Marriage before Murder
“The Marriage of Mary Russell” started, as many of my more interesting projects seem to, with a conversation with my editor. Was there by any chance, she asked, a short story I’d like to write? One that Random House could use as an e-short, during the build-up to The Murder of Mary Russell, to tease new readers into Russell’s world?
Now, I find short stories a whole lot of work. They don’t take as long as a novel, obviously, but the creation of a world takes energy, whether that world lasts for 50 pages or 450. So if it had just been a matter of providing my publisher with sales fodder, the answer would have been thanks, but no.
However. A short story is also a way to tell small tales, or to explore gaps left by novels, or simply to play with ideas. A story about a particular time in the life of my protagonists interested me. So I said yes.
This business of attracting new readers becomes a growing problem, the longer a series goes. I mean, I love all you guys. Your enthusiasm boosts my spirits on even the bleakest days, and you’re really good about telling your friends HEY THIS IS A GREAT BOOK YOU HAVE TO READ IT RIGHT NOW! However, word of mouth is only one of the ways books get around, and publishing only works if a person keeps growing her readership. So I told my editor I’d be happy to write them a new story to dangle in front of peoples’ noses and infect them with the Russell contagion—er, bring them into Russell’s world, because I knew this story would make you guys happy as well.
During the fall, as I was working on the novel, I was aware of this story simmering away in the back of my head. Unlike some stories, where I can go wherever I want to, this one had certain things it needed to do:
- Because The Murder of Mary Russell has a lot about Mrs Hudson in it, I wanted this short story to involve her as well—with a gentle hint of the lady’s unexpected depths.
- Because this series forms Russell’s memoirs (until she, um, dies) the story had to capture her voice: wit, snark, dry humo(u)r, ornate vocabulary, and a suspicion of double entendre in some of her most matter-of-fact statements (“Did she just say…?”)
- Because more people know Sherlock Holmes than know Mary Russell (I know, hard to believe, right?) the Holmes in this story needed to be spot-on, despite the completely foreign idea of that gentleman and…marriage.
- Humor. And humour. Because why read Laurie King if she doesn’t make you snort, or at least chuckle?
- For devoted fans of Russell & Holmes, stories like this offer me a chance to fill in a few of the gaps left by novels. And really, who doesn’t want to know about the wedding?
- Finally, it’s about a marriage. So although there’s no more overt [(S*X)] here than any of the other memoirs, the reader needs to be aware—needs to see Russell being aware—that marriage, even to a thinking machine, just might have a physical side to it.
I say no more.
Other than: with all these requirements, I am happy with the story. In fact, my feeling is: Nailed it!
At first it’ll only be an e-book, although later in the year it might appear in print.
Release date is March 15. You can pre-order it now, so it pops into your e-reader that morning, for Kindle and Nook (the other formats will come.)
And maybe you’ll even tell your friends they HAVE TO READ IT, too….
I so plan on getting this story as soon as possible. Along with a certain infinity scarf, I’d say I’m bound to have a lovely birthday this March.
Yes!!!
Going to pre-order it RIGHT NOW!!!
I will have to await it in print — I’m not an e-reader person. So, hopefully it won’t be TOO long, before the print version is available!
I have a Kindle reader on my computer so I can read e-books without another piece of tech to haul around. If it is reading on screen that is a problem that doesn’t solve it, but it is buying an e-reader- I love this solution.
Ah, I agree with LJ, for my husband and I also must await print on paper. We octogenarians love to curl up with a real book!
You tend your garden well, and are generous with its bounty.
I will savor this.
This is part of the Russell/Holmes story I’ve always wanted to know. I pre-ordered as soon as it came out. A friend got me hooked on the series, and I in turn got my husband hooked.
Now we’ll fight over who gets the story first! 🙂
I love it when you and other authors write short stories to fill in the gaps between books, or to add more to a character’s background. I have pre-ordered The Marriage of Mary Russell and look forward to reading it as I await The Death of Mary Russell.
Thanks Laurie of a wonderful birthday gift. I will order as a present to myself as soon as it appears.
Best Wishes,
Jan
Speaking of your fanatic fans, I will just say if that scene on the dock didn’t awake Russell to the fact that marriage might have a physical side to it, than she’s been too distracted by her studies at Oxford! And we shall not even speak of the “Bolt-hole moment,” which certainly got my pulses pounding. But then, it may be that I am easily excited…
All this by way of saying I CAN’T WAIT!
Haha – my thoughts exactly. The dock killed me.
Really looking forward to this additional gem. In fact, it is already noted on my calendar.
Please also do the audible version. I enjoy hearing this series very much. It forces me not to skim to get to the ending and the visuals from the descriptive words are awesome.
A mere author has little say on audible versus not, but I think Recorded Books have plans for an audio here, yes.
Done! I will be waiting for the news that my pre-ordered short story is here!!
We’ll call it an Un-Birthday Present… 🙂
Cheers.
I was always a little disappointed that the marriage was skipped over so I can’t wait to read this. My adult daughter and I love the Mary Russell and Sherlock books so I’ll be sure to let her know about this short e-book too. Now I have two MR books on pre-order from Amazon. LOL Looking forward to reading them when they come.
Been waiting for this to be available. I just about never pre-order,, at full price no less(!), but I think I have to have it soonest.
Oh, Laurie! You have me grinning ear to ear! The humor, subtle emotions and Holmes…I can’t wait. This is a series that I just can’t get enough of, you are the best!
Bantam E ordered, pending A&B version being listed! ?
It’s coming out on my birthday. That must mean something. 🙂 Looking forward to it and my husband and I are planning to see you at Anderson’s in Naperville in April. Just waiting for them to get the sign up up so we can, well, sign up. 🙂
janet
I don’t e-book so please get it into print as soon as possible!
Just pre ordered it, can’t wait to read it.
Oh, I do hope Watson gets to attend. I want to see his reaction to finding out his old friend is getting married- and not as a ruse this time!
Consider me another fan hoping for a print edition. They look so nice on my bookshelf I would like to add this to my collection, and of course I’m dying to read about the wedding!
Whoopee! An audio version to come! Thank you so much.
PS I want the print version, too.
Declare the Ides of March… to be Russell Day
Oh, dear. If the only way I can get my “fix” of Mary Russell is to buy a Kindle, so be it. I’m off to Best Buy!