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Jon finished his read through of the copy edits of SKIN TRADE.  It was his first chance to read the end of the book.  The rewrite changed so much, it changed my ending.  Ho, ho, ho.  Tomorrow the copy edits swing back my way, and it’s the last chance for me to catch things, while I fix the things that I agree need to be fixed from the editors. 

I heard from my Merry editor today, and we’ll be seeing the cover mock-up for Merry #8 DIVINE MISDEMEANORS tomorrow.  And yes, for those who keep asking, it is the next Merry book, and not a new series, and no, you are not getting two Anita books in one year.  I’m good, and I’m fast, but I’m not that good, or that fast.  Greedy people.  I’m looking forward to this book, because it’s the first time I’ve ever allowed myself to simply play in Merry’s world.  We’re no longer tied to the storyline that was our impetus for the first seven books.  I thought it would be such a cool idea to have a plot that carried over from book to book and built to that overwhelming conclusion.  It was cool, but as a writer, it was also restrictive.  I couldn’t go off and explore Merry’s world the way I could with Anita.  The over all plot was so important to her staying alive, that there was little room for detours.  This book, DIVINE MISDEMEANORS is the first time I get to play.  If I want to go play with the demi-fey; I can.  If I want to play with long time Los Angeles fey exiles; I can.  If I want to concentrate on Merry and her guys; I can.  If I want it to be mostly about Jeremy and the Grey’s Detective Agency; it will be.  See, the world suddenly opens up, and we can go where we want, play with whom we want, and not have to be tied to a specific goal.  I can play.  I’ve promised to never, ever, tie another series, to a specific end, and plot, for books and books.  The exception to that rule will be if I ever go back and finish the series that began with NIGHTSEER.  That is a four books series with a definite end; no changing that.  But that’s okay, four books I can manage, but seven made me chaff.  I feel like I can finally take a breath in Merry’s world, too.

But tomorrow, it’s copy edits.  Not the most fun part of the job, but not the least fun either.  What’s the least fun?  Two weeks of eighteen hour days on a rewrite of a book that was due: wait, you just saw me do that, and blog about it as I did it.  No, copy edits, even on SKIN TRADE, don’t seem nearly as un-fun as the final push to finish the book.  It’s all good, because when I finish writing this, I get to go to bed.  I get to curl up beside Jon, and we get to sleep.  I am not trapped back in my office, trying to force myself, and my muse, to crack that whip, and tote that load.  Tonight no whip cracking, no heavy lifting, just clean sheets, a warm husband, and sleep.