Haven't posted in a bit, neither here nor on my website. This past week, I got hit with proofing the galleys for Hell's Belles.
Galleys, in this case, are the photocopied pages of the actual book already laid out -- it's very, very cool. It was also pretty awesome to read the whole thing like a book, instead of printed out as a manuscript. World of difference. (I wound up flagging 45 pages with changes. I have no idea if this is too much or not; my editor's away until Tuesday. If he yells at me when he's back, then, um, it was too much.) Most of my changes were things I absolutely should have caught in the copy edit phase: word-style choices/inconsistencies (like "earth" verus "Earth" and initial capping the "m" for "My" whenever Lucifer would say things like "give Me that whip"). (Not that Lucifer uses a whip. But whatever.) There were a couple typos, too, and some chapter title inconsistencies. Anyway, here's hoping that my editor is still talking to me. (You are, aren't you, J.?)
So, I had galleys, which I sent back a week early. (Please don't be mad at me, Kensington gods!) And I got hit with a horrible stomach bug, which I thought was either caused by a nasty beastie, or maybe even by stress. (Even good stress can suck.) But I just got slammed with the stomach pain again last night, and I'm fairly certain it's not because my mom is coming to visit later today. Crap. I'm wondering if I'm allergic to shellfish (I had shrimp last night, and I'm pretty sure we had shrimp Monday night, and I got sick a couple hours later.)
Sharing too much? Sorry 'bout that.
And on Thursday night, my editor asked for the one-page synopsis for "the next book," due no later than Monday. Eek -- does he mean THE ROAD TO HELL (November 2007) -- the book that's already written, that my agent is currently reading, the book that the chapter outline my editor already accepted? Or does he mean the NEXT book, HOTTER THAN HELL -- the book whose outline isn't due until March, the book that I've only just started to think through? Can't ask my editor -- he's out until Tuesday. Right, until the day AFTER my synopses are due. Well, crap. What's an author to do?
So I wrote both synopses. A huge shout out to Heather Brewer and Caitlin Kittredge for their input, and for keeping me from losing my mind.
Worst-case scenario? My editor has exactly what he wants. Best case? I handed in my one-pager for HB3 uber early.
Off to moan and groan about my stomach. Sheesh. If this isn't because of the shrimp -- if this is all because of stress -- then I really, really need to figure out how to relax.
9 Comments:
(Grr. Tried to post this once and the window closed on me.)
You, my dear, should seriously consider meditation--it does wonders for relieving stress. :)
And HUZZAH!!! One step closer to HB being on shelves!!!
Meditation and exercise. Maybe meditate while I exercise -- walking, with my iPod playing tunes, can be wonderful for thinking things through.
I have to get off my lazy duff and start moving again.
I'm still going to get tested for food allergies, just in case...
Thanks muchly, Heather! :-*
Feel better, Jackie! I'd love to wax on mothers and stress, but that's one of those TMI subjects I shouldn't blog about. Take care.
Richelle, there's no such thing as TMI between succubus authors... ;-)
You know, I've been known to relax so much while meditating that I've fallen asleep...so meditating on the treadmill? Yeah, not so much. ;)
SHellfish allergies are no fun. I have lots of stories to tell if you want to horrified.
Get tested and find out for sure.
Now that you have the bulk of that work done and out of the way, you need to take it down a notch and relax. Exercise is a good way to do it. So is meditation, or so I hear.
I go surfing. Hanging out on the water, catching a wave and playing with dolphins is a great way to take the edge off and just relax.
Last Wednesday eveing I was out with my surf-buddy and had a real close encounter with a pod of dolphins... like about 2 feet close. It was pretty magical. One of the best things about surfing with the dolphins is that it is a sure sign that there are no sharks about.
If everybody else's ideas don't pan out, I can think of a few suggestions for stress-relief....
=;-)
(That's a winking smiley-face with horns on top. An evil grin, if you will.)
Cool Brian -- that sounds awsome! The closest I've gotten to dolphins is eating tuna fish.
And yes, I will be exercising again. And even meditating. I have to reduce my stress, damn it!
Many thanks, Devon, for the HB and synopses well wishes! And even more thanks for the ginger suggestion. I love ginger, and I love cookies. A match made in heaven! I'll also pick up some ginger tea -- maybe that will help with evening relaxation...
((cough))
Let it be known that husbands of romance writers are forced -- forced, I tell you -- to help their spouses with an insane amount of research. All in the name of the writing, of course.
So, Loving Husband, I thank you for your...generous... ((whee, generous!)) offer. And I'll definitely take you up on it. =;-)
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