Writing a novel like the ones I write involves a great deal of research, a heavy dose of creativity to plot out a story that dovetails with the historical details, and months and months of putting words on the page and revising them over and over to get them right.
When I have finished all that, I send the manuscript to my editor and wait to see if she is interested. If she is, she takes it to the editorial committee to see if they think it is a project worth investing in.
If everything goes well, they offer me a contract. Once I sign it, I work on another set of revisions with my editor, until we have something close to the final book. There will still be more passes and slight changes, and the book will go to a copy editor. After it goes through copy editing, my editor goes back through the copy editor’s comments and sends it back to me to address whatever issues have been addressed.
Meanwhile, the book designer decides things like font, page set up, and cover art. I am kept apprised of what is happening in all these stages.
Galleys are the next step. These are comprised of the book set up on the page the way it is intended, but the pages are not cut or bound. My editor goes over those with her scrutinizing eye, and sees what else might need to be fixed or corrected.
When we have made any necessary changes, ARC’s (Advance Reader Copies) are the next stage. These are bound paperback versions of the book that are sent to reviewers, bloggers, book sellers, and librarians. We can still tweak things a bit more in this stage if needed.
By the time the launch date comes, the first reviews are in, and I have made arrangements for a book launch event. All three of my books have launched at Blue Marble Books in Fort Thomas, KY. This is a bookstore that has been supportive of my writing long before I was published, and they do a wonderful job of promoting authors. We typically set up two dates (a weekday and a Saturday). I am there for a couple hours to talk about the book and sign copies for customers. Friends and family always turn out to show support.
After that, I arrange other book events, school visits, and interviews (newspapers, radio, and TV) to try to raise awareness of my latest book.
I recently visited a few schools to talk about Not on Fifth Street, my novel that launched in October, 2017. I participated in three Book Festivals and a few bookstore events. My most recent bookstore event was in Ironton, OH, the setting for Not on Fifth Street. It was hugely successful, and the bookstore sold out of copies of the book.
What’s next for me? Last week, I finished a new book and sent it to my editor. If all goes well, the process I just described will begin all over again.
