Editors! We gotta have 'em and work with them, but do we gotta like them??


  This is the e-mail I received today from my editor, Tessa Shapcott. You might have heard about her – she’s Jane Porter’s editor and worked on the very book that got Jane a Rita this year. Plus, Tessa’s various credentials are impressive and she’s a sought after editor. I feel very fortunate that she accepts my work.
Recently, I sent her my latest manuscript, Special Agent Finnegan – Book #2 for the Undercover FBI series. This was her reply and it made me feel so good, that I had to share it with you all.
Hi Mimi,
Here is Special Agent Finnegan line-edited for you.  I'm so sorry I took a day longer and hope I didn’t disrupt your schedule. However, I did find it a great read.  I loved the relationship between Renee and Finn, and the humor you infused with the character of Collin - some of the things he said had me laughing out loud!  You are terrific at creating characters and dialogue.
I'm also attaching a few notes I made about a handful of continuity points that I thought you might want to look at.  Nothing too dreadful;  just straightening out this and that.
As ever, if you have any questions or thoughts, please do let me know.
It's been a pleasure as always, Mimi!
With warm wishes,
Tessa
Now those of you who don’t work with editors might not find this letter so fantastic. I mean it’s a nice tribute but what the heck…one would think it normal.
Think again!
I have many mates that get their edited copy back with a few terse words about the corrections and a short “thank you” for sending me the work and that’s it baby!! No compliments. Or any comments about whether they liked the story—even that they got caught up in it… nothing. Those poor authors are left wondering if this means that the book was no good or the story not interesting or???
So… having my very professional editor pay me these compliments is a BIG DEAL!!! 


And…I hope her comments will foster more interest in this book when it's released. It'll be the first time ever, that I will do a pre-order and so will make sure to detail my findings so I can share them with you all.

P.S. It's a darn good thing she doesn't edit my blog....gulp!!   a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Published on October 15, 2014 00:00
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message 1: by Caroline (new)

Caroline Gebbie That is such a great comment and what a wonderful boost this must be.


message 2: by Mimi (new)

Mimi Barbour Hi Caroline,
Heck - when i got this, the first thing went through my mind was - I'm so freakin happy and all the work was worth while!!
Thanks for commenting xo


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Mimi Barbour
This is not only a blog for authors, it's for anyone who's interested in what goes into writing a good book and then getting it published. Questions and comments are very much appreciated.
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Mimi
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