A Shadow Of Time

I rarely tout my own books on my blog but I am going to recommend A Shadow of Time once it is released from Ellysian Press. It is my hope you will find Shadow everything she was meant to be the first time around.

Ellysian Press is the most thorough publisher I have ever had the pleasure of working with. I am grateful they took my books from Crescent Moon Press as they allowed me to insert my original ending and not the one previously published.

*wipes sweat from forehead*

I always hated A Shadow of Time because the ending was not the one I created. Shadow was never meant to be a series, it was to be a stand alone book with a few novelettes circling its orbit. I would like to add that having another pair of eyes working with me to make my story the best it could be was such a satisfying experience.

Many thanks to Ellysian Press. 

Having Shadow thoroughly edited was a new experience. I had already spent months working with my characters, days and nights plotting my way through the manuscript, and Shadow had already been published by another publisher. However, Ellysian showed me there were many things missed and there were plenty of edits for me to get lost in.  Now, Shadow has become the book I wanted with the ending I wanted and I am so proud to call her mine. But, she isn't just mine. She is a collaborative effort between my editors and myself and I would like to thank Jen and Maer for their hard work. 

I learned plenty this time around and I thought I would share with you some of the challenges I faced that are normal from any writers point of view.  When I first finished A Shadow of Time I believed she was ready to go. Then, although published by another company, I discovered she was not the work I thought she was.  When Ellysian Press got a hold of her, they turned Shadow into a book any writer would be proud of claiming as their own.

Lessons Learned

1. Try hard not to take offense, but if you do, consider yourself normal. Everyone cringes when they see their work marked up. During this last edit, one of my editors told me I had created a whiny character. I bristled a bit, but I knew she was right. Needless to say finding the right balance between whiny and kick ass was a challenge, but it was fun and she was so dead on.

2. Don't dread the next round email. Instead, welcome it! I learned that my publisher cared about me and what I think, and they respected me enough to  make sure I saw and authorized each change even if there were only three changes to be reviewed. 

3. Any English teacher can edit a manuscript, but you want an editor that hears your voice, connects with your plot, understands your pacing and treasures your tension. I found that with Jen and Maer at  Ellysian Press.

4. EVERY writer needs an editor.   It takes months/years to write a novel and by the time I was through with Shadow I was numb to my own mistakes. 

5. Lastly, I learned that my editor was my partner in creating a book that deserves to be read. A Shadow of Time is a a great book, one even Stephen King might be tempted to read. I recommend it and my recommendations don't come lightly.

Thanks again Ellysian Press. I appreciate it.