As I write, today is Remembrance Sunday. Given the subject matter of the novel, it seems an appropriate date to provide an update. So, where are we with things? 'A Hundred Years to Arras' has an editor, who comes with an impressive pedigree. First up is what's called the structural edit, followed not that long after by a closer edit where no doubt embarrassing typos that I've missed will be pointed out to me (but hopefully not).
If you're not familiar with the way book publishing works, this may seem like an interminable wait, but it's all about making the book the best it can be and preparing for a release that will have the most impact. We're looking at an August 2021 release. No doubt it would have been earlier if not for the pandemic, but that's something that's out of everyone's hands, of course.
So, 2021 will bring the final realisation of the novel. There'll be a point at which we can start to encourage people to order through their local bookshops and/or online, but in the meantime there's still time to become a supporter and get your name listed in the book by pledging a pre-order of the book via Unbound. Any extras at this stage still helps, so feel free if you know anyone who would appreciate becoming part of the journey.
I've been a little quiet on the update front and other writing projects as life has had a way of taking over. I start a new day job in January, which is very exciting, and sadly I've had a family bereavement to deal with. In a way, it's added to the poignancy of the book. Regular followers will know that it was partly the passing of my father that inspired the writing of the novel, and now the process is bookended by the passing of my mother.
It's not just a novel about war. It's about family; it's about remembrance.
From the beginning of the book:
The land sweeps. The mind strays. The soil can be swept away, but the heart is deep-rooted. It always returns. The land, broad and deep, is home. The warmth of the farm and the embrace of the hills, the coldness of the battlefield and the pulse of blood are one in the earth.