Editing

So the sequel to Vanish has gone to Tyndale for editing. The whole process begins with a conference call during which the editorial staff provides some feedback and questions, and some items to consider changing in the overall story. Well, they had a whopper for me this time.

At first, I was dead set against their suggestion but slowly, after a few days to mull it over, I began to see there was some merit in what they were asking me to change. But it certainly wasn't easy as it affects the whole ending. I'm not very sentimental, however some things you just get attached to and it's hard to try to view them in a different light. But I'm learning that's all part of publishing. It's a collaborative process.

I have seen the cover for the sequel and it looks great. Dean Renninger, who designed the cover for Vanish has designed this one as well. There's some similarity but also more depth and color.

I recently received an email from a young woman in South Africa who'd read Vanish and wanted to let me know how it had impacted her. She said she was captivated by the cover and decided to buy the book. Great work Dean! What a thrill to discover how far the book has travelled in such a short time. It's humbling to see God using it in this way.

Well, I need to get back to writing. I have a couple of new chapters to write for the final edit. Overall, I think the changes will make for a more dramatic ending. Meanwhile, I'm also working on some new book ideas.

Here's a teaser for one of the stories:

Three weeks after her husband dies in a corporate jet crash, a young woman begins receiving bizarre late-night phone calls. In what seems to be a recorded message, the voice on the other end says only one word: "Reticulum."

The scary thing is... it's her husband's voice.