Team Effort

After working flat out for the past few weeks I've now been given the all clear on The Murder Wall. My editor is happy. My copy-editor is happy. I am happy. The book has been given a clean bill of health, both structurally and editorially. The manuscript has been returned to Pan Macmillan for the next stage in the process: page proofs first, typesetting and then it will go off to a reader . . . 

At each stage, while keeping one eye on what's ahead, I'm learning more and more about the publishing industry. The biggest lesson? The book may have been my creation but bringing it to life is very much a team effort. I count myself very lucky that at each stage in the process I've been guided by a group of professionals who care as much about my debut as I do: local writing agency, agent, literary agency, publisher, editor, copy-editor, proof-reader . . . 

The professionals mentioned above are just the ones I have met on my journey so far! What about the unsung heroes who work behind the scenes: sales and marketing, PR, cover designer? It is very humbling to think that all these people are working so hard on my behalf. Think I might spend the rest of my days shaking hands and giving thanks.

Publishing a book takes almost as long as writing one. So why do I feel like I am sitting on top of a giant snowball that's out of control, rolling downhill, gathering speed? Ah, that must be the excitement, the bit my agent told me about at the very beginning. His words: we're going to have some fun. He's not wrong. If we ever meet, I'll be the one with a big smile on my face.