the papers and it was such a pain when we close the book! The Distant Hours will surely be a success, and I can't wait for the translation into Italian, I wish you had a date also here!
Hughs and kisses,
Sara
When does The Distant Hours come out in the US?
I loved reading this entry - and anticipating the "maybe someday" feeling, for myself. (I'm an aspiring, currently-unpublished author ;-).
Just wanted you to know how much I'm enjoying "The House at Riverton." It's the first book of yours I've read, and I love the rich imagery, or as I tell my Creative Writing students - the "poetry inside the prose." I even read a passage from it yesterday in class, as an example of that.
Can't wait to read "The Distant Hours!"
I just finished Distant Hours, and feel that I'm just coming back into the "real world" myself. I loved, loved, loved the book, and plan to give at least one copy as a gift. I read mine via Kindle, so did not see the cover or endpapers, but so enjoyed the characters, the plot complexities and twists, and the beautiful descriptions used. I hated to finish it, and at the same time couldn't wait to do so. The real sadness is that now I have to wait for another book of yours to come out!
I have just finished listening to the Distant Hours as an audio book. What a fantastic book - I was rivited and just wanted to listen 24 hours a day until I found out the answers to the many riddles. Along with the Forgotten Garden these had to be the best books I have read in a long time. Thanks Kate, I can't wait until you write another - you are going to write another arn't you? (Adelaide reader)
I just finished reading, or rather listening to, The Distant Hours. I have NEVER had an encounter with a book such as this one! The story haunted me so much I was up late into the night evaluating the events and characters.
***SPOILER ALERT***
I guess Percy burned down the castle because she couldn't stand anyone else getting his\her hands on it? I kind of thought Meredith would have one more encounter with Juniper... The end...the bit about the ghosts in the flat...was PERFECT! The Distant Hours was the most hauntingly beautiful books I have ever encountered....and I have been a reader since an an early age.
Anyway, I have also listened to The Forgotten Garden and I am now a loyal fan :) I have to listen to rather than read most of my books because I have two kids and am a musician.
Hi - I have all your three novels, and have already finished The House at Riverton which is my cup of tea. I notice that you mention Herbert and Rita Davies in your acknowledgements, and wonder how you knew them. I realise they have passed away now, of course. However, I knew them both when we worked in the BBC in Cardiff, Wales in the 1960s and lost touch with them when they moved to Australia. I'd love to know how you got to know them. I am looking forward to reading the other two novels now.
Hi Kate,
My name is Kelly and I'm writing from Canada. I have just finished reading both The Forgotten Garden and The House at Riverton. LOVED both books so much that I didn't want either of them to end. I'm very much looking forward to being able to buy The Distant Hours next. Do you think that you will be touring within Canada any time soon? It would be wonderful to be able to catch up with you in person.
I have read the Shifting Fog and The Forgotten Garden and loved them both. Today I have just finished The Distant Hours. I could not put it down until some mysteries were solved and you solved them well. Sometime mysteries leave you hanging or are inplausible. I love your style of writing and have even written some paragraphs into my book club diary to read to others. They are absolute poetry. I can't wait for your next book.
Kate Morton wrote:
Hello Kay, thanks so much for your message. I'm really glad that you enjoyed The Distant Hours, especially the mystery solution. Your book club diary sounds great: what a lovely idea to keep a journal with favourite bits and pieces recorded inside. The next book will be published late 2012. I'm writing it now and having such a good time.
Happy reading,
Kate
Kate Morton wrote:
Hi Dianne, it's lovely to hear from you and I'm so glad you enjoyed my books (the next one's underway and I'm pleased to say that I'm loving it. Publication will be late 2012). How brilliant to learn about your sister and Herbert! I loved your description; I found Herbert on that deck many times myself. He and Rita were wonderful people, meeting them had an enormous impact on my life. I feel very fortunate to have known them both.
All best wishes, Kate