What’s up with TDS?

The short answer to the title question is, “Important stuff.” However, I was never one for simplicity. (Actually, I am, but that’s beside the point.) The point is (wait, aren’t statements in parenthesis technically barred from the main text?) that I need a subject for a spotlight, and you need to know what’s going on with TDS.

It’s a symbiotic relationship. Sort of.

[image error]

A lot of questions have been asked of me (I think that makes sense) about TDS. Mostly by my brothers. Such as, “What? Didn’t you finish that? Now you only have one book published. That’s so lame.” (They don’t understand the process of publishing very well; they think that if I can do it, I should do it sixteen or seventeen times a year.) (Also, their last two ‘questions’ were statements. Brothers, right?)

And, to a certain extent, I agree with them. It’s pretty stupid to publish a book and then remove it a year later to revise and edit it once again. Which is what I’m doing with TDS (or The Dressmaker’s Secret). Just in case you didn’t know.

However, it needed to be done.

First, because TDS is getting a brand-new cover. (I think you’ll like it; it’s coming out on the 20th of May, so hang around!) I felt like giving it a new cover and not making some changes on the interior while I had a chance would be a mistake. Therefore, revisions.

Second, because I am a better writer than this. Glancing over my copy of TDS, I realized that, with a few simple changes, I could make it into a much better novel.

But what kind of changes are you making, Kell? you ask.

Mostly I’m just doing your average editing stuff. Changing word order, removing a typo here, a grammar mistake there, changing dialogue to make it sound more English (somewhat unsuccessfully, but that, again, is beside the point), etc.

However, I’ve also decided to add in scenes where summary formerly were, to change the ending pretty drastically (I can’t say how because SPOILERS!), and to make some tweaks based on reviews and other feedback I’ve gotten about the plot and characters.

So … revisions. Lots of ’em.

However, this is coming remarkably easily. I don’t know if I said this before (I probably have; I use my blog as a whining room), but TDS is my baby. I love working with my baby.

Now, the technical definition of a spotlight is ‘weekly excerpts and commentary and just random stuff about my current writing.’ Well, I’ve done some random stuff and sorta a commentary, so … excerpt.

This is a scene I just wrote yesterday (which still needs heavy editing, but whatever). I hope you like it!

Alice dashed into her bedroom early one afternoon a few weeks later, Miss Chattoway following her. Though Ivy was still bedridden, she had been making ground rapidly, and there was no reason to believe that she couldn’t be on her feet within a few days.

“Hello, Alice,” Ivy said, smiling. “You were gone all morning, and I missed you! But I had my doll and Kitty, until she ran away.”

Alice walked to her sister’s bedside. “How are you feeling?”

“Oh, much better. Mummy says I can go for a walk in the park soon. She says I need fresh air. Isn’t that so, Mummy?”

“It is so. The doctor recommended fresh air and sunshine as the quickest cure. And we’ll get it for you, even if we have to drive out of London for it.”

Miss Christina walked in. “The mail just came. Something for you, Claire.”

Miss Chattoway accepted the enveloped and glanced at the postal inscription. “Pearlbelle Park?”

Miss Christina nodded eagerly. “It’s the Knight’s estate in Kent.”

“I know what it is.”

“Oh. I thought it might be from Miss Elton. You were close in school ….”

Miss Chattoway laughed. “She amused me, and I awed her. But that was when we were children. None of my schoolfellows have contacted me since ….”

“All the same, it appears Lois Elton has now,” Miss Christina prompted. “Well … read it.”

Miss Chattoway broke the seal and unfolded the sheet of paper. She glanced to the bottom. “You’re right. It is from Lois.”

“What does it say?” Miss Christina asked eagerly.

“Give me a moment,” Miss Chattoway murmured. Then “Oh!” she exclaimed.

“What is it?”

“Christy, please.”

“Please, Molly? I’m dying to know!”

Miss Chattoway looked up from the letter, eyes glistening with tears. “She heard of Ivy’s illness – and her slow recovery – from the Knights. They just arrived at the estate a week ago, it appears. She’s invited us to Pearlbelle Park – with Mr. Knight’s permission – so Ivy can … can rest and recuperate.”

“Oh, Molly! It’s an answer to a prayer!”

Miss Chattoway threw back her head and laughed, really laughed. “It is, Christy. We’re … we’re to come out with Mr. Parker in a few weeks if we’re able. I … I can’t. I have to stay here, in London, and Charlie will stay with me … but you will take my girls, Christy? You and Nettie?”

“Of course I will,” said Miss Christina.

It’s a little rough, yes, but it’s better than the summaries of these events that I had before.

Au revoir, mi ami!

~Kellyn Roth~

Bloglovin’ · Pinterest · Facebook

p.s.

What do you think about what I’ve done with TDS? Are all these revisions and changes a mistake or do you applaud me for fixing stuff? What did you think about the excerpt?

I’ve decided to move to two posts a week. What days do you think I should do those posts on? I’m considering Wednesday/Saturday, Monday/Thursday, or Tuesday/Friday.