In my super busy highway of life, my 2nd novel's publication is moving ever forward. I'm nearing the end of my final, final edit. Yes, I edited it again after I paid for it to be edited professionally - and I'm so glad I did. I found numerous places where words were wrong. 'One' instead of 'once' 'was that' instead of 'that was'. I'm learning, one (or should that be once?) book at a time.

The illustrator, Pegu Designs are underway with the cover. I'm so excited about their ideas and plan for the cover. As you know my initial one - seen on the this site still, is copyrighted to a weather photographer in Wisconin - I think. Hopefully they'll do better than my effort. Fingers crossed.

Once the cover and content are together, it will be heading to formatting, then on to my printing company.

Tiny bubbles of excitement keep catching me out when I'm not looking. I suddenly go "Oooo," and smile .
Yes I am aware it could be Frank Spencer syndrome, but I haven't started saying "Betty" yet. I'll keep an eye out for that one (once).

Just a short note today, to let those of you who are interested, that I'm still plugging away.

Might run a poll for whether I publish the follow-up to Witch on the Warpath next - Gristle's revenge or, the follow-up to Aquasapien Metamorphosis - Aquasapien Prodigy.


 

My life has got extremely busy over the last 8 weeks, so Aqua had to take a back seat for a while.

I run a writing group locally and we've been trying to get our first publication off the ground. With roughly 15 authors submitting work, plus the various draft versions, proof editing and reviews the time has whizzed by. The RED Anthology will include all genres, rather than one, making it more appealing to a wider range of readers. The only stipulation the writers were given is, "there has to be something Red in it." Naturally mine was blood in both my short pieces, but others have used autumnal scenes, clothing, sunsets, colours and assorted items to convey the red theme. It should be very interesting to purchase.

In between, I have found one beta reader, her comment on the first two chapters were "good" and "informative." Yes okay I wanted her to say "Wow, unbelievable, what a brilliant writer you are! I couldn't put the book down," but at least it wasn't "not good" and "not informative". I should thank anyone who reads it really and offer to kiss their feet in the process. No scrub that, maybe I'll do a foot massage instead.

There's still time for you to offer to read the novel - for free, prior to publication. I need some exciting comments I can put on the back cover too. I know I could make anything up, but sadly I have some ethics. They don't remain when chocolate is involved - my one weakness, (another of my weaknesses is not admitting I have more than one.)

So, I'm re-writing after the proof editing. It's only short pieces where it doesn't flow, but I'm wondering what if I make more mistakes? Should I read it again just to check my checking? A person could go insane trying to put it down and let go.

I have another illustrator on the horizon. They have offered a realistic price for a cover, that I can afford. Now all I have to do is check out what their cover entails. It could be a generic one, or a blank one for all I know.

It's slow going, but Aqua is moving into existence, one page at a time.