Editors are my Heroes

Today, bright and early on this Monday morning, I received my edited manuscript for Laughing in the Midst of Marriage.  I took one glance through the pages and had a flash back to college writing assignments.  Let’s just say my editor worked for every penny they earned on this project.  The red on the page is prolific. 

Once at TWU an essay was handed back to me with MORE red than black writing on it.  Good grief!  Written in big red letters across the top it said, “When in Canada, Write as a Canadian!”  I didn’t realize there was a difference.

Today, in America, I’m not sure who I’m writing like???  Maybe my editor is Canadian?  I’m not sure.  Anyway, I have pages and pages to go through of black and RED typing.  I’m so thankful for someone who is trained to fix other people’s work.  It makes me look and sound good. :o)  The email said something to the efffect of, “Let us know if you accept the editor’s corrections.”  WHAT?  Like I know anything about correct grammar and syntax!  I just love to spew forth on the page.  If they said it’s right, they’re probably right and who am I to say otherwise???

So far my day timer has my week all lined up for me:  B-day lunch with Cheryl, dentist, dog shots, adoption conference call, movies, sewing a Bag for Zaza and lots of reading black and red pages.  Enjoy your start of a new week.

Le freak, c’est chic. Freak out!

Sing it with me…. “Aaaaaaaaahhhhh, Freak Out!” 

Enjoying every moment of non-stress Christmas break, I was spending a To-Do-List-Less day minding my own business, when BAM! 

Actually, I spent about an hour online last Thursday morning choosing a Conversational Spanish class that is offered at a local community college for eight weeks.  I knew it would be hard (due my 42 year old brain… and a 25 year gap from my last Spanish class) and time consuming (twice a week for 3 hours) but I feel like I need to take it before we go to Colombia.  I found the textbook.  I found the school.  I called Rick and informed him that we would need to find a ride to hockey for Keeve for eight Wednesday nights.  OK, then BAM! happened.

I phoned Michelle, my editor in Nashville, to report a printing glitch that was found in one of my books, Laughing in the Midst of Mothering.  (www.LindaCrosby.com) After discussing the hows and whys of printing boo-boos, she casually mentioned that the week before she had presented my next book, Laughing in the Midst of Marriage, to the board of the publishing house and they gave it the thumbs up!   Whooooooo Hoooooooo!  She mentioned September for having it out!  Thrilling!  Yes! 

We hung up… and the Freak Out part started.  Where in the world was the file folder with my “book”?  I was on the phone with my sister while digging through my bedside table, pulling piles out from under my bed, shoveling stuff off my desk.  It only took me about five minutes to locate the collection of stories.  Then I remembered the minor computer faux pas that “hid” my entire computer profile…. including all my writing.  GREAT!  Thanks to my new best friend in the world, Missy’s Ken, the files were recovered… but they are not in a working file.  So today I spent my free time transferring and copying files so I can get down to business.

All that to say, I’m so excited about the marriage book and I won’t be taking Conversational Spanish any time soon.

It’s Official! WOOOooo HOOOooooooo

April 26, 2008.  My first book signing at Devotion Christian Store in Scottsdale…. makes my heart glad.  All those blood-shot-eye nights in front of the computer diligently trying to tell the quirky family stories …. in less than 400 words … were all a blur today.  Several times I have asked my hubby, in the dark of the night long after we should have been sleeping, if my book is just a stupid little devotional book.  He would chuckle and think I was kidding.  I wasn’t.  Of course he loved my stories… they are about HIS kids.  And my mom loved them, but mother’s love everything their children create.  And my first editor loved the stories, but I paid her to tell me that. :o)

Today as strangers came and picked up my darling pink book, read the stories and then asked for an autograph…. the descriptive words “stupid and little” were washed from my mind. 

The Lord is so faithful at guiding our steps.  The only way to describe this entire journey is the favor of the Lord.  It is amazing to see the hands in which the Lord is putting my book.  Jewish hands.  Unbelieving hands.  Grandmotherly hands. Husband’s hands.  And I am so honored that KIDS are discovering the joy reading the book!  I’m not sure if I would advise that or not.  They could find much fuel for folly.

Thank you to all who believed in me and supported me and loved me.  I am humbled and honored to be surrounded by such amazing people.  XOXOXO

 

Proud Parents :o)

OH!  My website is up!  Yeah, Sarah!   www.LindaCrosby.com  Check it out!