It’s in the stars…

I’m less than 2448 hours away from being able to ship my manuscript to the publisher. Everything’s written, and most of it has been heavily edited by me, and read and edited by Tim and Tom. Jim is reading it, too, and I know he won’t be finished before it ships, but he always finds little things which I can make sure get corrected before it goes to typeset.

Right now, my mother is reading it. She called to say she didn’t think she could finish it tonight, but wants to keep reading. (She has the marked-up copy.) Since I slept from about 3 or 4 this afternoon until 10:30 tonight, I told her just to call me before she goes to bed and I’ll pick up what she’s read. Then I’ll make changes to the electronic copy based on whatever Tim/Tom scrawled in red ink across the pages of the hard copy.

My mother said that after reading one of the chapters, she had to put the manuscript down and laugh for about 15 minutes. I love that. It’s a “contemporary romance” (publisher’s words), and I know that it’s sweet, but I always try to balance sweet with funny. I would compare this book to the second TJB novel (HE’S THE ONE) and the first Lambert & Cochrane novel (THE DEAL). Except the romance is between gay-friendly straight people, instead of between straight-friendly gay people.

It was daunting to write it without being able to play off the edginess, humor, and inventiveness of my writing partners. I am really grateful that Tim works next to me so that when my brain stops functioning, I can ask stupid questions like, “What things make you think, JUNIOR HIGH?” and he will have an answer for me that is better than what I was struggling for. I advise anyone who writes or creates anything to keep a Gemini near you. Their brains never stop racing through the universe on paths the rest of us don’t even know are there.

So even though no one wrote it with me, being able to bounce ideas off of Tim, hearing Tom say, “I hope X gets what’s coming to him before this book ends,” knowing that I can make my mother laugh, and having Jim, he of the busiest work and social calendar imaginable, take time to read it—well, I wish every writer could have such a support system.

In fact, I also advise writers to depend on a Pisces (my mother and my other Timothy writing partner) for support, because they are dreamy and will readily submerge themselves in your dreams, too.

And a Virgo, like Jim, who is painstakingly thorough in noticing details and will see anything through to the end, no matter how many demands are placed on him. And a Capricorn, like Tom, who will hold everything else together while you have to focus on one project.

Today, while I slept after being up for over twenty hours, Tom vacuumed. He said he was trying to do it quietly, although the only two things that wake me once I fall into my coma-like state are a ringing telephone or a distressed dog. Tom also handled kitchen duty both days this weekend.

I could do this without the people I love, but with them, I can not only do this but feel good about it all. Sending the manuscript out tomorrow will make me a little sad, but mostly relieved that the pressure is off.

Of course, there’s another manuscript due in September…. But two other writers will share the labor pains of that one.