The Coulson Series – To the Proofer!!

When I was a little girl my Grandma Hilda would rattle off a couple of names—maybe my cousin’s, sister’s or mom’s—before getting to mine. She didn’t do this just with my name—it was something Grandma did with all her grandchildren.

When I started doing this I wasn’t overly concerned. Of course, I never wanted my daughter in earshot when I accidently called our dog by her name. I imagine Elizabeth would not be amused by my slip of tongue.

Unfortunately, this habit has invaded my writing. Just today a reviewer wrote of Coulson’s Wife “I would have given it 5 stars, but there were a lot of errors in book. Mostly being wrong names being written. Example the author kept putting Randall name instead of William.”

Damn. I wish I could say I was surprised, but another reviewer mentioned this problem on the last book in the Coulson Series. I’d intended to get that book re-proofed, but life got in the way, and I kept putting it on the back burner.

First, I want to say – I do use proofers and editors. I use beta readers. I would never, ever publish one of my books without putting it through the editing and proofing process. Obviously, I did not do a good enough job.

I’ve arranged with a proofer to go through all the Coulson Books—beginning with Coulson’s Wife—looking specifically for name issues.

It was kind of cute when Grandma Hilda switched our names around—but not so cute when I do it in my writing.

(Photo: Grandma Hilda with my sister Lynn (left) and me (right).)

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