…His/her price tag. Yep, that’s right. Just like you cannot judge a book by its cover, you shouldn’t judge an editor by how much he/she charges. In fact, I have seen a lot of comments here and there actually saying “expect to pay X price or the editor isn’t any good.” Here is why I have a problem with that statement.
I am a freelance editor who has chosen to charge less than the going rate to edit. My choice to charge below market has more to do with the market I serve than any lack of experience or skill.
I work for independent authors, and last I checked, they have to do it all. They do not have the backing of publishing houses for editing; they have to take care of their marketing and distribution. They have to be Jacks/Jills of all trades just to put forth a quality publication. What I have seen in this arena is that many end up skipping steps because they cannot do it all, mainly in the story development and editing departments.
That’s where I come in. I realistically cannot expect an indie author to come up with $1,200 for a 50,000-word manuscript. But, that is the market rate—.024 cents per word. However, if you drop that rate down to something affordable, it opens up the door to more authors to present clean, indie published novels. And that it is something that I feel passionate about.
Think of it this way: I read not only a lot of indie published works (mostly with a ton of errors), but a lot of N.Y. Times bestsellers. One of the books I read recently, published by Dial Books, had a lot of errors. This book had the backing of a major publishing house and I’m betting the editor was paid the going rate. So, was that editor worth more than a lower-priced editor who would have caught those errors? Not in my eyes. A good editor is someone who does the job right, no matter the price tag.
So, don’t judge an editor based on the fee. A better assessment is to find one that other authors recommend, and if you are still in doubt, have the editor look at some sample pages. Just don’t assume the editor cannot hack it because he/she charges below market. That’s just as bad as assuming an author cannot write because he/she is indie published, and I know a lot of indie authors who are proving that sentiment wrong every day.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, I am not a Stephenie Meyer fan. There isn’t a shred of doubt in my mind to that fact after reading “The Host.” I thought it might just be a “Twilight” aversion, which is why I waited so long to read it. More than once, I actually threw those books across the room I was so irritated and annoyed with Bella, and several times alone with “Breaking Dawn.” I had hoped “The Host” might redeem her as a writer for me, but I’ve decided from here on out just to skip her novels.
Thematically, I did feel as if “The Host” was sound. There were some great discussions about what it meant to be human and how the harshness of the human condition might be perceived from a spectator. The idea that humanity was capable of great evil was balanced with the fact that humanity was also capable of good – love, kindness, acceptance, joy, happiness, even self-sacrifice for the people we love. There were no black and whites, and Wanda’s people — the souls — only saw humanity in black and white when selecting Earth. Wanda and the humans learned lessons from each other, allowing them to grow in their humanity.
Despite the lessons, the novel was way too long. The narrative discussion was long-winded and repetitive, and frankly, the story could have been told in half as many pages and still had the same effect. I actually found myself “checking out” mentally only to realize I had, but still was able to continue reading and not even miss key points or exchanges. Five days in a dark hole … do we really need to read that narrative? I think not.
Meyer’s portrayal of women also sickened me, or at least how the men treat the women sickened me. I had the same reaction with the “Twilight” series. The difference this time around was that Bella really was sniveling and weak, but I found Melanie and Wanda as individuals and as a collective to be quite strong. Melanie’s fighting spirit brings Wanda into the desert, and Wanda’s growth as a human allowed her to do things that I don’t think even I would have the strength to follow through with.
It was the men in their lives that treated them as if they were children and with condescension — Jared’s “sorry, honey, you’re only a child and must be taken care of so we couldn’t possibly have sex” reframe made me roll my eyes, or Jared and Ian always trying to force their wills on Wanda as if she didn’t know her own mind or Melanie’s thoughts on a matter. That subsided with Ian, but most women I know wouldn’t give Jared the time of day with his level of condescension, and I did not find him appealing or even understand how Melanie or Wanda could have loved someone like that.
Bringing me to my final point — I did not feel the connection between this supposed love triangle, foursome, whatever “The Host” was dubbed in that area. I felt the connection with her brother, and I felt the friendship between her and Ian, but I did not once sense love between her and Jared. And understanding that Wanda loves the humans is far different then actually showing that connection. Part of me feels that if there hadn’t been so much introspective conflict and debate and more “show” that Meyer would have accomplished her goal. But then again, I think crafting a world is Meyer’s strength. When it comes to crafting characters … well, let’s just say the characters and their “connections” are what keep me interested, and Meyer has lost me for good.
Welcome! Today I have some great news and information for you all about the second book in the Marked Duology by Jennifer Snyder. First, the official Release Date for Changed is May 21, so if you haven’t read Marked yet, well, you should. Check out more info on the newest novel, the cover and an expert from the book below.
About Changed
Would you fight to the death to prove you are worthy to stand beside the one you loved?
Eighteen-year-old Tessa Morganton’s life has flipped upside down. After learning Jace’s secret and discovering the man she’d thought all her life was her father isn’t, she must also cope with the reality of what she’s now become—a werewolf.
Tessa tries to maintain her normal life while her body changes more and more each night as the full moon grows closer, but when Shelby comes back to pay her a visit, Tessa soon realizes turning into a wolf may not be the only dilemma she will have to overcome.
As the Wolf Moon draws near, Tessa uncovers some things about Jace and Shelby’s relationship and exactly what Pack Law entails in the nontraditional situation Jace has created for them all.
Excerpt
An itch began to spread slowly from my bite mark and across my entire body. It never seemed to be satisfied, and I worried that if I continued to scratch it the way that I was, I might draw blood. My eyes flickered toward my bedroom window while I anxiously awaited Jace’s tapping. When was he going to be here? I didn’t want to change in my bedroom!
And then he was there—his smiling face filled with excitement, staring at me through the glass. I pushed the window open, but didn’t smile in return.
“Ready?” he asked, his amber eyes twinkling in my bedroom light as he removed the screen from my window.
I shook my head. “No, I’m not feeling so well.”
“You’ll be all right; it’ll go away shortly. Trust me, Tessa, come outside,” he whispered into the night, his gaze shifting toward the full moon.
Even though my legs were trembling beneath me, I still managed to climb out my window without falling on my face thanks to Jace. The cool night air gently swept across my skin, cooling my itch upon contact. Jace took my hand in his and slowly we began walking away from my house and out into my darkened backyard.
I took in a few deep, measured breaths while we walked and didn’t glance over my shoulder once to see if my mother was watching for me. I didn’t care if she saw me; it was the least of my problems at the moment.
The beautiful full moon caught my attention as we neared the edge of my yard, and I stared at it, mesmerized. My pulse quickened. I could feel it pulsating in my fingertips and wondered if it was as loud to Jace’s ears as it was to mine.
“Let’s go back a little farther tonight,” Jace insisted.
I nodded, grateful for the first time in my life that my parents and I lived on three acres of land. Stepping over twigs and weaving through branches, we made our way farther into the wooded lot. I found it extremely easy to see where I was going. My eyesight had grown amazingly clear.
When Jace finally came to a stop, I shifted my gaze to his face and marveled in the look of childlike excitement etched into his features. I wished I could feel even a tiny portion of that right now. Instead, all I felt was a crippling fear eating away at me.
“You’re shaking. You okay?” Jace asked, gripping both of my clammy hands in his and looking directly in my eyes.
A tiny hysterical giggle escaped me. “No, I’m not okay. I’m scared to death right now. I’m so freaking scared that this is going to hurt just as badly as being bitten did.”
His face softened, his excitement washing away at my words to become replaced by an intense look of guilt. “It won’t, not if you don’t fight it. You’ll be all right. I promise. I’ll be here with you the whole time.”
My lips formed into a hesitant smile as I looked deeply into his eyes. The smile was more for show than anything. Don’t fight it? How did you not fight something like this?
Welcome to What’s on the Bookshelf and the “Return to Eden” Blog Tour with author G.P. Ching. Today I have a Q&A with the Soulkeepers Series author and a chance to win great prizes from G.P.
Each week of the tour, G.P. will award one prize per blog she visits, including a $10 customized Visa Debit Card. She will give away ten of these throughout the tour. Or, the winner’s choice of an eBook from either G.P. Ching or any of the Indelible authors along with some signed Soulkeepers bookmarks.
The grand prize at the end of the blog tour will be a signed set of paperbacks (“The Soulkeepers,” “Weaving Destiny” and “Return to Eden”), so make sure you visit each blog on the tour for chances to win. (Open to US residents only)
Interview with G.P. Ching
Q. How did you come up with the idea for the Soulkeepers series?
A. I’m not sure where the idea came from but several experiences contributed to the story. My husband was born and raised in Hawaii and has a similar background to Jacob’s. After he moved to Illinois and we were married, I was in a meeting where the facilitator said he was waiting for some “oriental chic” who was late and read off my name. I was so offended by the way he said it. Of course, I am Caucasian. My last name is not. I think most people would be surprised how some people react to even that.
Around the same time, I was living in the Bible belt and took part in a nondenominational Bible study. I soon discovered that my interpretation of the passages often differed from the programs. The Bible is a sometimes scary and often confusing book and the story of Adam and Eve raised a lot of questions for me. How did the devil end up in the Garden of Eden? I think The Soulkeepers bloomed out of that questioning.
Q. When you started the series, did you already have a vision of “Return to Eden” in mind? If so, how did that vision change?
A. I had an idea of what Abigail’s journey would look like but I didn’t know the details. Before I write a book, I usually plot it out on index cards but the story never progresses exactly as I plan. One major surprise was the concept of Eden. I hadn’t planned for that in the beginning.
Q. As the third book in a series, “Return to Eden” needed to pull several threads from the series arch together while still telling Abigail’s story. What aspects of her story did you struggle with?
A. I had to let go of preconceived notions of what an angel would act like versus what a demon would act like. An early reader thought some of the scenes with Gideon and Abigail were too hot. But Abigail and Gideon have free will and readers needed to see their struggle, their temptations, their desires. That meant when Abigail is tempted, she actually considers acting on that temptation and even she isn’t sure how things will go in the end. That was a hard road to walk as a writer.
Q. When you were writing the series, what made you go forward with the religious elements despite religion being one of the topics most authors avoid?
A. Religion is a part of life. I understand that some people want to escape to a world where religion isn’t a factor. But I am extremely interested in the clash of traditional cultures, often religious, with modern secular society. In America, religion has been politicized to the point of alienating some people. My books don’t try to convince the reader to believe one way or another. What they do is lend themselves to conversation about what it means to be human and the role spirituality plays in our lives, good or bad. Also, I feel my characters are more multidimensional by having a spiritual life.
Q. What has been the response from your audience regarding those elements of faith?
A. I’ve had atheists, Muslims, Pagans, and Christians write to me to tell me they enjoyed and connected to the story. I’ve also had people say they thought about believing in God for the first time after reading my books. I think writing is art, and just like a painting, people’s perceptions and interpretations are personal and individual.
Q. Did you learn anything about yourself while writing this series? If so, what was it?
A. I have a thicker skin than I thought. Most people have liked my books but some, mostly people who don’t actually read them, have attacked me. The book is too preachy or not preachy enough, they say. (Seriously, I’ve gotten both of these on the same day.) I’ve had people admit to giving me a one star review without reading the book because in their estimation I am trying to pander religious messages to kids. Luckily, these types of attacks have been few and far between and some of them have given me a good chuckle.
Q. Looking back, would you do anything different with the series?
A. I try not to look back. We can only live forward. I could say I wish I’d hired an editor earlier on, but the truth is I couldn’t afford one in the beginning. I did the best with what resources I had and it worked out for me.
Q. Do you have a favorite character in your series? If so, who and why?
A. Abigail. I loved to write her character because she is filled with internal conflict. My favorite scene in “Return to Eden” is the soliloquy in the Garden with the remains of Oswald’s tree.
Q. What books or authors have influenced your writing?
A. Some of my favorites are “Water for Elephants”, “the Thirteenth Tale,” and “Memoirs of a Geisha,” but I also read James Patterson, Dan Brown, Suzanne Collins, Meyer, Rowling, King, Gaiman, as well as more literary work and many indie titles. I think every book I read stays with me in some way, but I can’t pinpoint a single influence.
Q. What’s your next project?
A. Grounded!
Life hasn’t changed much in Hemlock Hollow, the traditional Amish community where seventeen-year-old Lydia Troyer was raised, in hundreds of years. But when her father suffers a stroke and is secretly taken to the English world for treatment, Lydia and her boyfriend, Jeremiah, pose as Englishers to visit him. Lydia’s first experience with a light switch thrusts her into a world where energy is a rare and coveted commodity, as she discovers she has the power to manipulate electricity at her will and becomes the government’s most desired weapon. Lydia struggles to reconcile her electrokinesis with her plain roots, but soon learns that her own personal history is more complicated than she ever imagined.
Grounded is a paranormal thriller with strong romantic elements and will be the first in a trilogy.
To enter the giveaway, visit one of these participating blogs above on their tour date and/or fill out the entry form below. Must be 13 years old or older to enter. International entrants are not eligible for the grand prize.
