Proof is in the proof copy!

At last, I have proofs of Starfishing; something that looks like a book that gets sent out to reviewers, as well as to other authors to try to get cover quotes. This is the point where it starts to feel real - that it is a book and is going to be out there soon. The first sales have gone through on Amazon too - I checked the other day and the book has a sales rank now :)

It's hard to read your own book and see anything but the process you've been through. You know it so well at this stage. I do wonder if there ever comes a time when you can read your own book as a reader, in any true sense. I'm not sure; I've had that kind of experience with a few short stories that I didn't read for years but, then I probably never knew any of those as well as I did my novels.

I am reading Starfishing, though. Making what I can of it. And I'm pleased with what I've done. It wasn't an easy book to write. Second novel syndrome hit at various stages and for various reasons. But I got over that, I finished it, and I am very happy with the result. Here's everything crossed that the reviewers are too.

Someone said something very nice to me today about my other book that's coming out next year; The Okinawa Dragon. Five Leaves press are publishing this as part of their Crime Express imprint. I've just sent my latest draft off to the publisher and am waiting on his comments. I have to say this was fun to write. 15 000 words, an unusual length, and to have the opportunity to write something like this to be published as a book is unique and very satifying. Long live small local publishers.

And long live the bigger ones that put my longer novels out there, help me make them read so well, make them look so good, publicise them but, most of all, make them look like a book. I don't think I'll ever get bored with seeing my name on the spine :)

Nicola x