The Tears And Triumphs Of A New Author Chapter 26

CHAPTER 26

I signed my contract with Tate Publishing, submitted the manuscripts for Lady Justice Takes A C.R.A.P. and Lady Justice And The Lost Tapes and so began my journey with Tate.
I had read the submission information on dozens of traditional publisher's websites and they all seemed to have one thing in common --- don't be in a hurry to have your new book in your hands.
Most said that the book would be published within one to two years! What's up with that?
When I signed with Authorhouse, the first Lady Justice was delivered in about a month. I realize that they simply bind the book that you have submitted and there is no editing, and they pretty much used the cover my wife had created, but why so long?
I soon found out.
I submitted my manuscripts in February. I received an email welcoming me to the Tate family with a notation that work would begin on my books in June.
The first month was designated for copy editing. This is where they check for spelling, grammar and punctuation. Even though my wife and I had been through the manuscripts more than a dozen times, the Tate editors found stuff that we had missed. Fresh eyes do make a difference.
In the second month, the manuscripts were assigned to a conceptual editor. I had no idea what that was all about until I received an email and the attached manuscripts were full of red, green and gray highlights with suggestions of how the books could be improved.
This is the phase where an author's ego could certainly get in the way. I mean, after all, the books were perfect when I sent them in to them, weren't they?
Apparently not!
After my initial shock subsided, I felt a call to the conceptual editor was in order.
Lady Justice Takes A C.R.A.P., my very first attempt at writing, was so red and green, it looked like a Christmas display had exploded.
Lady Justice And The Lost Tapes, not so much.
Maybe that was an indication that I was getting better with practice.
The editor was very kind and patient and after I switched from ego mode to learner mode, I could clearly see how many of her suggestions were valid. I revised and re-wrote where it was necessary and in the end, both books, especially the first one were much improved.
In the third month, the books were sent to the creative department where the covers were to be designed.
My wife and I had designed the cover for the Authorhouse Lady Justice and we really liked it. I sent it to the cover designer with high hopes they would use it for the Tate edition.
Not a chance.
The character of Lady Justice that we had used was a stock photo we had purchased from dreamstime.com.
We had also purchased another Lady Justice for the second book that was a bit different.
They, of course, didn't want either one.
Instead of using stock photos, they designed a whole new Lady Justice figure from scratch that would be used throughout the Lady Justice series.
Again, after checking my ego at the door, I realized that the 'new' Lady Justice was pretty cool!
The fourth month was designated for book design. This is the phase where they select type size and font and the cool little extras like the new Lady Justice figure at the beginning of each chapter and little justice scales between time breaks.
It has now been eight months since I submitted my manuscripts and they tell me we're almost there.
I'm really excited!