Kathryn Freeman's Blog, page 14
September 15, 2016
What I learnt this week: 15th September 2016
The end of another round of edits
On Monday I sent the final round of edits for my next book, Second Wish, back to Choc Lit. I won’t see it again now until it comes out on Kindle.
Thank heavens.
Because while I enjoy editing, enjoy watching the manuscript improve at each stage, by the time it comes to the final editing round, I’ve read it about six times within the space of a month and flipping had enough of it! Umm, I hope this doesn’t put you off reading it – remember, I’m only asking you to this once…
Where all the hard work gets done
Where I look for inspiration
So what have I learnt from editing over the last three years (and yes, I’m as gobsmacked as you that I’ve been a published writer for three years now).
Editors aren’t always right – but so very nearly always that you can’t afford to ignore any of their suggestions. If they feel it doesn’t work, many readers are going to feel the same, even if you think differently.
It’s best to do the first edit when you’ve not seen the book for a while. Like your editor, you too will have fresh eyes, so not feel so determined to grip grimly to old words when new ones could make that section so much better.
The first round of edits are the most daunting (how well are the characters formed, are there holes in the plot, a lack of pace?) but don’t be afraid to get stuck in because it’s also where the biggest improvements are made. I use a highlighter pen to note the key themes I need to address when I read the manuscript through my editor’s eyes. Often I colour code for the different characters, so if I’m reading through a chunk from my hero’s point of view I can easily see what changes might be needed because they’re the ones in blue. The heroine’s are in pink. Obviously.
The second round is a sense check of the first round edits, plus ironing out a few more minor details, such as how did the Ferrari get into the school hall? (you’ll have to read Second Wish to find out what on earth I’m talking about). I also make a note of words/phrases I think I’ve overused, then search for them to check if I’m right, or if it’s just because I’ve read the manuscript so many times it feels like I’m repeating myself. Common favourites include raising eyebrows, slumping down and tightening throats, though probably not all in the same sentence.
The final proof round is for typos, but I also check for the popular Freeman clangers; your vs you’re, its vs it’s, their vs there. My editor will probably pick them up, but I know their there they’re common mistakes of mine.
After that it’s back to the publisher and time to take a breath, reflect on how much better it was than it started.
And press on with writing the next book.
Second Wish is planned to be out in October. Can’t you just smell those mince pies?
Temporary cover…I hope
September 8, 2016
What I learnt this week: Thursday 8th September
Money in the bank is great, but memories are priceless
I know I’ve said it before, but I love London. Every time I go it has something different to offer, something I’ve not seen before. It could be an event, a building I’ve not noticed on previous trips. Perhaps the sight of a famous landmark from a different angle, or in a different light, like Tower Bridge on Friday night.
Golden Gate, Sydney harbor, Brooklyn, Rialto, Ponte Vecchio, they are all amazing, but Tower Bridge has gravitas. It is magnificent, imposing, unique.
We also caught sight of this £225 million bombproof super yacht. Not a sight you see every day, though to be honest we only realised how expensive it was when we saw it mentioned in the Daily Mail. We just thought it was a weird looking boat blocking our view of HMS Belfast…
We were in London to celebrate exam success (the boys) and our wedding anniversary. Okay, really we were in London because I wanted another excuse to stay there. As we live only 45 minutes ago it always seemed excessive to stay overnight, but the older I get, the more I realise how important it is to create memories. I don’t know how much longer my children will want to go away with their parents but I figure if I dangle treats at them like dinner in the Shard (what an incredible experience, eating on the 32nd floor, surrounded by the glory that is London), I may be able to keep them interested a little longer. And I will have a store of memories to keep me going when they finally realise we’re too old, too dull to spend time with. Even with the dangling carrot.
Enjoying a drink in the Shard before the meal, and before we’ve seen the bill.
August 18, 2016
What I learnt last month: 11th August 2016
Romance on holiday?!
Those of you who know me will understand that when I write a title called romance on holiday, what follows will not be of the flowers and candlelight variety. I love my husband, but he doesn’t do romance, which is of course why I spend my days imagining it – then writing about it.
During our adventure to Australia last month though, I was treated to the most beautiful heart I’ve ever come across. Called Heart Reef, it was a stunning collection of coral that has naturally formed into the shape of a heart.
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Located in Hardy Reef, in the Great Barrier Reef of the Whitsundays, it has to be viewed from the air as it’s a World Heritage site. Apparently it’s been the site of many proposals and declarations of love over the years – you just have to let the helicopter pilot know what you’re planning.
Needless to say our pilot wasn’t troubled by any great romantic gestures from our party (my husband and our two teenage boys). Still, travelling in a helicopter over the most beautiful reef in the world with the people most dear to you is plenty special enough.
Below a few more photos from our amazing time on the Barrier Reef.
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Gorgeous blue coral – pestered the boys to take a picture of this instead of the big fish they kept chasing.
The big fish the boys finally captured on camera.
August 4, 2016
What I learnt this month: 4th August 2016
Tears
Apologies for the lack of blog posts over the last month but I have a good excuse. I was on holiday. I had an amazing time, but there was one day I ended up with tears in my eyes.
Now I am known to blubber quite easily. If you upset me, I’ll cry. I may not do it in front of you, but I certainly won’t be able to stop the tears when I’m alone, or if someone asks me the classic tear provoking question, ‘are you okay?’
When I’m really happy, I cry too. I cried when my husband proposed, when I saw my sons for the first time. Also when I saw the first book cover with my name on it! Give me a good book or a good film and the tears will definitely fall at those emotional moments. Richard Gere climbing up to see Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. Hugh Grant turning up to the press conference in Notting Hill. Nemo reuniting with his dad…
But on holiday I experienced tears of a different kind. Tears of wonder.
We went on a whale watching tour and didn’t just see humpback whales, we were given a show by one of them. It was the most incredible, magical, humbling sight I can ever remember seeing. And I cried.
Of course my family thought I was crazy – no news there – but even I was shocked at my reaction. I can’t quite get a handle on why it had such an effect on me; the tranquility of the scene, the beauty of the whale, the inquisitive way it kept popping its head up to look at us, the fact that this wild animal seemed to be saying hello, putting on a show. That something so large could also be so elegant.
I’ll leave you with some more photos and perhaps you can see for yourself which this incredible animal provoked such an intense reaction in me.
Try not to cry 
June 30, 2016
What I learnt this week: 30th June 2016
Finally, the exams are over and a level of peace has descended on the Freeman household. I say peace, because my sons now stay in bed for most of the day, so it is definitely quiet.
In between the quiet, a few things have happened:
Too Charming is currently free on Kindle and iBooks, so if you’ve not read it and fancy giving it a go, this is definitely the time to get it!
I was interviewed on the Dreaming With Open Eyes blog by Isabell about my latest book, Before You. Isabell didn’t just focus on the book though, she asked questions about Formula One, about my writing, about Jenson Button (ha – I know, I know, but she did ask, honest!). You’ll find the interview here.
My youngest son went to his prom. Thirteen boys managed to co-ordinate both the hiring of a limo and all meeting in the same place, at the same time, to hop into it. Even when one was forced to drop out only hours before, they found another to take his place. While I totally admire their organisational skills, I wonder why my sixteen year old seems incapable of applying these same organisation skills to his bedroom.
On Monday we settled down with pizza to watch England beat Iceland and move through to the quarter finals. Ummm. It’s a shame somebody forgot to tell the plan to the team. The match hadn’t finished before some witty souls were tweeting that only England could leave Europe twice in one week. At least the pizza was good.
June 25, 2016
Life After
Published by the Wild Rose Press 30 January 2015 (paperback and ebook)
When a past life crashes dangerously into a fragile new one, how can love survive?
Kat’s first love ended badly, but since then she’s carved out a career as a headmistress and a life for her and her daughter. Her calm, man-free existence is thrown into turmoil when she commissions Jake, a sexy carpenter, to build a climbing frame for her school.
Jake thinks of his life in two parts. Life before the incident, and life after. Three years into life after and he’s living in another village, doing a different job and maybe, just maybe, he’s learning to love again.
But then Jake’s old life comes crashing into his new one – with dangerous consequences.
Before You
Published by Choc Lit 21st June 2016 (digital)
When life in the fast lane threatens to implode …
Melanie Hunt’s job working for the Delta racing team means she is constantly rubbing shoulders with Formula One superstars in glamorous locations like Monte Carlo. But she has already learned that keeping a professional distance is crucial if she doesn’t want to get hurt.
New Delta team driver Aiden Foster lives his life like he drives his cars – fast and hard. But, no matter how successful he is, it seems he always falls short of his championship-winning father’s legacy. If he could just stay focused, he could finally make that win.
Resolve begins to slip as Melanie and Aiden find themselves drawn to each other –with nowhere to hide as racing season begins. But when a troubled young boy goes missing, everything is thrown into turmoil, including Aiden’s championship dream.
Search For The Truth
Published by Choc Lit on 13 August 2015 (digital).
Sometimes the truth hurts …
When journalist Tess Johnson takes a job at Helix pharmaceuticals, she has a very specific motive. Tess has reason to believe the company are knowingly producing a potentially harmful drug and, if her suspicions are confirmed, she will stop at nothing to make sure the truth comes out.
Jim Knight is the president of research and development at Helix and is a force to be reckoned with. After a disastrous office affair he’s determined that nothing else will distract him from his vision for the company. Failure is simply not an option.
As Tess and Jim start working together, both have their reasons for wanting to ignore the sexual chemistry that fires between them. But chemistry, like most things in the world of science, isn’t always easy to control.
Too Charming
Published by Choc Lit September 2013 (digital and paperback)
Does a girl ever really learn from her mistakes? Detective Sergeant Megan Taylor thinks so. She once lost her heart to a man who was too charming and she isn’t about to make the same mistake again — especially not with sexy defence lawyer, Scott Armstrong. Aside from being far too sure of himself for his own good, Scott’s major flaw is that he defends the very people that she works so hard to imprison.
But when Scott wants something he goes for it. And he wants Megan. One day she’ll see him not as a lawyer, but as a man … and that’s when she’ll fall for him.
Yet just as Scott seems to be making inroads, a case presents itself that’s far too close to home, throwing his life into chaos.
As Megan helps him pick up the pieces, can he persuade her that he isn’t the careless charmer she thinks he is? Isn’t a man innocent until proven guilty?
Do Opposites Attract?
Published by Choc Lit July 2014 (digital and paperback)
There’s no such thing as a class divide – until you’re on separate sides.
Brianna Worthington has beauty, privilege and a very healthy trust fund. The only hardship she’s ever witnessed has been on the television. Yet when she’s invited to see how her mother’s charity, Medic SOS, is dealing with the aftermath of a tornado in South America, even Brianna is surprised when she accepts.
Mitch McBride, Chief Medical Officer, doesn’t need the patron’s daughter disrupting his work. He’s from the wrong side of the tracks and has led life on the edge, but he’s not about to risk losing his job for a pretty face.
Poles apart, dynamite together, but can Brianna and Mitch ever bridge the gap separating them?
