Thursday, December 6, 2012

I Heard From My Editor!!!

Yeah - back-flips and cartwheels - I heard from my editor about the revision, and she wants me to write and new first chapter that will then be followed by the Chapter One I posted on this site. I had an idea that she loved, and I'm madly working on it right now. I'll post it as soon as she says this new submission will be the final final final published manuscript. Ah, the world of a writer! On a fun note, they hired a beautiful model for my cover, and will carry out the shoot next week. I saw a mockup and I LOVE what they are doing. Penguin ROCKS! That's what is happening, which I know is frustrating for you but equally frustrating for me, because first chapters are the hardest and I'm back to square one. Revision is part of the process. And truthfully, I like my new direction. Wait and see.... Hope everyone is gearing up for the holidays and that you are surrounded by family and friends! Thankfully, I've got my decorations up and my gifts purchased, which means clear sailing for theisrevision. I should have it in by Christmas!

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

wait...so you have to revise the book all over again!

Alane Ferguson said...

Portions of it. That's how this works - an editor will go over what you (the writer) have submitted and ask for changes if necessary, which it almost always the case. There's a lot that will stand as is, and some that will be different when I'm done incorporating her notes. One thing she was concerned about was that it took too long to get into the forensic part of The Dead Giveaway, so I thought about it and came up with a different opener. So Chapter One will now be Chapter Two. Like I said, you're getting a peek into my world as an author. We basically can't sign off on anything until our editors say we can. More work, but hopefully it will be better in the end!

An easy way to think of this is that it's like my editor is my teacher, and she (or he) grades my paper, which in my case is actually a novel. I can't turn it in until I get a 'A+'! Right now, I'm at an 'A-' so it's work work work until I pull up my grade. It's the same for all of us writers, actually. And you think your homework was bad - we have to rework 200 pages instead of five!

The only thing that keeps me from pulling my hair out is that my editor is truly smart and very, very good, so the final product is always the better after she makes her suggestions. Of course I want it to just be done and be off to the next project, but a good editor keeps your feet to the fire until you've done your best work. So, it's back to the manuscript, which, as I said, should be rewritten by Christmas. Then I'll begin book six. (Oh, and write The Book of The Dawning for Bill Borden. Plus my paranormal ghost book. I'm always writing! (And I love it!) Hope that answers your question!

Anonymous said...

so no posting chapters 2 and 3

Alane Ferguson said...

Not until it's in its final form. So you can say you've read Chapter Two, and I hope to add Chapter One and Chapter Three on my blog! No matter how chapter one changes, Cameryn will be off to the The Dead Giveaway television show in California, which will be really, really fun for her, but incredibly hard for Justin! :) + :( Okay, now I'll get back to rewriting. But I will FOR SURE stop tonight so that I can watch my favorite show, The Vampire Diaries! GO TEAM DELENA! It's Damon all the way for me! (Please please please let Elena still love Damon in spite of the sire bond! I am such a TVD worshiper - for me it is the best show EVER!) Now I really must work...but I'm counting down until 8:00 tonight!

Liliana said...

So exciting! Meanwhile, I think I should read the other books in the series first, lol. I think I've got maybe one or two books left. Love the series!

Anonymous said...

how many chapters will the book have...and are there a lot of Justin cammie moments???????????

Anonymous said...

how's body language going

Alane Ferguson said...

It's still going forward, but one of the producers had a an unexpected tragedy (her husband died) so things are on hold until she is ready. We should all count our blessings and make sure we hug the ones we love...

Anonymous said...

that's so sad anyways any plans for Christmas and the new year

Alane Ferguson said...

Because I'm a magical thinker, I'm taking the entire family on a train ride this Sunday that will end up at the mythical North Pole. (Well, it's actually still in Colorado, but there's a Santa and 17,000 twinkle lights and hot chocolate at the end of the one-hour ride!) Later on, my family and I will join together for our traditional Christmas Eve, which includes homemade reindeer food (the secret ingredient is glitter) that we leave out in the snow for the reindeer to nibble on. We put a golden Santa key on the front door so he can get inside. Then my husband waits for the signal before he begins shaking sleigh bells beneath Jessica, Jake and Megan's window while yelling, "Ho Ho Ho, Merry Christmas!" They're always so excited while I tell them they'd better get to sleep so Santa can leave his presents. Oh, and I also make a ton of sugar cookies pressed by every festive cookie cutter shape known to man. (Some of them were my grandmother's, some my mother's, and a lot our cutters I've picked up along the way. Snowflakes and snowmen and candy canes and wreaths - you name it, I got it!) Everyone gobbles the cookies while sipping their cocoa, and of course we go caroling. On Christmas day I cook a Christmas turkey with all the trimmings, because to me, there is nothing more fun than my family gathered around a feast. I LOVE the holidays! (Can you tell?)

Anonymous said...

can't wait to see body language...

chazalou said...

Hello, I like your blog, when will your book be published? I would like to read it. :D

Anonymous said...

Happy new year...a time for new books to come out and hopefully the dead giveaway and the show with come out in 2013

Anonymous said...

how' the show going and will the book be published soon???? like in feb.. march or april