Nose-to-Grindstone in Oysterville

Cuzzin Ralph

Cuzzin Ralph

I doubt that Cuzzin Ralph’s car was past the fork in the road yesterday morning before I was back at my computer, immersed in my editor’s comments and corrections on my soon-to-be-published book, Ghost Stories of the Long Beach Peninsula, The edited text had arrived in pdf form late Friday afternoon just as the family was beginning to gather for the first Espy Reunion we’d had in seven years.

Though I was anxious to see how much work was in store for me (this is the stage that author and editor sometimes need to duke it out), I didn’t even open the file until our last guest had gone. And that was Cuzzin Ralph! By the time he had us pose for the obligatory photos in front of the house and in front of the church, I have to admit that I was chomping at the bit, a bit!

The first thing I tackled was the text that is to be on the back cover. The most extensive edits had been there and some were a little ‘off’ – as in referring to the Peninsula’s “rocky shoreline” but then, such glitches can be expected when the editorial staff is in South Carolina. Or maybe somewhere else. In this day of telecommuting it’s hard to tell. The History Press headquarters are in Charleston and wherever my editor is, I’m pretty sure she hasn’t been to our neck of the woods.

Cover Proof

Cover Proof

Except for the cover edits, there look to be very few changes or questions in the rest of the manuscript. In fact, so far, this has been the most congenial editing experience I’ve ever had. And fast! Before the day was over, the cover proof was back, complete with my new copy. Only the price and ISBN barcode were missin. No doubt that’s now been added and the covers are printed and ready for the inside pages!

My deadline for this go-round is Friday. I’m taking a bit of a break tomorrow – a long-planned trip to have lunch with friends Paul and Lana Jane Brent and to see their new house in Seaside. Otherwise, it will be nose-to-grindstone for me. No doubt our household ghost, Mrs. Crouch, will be lurking nearby. I hope she’s pleased that the very first story is about her!

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