I think I’m on day 5 now, and I’ve been through the introduction and four chapters. Even at this stage I’ve been finding (and correcting) some clunkiness in the prose. And I’ve found some passages that had to be rearranged. It’s going to be very hard to stop working on this manuscript.
However, on a lighter note, I saw the first peony blossom in the backyard:
The thing I learned from the first day of reviewing my copyedits: time to move my place of work. No more comfy couch. I’m back at the desk in my study, otherwise known as the Eeyore room. The previous owners of the house used this room as a nursery. The walls are painted a light purple, and a Winnie-the-Pooh mobile used to hang on the wall. Weeks after moving in, we found Eeyore had been left behind.
The wall color makes for a soothing environment, plus I positioned my desk so I have a view of Lake Michigan. The other bonus is that I get to look at the neighbor’s very lovely yard.
I was a bit unnerved to find few mark-ups on this version of my manuscript. I always assume there is a lot more work to do. I know there is more work to do on the intro and first chapter. So I’ve suited up for the day, and off I go to work.
I’m starting off with a comfy setting.
As long as I don’t fall asleep, I should do okay. I’ve got some good books scattered around for inspiration.
And I made sure to put on grown-up clothes. But let’s face it, for this kind of work, nothing fancy is required.
Between chapters (or pages) I’ll be getting up to walk the dog and/or get something to eat.
Back to it.
Files for the copyedits and for the book’s illustrations/captions arrived today. Good thing I’m all caught up with this kind of work:
From now until June 24, I’ll be pretty much like this:
And I still haven’t decided on my author photo.
The beat goes on…..
I managed to avoid including an author photo with my first two books, but I can’t do it this time around. I’ve decided against a basic head shot because it seems too gruesome to have that much focus on my face. I’m at that age where I need strategic posing or a mask or some serious photo shopping. But I also don’t want anything that’s too artsy. I do want to have it reflective of the time period of the book, which is the 1940s.
Maybe a writer-at-work scenario will be just the thing.
Here are some of my favorites, starting with the cafe woman. I like the way she is looking intently at her paper, but I don’t think I can pull off the hat and fur coat.
This one might be a tad too messy, but I like the spirit:
This one is less messy, but Grace Metalious’s fashion sense is a bit too northwoods for my taste:
And here’s Martha Gellhorn, looking very smart, except for that cigarette:
Finally, there’s…well, I could NEVER wear this outfit:
So stay tuned. See what develops.
Theresa Kaminski 
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