Tuesday 20 May 2014

POST-EDITING RELIEF, CAKE & TATTOOS

It is done. The send button has been pressed. The second round of edits on my Emily Dickinson novel are finito, in the bag, out of my hair. Now I just have to wait and see what my Penguin editors made of them. I do believe that the novel is now cleaner and that it makes more sense too. It's a good feeling.

Emily Dickinson's Gingerbread
Emily consumes my days and has done for well over a year. If I am not baking her cakes, I am reading another biography, or getting a tattoo inspired by her. When I started this whole thing, I was afraid. It felt audacious. Now, the nearer it gets to being a real thing - a book - the more right it feels. No matter what happens, I have connected with Emily in a profound way and that's what makes me happiest of all. I can't wait to go back to Amherst in August and breathe her air again. For now, it is sighs of relief that I met another deadline. Phew!

It's also back to promoting The Closet of Savage Mementos (not that I ever stopped!) and thinking and talking about short stories at the Dublin Writers Festival.
My Emily inspired tattoo - got it done yesterday in anticipation of pressing the send button today

10 comments:

Unknown said...

Love the tattoo! Makes me want to get another. I'm reading Savage Mementos at the moment & am really enjoying it:)

Emily said...

Really like the tattoo! And the cake!! Well done on the "pressing send": I'm sure you feel like you can breathe again :) See you soon xx

Group 8 said...

Thanks Jo. It took me 10 yrs to get a second one. Dithering about designs. An Emily one seemed a good fit. Thanks for buying the novel. N x

Group 8 said...

Emily, I do. Am breathing in chocolate just now, in the absence of bubbly alcohol. Feeling relief and proud of my hard work. N x

Afric McGlinchey said...

Wow. Congrats, Nuala. Can't believe how much you cram into your life. And can't wait to read the novel. Great tattoo!

Group 8 said...

Cram may be the operative word, Afric. I need a holiday from myself, I think.

Clodagh said...

Great way to mark your achievement Nuala. Congrats.

Group 8 said...

Cheers, Clodagh :)

shaunag said...

Love the tatoo! Massive congrats on getting the second set off - yay! Good luck with the DWF short story event.

Group 8 said...

Thanks, Shauna. Hoping there won't be too much more, edits wise. See you soon, me dear.