7/27/99: Hooray! First draft is DONE! ^_^ After months and months of work, I finally got through the whole thing! Now, into revisions ... ^_^; With "Rain", revisions took about three months, but this book's very different and revision time likely will be as well, so I can't put a release date yet. I'm hoping for Thanksgiving, which is later than first expected - but, then again, I wasn't counting on the new work that popped up this summer. Don't worry, though - I'm working hard for you! ^_^ And just for those who were curious, this book's about 35% LONGER than "Rain".

12/16/99: Sorry it took me so long to update! As you can see, I missed my Thanksgiving deadline *sob* and regret to say the book probably won't be out until the spring. I'm sorry! Keeping up with school and the Sailor Moon Novels and the webpage and all the other stuff in my life is really time-consuming, so Children of the Sky is continuously being pushed back. However,I've started the mailing list (which is pretty cool), so you can stay updated with the book's progress. E-mail me anytime at liannesen@aol.com with the subject heading CHILDREN MAILING LIST and I'll add you to it. I've begun work with my online editors, so you know the revisions are finally on their way. ^_^ Stay tuned for updates.

2/12/00: Still at it. ^_^; I've finally decided how I'll do the chapter divisions (a decision I've been struggling with for a very long time), and themes and characterizationsare crystallizing at last. But still, to complete this book, I need more time than I have. But I'm working on it. I'm working! I want this book to be good, so I'm not rushing it. Yet. We'll see what happens come March. -_- Truly, join the mailing list. I've been sending out previews and all the latest info. You're really missing out if you haven't joined the list yet. It won't clog up your box - I only send out one letter a month or so. So join! ^_^

5/6/00: It's been a long time since I last updated my progress, so I must apologize. I'm starting my first crush run (the name I give when I buckle down to finish something) during this month of May. I couldn't tell you how long a crush run lasts - it's anywhere from a matter of days to over a month. If I had a week - just ONE week - where I was free from responsibilities, I could get amazing work on this book done. But, alas, that's not my life (nor anyone else's, is it? ^_^;). May is actually filled with things in my life, from schoolwork to trips to promoting the Sailor Moon novels across America, so the time I spend on Children of the Sky is, sadly, limited. But this is a crush run. So lots of stuff is getting done on this book. And it will be done and ready for printing soon enough. ^_^ I'll be here on the 14th and 28th of every month to tell you of my progress until the book is finished, so visit this page often. As for me ... I'm off to work! *rolls up sleeves*

5/21/00: Sorry I didn't update on the 14th.-_-; Something very frustrating has happened - my schedule until the end of May has been COMPLETELY booked. We're talking sleep loss. And lost time to work on this book! *wails, looks to the sky, and cries, "Why?!"* I'm still gathering my online helper readers, though, so I'm still squeezing in progress on this book when I can. Release date is going to be delayed AGAIN. *cries* I should probably not talk about a release date until I'm very close to printing, because I know you're all sick of me changing it. It's ok, throw rocks at me, I totally deserve it. I'm sorry for letting you all down, especially those of you counting on the book in June. I shouldn't have set that date in the first place. ;_;*sniff*;_; I'll get better at sticking to my deadlines (and picking appropriate ones) for this book, I promise! I'll be back next week to tell you what's going on. I'll try to set a new aprrox. release date when I can. Oh, and come see me at the Meet Sailor Moon Borders event in Livingston, NJ this Tuesday (5/23). Go to my Updates Page for details. Hope to see you there!

5/28/00: Unfortunately, not much new info. The next issue of the Mailing List should be out on the 31st as planned,for all of you who've subscribed. On a different note, the Meet Sailor Moon Borders event was postponed until June 23rd; check out the Updates Page for more info on that. I'll be back here to tell you about book progress on June 14th (the day before my high school graduation, so I may be a little excited ... ^_-). Take care!

6/14/00: Tomorrow's graduation, so after a few days of MASSIVE partying I'm going to have a much freer schedule (yes, I've finished up a lot of OTHER projects lately in order to leave time for this book). So come back on June 28th for my next update here, because I'll have some major progress on the book by then (no joke!). Go to my Updates Page to hear about everything else on this update (Borders event, etc.). See you soon!

6/28/00: Yoshi! I have an approximat erelease time now! Please keep in mind this date is approximate, but with the schedule I wrote all over my calendar last night at 2 a.m., it should be pretty accurate. It looks like the book will be printed and ready for shipping in late August. This means I'll be finishing up the actual book in about a month, then leaving several weeks for printing. I am working on a four-draft schedule. The hardest drafts are the first two, and I'm more than halfway done with the second draft. The second draft is the big one that sets everything into motion; beta readers get it, my special test reader gets it, my artist gets it, etc. If you want to hear this schedule in more detail, I'll be talking about it on the next issue of the Children of the Sky Mailing List. If you want to join the list (free and hassle-free, of course), just e-mail me at liannesen@aol.comwith the subject heading CHILDREN LIST and I'll stick you on and send you all back issues (about five - it only comes out once or twice a month). I should be remodeling this page sometime in July, as well as "Rain"'s page, so be sure to come back often. This page will be updated every week until the summer's over, and the mailing list will be out at least twice a month. It's Children of the Sky Finalization time, might as well be well-informed. ^_^ See you next week!

7/5/00: Things are looking good. Had a meeting with my artist (Amethist) today, and we began discussing illustrations. Revisions are slow but sure; looks like I'll be in front of my Mac a lot these next few days in order to keep up with my revision schedule. ^_^ But, as I said, things are looking good. I should have a massive page remodeling of my main pages for next week's update, and the remodeled version of this page should be up at that point (or soon after that point), so stay tuned! Again, as I said, I'll be here every week. For those of you on the Mailing List, I'm having a minor problem with it that should be fixed soon, but to be safe, be sure to visit here every week so you don't miss any information. See you next Wednesday!

7/12/00: Things are a little choppy, but I'm still making major progress. Since I have a lot of other work until the end of July, I may have to push off Children of the Sky's release date by about a week or so, but we'll see. And hey, one more week's not so bad. ^_^ I'm kinda in a rush right now, but I'll be back next week. New issue of the mailing list should be out within the next few days. Take care!

7/19/00: Received excellent feedback from my test reader (you know who you are ^_^). To hear that the book is a.) Not Too Slow and b.) Not Too Confusing as I had feared is a major relief. Should make the third and fourth drafts easier. ^_^ Illustrations, revisions, and feedback from early readers is all coming along nicely. I'll go into more detail next week. ^_^

7/26/00: I'm sorry I've been so distanced lately. Unfortunately, the book's release date will be postponed another week or two (I have another major project in my life I have to finish up this week). Next week I should have more details on the book's final release date as well as a great pic for the Wishing Star Books my artist will be completing. Sorry such a short update; come back next week, as I'll be done with my current other project and will have more time to focus on Children of the Sky. ^_^;

8/4/00: Sorry this is a late update, but there's some great news! Talked to my printer today, and it looks like the book's printing time is much faster than I had planned. Which means the book's target release date is still late August! No delay, after all! ^_^ If all goes according to plan, the book should be ready for shipping in the fourth week in August (around the 22nd or so). For those of you on the Mailing List, it will be out within the next few days (forgive the delay). Please note that the next issue of the list is the *last* issue until the book is ready for shipping, so come here every week to see how production and whatnot is going. ^_^ And as for that progress, I set aside a date with my typesetter to, well, typeset: August 12/13. Which means I have just over a week to write the final draft. Whee. My Mac's gonna be sick of *me* by the time we're done with this. ^_^ As you'll see mentioned on my Main Page and Updates Page, the next time my webpage (including this page) will be August 14. So I should just about be dropping the book off at the printers then ... pray with me, people. *prays to God she will have finished everything by that time* ^_^; Amethist's been doing the illustrations, and it's been so fun to see what she comes up with. She added some shading effects on Photoshop, and I was totally amazed. The shading looks great! You can see the color pic she did for the Wishing Star books on my Book Page. If you wanna drop her a line and tell her what a great job she's been going, just e-mail her at my e-mail (mailto:liannesentar@hotmail.com) with the subject heading "For Amethist" so I know to give it to her. ^_^ So I'm off to work. I'll see all of you on August 14 ...

8/14/00: *choke* After an all-nighter that lasted until 8 pm the next day, several different covers, numerous printing tests, and lengthy discussions with both printer and typesetter, I am *still* finishing the book. Still. This doesn't mean much for all of you (book may be out two days later than planned), but my personal health (physical and mental) is starting to suffer. :/ Ah, a writer's trials. So no, the book's not at the printer's yet, but I'm dropping it off on Wednesday. That means the books should be ready for shipping the following Thursday. At any rate, I'm updating again next Monday - DO NOT MISS THAT UPDATE. It should have many more details. I'm sorry for all these delays, but I think you guys are going to be very pleased with the final book. ^_^ And please forgive the constant delay of the Mailing List. I'll ship it out by next Monday as well. See you in a week! Now it's off to work another million hours. ;_;

8/21/00: I'm dropping it off at the printer's today. *groans* It just kept getting delayed and delayed and delayed ... well, at least now it's being printed up at last. ^_^ Forgive me for not being more cheerful for being finished, but this book has literally drained my life away as of late. I'll be much perkier when I receive the box of books and can tell all of you that the book's ready to be shipped. ^_^ Ok, as you may have seen on the Updates Page, I start college in four days. So, even though the book should be ready for shipping next Monday or so, I'll just be starting classes and won't have the time to update this page or begin sending books out. I will be updating the following Monday, September 4th, with all the info you'll need to order your copy of the book. That's right, the book goes on sale as of September 4th! Sorry once more for all the delay, but at least the book finally has a solid release date. I hope you you all enjoy the book; it ended up being 50% longer than Rain, and about 100% better. ^_^ See you on September 4th! Don't miss that update!

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