My next novel, Beyond Blue, has been written, re-written,
edited, proofread, formatted and, as you can see, it has been fitted with a
beautiful cover. As a publisher I have lots more to do but as an author, you
would think my work was done. But no, I have one more crucial duty. Now I must face the galley proof.
In printing and publishing,
proofs are the preliminary versions of publications meant for review by
authors, editors, and proofreaders. They are created for proofreading
purposes, but at Intrigue Publishing we also use them as the Advance Reader
Copies we send to reviewers.
They are called Galley proofs because in the days of hand-set letterpress printing, the printer would set
the page into galleys, the metal trays into which type was laid and tightened
into place. These would be used to print a limited number of copies for proofreading.
When we print them, one copy goes to the
author. His or her assignment is to go
over that book with a fine toothed comb, read every word, looking for
errors. This is that writer’s one last
chance to find anything wrong, be it a formatting error, spelling, grammar or
that character’s name that changed halfway through without us noticing. This is the writer’s final “I meant to say…” opportunity.
It isn’t meant to be rewrite time, but if an author thinks a particular turn of
phrase looks clunky in print and he is inspired by the perfect wording, we
usually accept it.
So in addition to my other duties, I’m
re-re-reading Beyond Blue. Not something I look forward to, but as editorial
director I do need to practice what I preach. This being the first book of a
new series, I’m not as familiar with the characters and setting as I am with
Hannibal Jones or Stark & O’Brien so I have to look extra closely.
What’s the book about? Well, I try to make this blog about my
writing/publishing life rather than my writing itself. However, if you’re good, maybe I’ll tell you
a little about it next week.
