Catching, and Getting Caught, Up

On the Vagaries and Pitfalls of Serialization

Morning in Calabresi

When E. Jean, Jen, and I embarked on this venture, we knew we wanted to create a world based on the idea of a story. There is, after all, something to be said for spontaneity—not having a completed manuscript ahead of time was part of the fun. Adding context and sharing extra-narrative details about our characters’ lives—the recipes and the knitting patterns—added to the excitement.

But we also wanted to make sure there was enough of a cushion to withstand any of the curves life throws at us sometimes. In other words, we planned to be far enough ahead of the game in order to account for the commitments, deadlines, illnesses, emergencies, or narrative mistakes that life and fiction can throw at you.

Well, at least we could try.

In addition to the usual intricacies of managing in these times, I’ve been sick for most of the summer (which is why, for those of you who listened, my podcast went on hiatus), Jen has been dealing with teaching commitments and personal family health issues, and E. Jean has been out there trying to save the world for the rest of us—and largely succeeding, I might add).

And then, of course, a problem that was a little harder to work around—I completely screwed up the timeline of the story unfolding in The Italian Lesson. Luckily, the chapters you’ve already read aren’t affected but setting everything right took a lot of unwriting, rewriting, and hair-pulling.

So, that’s been the less-than-ideal state of play. The good news, however, is that we, and Backstory Serial, will be back on track as of tomorrow when the action of Chapter Five resumes. Chapters Five and Six will be published over the next couple of weeks and then we will be all caught up. Plus, there will be a few extra features including a tour of Anne’s favorite place to visit in Florence, a recipe (with wine pairing!), and a new knitting pattern.

We have missed Calabresi almost as much as we’ve missed you. Thank you for your patience. And if, understandably, you have not been patient, thank you for not throwing things.

A presto!