Today I’m indulging in a little good news sharing. Got the line edits for my Harlequin NASCAR book, THE ROOKIE. The revisions on this book were draining. It’s not a good sign when the opening paragraph to the six and a half-page revision letter starts out, “We like the premise.” I went about 20 days over the amount of time I’d allotted to revise it. I cut some stuff, I added some stuff and by the end of revisions, the book was sixty pages longer than when I started the process and I was ten pounds heavier with absolutely no perspective on what I turned in — I just knew it was done and I was behind schedule to get the next book in on time.:dog:
I got my line edits on the revised manuscript. They were waiting on me when I got back from our mini-vacation. We got home, I grabbed them and we walked back out the door to go to Girl’s end of baketball season party at the local bowling alley. I literally didn’t have time to glance at them until we were in the bowling alley.
I picked up that DHL package and a sick ball of dread sat in my gut. At this point I don’t have time to do another set of revisions or any more extensive work on this book — cause I’m knee-deep in another one that’s due next month.
I pulled out the 340-page manuscript and the Memo sitting on the top of the heap. It’s a memo from the line editor to the main editor:
Here’s the line edit for Jennifer’s book, The Rookie. This was a great story. I laughed constantly at the heroine’s lines. Jennifer nails comedy. The storyline is really enjoyable, the characters are well developed and the pacing is dead-on. And Jennifer’s approach to explaining NASCAR is done really well. We see everything through the heroine’s eyes as she is learning. Overall, it is a very clean manuscript.
:bowdown::thumbsup::lol::cooldance::cocktail:
I whooped. I hollered. I grabbed the poor woman sitting next to me, shoved the letter into her hands and said, “Read that! Read it! They didn’t think it sucked.” Luckily this woman has sat through an entire basketball season with me where she’s seen me jumping up and down and cheering so she wasn’t totally frightened beyond reason.
And I suppose this is the cyber equivalent to me shoving it in your face and saying “Read this! Read it! They didn’t think it sucked.” :wave:
Got a spot of your own good news you’d like to share?
Congratulations Jen, you deserve it :cooldance: :thankyou: :cooldance:
Comment by barbara — February 27, 2007 @ 7:09 am
>>>Jennifer nails comedy. The storyline is really enjoyable, the characters are well developed and the pacing is dead-on.
Comment by Kimberly — February 27, 2007 @ 7:50 am
Hmm, seems it ate my comment after the quote…
It should read: “Quote from post”
Well. *I* could have told you that. :thumbsup:
(This does not bode well for computer usage later today.)
Comment by Kimberly — February 27, 2007 @ 7:52 am
Aww, thanks Barbara and Kimberly. I tell you, I was so relieved I almost fell out in the floor. (If you only knew those revisions :wallbash: …well, it’s probably best that you don’t.
)
Comment by Jennifer — February 27, 2007 @ 8:28 am
Congrats, Jen! I know that helped take the sting out of those revisions. :thumbsup:
Comment by Rhonda — February 27, 2007 @ 8:41 am
wtg jen
Comment by kim h — February 27, 2007 @ 10:28 am
Yay Jen!
Comment by Marilyn — February 27, 2007 @ 11:14 am
It did, Rhonda. :thankyou: Thanks, Kim and Marilyn.
Comment by Jennifer — February 27, 2007 @ 11:40 am