The Eternal Prison

How Jeff DealsSo, I handed in the final manuscript of The Eternal Prison today, otherwise known as Avery Cates #3. My editor at Orbit is brilliant and a little frightening, but I think this story is kick-ass and I can’t wait to hear what she thinks. Besides, the very few people in this world I trust to read rough drafts of novels (i.e., The Wife and The Agent) have given it their seal of approval.

Still, makes me nervous. In a weird way I’d almost prefer to keep all my works hidden, just for me to gloat over. I think a lot of writers have this reluctance to release their work into the wild, and we all have different ways of handling it. Me, I drink. When I’m nice and liquored up I call my editor at 3AM and slur on and on about how genius I am, and then email the manuscript to her. Then I wake up 2 days later in Philadelphia. This process has worked pretty well so far.

Anyhoo, now we await the Edit Letter, which is where my editor tells me how ungenius I am and gives me her opinions. Sometimes these Edit Letters are thin and easy to deal with. Sometimes they are tomes of grave horror. We’ll see which way this one goes. If I am drunker than usual in a few weeks, you’ll have a clue.

9 Comments

  1. Craig

    First congrats on finishing the third book; I jus started the Digital Plague and am diggin’ it big time.

    Second, how will we know if you are drunker than usual???

  2. jsomers (Post author)

    When I am drunker than usual I am usually not wearing pants. Or a shirt. Or socks. And I am usually doing air-guitar and singing:

    “I take her to the university, she says huh
    I take her to an anniversary, she says one
    I take her to jewelry store
    I say diamonds, she says pearl
    Oh everyone knows I’m in love
    With a monosyllabic girl”

  3. Katy

    Congratulations!!! And good luck 🙂 Don’t drink too much, Mr Cates needs you!

  4. jsomers (Post author)

    Thanks, Katy! As for drinking, you would have to define “too much” as it’s an ambiguous term. I say as long as I don’t go blind, I’m within the safe zone.

    L
    J

  5. Frank Marcopolos

    Muchos kudos! Keep on keepin’ on, Mr. Prolific.

  6. The Agent

    Through no fault of my own, I have three unopened bottles of very fine scotch here in my office. I suggest you quit emailing that manuscript and deliver it in person.

    S’cool!

  7. jsomers (Post author)

    Agent o mine,

    I knew there was a reason I signed on with you. If you’d poured me a dollop when we signed contracts you could have gotten me to agree to just about anything, you know.

    L
    J

  8. Nnyan

    Having just discovered your books at the local bookstore I’m a big fan. The fact that you’re from Jersey helps. Haven’t been in Jersey for 12 years now, wonder if Bar None or Scotland Yard are still around). Anyway just finished reading TEC and TDP and I’m looking forward to TEP.

  9. jsomers (Post author)

    Nnyan,

    Thanks for stopping by! Yep, Bar None and Scotland Yard still hanging on here. SY still has live blues every night, too. Personally I’m a Stinky Sullivans man.

    L
    J

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