Introducing the Appaloosa Summer Team!

It’s getting busy around here … busy in a good way but, still, really busy. So, while I have a few minutes today, and before it gets away from me, I’d really like to introduce you to the team who is bringing you Appaloosa Summer.

Each and every one of the people named here has been professional, engaged, committed, and given much more than I actually paid them for.

Best news of all – you could hire them (or other dedicated, professional people like them) to work on your book too!

So, without further ado, here is the credit list that appears in the front of Appaloosa Summer:

Editor: Hilary Smith

Proof-reader: Gillian Campbell

Cover photograph: Kacy Hurlbert Todd / Boss Mare Photography

Front cover design: Allie Gerlach

Spine / back cover / interior design: Cheryl Perez / You’re Published

Website: Lynn Jatania / Sweet Smart Design

Author photo: Debora Dekok

Just before signing off, I’d like to say a little more about Hilary Smith. I first got to know Hilary (as many writers did) as the writer of the hilarious, insightful and generous INTERN blog. I was so impressed by her thoughts and analysis on books and writing, that I got her to do a very early critique of APS – we’re talking years ago. It was excellent, and motivated me to remove an entire story line, leading to roughly the book as it is now (very roughly!).

In the meantime I asked Hilary a few writing / publishing questions, and she always answered quickly and helpfully. Then, Hilary got a book deal! A major book deal. And it was kind of cool, because her book, Wild Awake, (which, by the way, has what some consider to be the best YA cover of 2013) came out at exactly the same time as OIM, and we ended up on the CCBC’s Best Books for Kids and Teens together, and I was happy for her.

So, when I decided to self-publish APS, and I knew I’d need a kick-ass editor, guess who I emailed? When Hilary said yes, was when I truly believed I could do this project, and do it well. It was after she agreed to edit the book that I felt confident enough to officially announce that I would publish APS myself. I knew it would be as good a book as possible with Hilary as my editor.

Well, Hilary did not disappoint. In fact, she kicked my ass harder, and more times, than I ever expected. We did two complete overhauls on the manuscript before going into line edits. She was never shy to make more suggestions, call me out on more things, question character motivation and action. She told me she was only doing it because she knew I could handle it. So I did. Even Hilary’s line edits were insightful and, although that final portion of the re-write was small compared to the two previous ones (17 and 11-page editorial letters respectively), even at the line edit stage Hilary was pushing me to make the story better and tighter.

I don’t think editors get enough recognition in this game. On most traditionally published books there will be credits for photographers and, usually, cover designers, but that’s often about it. Unless the author chooses to mention the editor in the acknowledgments, you wouldn’t know who edited the book.

I was determined that my editor, proof-reader, etc, would have proper, official, credits in the front of the book and, now, by publishing those credits here, I hope those who worked on the book will know how much I appreciate them.

Thanks guys! Or, I should say, girls! It wasn’t planned out that way, but that’s how it turned out.