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Day 49: The Missing Final Chapter of The Year of Fog
The last chapter of the international bestseller The Year of Fog. Originally left on the editing room floor, this chapter answers some of most common questions the author has received from readers since the book's publication in 2007. This ebook includes a supplementary essay, "The Girl on the Beach: How a Chance Encounter Inspired The Year of Fog."
- GenresFiction
Nook
First published January 11, 2010
5 people are currently reading
241 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Richmond
32 books1,107 followersThank you for stopping by! To read my serial novella, sign up for my newsletter at michellerichmond.substack.com
I also share books I love & glimpses into my writing life on TikTok: @michellerichmondwriter.
I grew up in Alabama and have lived in California for 20 years, with a two-year stint in Paris. My 2017 literary thriller, the Sunday Times bestseller THE MARRIAGE PACT, examines marriage under the extreme pressure of constant monitoring from a powerful organization called The Pact. The Pact promises to help couples have a happy, lasting marriage...but the punishments for breaking the rules are severe. THE MARRIAGE PACT is available in 31 languages.
My latest novel, THE WONDER TEST, a suburban suspense novel set in Silicon Valley (Grove Atlantic in, 2021) was an Amazon Best Book of July. In a starred review, Booklist called THE WONDER TEST "a gripping blend of danger and sharp social commentary on high-stakes education, the 1%, and suburban tropes." The first in a series, THE WONDER TEST introduces a tough and spirited new protagonist, FBI agent Lina Connerly, and her teenaged son Rory.
To get updates, exclusive previews, free audio short stories, and (coming soon) serialized fiction, sign up for my newsletter at michellerichmond.substack.com.
You can also read my true stories of living in Paris, traveling, and writing at wanderingwriter.substack.com
My previous books include the New York Times bestseller THE YEAR of FOG, GOLDEN STATE, HUM: STORIES, NO ONE YOU KNOW, DREAM OF THE BLUE ROOM, and THE GIRL IN THE FALL-AWAY DRESS (stories).
I like to write about ordinary people in crisis: a kidnapping (The Year of Fog), a hostage situation (Golden State), a decades-old murder that became a true crime sensation (No One You Know). My novels are often set in San Francisco and the Bay Area, where I've made my home, but my books also take inspiration from many of the places I've lived and traveled. My story collection HUM (2014) features Americans caught up in espionage, surveillance, and all manner of marital crimes.
If you love discovering new books, or if you've enjoyed any of my books, I'd love to send you my author newsletter! It includes notes on what I'm reading, and dispatches from the writing life. You can sign up for the newsletter at http://michellerichmond.com.
Back story: I knew I wanted to be a writer for almost as long as I can remember, way back when I was a kid growing up in Alabama. I used to write skits to perform for my parents with my two sisters. After graduating from a huge public school in downtown Mobile, I studied journalism and creative writing at the University of Alabama, then worked in advertising, as well as in restaurants and a tanning salon (!) for a few years before enrolling in an MFA program in creative writing. I bounced around the South for a while and lived in New York City for a couple of years, with a brief work stint in Beijing, before settling in Northern California in 1999. I've been writing here in the fog ever since.
My first book, The Girl in the Fall-Away Dress was a short story collection that I wrote during my years waitressing and doing other odd jobs in Knoxville and Atlanta. My first novel, Dream of the Blue Room, was inspired by my time in Beijing. My second novel, The Year of Fog, gathered many rejections before being acquired by a young editor at Bantam. The Year of Fog was a life-changing book in that in allowed me to connect with readers in ways I'd never quite imagined, and it gave me the freedom to pursue writing full time. Writing is my dream job. It's a job I do alone in a quiet room, but because it allows me to connect with readers, it never feels lonely.
I also share books I love & glimpses into my writing life on TikTok: @michellerichmondwriter.
I grew up in Alabama and have lived in California for 20 years, with a two-year stint in Paris. My 2017 literary thriller, the Sunday Times bestseller THE MARRIAGE PACT, examines marriage under the extreme pressure of constant monitoring from a powerful organization called The Pact. The Pact promises to help couples have a happy, lasting marriage...but the punishments for breaking the rules are severe. THE MARRIAGE PACT is available in 31 languages.
My latest novel, THE WONDER TEST, a suburban suspense novel set in Silicon Valley (Grove Atlantic in, 2021) was an Amazon Best Book of July. In a starred review, Booklist called THE WONDER TEST "a gripping blend of danger and sharp social commentary on high-stakes education, the 1%, and suburban tropes." The first in a series, THE WONDER TEST introduces a tough and spirited new protagonist, FBI agent Lina Connerly, and her teenaged son Rory.
To get updates, exclusive previews, free audio short stories, and (coming soon) serialized fiction, sign up for my newsletter at michellerichmond.substack.com.
You can also read my true stories of living in Paris, traveling, and writing at wanderingwriter.substack.com
My previous books include the New York Times bestseller THE YEAR of FOG, GOLDEN STATE, HUM: STORIES, NO ONE YOU KNOW, DREAM OF THE BLUE ROOM, and THE GIRL IN THE FALL-AWAY DRESS (stories).
I like to write about ordinary people in crisis: a kidnapping (The Year of Fog), a hostage situation (Golden State), a decades-old murder that became a true crime sensation (No One You Know). My novels are often set in San Francisco and the Bay Area, where I've made my home, but my books also take inspiration from many of the places I've lived and traveled. My story collection HUM (2014) features Americans caught up in espionage, surveillance, and all manner of marital crimes.
If you love discovering new books, or if you've enjoyed any of my books, I'd love to send you my author newsletter! It includes notes on what I'm reading, and dispatches from the writing life. You can sign up for the newsletter at http://michellerichmond.com.
Back story: I knew I wanted to be a writer for almost as long as I can remember, way back when I was a kid growing up in Alabama. I used to write skits to perform for my parents with my two sisters. After graduating from a huge public school in downtown Mobile, I studied journalism and creative writing at the University of Alabama, then worked in advertising, as well as in restaurants and a tanning salon (!) for a few years before enrolling in an MFA program in creative writing. I bounced around the South for a while and lived in New York City for a couple of years, with a brief work stint in Beijing, before settling in Northern California in 1999. I've been writing here in the fog ever since.
My first book, The Girl in the Fall-Away Dress was a short story collection that I wrote during my years waitressing and doing other odd jobs in Knoxville and Atlanta. My first novel, Dream of the Blue Room, was inspired by my time in Beijing. My second novel, The Year of Fog, gathered many rejections before being acquired by a young editor at Bantam. The Year of Fog was a life-changing book in that in allowed me to connect with readers in ways I'd never quite imagined, and it gave me the freedom to pursue writing full time. Writing is my dream job. It's a job I do alone in a quiet room, but because it allows me to connect with readers, it never feels lonely.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 23, 2017
I don't understand the point of adding a chapter once the book is written. I thought it was free to download, but after reading the comments here, I'm thinking that I might have paid for it without realizing it.
December 31, 2010
Well, this is the book (chapter) that got me to add an ebooks shelf. I don’t have an e-reader so I read this on my iPhone. This (short) short story length piece was easier to read on my iPhone than I would have imagined, given its small screen. It probably helped that this is not a full-length book.
Not only did I give Michelle Richmond's novel The Year of Fog 5 stars, but it’s on my favorite shelf. So, I was very excited to read the author’s blog and find out that this missing final chapter to that book is now available. I always want more. Unfortunately, I don’t own the novel, a situation I should rectify someday, and so I was afraid my memory might not be sharp, but everything about the book came back to me immediately as I was reading this.
This chapter is beautifully written, as is the book, and I enjoyed seeing what happened after the ending of the published novel. Even more satisfying was learning more about exactly how Emma had disappeared. I had fun reading it. Finding a bit more about what happened to Emma and Abby felt very satisfying. However, I do think that the author made the right decision to leave the chapter out of the original book, even though I remember being a tad frustrated having the charaters’ futures left up to my imagination. I’m delighted that I had the opportunity to read it now though.
Not only did I give Michelle Richmond's novel The Year of Fog 5 stars, but it’s on my favorite shelf. So, I was very excited to read the author’s blog and find out that this missing final chapter to that book is now available. I always want more. Unfortunately, I don’t own the novel, a situation I should rectify someday, and so I was afraid my memory might not be sharp, but everything about the book came back to me immediately as I was reading this.
This chapter is beautifully written, as is the book, and I enjoyed seeing what happened after the ending of the published novel. Even more satisfying was learning more about exactly how Emma had disappeared. I had fun reading it. Finding a bit more about what happened to Emma and Abby felt very satisfying. However, I do think that the author made the right decision to leave the chapter out of the original book, even though I remember being a tad frustrated having the charaters’ futures left up to my imagination. I’m delighted that I had the opportunity to read it now though.
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January 3, 2011I liked getting the after the fact view of what happened. I think the book is stronger without this chapter, leaving it out was a good choice.
While I enjoyed reading this, and getting the wrap-up it provided for the events of the book,I'm not sure it was worth the $1.99 I paid for these 8 pages (including 2 describing the inspiration for the book).
While I enjoyed reading this, and getting the wrap-up it provided for the events of the book,I'm not sure it was worth the $1.99 I paid for these 8 pages (including 2 describing the inspiration for the book).
February 14, 2011
A fitting end to what was rather a hanged ending to the original book, The Year of the Fog. The author's note on how the book was thought up was also a great after notes. But really, to pay an extra $1.99 for just five minutes of reading time? I hope this won't be a trend for all of Ms. Richmond's books.
Read
July 15, 2011Ah....closure. Not worth $2 though :-/ 8 pages, really?!
April 13, 2011
This is a much better ending to "The Year of Fog." I appreciated the rest of the book better after reading this.
July 27, 2011
I can't believe I wasted my money on that last chapter, it was just as much of a let down as the rest of the book...i was hoping it would redeem the book, not make it worse.
August 19, 2012
thankyougoodreads! never knew this existed and now I can't wait to read it
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews