My “real” work has been crazy busy lately.  I’ve taken on some new responsibilities and am talking to my client’s Microsoft Dynamics NAV partners–people who help companies with enterprise resource planning software (to me, a fancy way of saying “accounting and all that jazz”).  This means a lot of time invested in my work that seems to be transitioning into more of a channel management/sales role.

Anyway, I have been telephoning and talking enough to invest in a cough drop company, my fingers have become sore with so many emails typed, and the wall behind my desk is turning into a bulletin board of procedures, pricing and schedules. Whew!  It is all very exciting and fun, but has me running.

Then yesterday, among the cazillion or so emails stuffing my inbox, I caught a glimpse of an unfamiliar name, Tracey Matthews.  No, this isn’t the singer from the U.K., and there was no SPAM note before the subject.  Total stranger writing to me. Hmm…

The subject said “Copy Edited Manuscript for Faith on the R…”

Whoo Hoo!  The copy editing is back to me.  I clicked open the email and saw a message in what looks like 4 point text.  Darn my email!  Doesn’t it know I’m old and want messages to come in at 72 point or larger?

The phone rang.  Another partner.  I glanced up.  Oh my goodness! I had an appointment and needed to leave the office five minutes ago. Darn, darn, double-darn!  I fired off a quick thank you to Tracey, and had to go back to work.

Finally, this morning, right before starting our blog post, I had the chance to look at the e-mail again.  There are about 40 pages with questions on them.  I opened the document and expected red marks all over, but as with Alice Duncan’s work in June, Tracey seems to have been gentle, thoughtful and complete.  I am in awe of editors.

Now I have until the 13th of September to review the comments and changes, then get back to Five Star.  Two weeks.  Yes, I know they said that right from the start.  But I have RMFW’s Colorado Gold Writers’ Conference next weekend and work during the week has no extra minutes here and there right now.  What’s a writer to do?

In a panic, I ran to my special guy.  “How can I create my art with all this work to do?  Why do I have to make a living?  Why can’t I win the lottery and focus on writing my books in peace?”

Ever the pragmatist, he said, “Hit the ‘accept all changes’ button and send the thing back.”

Well, that’s one way to get the job done.

Have a good weekend, my friend.  You know what I’ll be doing.  Just send in those oatmeal raisin cookies and lottery tickets.  We’re getting closer to a “real publication” date.