Finished with first AUGUSTA HAWKE?

Not quite. I received comments and suggestions back from my editor, and when I've gone through every page (taken me 8 days so far) I'll send it back to him. From there, it goes to the copy editor for a week? Two weeks? This is the stage where I'm never sure.

But after having seen her comments I'll get to read the whole thing again, which at this point already is not a thrilling prospect. I want to be on to the next book in the series, anxious to get to it. I never reread my books, ever, and this is why. At some point, they have been so thoroughly read by me, I want something new.

But wait, there's more! Once the copyeditor and I are through it goes to be typeset and I will be sent the proof pages. This takes not long, maybe a week. I don't know why I can't remember the process better after all these years, but it's always slightly different. And with each book publisher (I've had three, like Goldilocks) it's been a slightly different process.

Still, I'm seeing the end in sight, which is wonderful, and today I think I'll treat myself to a pastry and coffee while my husband is out at a meeting. It's too soon for a full celebration but an apple fritter will do nicely. ;-)