Friday, December 28, 2012

Tardy Tale

Release of The Keeper's Journal has been delayed for a few days.

As much as I trimmed the book over a long editing process a few years ago, my editor felt a few scenes should be written back in as she neared the end of the book. The new dialogue centers around the old lighthouse keeper's journal and secrets revealed within. I was confidant the subtle facts had been adequately relayed in an earlier portion of the book, but as my editor put it:

I was curious as to why you didn't actually use the journal entry format told in Colm's own voice up until Molly commits suicide and John Larkin invariably reveals connection between the two families. As the editor I felt a bit cheated and I wonder that perhaps the reader might as well. You see where I'm going with this? Let me know your thoughts on it.
Note: Text block added to prevent story spoiler.

Back in the day, The Keeper's Journal was the most difficult book in the Collective Obsessions Saga to edit. It began with 549 pages (327,915 words). Over a long stretch of editing, I managed to whittle it down to 299 pages (169,890 words). With the recent additions, the book now stands at 304 pages (173,214 words).

It was almost one year ago that I finished the first final draft of the book, which I addressed thusly in 2011:

The Keeper's Journal is one of the longest parts in the saga, second only to TheTwain Shall Meet. That doesn't mean it has to be bloated and temperamental. The only way to truly address issues in the story was to set ego aside and get to work. At the end of two weeks, I have to admit I was exhausted. I worked through Christmas and New Years to get it done, foregoing any form of meaningful celebrations. However, The Keeper's Journal finally came to a place that put a smile on my face.

My editor is also happy with the result. Or, as she put it: "By the way, I really like this one."

The one-time labor-of-love-battleship has now become my sleek luxury liner...

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Sneak-Peek Observations

My publisher just sent me the final artwork for The Keeper's Journal:

 

The cover accurately depicts my fictional city of Larkin, Maine and the character on semi-transparent display. It could only be achieved successfully by someone who has read the book from first page to last, which my editor has already done.

Larkin is a harbor town, with the beam of the lighthouse near the bottom right of the cover.  The woman's face on display is Angela Page, who finds Colm Sullivan's old journal in the lighthouse keeper's cottage on Banshee Point. Angie is the only daughter of Shannon Larkin, who figures prominently in the Collective Obsessions Saga beginning with Book Three: The Twain Shall Meet through the finale, Book Eight: Megan's Legacy (coming in 2013).

Angie has striking green eyes, also evident on the book cover. A few months ago I received a rather curt e-mail from a reader who complained "if I see another major character with green eyes I'm going to scream – green eyes are unusual but made so typical in fiction novels featuring a woman as the main character."

I beg to differ. Green eyes are not so unusual, at least not in my family. I can safely say 45% of my circle of family members – including myself as well as cousins, aunts and uncles – possess hazel eyes. Green peepers are very common in my world. Besides, how many hues can I use in a fictional family saga that spans more than one-hundred-sixty years? Should I invent my own eye color – perhaps orange?

To see a larger depiction of the book cover go to my special Pinterest page for the novel.

In the meantime, keep your eyes peeled for the official book release of The Keeper's Journal on or around December 23rd December 28th…

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Hints & Chirps

A little bird just told me The Keeper's Journal is going to be released on or around December 23rd. Gulp!

The excitement of a new book coming out never gets old…