Hello loyal readers! I know it’s been a while since I’ve written a blog, so I figured it was time. Some of you may have read that I entered another writing contest a few months back. I did not move along to the next round. Oh well, I can’t win all the time!

Now to update you on The Gift of Death. I had to look for an editor and it was not something I was looking forward to doing. It’s hard to find an editor who knows what they are doing, that you can trust, and doesn’t cost you an arm and leg. Don’t get me wrong, I’m willing to pay top dollar for a good editor because it will just make my book that much better, but I had no idea where to start. A couple of friends pointed me to an editor they knew personally but after reading their bio, I didn’t feel like they were a good fit for me. Then a good friend of mine reached out to someone she knew who sent her a couple of links that were full of editors.

So my search began…

I sent out three emails to individual editors, knowing that I wanted to have a couple different types of editing done. I won’t bore you with the whole editing thing but there’s more to editing than just looking for spelling, puncture and grammar errors. I knew I’d need to hire at least two editors. One for those type of edits and then one who looks at the whole picture. It was a little discouraging knowing I had to search for not one, but two editors!

I found a few that I thought might be a good match so I sent them emails. They all responded and were interested in taking on the project.

But then something amazing happend!

I stumbled upon a company on the list called The Artful Editor. I checked out their website and as I read what they offered and then checked their reviews, I was smiling from ear to ear. What was so great about this company is they offered what’s called an “Everything Edit” package. It was the two types of edits that I needed done and each edit is done by a different person on their staff. So, I didn’t have to look for two different editors, they did it for me!

What was also great about The Artful Editor was that they offered a payment plan that I was able to pay in three installments. They get the first payment and then started the first round of editing. Once they were finished that (it took a little over a month), I sent them the second installment and they sent me their edits. I was excited and nervous to look over what the editor had to say. I was happy with the results! The editor pointed out things I missed…a lot of things…and gave me many great ideas and suggestions. Some of them I didn’t take but most of them I did. I had the chance to speak to him if I wanted but I didn’t have a need to.

Once I finished with the edits, I sent it back to them for the second round of editing. This one took closer to two months before it was finished. Once it was, I sent my third payment installment and then received the edits. I had more things to fix again but again, I was happy with the work that was completed.

Those edits have been completed and now I have a finished book that I’m even more excited about. A few days ago, I found a company that I hired to do my book cover. It will take them one to two weeks to have a design sent to me and I cannot wait to see what they come up with!

I’ve been thinking about marketing and actually publishing this book. But I am nervous that my book is still not good enough, that there may still be missed errors and plot holes and so, here I am, going back to the Artful Editor for another round of editing. This one is proofreading and it’s basically one last round of another pair of eyes reading over it. Don’t dare ask me how much I’ve paid for all the editing! It was a lot but I believe it’s worth it if it means having a product that you can be proud of. I don’t want to look like an amateur (even though that’s what I am) when I publish my first book because then no one would ever read my second book!

So once I get my book back from the editor for a THIRD time, I guess I will have to be ready to accept that it’s ready to be published. It will probably be another month or two but that’s okay. It will give me time to try to generate interest.

So that’s where I am at right now. It would have been nice if I could have had a Halloween release date but I don’t know how possible that will be now that I’m waiting for the last round of edits. But hey, good things come to those who wait!

In the meantime, if you haven’t already done so, please sign up for my newsletter by filling in the contact box here on my website. You’ll be the first to know about release dates, you’ll get special promotional offers and even some free stuff!

Thanks for reading!!