THE ROGUE Moves Closer to Sept. 20 Publication
April 15, 2011
FedEx just delivered what are called “first pass” pages of The Rogue. It’s the first time I’ve seen the book set in type, and also (except for a final chapter which I’ll deliver in early June) my last chance to make changes.
As I work through the 322 pages, a professional proofreader and a Random House lawyer are doing the same, the lawyer making sure that changes we agreed on after his legal vetting have been implemented.
I started writing the book in September and finished a draft before Christmas. My wife, Nancy Doherty–a freelance editor of exceptional skill–read it and attached dozens of post-its to pages about which she had comments. I rewrote. She reread. I rewrote. My agent and my personal attorney, Dennis Holahan, also read it. I rewrote and revised.
On Jan. 15 I delivered it to my official editor at Crown Publishing (a division of Random House, Inc.) He read it. I rewrote. Then it went to a copy editor. She read it more carefully than anyone before her. Many more post-its and a lot of her exquisitely clear handwriting in the margins. I revised. Then the lawyer had his crack at it. After an eight-hour meeting at Random House offices, the lawyer, my editor and I worked for three weeks by conference call and email to make the book ready for print.
And now it’s in print, in “first pass” form. I’ll return the corrected pages by April 26, then won’t see them again until the book is published in September.
Not quite the same as blogging.
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28 Responses to “THE ROGUE Moves Closer to Sept. 20 Publication”
That has got to feel so weird.
But thank you for the reassurance that your book, as opposed to Going Rogue, has actually been fact-checked and vetted by lawyers.
Fact checking? What’s that? LOL. I’m excited, Joe. Keep up the good work!
Joe, I am sure you realize the number one question hanging out there on your book is if you answer the question on whether Sarah is in fact Trig’s “birth” mother. Will you offer any more insight before the book comes out?
I’ve been anticipating this book since I first heard about it. Loved it when you were offered the house next door and now am enjoying this blog tremendously. Can’t wait for Sept. 20
You know you’re going to drive people crazy trying to enlarge that page enough to read!
Don’t bother with a magnifying glass: that page is not from THE ROGUE.
–Joe
Haha! I already tried ctrl +++ lol
Alright Joe, I already pre-ordered my copy on my kindle. I can’t wait to read your insight.
I’m sure you put a lot more genuine writing, editing, legal vetting, care, diligence, etc. than Palin put into either one of her books!
Funny coincidence: my copy editor also copy-edited Sarah’s most recent book (not Going Rogue, the other one.) Professional ethics prevented her from telling me what that experience was like, but I have no doubt about which book she likes better.
–Joe
Congratulations!! Looking forward to it!
What a process!!! Joe, I’m curious, how you feel as a writer to have many people critiquing your work and what percentage of those recommended changes to you actually make? Do you ever have to battle for key things you want to keep in? Will there be anything that you want to put in the book but were advised by your attorney to not touch it?
I’m luckier than most. Everyone who’s been involved in the process has been first class. Hard to say what percentage of suggested changes I wound up making, because it’s gone through several phases, but I’ve benefitted from every reading. There was no disagreement about anything important, just a lot of fine-tuning. And the manuscript came through the legal vet remarkably unscathed. And that was thorough! The Random House lawyer listened personally to hours of my recorded interviews. I’ve never worked with better people than those at Random House/Crown.
–Joe
I live in Jack London’s, Valley of the Moon. Just thinking it was a good thing he didn’t have to go through all this or he would probably never have gotten his first book published.
I enjoy reading your books. I have no doubt that this book would be of equal or better quality. It will, also, be a best-seller..
Thanks, for the good work, that you do.
Is there a scheduled book tour?
So much will happen in the next 5 months.Is there a concern that what is written may be outdated by the time it is printed,bound and shipped?
At this point, it looks like I’ll be in NY, DC, LA and Alaska, but all planning is preliminary at this point.
Not anticipating a nationwide bus tour
That’s the difference between a book and a blog. If a book is good (i.e. truly sheds light on the character of its subject), it won’t be outdated in five months, or five years.
In any event, it will be only three months between delivery of my last chapter and publication.
As for what happens during those months? That’s what this blog is for.
–Joe
I am looking forward to your latest book. As I read through your description of the writing process, I was reminded of one of my favorite quotes:
“Easy reading is damned hard writing.” Nathaniel Hawthorne
You sly devil …….. didn’t think bus tours were preferred method of transportation for authors. Aren’t they reserved for politicians? Bet she won’t be doing one either.
Hope Juneau will be one of your stops.
Me too. Juneau and Homer my favorite Alaska towns.
–Joe
Wow! Sure sounds like one HUGE process!
Looking forward to get a hold of the finished product! 🙂
You don’t have to actually DO a bus tour — just hire a bus and paint your name on its side, find a Sugar-Mommy to lend you her Lear Jet, and presto! Lots of books sold all over America. But first claim you are pregnant: people are so gullible.
EXCELLENT question!
No Chicago area? DRAT.
Writing this from Alaska on a spectacular Sat morning. Frankly I don’t care if Palin gave birth to Trig or not. Oh, icing on the cake I guess. But, I was disgusted with her long before the pregnancy. As soon as she arrived on the political radar here she made the hair on my neck stand up. Wasn’t sure just why – I don’t live in Wasilla so wasn’t aware of her rep there. Many folks where I work were all about “Go Palin”!! And from all appearances – still are. The day McCain announced her as his running mate folks were gathered in our conference watching it unfold on the screen. I just couldn’t do it. Mostly we just don’t mention her because it ends up in some very heated exchanges! At any rate – looking forward to the book. And that of Geoffrey Dunn. And, hopefully Frank Bailey gets his “tell-all” off the ground. All of ’em – I’ll read all of ’em!!!
How about the Philadelphia area? Raleigh, NC? There are far more Yankee transplants than original Southerners here. I’d love for the media to show people what a book tour is supposed to look like, nobody needing to take off their shoes, jackets, etc. and putting them in bins before seeing the alleged “best-selling author” as in Palin’s rules for her book-buying fans. I wouldn’t go through that for anyone!
I’m pre-ordered, and waiting.
Thanks for the anticipation!