Gail Carriger Answers: What Happens to a Book After a Rough Draft?
I talk about what the editing process is like and why it takes so long to get into your hands.
Book in question is THE DRATSIE DILEMMA by GL Carriger. 4th in the San Andreas Shifters series is up for preorder NOW. Coming December 1, 2024.
The Chirrup (my newsletter) learned all about it first.
Lipstick I'm wearing: MAC Ruby Woo
Tea I am drinking: Deep Blue Abyss from Tea Punk Teas
Event in Salt Lake City, Utah? December 4th, 4pm-8pm = Gail Carriger & Piper J Drake at Under the Umbrella Bookstore
More about my struggles writing PRUDENCE here.
Hot air balloon lamp shades
Steppy Steppy (Sunny health) (used to be A LOT cheaper)!
About The Dratsie Dilemma
Trick, the otter shifter (and everyone's favorite barista), is running from a past he can't forget, and has accidentally landed in the surprisingly warm embrace of the local werewolf pack.
Everything is going swimmingly, until the merfolk show up. Mermaids en masse are a problem for everyone. This particular pod is guarded by one very powerful, very sexy merman - which mean's Trick's past has finally caught up to him. That past is grumpy, slippery and has been looking for Trick for over a decade.
If you pre-order directly from me you can read the first chapter (in rough draft form) right away. Plus it will release to you early! https://gailcarriger.com/sas4_yt_direct
featuring: a semi-normal schedule at work, a plethora of romance & erotica, and my continued obsession with Gail Carriger
Meat Cute: The Hedgehog Incident by Gail Carriger: prequel short story set in the parasol protectorate series, the story of alexia and conall meeting; features characters from the finishing school series
The Curious Case of the Werewolf That Wasn’t by Gail Carriger: prequel short story set in the parasol protectorate series, alexia’s father, alessandro’s egypt adventure, featuring floote
Romancing the Inventor by Gail Carriger: novella focusing on Genevieve LeFoux finding love while indentured as a drone
Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger: first in the finishing school quartet, takes place before Parasol Protectorate series; theres a giant dirigible finishing school for young ladies where they learn manners sure, but also how to be spies
Harry’s Trees by Jon Cohen: a novel about grief, nature, family, standing on your own feet, trees, and the power a newcomer to a small town has to affect change
Curtsies & Conspiracies by Gail Carriger: book 2 in the finishing school series, must read in order
Waistcoats & Weaponry by Gail Carriger: book 3 in the finishing school series, must read in order
Manners & Mutiny by Gail Carriger: book 4 in the finishing school series, must read in order
Poison or Protect by Gail Carriger: sequel novella to the finishing school series focusing on Presha, read finishing school books before this one
Defy or Defend by Gail Carriger: sequel novella to the finishing school series focusing on Dimity, read finishing school books before this one
The Archive of the Forgotten by A.J. Hackwith: book 2 in the Hell’s Library series, must read in order
Prudence by Gail Carriger: book 1 in the Custard Protocol series, takes place 15ish years after the Parasol Protectorate ends. Alexia’s daughter, Prudence, who goes by Rue, is almost 21 and off to see the world in her new dirigible, hijinks immediately ensue
Imprudence by Gail Carriger: book 2 in the Custard Protocol, must read in order
Competence by Gail Carriger: book 3 in the Custard Protocol, must read in order
Reticence by Gail Carriger: book 4 in the Custard Protocol, must read in order
Ex Libris: Confessions of a Common Reader by Anne Fadiman: an essay collection about reading, books, library organization, and the power of the right story, super quick read, delightful, all time favorite
Romancing the Werewolf by Gail Carriger: sequel novella, follows Professor Lyall and Biffy (werewolves) as they are reunited, most of the action is concurrent with the Custard Protocol books
How to Marry a Werewolf by Gail Carriger: sequel novella following Major Channing Channing (yes that’s his real name) as he finds love
Marine Biology by G.L. Carriger: prequel short story in the San Andreas Shifters series
The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa: romance novel, on the day of the wedding, the groom backs out and leaves his best man and brother to be the one to tell the wedding planner bride. years later she runs into the brothers again while interviewing to be the head of wedding events at a DC hotel chain. the long form interview forces her into working one on one with the best man. sex on the page.
Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall: son of a famous rock and roll icon needs to clean up his public image to get donors back for the charity he works for, and the only way to do that is to be seen in a stable relationship with a man rather than going out clubbing all the time. enter uptight and neurotic friend of a friend who needs a date to his parents’ wedding anniversary party. spoilers: they fall in love for real, lots of dramatic showing up on people’s doorsteps
How to Bang a Billionaire by Alexis Hall: erotica, sex on the page, BDSM, Arden St. Ives gets a literal billionaire to donate to Oxford and when they meet at the donor dinner sparks fly; drama unfolds when they both have more feelings than they know what to do with; proceed with caution; trigger warnings for drug use, bad BDSM etiquette, alcohol use, almost non-con
How to Blow It with a Billionaire by Alexis Hall: book 2 in Arden’s story, probably don’t need to read the first one first, but it helps, erotica, sex on the page, BDSM, arden and caspian continue to have too many feelings, and caspian ends up actually sharing some things for once; trigger warning for emotional abuse, discussion of underage sex, bad BDSM etiquette, alcohol use
I’m not including it in the official count, but please know that I got a signed copy of the 8 chapter sampler of Call Down the Hawk at BookCon and read it at least a dozen times at the beginning of the month.
1. Bloom - Kevin Panetta
This was sweet and had some really beautiful art. I do think some aspects of the story were lacking a little bit of something, but I’d still recommend it.
2. The 5th Gender - GL Carriger
Equal parts sweet and weird. I very quickly gave up trying to figure out all the genders, but it’s fun.
3. Fix Her Up (Hot and Hammered #1) - Tessa Bailey
Perfect amount of angst and happiness. And I can accept some of the cheesier/unbelievable moments because the banter was so on point.
4. Arctic Wild (Frozen Hearts #2) - Annabeth Albert
I will read anything she writes!
5. The Friend Zone - Abby Jimenez
Romance novels are supposed to punch you in the heart and make you cry, right??? Because I loved Josh and Kristen but I absolutely wept through the last quarter of the book. Like, I saw the author on a “romcom” panel at BookCon and all the authors talked about how their books were romance but still included real life struggles, but I was not prepared.
6. Red, White and Royal Blue - Casey McQuiston
YES. This is absolutely in the running for one of my favorites of the year. In the acknowledgments, the author said she was writing this in 2016 as an "escapist, trauma-soothing, alternate-but-realistic reality," and that's officially the new standard for all books on my list going forward.
7. All For The Game series (The Foxhole Court #1, The Raven King #2, The King’s Men #3) - Nora Sakavic (reread)
Why am I doing this to myself? Why am I obsessed over this absurd series?
8. Captive Prince (Captive Prince #1) - CS Pacat
This was okay. Like I get why people obsess over it, even though Damen's kind of an idiot. But honestly, I was reminded of Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey, and this really paled in comparison.
9. The Unhoneymooners - Christina Lauren
So cute! Enemies-to-lovers AND a fake relationship?? Obviously, I was going to love this. And even when I didn’t totally agree with Olive and Ethan’s choices, I still really really enjoyed their story.
10. Persuasion - Jane Austen
The reread I’ve been waiting all year for, since joining the #ArdentlyAustenBookClub on Instagram. Still my favorite! I adore Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth.
The most fun I’m having with this cover is when I show it to people it always reminds them of something specific. My mum said "the intro credits to the David Suchet Poirot mystery series" (she's a devout cozy mystery fan). Beret Black Pudding said Jodi Taylor's Time Police spinoff series. A couple friends have said Metropolis. One chirrup subscriber said "an advertisement for a Busby Berkeley performance."It's a series? Yes, a trilogy. The following 2 books are already written and will ALSO release in 2023.
Preorder with most vendors.
Preorder it directly from me (will let you read the first chapter right away)
The cover artist is Paul Sizer and he has been a joy to work with.
Mini FAQ
Release date? June 1, 2023
It's a series? Yes, a trilogy. The following 2 books are already written and will ALSO release in 2023.
What age reader? I would call it YA, so good for teenagers and older but really depend on the kid in question. As always, I advise reading it yourself first, you know the child better than I ever would.
Where's the audiobook? Audio is in the works but this will take a lot more time and is extremely expensive to produce, so please be patient. Here is why.
Where's the print version? Print edition is coming, it will release on or as close to June 1 as possible. Here is more on print editions and why so complicated.
This is a sample G.L. Carriger's San Andreas Shifters novel: The Enforcer Enigma! Narrated by Kirt Graves.
You can find it here.
THE ENFORCER ENIGMA
A werewolf without rank or hope and an enforcer who has lived too long go up against the selkie mob. Charming urban fantasy from New York Times bestselling comedy author Gail Carriger.
ENFORCER
Judd has wandered from pack to pack his whole life, searching for wolves who will accept him for who he is and who he loves. Now he believes that he’s finally found the right pack and the right man.
NERD
Rejected by his family for being gay and geeky, Colin has never fit in with werewolves, yet now he is one. He doesn’t know how to react when Judd starts courting him. He’s even more lost when a famous singer, the selkie mob, and the feds also start chasing him.
Can Judd protect Colin and still prove his love? Can Colin figure out why enemy shifters are invading his favorite cafe? And what’s with all the gold sparkle? Find out in The Enforcer Enigma.
Delicate Sensibilities?
This paranormal romance contains M/M sexy times, horrible puns regarding country music, and men who wear suits without shirts underneath. If you get offended easily, then you probably will. The San Andreas Shifter stories include blue language, dirty deeds, and outright admiration for the San Francisco Bay Area. Not for the faint of heart (or mouth or tongue).
