The relationship you, an author, have with the editor of your story is special. It takes time to find the editor that will work best with and for you and your story.
Tiffany Noelle Chacon is one author that has been the right fit for me from the moment I first read her novella Off Course.
I've written blog posts reviewing her books JUMP and FALL, and as her stories have grown, so has our relationship. I have now edited two books for her: Her novella The Cowboy Christmas Distraction and most recently SOAR.
When I first reviewed JUMP and FALL, I was simply a reader. Now as the editor of SOAR, the third and final full-length novel in this series, I don't feel right simply reviewing it because I had a hand in creating it (although I would still love it just as much even if I didn't edit it). Instead of a review of SOAR, here is an interview with Tiffany about writing and editing the book so you can learn what the process was like for her, and how I assisted her:
Why did you pick Joyce to edit SOAR?
Joyce was an advanced reader for the second book in my series, FALL. She offered helpful feedback during that process so I decided to work with her on my next book, The Cowboy Christmas Distraction (aka CCD). Joyce was incredible to work with during that process-her editing was insightful, thorough, and complementary to my writing style. We made a good team! So when it was time to pick an editor for SOAR, I knew it had to be Joyce.
What was the editing process for SOAR like?
We did two rounds of editing for SOAR-a developmental edit and then a line edit. The first round focused more on the storyline itself. Pacing, character development, story order, etc. My first draft was VERY rough, with whole sections not completely filled in or with a sentence or two of what I was planning. Joyce gave me helpful feedback for these sections and was there as a sounding board for my ideas of what I wanted to accomplish. The second and final round of edits was the "cleaning up" round-fixing typos, sharpening sentences, that sort of thing. We were on a really tight deadline because of the Amazon pre-order, but Joyce was able to work with me and make it happen!
What challenges or obstacles did Joyce help you with during the editing process?
Joyce was really a sounding board and a cheerleader during the editing process. I felt an immense amount of pressure to get this book done by the deadline-and to do it justice since it was the final book in the series. She was a great support and helped me hone my ideas and bring them to life in a really satisfying way at the end.
What part of the book was most fun/easiest to write?
One of my absolute favorite scenes was the cold plunge scene with Trina and Grayson. Ironically, this is when their relationship has begun to thaw and there's just a touch of heat in the scene between them...despite the cold! I also always have fun writing Monica, who despite demanding-and receiving-her own book, continues to take over any scene she's in. I love her.
Highlights of working with Joyce?
Joyce is and was thoroughly invested in the characters. It felt like she wanted to do them justice as much as I did. She also researches things meticulously so I feel confident that the work I'm releasing is as good as we can possibly make it.
How did you feel/celebrate finishing SOAR and the whole Equestrian Dreams series?
Writing the end of this series hit me harder than I was anticipating. I ugly cried when I wrote the epilogue. I've gone through five books (if you include the novellas) with these characters and they feel real to me-as if Alex and Mila really exist out there somewhere and I might run into them at WEF one day. Writing the ending felt a little like saying goodbye to them. And I was not ready for that! I already have plans to incorporate them into other books so I don't have to say a REAL goodbye. Because I just can't handle that! I understand why writers have a hard time wrapping up series and continue them ad nauseam. I wasn't willing to do that, for the sake of having a tight storyline, but it sure is tempting.
I had a wonderful time working with Tiffany on this project. SOAR is the final book in the Equestrian Dream series. It still follows Mila and Alex, the main characters from the first book JUMP, but SOAR also follows Trina's life, Mila's riding instructor, and tells how someone else's divorce turns her life completely upside down. If this sounds like a book you would enjoy (and I think you will) find it here or go back to the beginning of the series with OFF COURSE and JUMP here. And make sure to follow Tiffany everywhere.
If you have questions about editing your own book or how to find an editor that loves your book just as much as you, check out my editing services here.
Looking for more book recommendations? Check my reviews out here.