Lori Devoti, paranormal romance and urban fantasy author

Yep, a cold, I caught one. Gotta love winter, and my disease-carrying kids. :)

On the upside, I got my copy edits to FedEx today with plenty of time for them to make it to NY by my deadline. They were fairly painfree. Sometimes they aren’t. But, while there were a few things that made me think, hmm. Like changing sulphur to sulfur (both correct according to my dictionary). There were probably only a couple things I changed back to how I had them. I’m easy that way. I’m sure some authors totally freak out that their words are being changed, but I usually shrug and move on. Now if I think it changes the story, or the voice of the character, or causes something else not to make sense–then I’ll change it back.

So, one more step down the production pipeline.

I thought it might interest some of you how the process works.

Revisions–I don’t think this is fair to compare house to house, because it varies more editor to editor/author to author/book to book. In my case for this last book I had no revisions, but I know people who have had 20 page revision letters with the same house. Oh, and my first book I had two rounds of revisions–first round had to add around 50 pages, second I had to “up the romance.” Second book, no revisions.

Copy Edits–This is the stage after your book is turned in and any edits/revisions are done. You can still make fairly substantial changes at this point. With Unbound I added on about a page and a half at the end to tie into the cover. So far as how good or bad these are to deal with, it really varies by the copy editor–I have heard horror stories, but mine have all been pretty good.

Galleys–This should be the finished guts of the book. You can not make changes, except teeny tiny ones. It is set and ready to be bound–hopefully with very few tweaks. I have heard of authors trying to make major changes at this point, and I believe houses have been known to either just not do them or to charge the author. I’ve never had that experience personally–but general message here, make sure the book is how you want it on the copy edit stage AT THE LATEST.

Titles–On all three books I’ve supplied a working title. On all three it changed. Both houses/editors I’ve worked with called me to tell me the change though. I think this is another thing that may be a big deal at times and for some authors. I was pretty much fine with all of mine–although I will admit Love is All Around took some getting used to. ;-)

Covers–Kensington/Zebra didn’t really ask for any input. Harlequin/Silhouette has an online form you fill out that is pretty extensive. You describe scenes, characters, the whole bit. I was pretty impressed by this–now granted they don’t have to use any of your suggestions, but it is really nice that they are interested in the covers matching the book. I’m not sure how the other houses handle it. Anyone know?

So that’s the process–except for interactions with your editor and other individuals at the publishing house, but again, that completely varies with the individuals your are working with.

Did I forget anything?

Oh, how about cover quotes? Usually, the author hunts down her/his own. My first book I didn’t–it was part of the promotion program Zebra already had in place for the Debut books. I have yet to ask anyone for one myself, but I’ve heard plenty of stories–enough for its own entry I think…

Review Copies? Both houses I’ve worked with send out a few–like to what they consider the big four or five. All the others (like all the Internet reviewers) the author has to handle herself if she thinks it is worth the effort. This will, like all promotion type things, vary by how “big” the house thinks the book is.

That’s it for now–I have to go blow my nose. :(

Lori