Friday night I went out for beer and pizza with friends. When I got home, there was a package for me. It was my copyedited manuscript. As most writers know, there are two types of edits when you have a book published. The first is the serious edit, where you and your editor discuss your story, your voice, your characters, all the important writing craft things. Jim Frenkel is my editor and he's been in the biz for decades and worked with people like Issac Asimov, Philip K. Dick,, Vernor Vinge, Jack Williamson, and many other great writers. So I was a bit intimidated to work with him. But he was great. He likes my book, likes my writing (which is why he signed me in the first place) and his suggestions for my book were great. He didn't force any changes on me and only wanted to make my book better. In the end, he did.

But copyediting, that's different. I hate copyediting and I know a lot of other writers do as well. It's a lot of nitpicking of details, factchecking, typos, etc. I don't envy the people who do that kind of thing and I don't wish to have their abilities or personality. But I appreciate it and know it's important. And because of one of these people, I have more than 300 pages of redmarked manuscript to go through. I have until Oct 4 but I should get it done faster. I'm going to hate this work but it's all part of the process.

My buddy and fellow Edmontonian, Thomas Trofimuk, had his novel, Waiting for Columbus, chosen as part of the new Richard and Judy Book Club. In case you don't know, Richard and Judy's Book Club is like the UK version of Oprah's book club. This is a major coup for any writer and sure to give him a huge boost in sales in the UK and possibly in Canada. I've known Thomas for awhile, we used to travel together to small town Alberta, touting our first novels in rural bookstores. Back then, he talked about this Columbus novel he was working on and it's good to see all the success he's had with it. Thomas is a great writer and a great guy, and a fine example of Edmonton's writing community. For years, I've been saying that Edmonton's literary community is one, if not the strongest one in the country and this is another example of why.

http://www.thebookseller.com/news/127190-eight-titles-unveiled-in-rj-comeback.html

Wow. My upcoming novel Fall From Grace is already listed on Amazon, Borders, Barnes and Noble, Chapters/Indigo! It seems that it comes out March 1, 2011 so if you wanna pre-order, you can go ahead. Once I get a final cover shot, I'll post it. I have a tentative one but I can't share it until it's officially approved by the publisher.

I'm pleasantly shocked by this development. I knew I had a book coming out in the Spring of 2011 but to see it already listed on the online book retailers makes things even more real. I was so excited that I pre-ordered, even though I will get my own copies in the future. I can't wait! I love being a bigtimewriter.

As I said a couple days before, I'm not known enough in Canada to be considered overrated. And the same goes for underrated (see link below). I find this kind of ironic and some of the reasons these writers are considered underrated is because they haven't won awards. The Canadian literary scene focuses on awards way too much. It's nice to win awards but it doesn't mean you're a better writer or that your book is better. Considering how the Canadian publishing industry works, I'll probably got from unknown writer to sellout hack. Enjoy the list.

http://arts.nationalpost.com/2010/08/25/10-underrated-canadian-authors/

Finished the second novel in my bigtimewriter book deal. It only took about five or six months to write, about half of it written during a week long retreat in Banff. Soon it will go to my proofreader and then it will go to my bigtimeagent and then to my bigtimeeditor, about two months ahead of deadline. Once my editor gets it, I get another D and A (Delivered and Accepted) cheque (or check for all you Americans).

Whether this novel will be my last bigtimewriter novel, I have no idea. For the next couple of years as my two novels get published, I'll get to act like a bigtimewriter. Afterwards, who knows but at least I made it to the show for a short period, much longer than Crash Davis did.

Even though I'm a bigtimewriter, I'm not known enough in Canada to be on this list. Or the next one for underrated writers.

http://arts.nationalpost.com/2010/08/24/10-overrated-canadian-authors/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

I'm back. No one's missed me because no one follows. But with my book coming on in the Spring of 2011, I should get on this.

Okay this is what has happened so far. My editor liked my novel, the one I wrote in six months last year. We did the edits, which was relatively painless and no it's in production. There are blurbs. I'll include some of those next time.

As for the second one in the series, it was supposed to be the first manuscript I submitted, the one that attracted and got me sign to my agent, and attracted and got my editor to sign my to a two book deal. But that story takes place before the events of the one that's coming out in Spring 2011. And my editor said he liked that novel so much, he wanted to know what happened next. "So forget about that novel you've written, the one that got my attention, tell me what happens next"

Sigh. Oh well, when you're starting out in the big leagues, you don't ask too many questions or posture like an all-star, you just follow the signs and take your swing. So I said sure but I'll need a few more months past the contracted deadline. "No problem," said my editor. "I just want another great book from you."

And so I started writing and within six months, I'm one scene away from finishing it. And soon I'll send it to my editor and I think he'll be happy.

BTW, you know that photo at the back flap of those hardcover books? Did you know that if you're just a new bigtimewriter like me, you have to pay the photographer out of your own pocket? Surprise!