Revisions, revisions

My new, cool editor contacted me yesterday wondering why I hadn’t responded to his questions about The Buccaneer’s Apprentice. The short answer? I hadn’t actually received his questions about the manuscript. In fact, I’d kind of wondered yesterday morning why I hadn’t heard from him yet.

A tense few minutes followed my response, in which I imagined everything that might be happening in the near future. Things like, Sorry, this isn’t working out, we’re canceling your contract, to Listen, this book sucks. Could you write another by the end of May?, to We like your concept and characters, but could you change the plot and setting and theme in your next draft? All bad things naturally, because lately my imagination has no room for anything else.

But no. New Cool Editor merely wanted to say that the manuscript was spot on, and that he wanted to know if I intended to insert epigraphs from imaginary books at the start of every chapter, the way that I ended up doing for The Glass Maker’s Daughter. And if I could draft up a map, of course. The only change he wanted, in fact, was a slight revamp of the first page. Other than that, he thought it was great.

Which means, of course, that I get to keep the scene in the brothel. And that the hero is essentially the adopted son of a same-sex couple. I like to think of myself as subversive in tiny little ways.

Booklist Review

A really nice review, this time from the American Library Association’s Booklist magazine:

The Glass Maker's Daughter
V. Briceland

This captivating fantasy takes place in a city rich in history and sensory detail. Cassaforte, reminiscent of medieval Venice, is protected by an ancient enchantment tying the king to the seven caza, noble families of craftsmen, by virtue of a nightly fealty rite. Missing the rite is disastrous, and when the king disappears and the prince stages a coup, imprisoning the cazzari and their heirs, everyone is in danger.

Risa Divetri, the youngest daughter of Caza Divetri, has always felt misunderstood: her glasswork is different from her family’s, and because neither god chose her during the ceremony all children of the Seven undergo, she can’t learn the Divetri’s glasswork enchantments. At first ashamed and humiliated, Risa is now the only one who can save Cassaforte, and she realizes that the gods have another fate in mind for her.

Risa is a willful, capable, and caring heroine, and her bantering relationship with a cheeky guard provides a nice touch of romance. With suspenseful plotting and a marvelous cast of characters, this is a strong addition to female-centered fantasies.

— Krista Hutley, Booklist

Locus Review

V. Briceland, The Glass Maker's Daughter

A heroic young woman saves a city in this charming young-adult fantasy. Cassaforte is a city of islands and canals, with seven noble houses, or cazas, each with a magical talent for a particular craft. Risa is a daughter of Caza Divetri, famed for its glass; she enjoys working with glass, and looks forward to going to one of the two schools that teach the children of the cazas the spells they need. But the gods fail to choose her for either school, something unheard of. Without the magic, her glasswork is unwanted, and Risa feels unwanted herself, despised as unchosen, looked down on as a mere female, and her innovative glassmaking ideas rejected. Then she becomes aware that things aren't right in the city, and finds the gods may have a special role for her, as with the help of an odd old man and a young guard she investigates an attempt to overthrow the rightful rulers of the city. --Carolyn Cushman, Locus

Yes, that's me in Locus, the science fiction and fantasy magazine, immediately next to reviews of Alan Dean Foster and Jody Lynn Nye and other people who have three names.