The Author's Progress In This World, to That Which Is to Come
I promise, no Pilgrims involved but there is a book giveaway!
This is not a post about John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, but the switcheroo title I created is apt enough. For there is progress, and there is much to come. Let me explain. This is the story of how a book is born.
When I tell people that I have a book coming out next September, they are shocked that it will take so long. It does seem like a long time, but in the grand scheme of things, it really isn’t. The average work of fiction (non-fiction is different) can take anywhere from ten months to two years from signing to publication. In The Garden of Monsters will be published a year after I signed the contract. In contrast, my first two novels, Feast of Sorrow and The Chef’s Secret, took 18 months.
This particular book journey has been different than my first two because I’m with a new publisher, MIRA Books, and a new editor. After the contract is signed, the edits usually come to the author a few months later. However, my editor is really on the ball, and I had edits back almost at the same time I signed my contract (which any author will tell you is ultra-rare). I spent the summer working through those edits and sent them off in early September. By early November, I had a new round of edits to incorporate, and last week, I sent them back to my editor. She’s already a good chunk of the way through that round, and I expect one more back-and-forth for small things.
This is the point where lots of things will start happening.
For example, last week, I saw the first ideas for the cover. Many publishers don’t let the author have much input or say in the design, but I’m pleased that MIRA is interested in my feedback. I’m SOOOO excited about the cover, which I won’t spoil for you, but know that I’ll be revealing that as soon as I can!
This week, I also received the copy that describes the book, the hype text you’ll see on the back of the book, and for Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other sites. This will likely be added really soon to those sites to help with preorders. I noticed that there is already a page on Goodreads for IN THE GARDEN OF MONSTERS (this is where I ask you to go to that page and put it on your TO READ list!). The copy will go there, likely when the cover is ready.
After this next round of edits, the mostly finished book will be published in an Advanced Reader’s Copy or ARC. These are sometimes also called galleys. These ARCs are used to send to key bookstore accounts, to libraries, and to reviewers, to entice all of them to purchase or recommend the book. I will get a few ARCs of my own for promotional purposes as well.
Meanwhile, I have a very long marketing survey to fill out that will eventually go to the marketing person they assign to me (typically six months before launch). This form asks me for all sorts of things ranging from all the places where I’m on social media (and the number of followers I have), my website, newsletter subscribers, everything about my past books, prominent articles I’ve written or have been written about me, and on and on. It helps the marketing team develop their plan for promotion.
And while the ARCs will have been published already, they aren’t the final form of the book. ARCs are often riddled with errors, both grammatical and in formatting. I’m currently reading a Kindle ARC, for example, and for some reason, there is a space between any “f” and “l,” so the word flow reads like this: “The f low of the river…” This is especially weird on line breaks. This happens because the copyeditor hasn’t made their mark on the manuscript yet.
Copyediting is the next big step, and my guess is that in January, I’ll be starting to work with my new copy editor. Copyeditors are amazing human beings, in my opinion, because they catch ALL THE THINGS wrong with a book. It is really stunning how they manage all the details…the tiniest details. There are usually two rounds with a copyeditor, and then there is a final “page pass.” This is when I’ll sit down with the manuscript printed on paper and formatted as it will be in book form. All the design is there, the specific fonts, layout, etc. Once that’s approved, it goes off to be published!
I will likely receive my box of finished books 1-2 months ahead of the publication date next September. Getting that final box of books is truly the best moment ever, and there may be champagne to accompany the occasion. 🥂🍾
In between those things are all manner of promotion activities, especially in the few months before the book is out. I’m already working on a companion cookbook. I’ll write essays on the garden, on Dali, and probably Hades and Persephone that can be placed in various magazines and online outlets. And my publicist will be lining up interviews as well.
Most of this will happen at the same time that I’m working on my next novel, a story about the ancient gods wreaking havoc in our contemporary world. That manuscript is due in April of next year. It’s a bit of a shift for me (a good one) to have books overlap so much, but I’m up for the challenge!
Looking for the perfect Christmas gift for a reader in your life (or perhaps yourself)? Throw your hat in the ring to win one of five book gift packs, including a signed copy of THE CHEF’S SECRET and a signed copy FEAST OF SORROW.
This giveaway closed at midnight on 12/10/23. Winners will be notified within 48 hours of the giveaway close and announced in my next newsletter/post.
A couple of things: you must be 18+ and a United States resident (pesky international laws make it tricky to do giveaways worldwide). If you are someone who loves rules, you can find the obligatory info here.
WHAT’S BRINGING ME JOY THIS WEEK
This bizarre image of Salvador Dalí.
Octopi are so smart.
Ha!
If you love food and love Italy, and haven’t read THE CHEF’S SECRET or FEAST OF SORROW, click the links to learn where to buy your copy! 🍒🍗🍷
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