DRAMA Gets A Sneak Prev

So I'm sitting at work, yesterday, and my eddy emails me.

The email was pretty innocently titled "Kids in Chicago." I thought maybe she was sending me an infobite of some sort. But I open it and it says something to this effect:

TO: My Newest Greatest Writer

FROM: The Best Darn Editor in the World

RE: No big deal but...what are the best parts of the book to showcase

Hey, my boss is attending a meeting in Chicago. Some dignitaries are probably going to be along for the ride and there will be readers in your target age group to get a little preview of our new line. Thoughts on chaps you think would go over big with the kiddies.

What?! No pomp? No circumstance?

We're talking about the "Book" here. ::cue celestial sounds of harps and choir::

A little respect for my baby girl when she's about to be given a sneak peek. Ha, ha!

Well of course I zip through the book and locate the chapters that test readers enjoyed and list them for her. Then back to my mundane duties of transportation marketing. Yippee!

Very un-cool day job aside, every little step of the pre-pub phase has its excitement. Well, at least for me.

But I love how casual my editor is about stuff. It's a sign that she's worked with writers long enough to know how we get. We hear what we want to hear. She has to temper what she says to me because she knows - give a writer an inch she'll take ten miles. Give us one ordinary statement of fact to work with and we'll spin that baby into the best little yarn this side of Shakespeare.

Think not?

Just for shits and giggles, let's break down her email, shall we?

What she said
"Hey, my boss is attending a meeting in Chicago."

What I heard
"The President of the Company is going to a huge, important meeting. It may even involve a plane ride." No one takes a plane if it's not important.

She Said
"Some dignitaries are probably going to be along for the ride"

I Heard
"The Governor of Illinois, Mayor of Chicago and possibly President Bush will be in attendance." Better dress my baby girl up in her Sunday best!

She said
"And there will be readers there."

I Heard
"Every kid from the Chicago school system is attending. Matter-of-fact, they're declaring it a city-wide holiday and closing schools."

She Said
"Thoughts on chaps you think would go over big with the kiddies."

I Heard
"Nevermind, we'll just read the whole book. They'll love it!"

I'm thrilled that SO NOT THE DRAMA will be getting some ear-time with potential readers. Thrilled! But I think I'm equally excited about taking one step closer to production of the book.

I spend a lot of time in deafening silence, awaiting emails or calls from my editor to prove that indeed I was offered a book deal. So every time it's reinforced it's a good day.

Ay, Chi-town, DRAMA's coming at ya, baby.