Update

It’s been quite some time since I’ve posted anything here; frankly, it was a minor miracle that I remembered the password and was able to log in to the site. But I thought it was time to get back into this whole blogging thing. So here goes.

In May 2017, I left my job at Random House and moved to Bozeman, Montana, with my then-boyfriend (now fiance) to start a new chapter in our life together.

Living here in Montana has been a huge change from New York, as I’m sure goes without saying. It’s been an adjustment, and the sweetness of the move was not without its bitter notes: I’ve had to miss out on any number of family occasions, birthdays, engagement parties, and other events back east, where virtually everyone I know and love still resides. But overall it was definitely the right decision for us.

I’m self-employed (fancy term for unemployed) as an aspiring novelist. I cobble together some income by providing freelance editorial services and selling macrame art (follow @mountainmademacrame to see some of my work!). I also spend a lot of time listening to audiobooks, canning and pickling various goodies, and planning for my wedding.

If you or someone you know is in need of copyediting or proofreading services, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

xx

Goodreads Giveaway

The Pursuit of Pearls by Jane Thynne is now available for a Goodreads giveaway! Enter for a chance to win:

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/177347-the-pursuit-of-pearls-a-novel

 

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Freelance Project: The Enclave

I recently took on a new freelance project that I’m really enjoying. The novel is called The Enclave, and it’s a mystery set in a retirement community in Florida.

I’m editing both for style and substance. Grammatically it’s pretty clean, but there are some structural issues I’d like to address in order to amp up the urgency and speed up the pace of the story.

It’s an interesting challenge, because my real experience is with editing projects I’m going to publish. So I have a greater sense of authority. In this case, I’m giving feedback based on my taste and experience. But if she sells the project to someone else, then they could very well have different ideas about the plot. And then I’ll feel guilty for wasting her time with my counter-productive suggestions.

There’s often a temptation to second-guess myself or diminish the value of my feedback. While I’m in the manuscript, it seems so clear that I’m right and that I’m offering useful insight and advice. But later the doubt seeps in: what do I know, anyway? Who am I to say what makes a good mystery? I think these inner criticisms are natural, but it’s still difficult not to be seduced by self-doubt. I wonder if greater confidence will be borne of more experience, or if I’ll always be trapped in this cycle. Here’s hoping it’s the former.

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Ken Jennings

I inherited a backlist project that I’m really excited about: I am officially the editor for Ken Jennings’s Trivia Almanac! So excited. #Starstruck. As a big Jeopardy! fan, this assignment is a dream come true.

Editorially, there’s not a ton of heavy lifting involved: I’m just shepherding a reprint of the book we published in 2008 through production. So the cover has already been designed, the copy is done, reviews are in, it’s all edited and the text has been updated based on all the facts that became out of date in the past six years. I’m really just a point of contact for the author. But that’s fine with me! Any time his name pops up in my inbox, my inner fangirl goes a bit wild.

Buy it here!

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Alibi Submissions

The Editor in charge of the Alibi submission log recently left the company for his next adventure. Now that he’s gone, I have been put in charge of evaluating all the submissions that come in through our website.

To be honest, I have slightly mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, it’s exciting to be given new responsibilities and I feel good about being viewed as such an integral part of the editorial team. And there’s always the thrilling possibility that something really brilliant will fall into my lap through the generic submission platform. But…

In some ways, it also feels like a step back. Once again, I’m reading unsolicited, unagented slush. It reminds me of my intern days. Instead of submissions coming to me pre-vetted by agents who know my taste, I can be approached by literally anyone with internet access. Frightening thought. Additionally, the editor who was responsible for the submissions has quite a backlog, so I’m still working my way through the people who submitted their work last September.

I’m staying upbeat about it all, but it’s a bit of a daunting task!

If you’re interested in being an Alibi author, then you can submit your novel here.

xx

The Big Brush-off On Sale Today!

I recently inherited a new author, Michael Murphy, from an editor who left the company. The series is right up my alley: 1930s, witty, glamorous, romantic…it’s got everything. You don’t have to have read the earlier books in the series for this one to make sense. Check it out!

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Savage Reckoning

I recently inherited an author from a colleague who left the company. I was lucky enough to be able to start with editing the first book in a new series. Initially, the book was untitled, with the subtitle “A Pearl of Justice Novel”.

It’s set in the south, starring a police deputy named Dani Pearl. Dani stumbles onto a frightening series of crimes involving the disappearance death of young women. After reading the book, I decided that “Pearl of Justice” was a bit too cute to really be in keeping with the tone of the read. So, after much consultation with the author, we decided to rename Dani and instead call her Dani Savage. So the book is Savage Reckoning: A Backwoods Justice Novel.

I’m really excited about the book–the author just delivered a re-write earlier this week, so I’m eager to dive into the new draft!

Pre-order Savage Reckoning

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Iron Goddess Cover Art

Iron Goddess by Dharma Kelleher officially has a cover!

Would love to hear your thoughts.

xx

All These Perfect Strangers Cover Art

We have cover art for All These Perfect Strangers by Aoife Clifford!

For comparison, here is what the Australian publisher is using:

And in the UK:

Which do you like best?

xx

City of Liars and Thieves

As the year draws to a close, we’ve had some staffing changes at the imprint. One of my dear colleagues is moving to a different imprint–we’re all very sad to see her go, but that sadness is tempered with the awareness that she’s moving forward in her career and will be taking on larger editorial responsibilities in her new role.

With her impending departure looming large, she’s been redistributing the titles she’s responsible for. I’ve inherited a few, one of which is on the Alibi list. It’s called City of Liars and Thieves and I had the privilege of reading it with Nina in the early stages when they were brainstorming title concepts.

If you’re a fan of the hit play Hamilton–which to be honest I haven’t actually seen, though I’ve heard great things–then you may find this book intriguing. It’s historical fiction based on the first recorded murder trial in the United States, which took place in New York City in 1800. The politics are fascinating, as Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton defended the accused murderer.

It’s a great read, and I highly recommend it!

xx