tickle me maroon
I was finally able to turn in my latest Harlequin Desire, PROJECT: RUNAWAY HEIRESS, last week. *whew* :peekaboo
And I have to admit, from the moment I hit Send, I went into eagerly-awaiting-a-response-mode. :poker This is something that all writers (at least those writing toward publication) know well. It doesn’t matter if a publisher’s guidelines say in big, bold print: “RESPONSE TIME—6 TO 9 MONTHS.” From the minute we put something in the mail or send an e-mail, we’re like puppies that really need to piddle. We race to the mailbox as soon as the mailman arrives. We jump every time the phone rings. We check our e-mail obsessively. (Because a new message might have shown up in the .5 seconds it took the program to Send/Receive the first time around.)
But really, my main concern when I send in a newly completed manuscript is that it arrived at all. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve sent an attachment only to have the person I sent it to contact me a few days later asking where it is. And when someone doesn’t even know an attachment is coming… Oh, recipe for disaster—or worse, missed deadlines! So all I want, truly, is confirmation that my editor got the book so I can stop worrying about it. (And, dammit,when I turn in a manuscript on Wednesday, I want credit for turning it in on Wednesday…not Friday because of a freaking spam filter. :vampsmile )
I should probably also mention that I’ve lucked out with really responsive editors. Just about every one of them gets back to me on every little thing so quickly, I’ve grown completely spoiled. If more than, like, twenty minutes pass without a response to an e-mail, I start thinking, “Gee, they must be out of the office today.” And sometimes I’m right!
So when I finally got a note from Editor C, I expected simply a quick, “Got it, Heidi! Thanks.” type of response. And that would have held me over for a good three or four weeks, I swear. :evileye
Instead, I got this: “Cool. It was a mistake to click open because I got completely sucked into the book and haven’t gotten any other work done since.”
Me: 
So of course I responded with a very demure, “Gee, thanks. I’m flattered.” *snork* Nah, I did the whole he-he, golly gee, really? big, goofy smiley face thing.
But he’s used to this from me, so he simply replied back: “I am so in the mood for this type of story, Heidi. So far, so fab—I’m about a third of the way through, just from reading on my late lunch hour.”
Same day service? Really?! That’s kind of awesome!
Of course, Editor C does have other work to do & he did have to go home sometime. *hmph* So I’m back in a holding pattern.
I’m sure I’ll hear from him again soon enough, especially now that he’s already begun reviewing the book. And my fingers are crossed he continues to love the story & has very few revisions for me. Cuz I don’t want to go back & fix this book, I want to move on to the next one. :spideykiss
Comments
11 Comments • Comments Feed
Jessica Lemmon says:
Ahh! Exciting!!! :dancebat
On September 24, 2012 at 2:37 pm
Pam Lowery says:
I would love a job like that were I could read all the Harlequin books I want all day and get paid for it, but I don’t know if i could be tough enough to be “judgemental” about a manuscript. I just love to read! Looking forward to this new series of yours Heidi!
On September 24, 2012 at 2:41 pm
Heidi says:
Boy, so would I. I mean, I love writing, but my dream job would be to read for a living…not necessarily edit, just sit around & read. :coffin
On September 25, 2012 at 9:48 am
Fedora says:
That is AWESOME, Heidi! There’s no higher compliment, truly, than knowing that your reader is unable to stop reading 😉 Yay, you!!
On September 24, 2012 at 3:00 pm
Heidi says:
That’s usually my line, Fedora. LOL But you’re absolutely right…it’s a huge compliment & a huge thrill to hear something like that from anybody. :yummy
On September 25, 2012 at 9:46 am
Hollie says:
Awesome!! and great way to tease us Darlings of the Dungeon!! :cat
On September 24, 2012 at 3:07 pm
Heidi says:
LOL I guess that was a big ol’ tease, wasn’t it? Didn’t mean for it to be, but hey…whatever works. :elvis
On September 25, 2012 at 9:49 am
cinnamon says:
good news!! to me the sign of a good book is one that can’t be put down, no matter if the roof is caving in around me :cat . hope you hear back soon!!
On September 24, 2012 at 6:02 pm
Heidi says:
Or that makes you annoyed by other interruptions. When you *have* to put it down, but it ticks you off & you can’t wait to get back to it. I kinda love books like that. :fangs
On September 25, 2012 at 9:47 am
Laura J. says:
Why do I get the feeling that there won’t be too many revisions? At least nothing major. I would say the editor getting completely sucked into the book is a good sign.
On September 24, 2012 at 7:39 pm
Heidi says:
Well, I certainly hope you’re right. An editor enjoying your story is never a guarantee there won’t be heavy edits, but my fingers are crossed. :yesimavampire
On September 25, 2012 at 9:50 am