This may sound crazy, but I got the best email ever at the end of last week. It was my edit letter on my next book. Delayed Justice will release later in 2018, and I’ve been on pins and needles since I sent the book in to my publisher and new editor in November. The holidays and life has the edit coming back to me now.
An edit letter.
Opening them can be nerve-wrecking.
Has my editor decided she should never have wanted to work with me? Has she discovered I can’t write after all? Does the plot stink? Are the characters weak? Is there anything we can salvage in this story?
It’s so easy to let my internal worrier take off and leave me with knots in my stomach. I’ve learned though to take a deep breath and try to adopt my friend Colleen Coble’s approach.
Edits are great. They are a chance to make my story stronger. To put the characters and plot in the strongest position possible before I turn them over to you, my readers. It’s a time to pull out deeper themes and threads. To dig deep for the gold that’s lying hidden in the pages and words.
This week I’m in Nashville with my husband. We’re celebrating our anniversary early and had the chance to have lunch with my editor yesterday. Today we plan to spend a couple hours at Thomas Nelson brainstorming with my editor and the publisher. I love writing for a publisher because we get to put our expertise together to create great books for readers.
There’s so much fun and goodness in the synergy that comes from working together.
Yesterday we also stopped at the Barnes and Noble and Lifeway stores in Franklin. It’s so fun to go into those stores and find my books on the shelves. They’re now signed if you’re looking for autographed copies in the Nashville area.
And isn’t Delayed Justice’s cover amazing? I think it’s the best I’ve had yet with the Hidden Justice series. They’ve all been good, but this one pops!
Do you have questions about the writing life? If so, let me know! I’d love to answer your questions in future posts!
I wanted to give you an advance chance to enter into a giveaway for Havilah Cunnington’s latest book Stronger than the Struggle. I have an ARC that’s looking for a home. You can enter via the form below. You can join the free bookclub here.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Comments 4
Cara, I’m so excited about Delayed Justice! Happy anniversary! May you two have many more wonderful years together.
One of my favorite spiritual growth books from last year was Waiting for Wonder by Marlo Schalesky. That book blew me away in a really great fashion. It was soul deep and definitely a keeper.
Thanks for the fun giveaway!
Author
Oh! I have Marlo’s book and need to make the time to read it.
So excited for your new book & I love the cover too!
What a blessing each book is. God has prepared you to inspire others with books. Listen to him as you process the next book. Looking forward to your next adventure.