Madeline Miller's Blog, page 2
August 17, 2017
First Chapter and US Cover Reveal
Thursday, August 17th, 2017
I am excited to announce that ! EW published it online, along with the fabulous cover for the US edition. The image they use isn’t a photo, so it can’t do the amazing gold effect justice. Below is a picture that hopefully captures a bit more of the dazzle. A fitting cover for a daughter of the sun! The UK cover is very different but equally exciting–I will be posting that soon.
US Cover
I’ve just sent back the US and UK page proofs, where I sifted through those final snags and typos, so the book is really, truly in the last stage. I’m looking forward to releasing CIRCE into the world, and also getting to catch up on all the books that I missed while I’ve been off working!
Wishing you all a good August and happy reading.
The post appeared first on .
July 18, 2017
UK Bloomsbury Proof!
Tuesday, July 18th, 2017
I was fortunate to get to travel to London a few weeks ago for a visit with my fabulous British publisher, Bloomsbury. They had a pre-proof of Circe waiting for me, and here it is!
Bloomsbury UK Circe Proof
This picture definitely does not capture the full gold-lettered glory, but it’s a little peek into what’s coming. They also showed me the official cover, which is stunning and feels just right for the book. Ditto my US cover. I will post pictures of those as I can. By the way, one of the things I love about this cover are all the details. The small icons in each corner, and on the back too, all resonatewith elements in the story.
While I was in London, I also had the good fortune to visit the British Museum and have a tour ofa number of Circe-related items. Here’s a wonderful mosaic of Oceanos (Okeanos), Circe’s maternal grandfather.
And here’s me with a lion. It’s from the Mausoleum at Helicarnassus, so not remotely Mycenaean but it is from Turkey, and Circe is influenced byAnatolian goddesses in her role as Mistress of the Beasts.
In other Circe news, I’ve just finished my US copyedits for the wonderful Lee Boudreaux books, and will be getting my Advanced Reader Copies of those at the end of August. More news as it comes, and wishing you all a lovely and not-too-hot summer.
The post appeared first on .
June 19, 2017
CIRCE update and publication dates
Hello! I had previously posted with bold intentionsthat Iwas going to offera list of some of my favorite books of last year, but we are now well into June with no such list! My apologies for that, but there is good reason for the silence: I have been working non-stop on the final edits and copy-edits to CIRCE. I still havea few lastchecks to do, but by and large the manuscript is finished, and my editor is sending out early bound copies, which is always exciting.
I can now also officially announce mypublication dates: April 10th in the US, and May 3rd in the UK. I will be doing some book tour stops for both, which I’m very much looking forward to. When I have that schedule, I will post it both here and inmy events.
I will have lots more updates coming down the line, including covers (!) for the two editions, and maybe even excerpts as we draw closer. And I actually am working on a list of some recent books I’ve read/am reading, since there is such a bonanza of Classical offerings out now, including Natalie Haynes� The Children of Jocasta, David Vann’s Bright Air Black and Colm Toibin’s House of Names. But in the meantime, I will leave you with my favorite Homeric description of Circe:
“Fair-tressed Circe, the dread goddess who speaks like a mortal.”� Homer, Odyssey, X.136
(By the way, that word “fair-tressed� is one of those lovelyancient Greek adjectivesthat makes me so glad I’m not a translator and soappreciative oftheir art. More literally it’s: “havingbeautifully dressed hair� but that doesn’t exactly roll trippingly off the tongue�)
Happy well-dressed hair and summer to all!
The post appeared first on .
December 12, 2016
End of the Year and Holiday Books
Hello to all!
I hope that you are having a wonderful holiday season. Thank you again to all the people who sent me notes on social media or through my website about their excitement for Circe! I’m so grateful and appreciative. Your faith in my work will buoyme through the days of edits and copyedits ahead.
Some readershave been in touch about personalizedcopies for holiday gifts. Yes! I am happy to do that through . They are terrificpeople to work with, and if you have any trouble with their site or you have a special issue, just email them and they will figure it out. They do ship to the UK, and may be able to work out otherinternational shipping too. They are a paragon of what it means to be an indie bookstore, and I’m so glad to have found them.
At the end of the year I often like to make a list ofbooks that I’ve particularlyenjoyed or been moved by. That will be coming soon!
Wishing you a warmseason with lovelybooks to read.
The post appeared first on .
October 7, 2016
Circe in the UK
Friday, October 7th, 2016
I am delighted to announce that Circeis going to be published with in the UK sometime in 2018! I lovedworking with the fabulous Bloomsbury team on The Song of Achilles, and amthrilled to be returning for Circe.
I also wanted to thank all thosewho posted kind messages on social media, my website, and elsewhere about the upcoming new book. You have warmed this author’s heart!
Wishing you a wonderful day.
The post appeared first on .
October 4, 2016
CIRCE is coming!
Tuesday, October 4th, 2016
I am thrilled to be able to announce that my second novel, narrated by Circe, the witch from the Odyssey, is in the hands of my US editor, Lee Boudreaux. The book is scheduled, as of now, to come out in the US early in 2018, published by . I am delighted to be working with Lee again, who was my editor for The Song of Achilles, and can’t wait for Circe to find her way to the shelves. More news as it comes–including, very soon, news on the UK edition!
Wishing you all a happy beginning to autumn!
The post appeared first on .
December 3, 2015
Signed Books Available Again!
December 3rd, 2015
I’ve been receiving lots of requests for signed and personalized books, and I’m glad to announce that they are available once more, thanks to the lovely people at Main Point Books in Bryn Mawr, PA!
For a signed copy of The Song of Achilles, and in the “comment� box note that you would like the copy signed, and what inscription (if any) you’d like. Then I’ll come in and sign/personalize, and Main Point will drop it in the mail wherever you’d like.
If it’s a more complicated order, please also feel free to contact Main Point directly, they are very responsive. Their number is:(610) 525-1480, or send an email to [email protected].
I am wishing you all a very happy holiday season!
October 12, 2015
Moving News and More
October 12th, 2015
I’ve finally finished relocating from Cambridge back to the Philadelphia-area. It was very sad to leave behind the fabulous Independent bookstores of Cambridge, especially Porter Square books, which for the past several years has been my bookstore home-away-from-home. If you’re ever in the Cambridge area, you should definitely drop by and say hello! But I’m excited to develop new relationships with the Indie bookstores around Philadelphia, including the very lovely people at in Bryn Mawr and in the city.
Speaking of which, Main Point Books has very kindly invited me to join their Book Club discussion of The Song of Achilles this . I’ll be there to answer questions, speak with readers and sign books. I’m looking forward to it! Main Point Books and I are also going to set up a continuation of my arrangement with Porter Square Books–so if you’re interested in getting a copy of The Song of Achilles personalized by me, please get in touch with them. As we firm things up, I’ll post here with more details and easy links.
Another bit of exciting news: the Bailey’s Prize (formerly the Orange Prize) is hosting a celebration of their last ten years, called t, and I’m thrilled that The Song of Achilles is a part of that. I’m so grateful to the Orange Prize for the opportunities they’ve opened for me personally, but more significantly, I’m grateful for the work they do to bring attention to women writers across the world. .
Finally, I couldn’t close without mentioning that my fabulous US editor for The Song of Achilles, r! I was fortunate enough to get to be one of the authors raving about her.
I hope that the fall season is treating everyone very well, and best wishes for all the days ahead.
Song of Achilles Potential Mini-Series
October, 2015
This posting is long overdue, but I’m thrilled to finally report thatCarynMandabachProductions Ltd., producer of the acclaimed BBC series Peaky Blinders, has optioned the rights to Song of Achilles for a possible television mini-series. I will look forward to providing more updates on this if/as they develop!
August 30, 2014
News and Upcoming Events
Sunday, August 31st, 2014
I’m very happy to announce that Porter Square Books, my local indie, now does international shipping! So those of you outside the US who wanted a signed and/or personalized copy of The Song of Achilles, Porter Square can now ship you one. If you’re interested, .
I’m a few months late on posting this, but . It’s about the Bailey’s Prize (formerly the Orange Prize), my mom and tractor driving.
On to the events:
Thursday, September 11th 2014, 7PM, Newtonville Books, Newton, MA.
The terrific has invited me to lead their . We’re going to be talking about one of my all-time favorite reads, Watership Down. Richard Adams� tale of epic adventure and friendship among a band of rabbits is gripping, poignant and complex. Read it for the first time, or read it again; either way, come join us to discuss!
September 19th 2014, 7:30PM, Newton North High School, Newton, MA
As I , Newton director Melissa Bernstein is staging the second part of The Song of Achilles on September 18th, 19th and 20th. I’ll be doing a talkback after the show on Friday the 19th. (Bonus: if you come to the Watership Down event above, you’ll have a chance to meet Melissa as well).
October 2nd 2014, 7:15PM, LA Library, Los Angeles, CA
I’m also thrilled to be doing an event in Californiaon. I’ll be talking about Homeric adaptation with novelistand Classicist Zachary Mason, who wrote the terrific Lost Books of the Odyssey.
October 28th 2014, 7PM, Porter Square Books, Cambridge, MA
Finally, I’m going to be at , author of A Girl is a Half-Formed Thing, which won the 2014 Bailey’s Prize for Fiction (formerly the Orange Prize).
