Monday 12 January 2015

Edits and Covers



I’ve been having fun the past few days going through the first edits for my forthcoming novel, The Highland Lass, due to be published by Crooked Cat this spring, although it’s also time-consuming and a strain on the eyes at times. This is the part I love, as the hard writing should be mostly over and the professional editor has hopefully caught anything I need to address or correct. It’s notoriously difficult to edit our own work and I can’t believe the silly things our eyes pass over because we read what we expect to see!

At the same time, I've had contact from my cover artist and we've started to discuss ideas for this important part of the book. Not as easy as it sounds, but I'm happy with the actual image we’re thinking about at the moment as it suits the flavour of the story. It’s even more difficult when the novel covers two time frames, but it’s mostly a contemporary story and that will be the focus, as well as a rough indication of the setting (Scotland). It won't be as chilly looking as my photo of Loch Lomond above!

It’s an exciting move towards the actual publication and makes it feel real. Can’t wait until I can reveal more about it. Meantime, I’d better get on with the novella I'm supposed to be finishing, although my heart is still with The Highland Lass at the moment.

Just as well the weather has been terrible up here for days at a time – gale force winds and heavy rain. At least it stops me from gallivanting too much! Hope it’s not too bad where you are.

Rosemary

13 comments:

Wendy's Writing said...

I think that discussions about the cover must be the most exciting part of the book publishing process... it means the end is in sight!

Rosemary Gemmell said...

It's good they're getting to this stage already, Wendy!

Anita Chapman said...

Best of luck with the edits for The Highland Lass Rosemary, and with your novella. Went to the Isle of Wight at the weekend and it was so windy that tiles were flying off the roof! Hope the wind has calmed down where you are.

Mary Smith said...

Good luck with the edits, Rosemary. I know how easy it is to miss something because you see what you thought you wrote.
Blustery here, too, but the sun has been shining a bit today and we've escaped the worst of the storms. Maybe our turn is yet to come!

Teresa Ashby said...

Sounds very exciting. I'm looking forward to seeing your cover - and the book!

You've had some rough weather up there recently haven't you. It's been wet and a bit windy here, but nothing out of the ordinary (touch wood!). Hope your weather calms down soon xx

Frances Garrood said...

Ah, the cover! It's a brilliant moment, isn't it.

Joanna said...

I'm really looking forward to seeing your cover, Rosemary. This weather certainly has been perfect for editing. What a painstaking, but satisfying, process it is. You must be getting really excited about The Highland Lass and I'm looking forward to more news soon. xxx

Rosemary Gemmell said...

Thanks, Anita - we're now covered in snow this morning!

Hi Mary - hope you still have it fairly good this morning. Our wind turned to lovely snow!

Many thanks, Teresa - I'm getting excited about this one!

Rosemary Gemmell said...

It is indeed, Frances - though we mull over for too long at times!

Thank you, Joanna - you'll be getting excited about your own book coming out soon!

Patsy said...

Seems as though everything is going really well with the book!

Love the picture - I think it must have been taken from one of the places we stopped as I have a similar (but sunnier!) picture.

Rosemary Gemmell said...

So far, so good, Patsy! This is taken at Loch Lomond from the little village of Luss - in winter!

Rosemary Gemmell said...

So far, so good, Patsy! This is taken at Loch Lomond from the little village of Luss - in winter!

Nicola said...

That sounds like an exciting time, Rosemary. It is funny that we are hopeless at editing our own work and yet are able to pick up on others' quite easily. Wishing you lots of fun and please let us know when it will be available for purchase. :)