Between the Hammer & the Anvil

This update is much more upbeat than the previous one.

I had lunch with my dear friend and editor, Stuart, last Friday. He’s feeling much better, as am I, and we decided to go back to work after the holidays. I’m going to do a read-through of the manuscript just to refresh my memory of the overall picture; partially because that new drug they tried to put me on really messed with my head, and partially because we were working on editing when we last stopped. Editing can cause myopia and you can lose sight of the “whole” picture.

I know this has been a long process. My first editor more or less ran off to New York when we were only partially through, and it took a long time to realize how great it would be to work with Stuart, and then ask him. There have also been the other aspects of my life that take up time. If I did nothing else than work on this book the process would go a lot faster, but my life is just not like that. The trick, as always, is striking the right balance. Like most of us humans, I’ve done that well at times, and I’ve done that poorly at times.

In early January of 2009 we will start on sections 14-17. This is the “first pass” with Stuart. He’s sent me one set of corrections and requests for more detail in a few sections, and I’ve sent them back, (Sections 1-13.) After we’ve completed the “first pass” Stuart will look over the updated manuscript, probably send me another round of corrections, then I guess we’ll be getting close to the final read through process. I also assume there will be far fewer corrections with the “second pass.”

This has been a long process. But this is my first book, and I want it to be the best it can possibly be. It’s also been a learning process, and continues to be so. With Stuart helping me complete the project I feel much more confident submitting the book through different potential publishing options. (Yes, he’s that good with the English language.) If it takes a little longer I can live with that. I’ve rushed a lot of things in my life, but I haven’t rushed this process, and I’m glad.

I have the “first rough draft” of book two written, and I know what I’m going to do with the third and final book in the series. Book two will need a lot of revisions. I remember when book one was that rough. I thought it was much better than it actually was. I have no such illusions with book two.

Thanks again to all my friends for their kind words of encouragement, their interest in the project, and their patience. Special thanks again to Charlie for his incredible cover art and his work on the book web site. And eternal thanks to my Erik for his love and support. Here’s hoping for a productive 2009!