Amicus Curiae - FINISHED (and Now, the Fluff & Stuff)

     It's always a good feeling when I reach the end of a book, knowing I've done everything I could to make it a good read. I'm not quite there yet, but I'm getting there. I've finished "Amicus Curiae," meaning the book is now written. I've written all 31 chapters, and there's close to 77,000 words. Now, I will go through it, make the necessary changes, corrections, additions, and subtractions; thus, actually finishing the book. Right now, the book is done, but the editing hasn't taken place.

    I do a bit of editing along the way, in that after each chapter, I go back over it looking for mistakes and adding quotations, and other needed punctuation. I go through it rather quickly, knowing I'll go back over it again before sending it up. I go back over it again after it's printed so I can make more corrections. I never get them all, but I do my best. It's not important to me to have a perfect book because not one of my readers is perfect. Nope, not one of them, including myself.

    "Amicus Curiae," which is Latin for "Friend of the Court," is the role that Detective Nick Posh finds himself in. He can't take on other roles or assignments until he's given his testimony, but there are some who don't want him to testify, and others who can't wait until he does. To say it places him in a precarious position is an understatement. At least he's not alone! He has Ralph to help him, and after a while, even Eoghn MacRae shows up to assist.

    MacRae and Nick's family had been in Scotland on holiday. Nick couldn't go, but his time away from his family began to take its toll on him; he was nearly going stir-crazy without them, but he would, of course, find a way to keep them on his mind and in his heart. This is a good book. I like it. I added a few co-workers and even a really ugly, mean, hefty adversary, an insurance adjuster who can't seem to pull herself out of her own butt long enough to help any one of us adjusters. She dies fairly early on in the book, and she's a good, thick, ugly, dead thread throughout the entire manuscript.  I'll send her a copy and highlight the page where I introduce her character.

    Most of the book takes place in the sleepy little town of  El Reno, Oklahoma, so when the book is ready, I'll order 10 copies and give them away to people I've met in the city. They can share them with others, and maybe it will take off -- you just never know. Maybe someday I'll move to El Reno, that is the hope. Laura and I are currently looking for a place with a few acres where she can keep her horses. I just want a good house, two rooms for myself, and a great HVAC system. Of course, the plumbing, electrical, and structural systems of the house must be intact and running well.

    We'll see how the book takes shape after next week. I'll add about 10,000 more words, then correct it once and send it up for print. When it's ready, I'll order one copy to be sent to me, and I'll go through it again to make the final adjustments. It should be available for public purchase around the first of October if my calculations are correct. I'll keep you posted!

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