What I Did On My Summer Vacation

Oh, I crack myself up.

I didn’t go on vacation, but after three months of INSANE EDITING, I did hand in the final version of THE LAST BATHING BEAUTY to my editor.

Can I get a high-five?

I’m so pleased with this book and can’t wait for it to greet the world next April. Right now we’re in the cover and marketing stage and that’s exciting, as I wait for copy edits. I miss my characters, and it’s the first time this has happened to me. I’m eager to see where I messed up with grammar, punctuation, spelling, and the like. When you’ve read a manuscript seventy gazillion times, $hit gets overlooked.

You know how you wonder if writing books gets easier? My answer is no, not for me. Each book presents unique challenges. I welcome that. It’s intentional. But it also means that I am finding my way for the first time, over and over again.

With this book, I rewrote the first 30 pages 3 weeks prior to handing it in. I was reading and thought to myself — “Self, this is BORING.” So I handled it. Kudos to my critique partner for pointing this out months earlier. It’s not that I didn’t believe her or don’t trust her — but I didn’t SEE it until much later. And you can’t fix what you don’t see.

I also added a brand new character then too — or shall I say — I resurrected her. This might prove once and for all that nothing is wasted and that I should trust my own instincts just a smidgen more sometimes. She’s a new and improved version, and I didn’t see the need for her. Until I did. So when you meet Piper — don’t tell her she was sort of an afterthought, m’kay?

Through the craziness I lost several clients. Not in the sad and tragic way, but in the “READY TO MOVE ON AND QUERY” way or the “READY TO REVISE AGAIN” way, so I have spots in my schedule if you or anyone you know needs:

Feedback and Accountability

(When you add them together, without fail, it equals PROGRESS.)

Email me! I don’t bite!
And I’ll chat with you to see if we’re a good match!

And now, of course, I’m working on my as-of-yet untitled Novel #5. All I’ll tell you is that it’s set in 1962 — and that’s super fun. I’ll keep you posted, of course.

Back to the whole idea of vacation: I am going to visit my daughter at the end of the month and I’ll also see a few friends, so I guess that qualifies for now.

What about you? Have you taken a vacation from your writing? The notion, to me, is preposterous, but I’m willing to concede that might not be the healthiest attitude.

xo, Amy