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Behind the Scenes

THE MAKING OF RELIC - A Guided Tour

"There is one question that we, as writers, are asked far, far more often than any other: How do two people write a novel together?

We have tried to answer this question elsewhere on this site. But there is no substitute for example. And so, as a service to curious readers, we hereby present a detailed, behind-the-scenes tour of the creation of our first novel, RELIC, taken from files in my personal collection and from the pages of my correspondence with Doug Preston. I hope you'll allow me to be your guide."

--Lincoln Child

 

The Making of Relic - Part One
 
The story starts on a summer evening in 1988... [more]
 


Proposal for a Novel
 
The first working document of the first Preston-Child novel, dated July 11, 1988. [more]
 


The Making of Relic - Part Two
 
Many new and intriguing new ideas emerge. [more]
 


Letter from Lincoln to Douglas
 
"That first chapter is marvelous--highly evocative and gripping..." [more]
 


The Making of Relic - Part Three
 
The manuscript of Relic had a slow germination... [more]
 


Conversational Notes
 
Notes from Lincoln Child's conversation with Douglas Preston. [more]
 


The Making of Relic - Part Four
 
Eventually manuscript is submitted to an agent. [more]
 


Revising Relic
 
Memo from Lincoln Child to Douglas Preston. [more]
 


The Making of Relic - Part Five
 
Relic is finally on its way to being published. [more]