Editing, editing, editing

The plans to publish my two-book suspense series are well underway. I'm giving the two novels one last edit to make minor changes and to catch any errors that have slipped through earlier edits. Although I'm going to publish the books separately - Ashes this fall/winter and Reckoning in the second half of next year, I'm editing them together. I've been told that director John Cassavetes said, "Continuity is for pussies," but he could get away with that, because he was John Cassavetes. I am not, and I feel compelled to make sure everything synchs up.

The good news is that I am done with the read-through and markups for Ashes. Now have to get started on read-through and markups for Reckoning (I am old-fashioned and do everything on hard copy). Even better news is that the books still hold up for me, so far, and that means you'll probably like them.

Nerd alert

Tell me, what is the point of  having a blond kid if you cannot convince him to dress as Draco Malfoy or Joffrey Baratheon for Halloween?

Readers! What do YOU think?

Thinking of having a shirt made up to promote Smite Publications at next year's Comic-Con. What do you think of the Smite logo and the words DIE PROTAGONIST DIE ?

Not that it's relevant to any of my books...

Or should I go with the ever-popular KILL YOUR DARLINGS ?

Suggestions are welcome.

Nerd alert

The other day I found myself worrying about Eowyn and Faramir. Sure, it's a nice pairing and it will be good for the stability of Rohan and Gondor. But really, she's still rebounding from Aragorn telling her she's in the Friend Zone, and sooner or later he's going to be told that his father tried to burn him alive while he was comatose and that's bound to give him some trauma. I hope it works out. Do they have couples therapy in Middle Earth?

At least I'm not worrying about Castle and Beckett any more (thank you, Season 4 finale!).

Status update

Chapters edited in two-book suspense series: 10

Reviews added to Cinema Guide book: Cannibal Ferox, Long Weekend, Scanners, Sideways, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me, and War of the Gargantuas

Books bought on recent jaunt to Solvang: Pincher Martin by William Golding, The Bonesetter's Daughter by Amy Tan, and Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant

"Donald imagined things"

I know how Donald feels.

Illustration by the late, great Edward Gorey.

What kind of reader are you?

Over at the Atlantic Wire, there's an article about the different types of book readers. Check out part 1 and part 2.

I actually fit two types: The Book Basher (my books get dinged up a lot, not least because I read while eating and carry lots of books around in my bag) and the All-the-timer/Compulsive/Voracious/Anything-Goes Reader (for reasons which are evident to anyone who knows me).

What kind are you?