OK, I complain a lot, but I'm feeling MUCH better today. Revisions of CLEOPATRA'S SPELL are done, 248 lovely pages ready to go out electronically and in hard copy. That will not be the end of it, for sure. Editor Paula will go through it, ready to pounce. We've been having an on-going argument for months about the use of contractions: I'll, wasn't, there's. I think they should be used in conversation between Cleopatra and her sisters and friends. Paula says they shouldn't. We'll see.
Then, when we're both satisfied and have reached a compromise of some sort, the manuscript will go off to a copyeditor, who will comb it for grammatical errors (I do dangle a participle from time to time) and a fact checker, who will search out errors in dates or other historical inaccuracies. I'll have to come up with a bibliography and a family tree. Just when I think it's finished, there will be still another question. That's how it is.
Meanwhile, my head will be completely wrapped around Mary, Queen of Scots. A first draft is due July 1st. I hope I make it. But if I don't, count on it--I'll be complaining again.
Then, when we're both satisfied and have reached a compromise of some sort, the manuscript will go off to a copyeditor, who will comb it for grammatical errors (I do dangle a participle from time to time) and a fact checker, who will search out errors in dates or other historical inaccuracies. I'll have to come up with a bibliography and a family tree. Just when I think it's finished, there will be still another question. That's how it is.
Meanwhile, my head will be completely wrapped around Mary, Queen of Scots. A first draft is due July 1st. I hope I make it. But if I don't, count on it--I'll be complaining again.