First off, I'm in the midst of second round edits on Chancellor's Bride, and I've come to a shameful realization. I am addicted to adverbs. No, not the standard -ly adverbs that are the bane of so many writers' existence. Nope, I'm a slave to "up", "down", and "back". I also seem to have an unhealthy attachment to the word "so" in all its forms. Luckily, my editor Bethany is there with a huge vial of verbal methodone to help me kick the habit, and I think my writing is a lot stronger for her ruthless but fair application of the dreaded red pen.
Second, I just got the cover art comp for C'sB, and damn! I can't show you all until Crissy approves the final version, but holy crapweasels, it is smokin'! I can't gush enough about Mandy Roth AKA Natalie Winters, who also did the cover for Bound by Steel. That woman definitely knows sexy.
Third, I am currently kind of stymied concerning the tagline for the book--the one or two sentences that encapsulate the story. I hammered one out that wasn't precisely spectacular, and the blurb editor came back with a second option that I'm also not in love with. I mean, it's good, but I don't want to marry it or anything. Perhaps I should come up with a few possibilities and let you guys vote for which one you like best, or even make suggestions on how to improve it? I could make a contest out of it or something...
Lastly, I had a nice IM chat with Bethany last night, and was reminded yet again that she's the absolute best, most amazingly supportive editor evah!!!1! I honestly could not ask for anyone more enthusiastic about my work, and the fact that she's been willing to take chances on stuff other editors might not touch with a ten-foot pole just makes me feel so very fortunate to have her. And all I have to do to keep her happy is not kill off any small, furry animals. So I just want to give her a shout-out here: Bethany Morgan, you're my hero. :)
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
Oooh, cover art! Yayyyy! I can't wait to see it. :D :D :D
Natalie Winters makes the most beautiful covers. I have not seen one that I didn't like yet. I can't wait to see what she did for you!
My English professor says I'm addicted to commas. I just can't help myself.
P.S. My husband read Crossing Swords and he liked it! Well, he liked certain parts of it if you know what I mean. He said it was very believable which I think is a huge compliment that I wanted to share with you.
Up, down and back are adverbs?
oh dear.
Anyway, looking forward to seeing your new cover!
(btw, my word verification here is "mycocit" -- my coccyx? my cock sits?)
Thanks, Tiah! Oddly, you're not the first woman who's told me her husband enjoyed it. And Laughingwolf sent me an awesome email telling me how much he liked it too. Apparently the sex, the girl-on-girl, and the horrible, graphic violence gives it some cross-gender appeal. And it is a huge compliment, too, that my writing can trick men into reading *gasp!* romance.And I totally agree about Natalie--she's wonderful at tasteful nudity, which is pretty much what you need to use when you can't find stock photos with period dress.
Yup, Evie--adverbs. At least the forms of them that I overuse are. "Smiled back", "gazed up", "climbed down", etc. All descriptors for verbs. Although to tell you the truth, I had to double check that myself.
And you thought you just had to watch out for the evil -ly!
Can't wait til I can post that cover! It's simple, but soooo hot.
P.S. My 14 year old son likes the word "coccyx" almost as much as he likes "uvula". Any body part that sounds dirty but he can still get away with saying in class. i.e: "Ow! My coccyx!!!" Or "My uvula is all sore and tender."
Ummm... what's an adverb? *snort* I keed, I keed.
I love the way you write and wouldn't know about any technical, grammatical issues... but it's nice to have an editor who can only put a brilliant shine on an already shinny product.
Can't wait to see the cover! I'm sure it's going to be hawt.
word veri: Saricr-- sounds like a French curse word.
oooooooo grats on allavit, k ;)
you're right, she IS an amazing artist!
by all means, gopher the contest...
superb also to have such a great editor :)
Post a Comment