And Here Are The Galleys

[I. J. Parker]

It's only days until Christmas and I've been laid up with bursitis in my hip (which is greatly aggravated by sitting for periods of time), and here is this fat package on my doorstep like some last minute present. Alas, it proves to be work with a deadline attached. I have said elsewhere, I think, that I enjoy the editing process except for proofreading the galleys. Now the fat stack of pages sits on my desk, making me nervous. All deadlines make me nervous. I have a type A personality.

Mind you, this is THE CONVICT'S SWORD, book number 6 of the Akitada series, and my best. For the first time, I've enjoyed reading my own writing. Still, typos have a habit of slipping by, and I caught a misspelling even after I returned the copy-edited manuscript, so I'll have to keep my eyes open.

A part of me says that so far people have not exactly fallen all over themselves to buy or promote my books either at the publishers, or the stores, or among the readers. So why should I sweat this? It's not due out until July of 2009. By that time, many of my readers will have forgotten to look for my books. The long delay between the instalments in a series are damaging to an author's success. As are many other practices engaged in by the publishing industry. Maybe it's time I regarded deadlines as more flexible than in the past.

But here is a bit of encouragement: Amazon has already posted the book, though without the cover image, and already there are sales. My fans are eager, very eager -- even if their number is still too small to impress the publisher.

On with the work!

[D.R. MacMaster]

Good, then my novel Murder In Tune To MacArthur Park won't have any competition. ;)

[I. J. Parker]

Laughing! Actually I only wrote bad poetry in college.

[D.R. MacMaster]

That's the spirit. When you hit it big you can force your publisher to put them out!

Even the experimental crime novel meant to be sung to the tune of MacArthur Park written in college!

;)

[I. J. Parker]

Well, they'll come in handy when we finally strike it big, Grant. :)

[Grant McKenzie]

I certainly know how that feels.

[I. J. Parker]

Thanks, Grant. That doesn't mean I don't have unpublished ones. :)

[Grant McKenzie]

Six published books is a huge achievement, Ingrid, congratulations.