Monday 16 March 2009

Midnight Oil

Having waited for several months - my MS came back from the editor on Friday, with a charming request from my publisher to let her have my changes asap "Yesterday would be good" ( I quote.) Of course yours truly burnt the midnight oil and complied.* My publisher remains (apart from my family, naturally) my favourite person on the entire planet. What am I talking about? the solar system, the universe and beyond. (Although, I must point out, this accolade is subject to a severe review if, for any reason, my book isn't published.) More soon - too tired to type any more!!!

*That is, I completed the changes over a weekend, not by "yesterday"! If I could time travel, I'd be a lot younger than I am right now, and busy telling everyone how to live their lives. In fact, I probably wouldn't survive. Someone would bump me off for being a bossy know it all.

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good for you ... and I like the light touch of ass-licking! Lol!
I hope you are nearly there ... what a process!

Leigh Russell said...

Yes, Aggie, a process indeed! In terms of my writing career, waiting has become a way of life - punctuated by disappointments. Reading between the lines, this isn't unusual. We seem to be moving forwards at last, but who knows? I'm not going to believe it until I hold my published book in my hand. If only!
Thanks for your support.

Bill Clark said...

Fear not, Leigh, the day will come when you hold your book in your clever little hands (well, I'm giving your hands, or at least your fingers, the credit for typing out the mss, even though we all know it was your clever brain that told them what to type), and all will be well in the world.

Re: your last comment on the preceding post: can we hype each other's sales on Amazon.co.uk by buying each other's book online? Discounted price per today's web listing is just over 11 quid, delivery in 4-5 days. Try the following link:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Winning-Lottery-William-J-Clark/dp/1436375789/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237297463&sr=8-2
Or just type Clark, Winning the Lottery in the amazin' Amazon search box.

Can I preorder Crime Fiction online?

Leigh Russell said...

I'm onto it, Bill

Leigh Russell said...

ps - just read the rest of yours - you might be able to preorder Cut Short on amazon.com, not yet on amazon.uk -

fizzycat said...

Perhaps if we preorder the book will be published.Good luck.

Charles Gramlich said...

I've seen plenty of editors wait till the last minute with their comments and then expect miracles. I'm glad you were able to peform one, although it sounds like the changes couldn't have been too drastic.

Leigh Russell said...

Thanks fizzy! I'm still typing with my fingers crossed!

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

Well done you.

Leigh Russell said...

Let's wait and see, Debs. I'll keep you posted. I hope the virtual book launch becomes a reality one day . . .

Barbara Martin said...

Ah, the life of a published author. Leigh, the book will come and you will hold it in your hands...and then the reviews will start. I can barely wait.

Leigh Russell said...

You mean this experience is going to get even worse, Barbara? I am looking forward to reading your review - please be kind!!! But first, the book has to come out . . . I'm not holding my breath any more. I'm kind of post-stoic . . . calm . . . philosophical . . . all lies

Bill Clark said...

Yes! We can all pre-order Cut Short on amazon.com! Go to:
http://www.amazon.com/Cut-Short-Geraldine-Steel-No/dp/1842432710/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237391790&sr=8-1

Yay!!!!

Leigh Russell said...

Tell all your friends, Bill. Perhaps if enough people order the book, my publisher will get the message and print it! (Bearing in mind I always do things backwards... do you think this might work???)

fizzycat said...

Yes hope your book is published soon.

Leigh Russell said...

July is getting closer - just over 3 months to go - keep your fingers crossed for me, blog buddies!

Mel said...

I am sure it will happen and I will be sure to order a copy. Fingers and toes crossed for you.

Leigh Russell said...

Thanks Mel - keep your fingers crossed (but don't hold your breath . . . )

Monique said...

Who's going to print it Leigh? Make sure you proofread it first. It's always so disheartening to see an error the printer made.

Leigh Russell said...

I have checked it myself but the MS has also been through the editor, the publisher, back to me again - and now my publisher's checking it again before it goes to the proofreader . . . so hopefully there won't be any errors . . . I don't think it's possible to proofread your own work, and in any case, there are points of house style I'm not sure about. Fingers crossed it'll be error free, Monique.

Leigh Russell said...

ps - Monique, I've no idea who the printer is! Should I? My only contact has been with my publisher and editor, and they know what they're doing. At any rate, they had faith in me, so the least I can do is trust them. It's their reputation on the line too, and they're professionals, experienced at this game. I'm just a humble writer! Like Manuel in Fawlty Towers, I know nothing!!

Monique said...

Perhaps it's best to be like Manuel Leigh.

I used to be a proofreader and greatly enjoyed it. My husband is the owner and editor of Tears In The Fence Magazine. Now he sends each submission to the writer to be proofread before it goes off to the printshop. Even then sometimes a mistake is made.

The worst one was a whole page left out. Horror.

I'm sure yours will be alright though. As you said, their reputation is also on the line.

Leigh Russell said...

Hi Monique - I might just not read the book once it's published. Then, if anyone tells me there's a typo . . . I won't believe it! (That's not going to work, is it?)

I'm off to look up Tears in the Fence.

Sleepy said...

Does this all mean we can get the book soon?

My ideal job would be proofreading!

Leigh Russell said...

Yes, Sleepy. YES YES YES. (sorry - going a bit insane - see next post). I need to sleep, sleepy.