Sydney At Work

Right now I’m on ‘hold’ as far as my forthcoming book “Jailhouse Stories of Early Pacific County” is concerned. I’ve turned in my manuscript, complete with bibliography, index, and photographs. Now I am waiting while my editor pores over every word, phrase, comma and idea, fact-checking and ruminating as she goes.

Observer, 2007

I’m trying to gird up my loins, so to speak, for the next ‘onslaught’ my very limited (five days, I think) opportunity to read through the entire manuscript and check the editor’s changes. It will be my last opportunity to make any necessary changes to the text. This can be an interesting step in the editing process.

I remember arguing fiercely with my WSU Press editor over a change he made to my Dear Medora manuscript – changed every ‘holly tree’ reference to ‘holly bush’ and insisted, despite my attempts to convince him otherwise, that I was incorrect. I finally dashed out into our lane, took pictures of our holly trees with my spiffy brand-new-out-of-the-box-digital-camera and emailed them right before press time. In the return mail I received an apology complete with a “you learn something new every day” comment and assurance that my words would be restored.

So… while I am anxiously awaiting the “Jailhouse” edits, I’ve been distracting myself by thinking about my next project. Actually, not so much ‘thinking about’ as ‘wondering if’ I should put another of my old Observer series “North Beach Girls of the Teens and Twenties” into book form. On the plus side of such an undertaking – I love the stories and know that the project would be enjoyable and that the book would sell. On the other hand, most of those North Beach girls have now died and I’m not sure I could find family members who could help with missing information and photographs etc.

Yesterday, as I was weighing the pros and cons once again, I received an email from a friend asking if, perchance, I was related to her old neighbor, Robin Risely. Wow! I’m not sure, but I do believe that Joanne Risely, one of ‘my’ North Beach Girls, had a daughter named Robin. And, though we aren’t exactly related, we are all entitled to attend the Williams Family Reunion every year through various and sundry ‘family connections’ I intend to follow up and…

I’m pretty sure that inquiry was a Sign with a capital S.