(no subject)

[naomikritzer]

I got the proofs for Freedom's Apprentice from Bantam. I let them sit, untouched, for several days, because proofs scare the crap out of me. It's my last chance to make changes -- but it's really too late to make changes, because if they have to redo more than a certain percent of the pages on my account, I have to pay the costs. So I'm always terrified that I'll find something that I have to change.

I'm 120 pages in now and so far I've only found a couple of typos (which I always mark and send back even though they do have proofreaders who do excellent work) plus two or three one-word changes I'd like to make. (I think I can get away with those.)

Comments

I just have to say

[dushenka-ani.livejournal.com]

I love Freedom's Gate and can hardly wait until Freedom's Apprentice is printed. Of course I'm full of questions about the characters and the world. Not so many that the book didn't have enough development, but just enough that I want to read more. :-)

Re: I just have to say

[naomikritzer]

That is so cool to hear. Thank you.

[perimyndith.livejournal.com]

I'd volunteer to read them for you. ;)


...okay, okay... I'll guess wait for the book to actually get printed...

But on a more serious note, when do you have to have them back? I see Amazon is saying the book will be available on April 26, which is a short 11 weeks away. Is this the last step before they make final changes and print the books?

[naomikritzer]

They need to be back early next week. (The 16th, I think. I don't have the letter in front of me.) This is the last step; the proofreader makes corrections, they fix those pages, and then it goes to press.

The timeline for this book, to the best of my recollection: it was due August 15th and I turned it in a little early. A month later I got the editorial letter, where Anne outlined the concerns she wanted me to address; it was followed a day later by the fully marked-up manuscript, which also included line edits, plus little smiley faces next to everything my editor liked. (Not all editors do the smiley faces, but I'm glad I got one who does.) We agreed on six weeks for the revisions, I think, and I did those and sent the revisions back by e-mail. They formally accepted the manuscript at that point. Then in December I got the copyedited manuscript, with a few last line-edits from Anne, plus the markup from the copyeditor. I can veto changes from the copyeditor, but mostly I don't. I had about ten days to go over that, and then I FedExed the manuscript back to Bantam.

Then the proofs arrived last week, as noted, and yes, this is the last step. The other thing they do with the proofs is to make ARCs (advance review copies) to send to reviewers and so on.

[perimyndith.livejournal.com]

Thanks! That's all very interesting to know.

Smiley faces are nice. :)