Book Release Update

Hi everyone!

As many of you know, my book was originally supposed to be released summer of this year…but with the change in editors it was pushed back to…

Summer 2013

Now, this is actually a good thing. It gives Harper Collins enough time to market and hype, which I’m thrilled about.

The only downside is that I have to wait another whole year!!! I don’t know if I can take it. J

It’s also interesting having to explain to people how long everything in the publishing industry takes. When I first got my book deal, a lot of people assumed that my book would be available for purchase the next month. To be honest, a year and a half is the norm.

That’s what’s up with me. What’s going on with you all? How’s 2012 treating everyone?

Done!

I’ve finished my edits and submitted the revision to Karen at Harper Collins. I hope the next round is only line edits…so keep your fingers crossed.

In the After also has some foreign interest, which is super exciting. It would be amazing to have my book available in other languages (you may remember we held back foreign language rights from Harper).

Other than that I’ll be working on a detailed outline for book two. Any New Year’s writing resolutions?

Hope everyone one has an awesome new year. 2011 was fantastic, so I have high hopes for 2012!

R.I.P - Unnecessary Characters

I had not one, but two characters that didn’t make the cut. One major and one minor. They just had to go. The good news is that there is no longer a love triangle in my book…yes, I know it’s over played anyway.

It’s strange to get rid of them, but it definitely makes the book flow better. Even so, I’m having trouble weeding out/rewriting all the references.

What about you guys? Ever have to sacrifice a character to the editing gods?

The Never-Ending Edit

Hi everyone…still editing. It may seem like it has been forever and it sure feels that way to me J I’m not a super slow editor, but I’m not super speedy either. Taking time just comes with the territory. I want to make sure I get it right, since this is my first book. It’s also taking double long because my original editor left Harper Collins and my new editor had different suggestions.

What about you guys? Fast with edits, slow with edits?

Editing is Hard!

I know...most of you are thinking, "Duh!" But really, it is. You take something that you love, and mold it into something else (hopefully that you love as well.)

When you edit for yourself, you're completely in charge. When you edit for a group...well, you're still in charge...but when you edit for a publisher you lose some of that control. Not that it's completely a bad thing but it's definitely difficult for someone to tell you they want something done that you yourself didn't think of. I'm learning a lot from this experience, namely, how to be a better writer. How to think, parden the cliche, outside of the box...or  I guess more outside of the book.

What about you all, any good editing experiences, bad ones?

Back From the Fringe

Hi everyone. I just got back from the Fringe Festival in Scotland...thanks for not robbing my house while I was gone :) Edinburgh is an awesome city, really inspiring. I love going there.

What cities/places inspire you?

Since Monday is a holiday I'll be back the week after with another (longer, I promise) post.

The Name Game

Through the editing process, I’ve had to change a few names. One was the name of my creatures, which was too juvenile, one the name of one of my characters, which was too old fashioned, and one was the name of a place, which was just plain stupid. J

The problem is that I still think of these things as their original names. When I’m editing, I have to go through the whole process of reading the name and associating it with the original name to trigger my memory and the story line of the character/creatures/place.

I’m sure I’ll get over this soon and start to think of these things as their new names. What about you all. How attached are you to the names in your writing? Can you easily change these? Or are you like me and have trouble accepting name changes?

Back next week!