What's taking so freakin' long??? (Part I)

Writing--no, scratch that; publishing is not for the impatient. And I am the mother of impatience. Which is why I'm kind of amazed that I haven't thrown a hissy fit yet. (Yet, I emphasize.)

No, actually I know exactly why I haven't. It's because I'm so damn busy. I don't have time to be impatient. As a matter of fact, days are going by like sand through toes at the surfline. Like, for instance, it's Tuesday already and--what do you mean Thursday? I NEED MY WEDNESDAY BACK!

I mean, how hard can it be? THE MIRACLE OF SMALL THINGS had already been published in Pure Slush's 2014 A Year In Stories. Well, sort of. Last year, when Truth Serum Press (sister press of Pure Slush) agreed to publish it as a standalone book, we felt there was a piece missing from the original 12 stories, so--okay, I wrote a 13th story. Which turned out a tad longer than expected. And took longer, too, to finish. (I sweated blood on that one.)

But aside from that, I thought it was a matter of some small (fine, smallish) revisions. You know, quirky wording that somehow escaped both my and the editor's eagle eyes the first few times. And then there were the places where, due to the word count limit for the originals, I cut character arcs short or held back on information that actually did move the story forward. So these things had to be remedied for the standalone version. And then revised. And re-revised. And re-re-re...

The 2014 A Year In Stories project by the awesome folks at Pure Slush.
THE MIRACLE OF SMALL THINGS was originally published in these volumes,
one story a month, from January to December 2014.

And that's what no one tells you. Every time--every time--you read what you wrote, especially if it's, say, in an actual book (i.e., not in your computer or the draft you printed for revision), you'll find stuff that needs tweaking.

And it's not even the complex, story-arc stuff. It's the simple things. Like this one:

[...] the places where we were once happy.

Wait. Hmm. It has better rhythm as 

the places where we were happy once.

Or does it?

And--oh, crap. How did I miss this?

In that moment, in the red bougainvillea by the terrace [etc.]

In/in? Seriously?? At least this one's easy to fix; just change one in to something else. But--which one? 

In that moment, on the red bougainvillea

or

At that moment, in the red bougainvillea

OR

In that moment, at the red bougainvillea

Like that. Every page. Every freaking sentence. And, no matter how many new and improved versions I read through, I keep finding stuff to tweak. (When does it end? Please, someone tell me it does end.)

But. BUT. Yesterday I received my first proof copy, and the second one is on its way as of today. (Then I'll get to read that and find more tweakable stuff. Yay. No, seriously--not about the tweaks, but MY FIRST PROOF COPY! YAAAY!)

The first proof copy!

And the book launch is set to happen in September in New York City, at La Casa Azul, a mega-fabulous Latino-oriented and independent-author-supporting bookstore that's coolness personified, and whose personnel have been nothing but kind and accommodating to this clueless novice. And it looks like we'll have a more-than-decent turnout, especially since I don't live in the city and no one knows me from Eve, there or anywhere else. (Hey, are you in or around NYC? September 2, 6pm--it's a date!)

So there's plenty to celebrate. And plenty, plenty to keep me busy. Who has time for impatience with so much to do before then?

Coming soon on the MIRACLE saga of unforeseen obstacles and pleasures: The Copyright Melee.

Oh! Speaking of--please read Lynne Hinkey's MARINA MELEE as soon as you can. Absolutely brilliant novel that captures life in the Caribbean to a... well, to a C :) Seriously. Haven't enjoyed a book this much in a long time.