An editor’s emotional trauma

It just happened again.

I like checking in with my authors to see how everything is going for them personally and for their books. Today, my delightful author told me she’d had an epiphany about the villain in Book One. There will be a twist in Book Two—something “juicy.” But she’s still figuring it out and isn’t ready for a brainstorming call yet. Gah! I need to know. Maybe give your favorite editor a little hint?

In another book, a character I loved died. The author gave me a heads-up during the drafting phase because she knew it would be hard on me—I’ve loved this character since the start of the series, and she had so much to live for! I jokingly begged for the character to be resuscitated, but to no avail. Sigh. I had to admit it made sense for the story and was well done.

Then there’s another series with a slow-burn romance where the author doesn’t yet know when the couple will finally get together. What if they are kept apart forever? My mind is reeling.

I suppose I’ll just have to settle for getting to read what happens months before these books are published.

Collaborating with authors and getting carried away with their stories is just so much fun.