Copy-edits, typesetting and proofs: Like Bees to Honey

Last Tuesday the typesetting was completed and the proofs for Like Bees to Honey arrived. I finally clicked open the email (after at least 10 minutes of staring at it, full of angst) and let out a huge sigh. Joanna had again (she designed Black Boxes and In Search of Adam) captured all that I’d wanted for the look and the feel of the book. I now have to go through the proofs, look at the fonts and see if they all match and if they are consistent (I didn’t want to start until after I’d seen the copy-edit).

Then, last Thursday, the copy-edited manuscript arrived by post. This contained all the changes made by the copy-editor and it was my job to go through the 400+ pages and see if I agreed with her changes (I mainly agreed, but some will be changed back on the next set of proofs).

Then, also on Thursday, I had to take all of the Maltese language out of the manuscript for my cousin to check (and make sure that all the super-complicated accents and letters of the Maltese language were right).  Her husband emailed back a day later (Friday) with pages of corrections. I now have to match words and page numbers and corrections and it’s all utterly complicated and making my head want to pop.

And, finally, after I’ve completed everything else, I actually have to read all of Like Bees to Honey and look for mistakes. A proof reader will be reading the manuscript at the same time and this is my final chance to alter anything major.

And how long do I now have left to complete these super important tasks? (I hear you ask). I have one more week to do it all. Eek! Wish me luck.

** faithful blogging friends must be delighted to see the return of Captain Jack, this time he is riding my copy-edit and not a dinosaur.