What Have I Been Up To?

When We Last Heard…

Last month, I shared the status of my latest manuscript -- how it was kicked over to another imprint at my publisher and what that process looks like.

This month, I’ll give an update and also discuss what I’m thinking of writing next. 

Kind of Looks Like Me

Status of My Most Recent Book

Okay, here’s my update:

-- I’m still waiting to hear back from the publisher --  

The Editorial Director at the new imprint was traveling for a while and did not get to review anything yet. However, I’ve been told she is reviewing it this week. 

So what does this mean for me? Answer: absolutely nothing. 

In my past, I would fill the void of no communication with negative news. But I’m beyond that, and what I do now is seek to understand. 

The publishing industry is hard to understand. It’s very, very different from other industries I’m familiar with, and it starts with manuscript acquisition. Think about it -- an editor has to read several books averaging 75,000 words each per month, then decide which, if any, they want to acquire. So they read a ton!

If they like a manuscript, they have to prepare a packet for the Acquisition Committee; that takes time. The editor then presents to that group, which means they have to practice. 

Assuming the committee wants to acquire, even more work commences. 

If the author agrees with the acquisition, there’s negotiation. That also takes time, because editors work through literary agents, who then interact with authors. 

And to compound the work, the editor has to mark up whatever manuscript they’re taking to market. In other words, they edit; hence the name editor. But as you can see, the editor does way more than that. 

My first novel, To Catch a Spy, had ~368 pages, but it also had almost 500 editorial comments. I share this because when an editor edits, it’s a lot of work. 

Actually, I’m gonna share a little insight -- there’s more than 1 editor for each book; there’s at least 2 and oftentimes up to 4. And the main editor has to coordinate the review of the others, which means even more work. 

Editors Have a Lot of Books to Work On

To make it more challenging, editors do not get paid big money. Every one I’ve known does it because they love it; getting great books to readers is their passion. 

Because of all this, I’m empathetic to editors. I feel their pain, and I respect their devotion. 

Work equals time, which makes author patience a necessity. So I’m very patient. Trying to be, anyway.

Truth be told, I’m just glad a big house is actually considering my work! 

My Next Manuscript 

To date, I’ve written 4 manuscripts. 

The first is a published novel, To Catch a Spy.

The second is a sequel to To Catch a Spy (working title, To Catch a Traitor). I’ve been informed that the publisher might go forward with my 3rd book before they do this one. 

The third is a manuscript not at all related to the To Catch a Thief universe; it’s a standalone. It’s really good and very marketable, which is why it might be published before my 2nd work. 

And the fourth manuscript I’ve written is a sequel to my third. 

All of these are done. I feel really good about them and know they’ll be available soon. 

I Use a Chromebook, But How Did They Edit Back Then?

What’s next for me? I absolutely LOVE writing, so I’m going to continue. But I’m going to try something different. 

Here’s one idea -- I’ve been toying with writing a story about a very dysfunctional family that comes together for the father’s funeral. The three siblings are quirky adults, the mother is batty, and no one gets along, although they do love one another. 

Check, Check, Check, Check, etc

One of the siblings stumbles upon a possible secret the father had, and as she tries to uncover more, she’s also trying to keep her own secrets undiscovered. Actually, the whole family (siblings, mother) is doing that. 

Dysfunctional families are something I know quite a bit about. Enough said there. 

My mother is trying to get me to consider writing another type of book. But I love the concept and to calm her fears, I told her I’d change names to protect the guilty. I mean the innocent. For example, her name is Judy. In my book, the mother might be Trudy. And my older brother is Walter; I might name the corresponding character in my book Walton. 

I think that’s enough separation for folks who know my family to NOT be able to guess who the characters resemble. 

You Get the Idea

We’ll see… 

Anyway, it would be a mystery/comedy, and I’m smiling as I think about it.