Wednesday, August 10, 2011

FAQ - Do You Ever. . .

Q: Do you ever read your own books, once they've been published?

A: Until recently, the answer would have been No.  But last month  while I was at Wildacres, I read The Day of Small Things (and found it better than I remembered.) And yesterday afternoon, when the bound galleys (these are what get sent to early reviewers) of Under the Skin arrived, I began to page through, just to see how it looked in print, and somehow found myself caught up with the characters and unable to put the book down.

Ridiculous!  I hear you saying.  And of course, I know what the story is and how it ends -- I did write it after all.  


But I think that what caught me is that in this, the fifth book in the series, Elizabeth finally seems like her own self, rather than my creation.  For the first time, Elizabeth speaks in first person point of view and she's a somewhat different Elizabeth that the woman in the first four books. I found her somewhat unexpected.

As I've mentioned before, when I finally complete a book and send it off to my editor, I'm sick of it and never want to read it again.  But, of course, I have to -- slowly and carefully during the various stages of editing. And this kind of reading -- looking for errors -- is serious no fun and once again, I feel if I never have to read these words in this particular order again, it will be okay by me.

It's been about a year however, since I struggled through the last proofreading of Under the Skin. And this time I was reading fast and for fun - no looking for errors (though I did note one page where I'd used  the word smile or some variation thereof three times in quick succession.)

But on the whole I'm quite pleased. And I hope fans of Elizabeth will be.

Now, about these bound galleys.  Most are spoken for for but I'd like to do a little drawing for two of them.  If you'd like to be entered, just say so here in the comments or send me an email saying so. I'll draw two names Sunday evening and post the winner on Monday.



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26 comments:

Susan M. Bell said...

Oh, you know I want a copy.
:-)

Martin said...

You can definitely count me me in, Vicki. Thanks.

Ms. A said...

I would imagine that would be the time you could fully take in the book, with no further expectation, other than to enjoy the fruit of your labor and to say, aah, well done. How rewarding.

Unknown said...

How wonderful it would be to have a copy. Signed by the author? I think it's time I ordered from Amazon for the Elizabeth books I haven't read yet.
Our Kiwi dollar is quite high against the greenback just now.
I love that you read your own books after all the publishing is over and you can just read and enjoy. It seems pretty amazing to me.

Miss_Yves said...

I'm waiting for a French translation!!!!!!!!

Pat in east TN said...

Put my name in the hat, and my fingers are crossed.

I'm glad you answered that question, because I had wondered.

Brian Miller said...

oh i def want in! so cool too, to get caught up in your own book...

Alan Burnett said...

My father used to always so to me : "you should always enter a free raffle". Wise man.

merisi said...

I would love a copy.
I shall buy the book, no matter what!

dannie said...

I would love to have one of your galleys and a sneak peek at your new book. How exciting!

Beth said...

I would be delighted to have one of your bound galleys, so please throw my name in the hat.

I've never written a book (not yet, anyway), but I'll have to admit that the few times my poems or stories or articles have been published, I take great pleasure in seeing my work in print. I can only imagine what a thrill seeing my name on the front cover of a book would be! That's a very nice cover on your new book, by the way.

Wayfarin' Stranger said...

Of course I want to be included in your drawing! A friend recently sent me an article I had written some 30 years ago. It was all new to me once again! Jim

Barbara Rogers said...

Me me me! Include in your drawing, if you please. My inner child is hopping up and down. So glad you can enjoy your 5th Elizabeth bood at this stage, and that you found a new relationship with her.

Barbara Rogers said...

Sorry about typo, that was book, not bood!

BB said...

I'm about of books to read so this would be great. Barb

Suz said...

for sure, I would love it

NCmountainwoman said...

Oh, YES. Please put my name in the hat.

It's interesting to hear how you view your books after they are written. I've started re-reading all four books, preparing for Elizabeth's fifth novel.

Susan t. said...

I'd be honored!

Gwen in Hampton said...

I would soooo... love a copy!

Stella Jones said...

Count me in please Vicki.
I do read my own stories sometimes and it's amazing how unfamiliar some of it sounds. You get to thinking 'did I really write that?' it's quite good! or conversely 'omg did I really write that!' blush
I do have to go back to plot pick details. My plots are sometimes so complicated, I have to check to make sure...

Anonymous said...

count me in, darlin'.

Deana the Queena

JJM said...

If a stray copy should by chance wander in my direction, I would certainly make it feel at home ... :) (Right next to the official copy, of course.) --Mario

Deanna said...

Please, please, please... pick me! Either way, I'll be reading it. Your books are wonderful. I don't know if I mentioned it, but I check out books online and The Small Things book had a waiting list :)

JJ Roa Rodriguez said...

everybody is waiting...

JJRod'z

Vicki Lane said...

I'll post the winners on Monday!

Anonymous said...

Hope I still have time to get my name in the hat. Looking forward to reading it and that would be a fun way to do it.

Lynne in GA