By Nancy Jill Thames
So, Book 7 THE RUBY OF SIAM was supposed to be launching by today, July 1st. "So where is it?" You may ask. The answer? Lying in chapter piles on my dining room table with little yellow sticky notes telling me how many comments from my editor need addressing. One chapter has 20! Egad! My editor is one of those cerebral writers who's in love with language and envisions herself as an artist with words. And yes, she is a wonderful writer. But me? I just want to TELL THE STORY!
Except there's more to it than that.
First, an author has to 'show' readers what's happening. We must 'show' characters because otherwise you the reader will have no idea who they are! Not as easy as it sounds. Especially when I just want to TELL THE STORY!
"Patience." My editor says. "Give us an image here of what we're seeing."
But I just told you what you're seeing!
"I know." She replies as if talking to a child. (Which I feel like - an author child anyway.)
So, I take a chapter, run through the suggestions and rewrite the paragraph. Unless you're an author you have no idea how long this takes. And guess what? It has to be done otherwise you'll always know in your heart IT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER!
Not only am I trying to launch THE RUBY OF SIAM but I'm going back and improving the first six books. Editor number three is the killer-diller with mileage in the writing business and a Chicago Style Handbook at her fingertips. She also doesn't allow me to get away with anything like mixing point of view or extra commas. Nope!
And now it's another Monday. I have six books to print off for editor number three to proofread, a Meet the Author Event at the library to see to for July 13th (my birthday), homework for editor number two's writing class on Diving into Character, and collecting goodies for Camp Grandma I'm doing for a week with my two granddaughters in California week after next. Sigh. Not to mention ramrodding two more Meet the Author Events for fall.
Get this: I'm not really complaining. I've never had so much fun in all my life. This morning over coffee my husband says, "You're a career woman now." I had to stop and think a moment letting the phrase sink in. He's right! I hope in spite of whatever challenges you are facing in your work life or at home, you'll gather the strength, courage and fortitude to get the job done! Now back to those edits...
May your week be a good one!
See you in my books!
~Nancy Jill
Mystery novelist Nancy Jill Thames began publishing Christian fiction
in 2010. The author of six books in the Jillian Bradley series, she is an award
winning blogger and is listed numerous times on the Author Watch Bestseller’s
List, this in addition to winning first place for her chocolate cream pie.
When she isn’t plotting her next book, she spends time with her six
grandchildren, tags along with her husband on business trips, and
plays classical piano for her own personal enjoyment. She is an active member
of the Leander Writers Guild, the American Christian Fiction Writers, CenTex Chapter of ACFW and supports the Central Texas SPCA with a portion
of her book sales. CONTACT INFORMATION jillthames@gmail.com
Nancy Jill is busy working on Book 7 "The Ruby of Siam" a mystery taking place in London.
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