Some Great Feedback & Praise for Second Set of Eyes

Well, I'm progressing with the publication of my novel, St. Anne's Day.  All the experts recommend having your manuscript professionally edited before publishing.  I searched for an editor and found one with impeccable credentials and experience.  Plus her website has the same template that I used for a former website--I figured she had good taste like me (ha ha).  The editor was Cynthia Sherwood at

www.secondsetofeyes.com

I sent her my first chapter to evaluate it for an estimate and was I pleasantly surprised to get this message from her:


However, and I should preface this by saying I've never said this to a potential client before, you need to decide whether it's necessary to hire someone. Though it's possible the rest isn't as clean as the first chapter, it really does look like it's in great shape. I hate for you to spend money on something that may be only marginally helpful. But, of course, if you decide to go ahead with it, I would love to take you on as a client. Let me know what you think.

Not only does she have great credentials, she has integrity!  What a gem I found.  I'm ecstatic that the novel is in such good shape and doubly pleased to find someone with such depth of character that she would actually advise me that I don't really need her services. 

You can bet I will be consulting her in the future for any editing projects I may have.  

Eating My Words

Well, I'm going to do it.  I'm going indie. For those of you who don't know what that means, I'm not starting an indie rock band.  No, I've decided to join the revolution and independently publish my novels.  Until recently, I would have never gone this way as I believed the acquire-an-agent-who-secures-a-publisher route was the gold standard for publication.  In fact, when I received a press release from someone promoting a self-published book at the magazine a few years ago, I dismissed it. When my coworkers, who have very little interest in the world of publishing, asked why I didn't think highly of self-published books, I explained it to them this way:  It's like paying for sex.  If a guy was really hot, he could probably hook up with any babe he wants because of his attractiveness.  But if he wasn't so hot, he'd probably have to pay for the favors.  If a book was really good, publishers would be fighting over it, but if it wasn't, the writer would have to pay to get it into print. 

But things have changed.  And I must eat my words.  Due to a very busy few years, I've not really paid attention to what was happening in the publishing industry, but with the advent of technology like the Kindle, the way we write, sell, distribute, buy, and read books is changing.  Presently, I'm trying to learn as much as possible about this exciting new opportunity.  As I progress through this process, I hope you'll join me.   I think my first release will be "Not Every Girl."