the book works

These days. ..
I am often found here in my cozy little office. .
my screen split down the middle between two documents. .
and my notebook open to a third application.

The manuscript has left for a testing of making sense. .
and now has come back from it's visit to the editor and thus the revisions of the edits and the questions that need to be clarified are underway.

Just to give you a brief idea of how the book is developing I thought I would give you a simple timeline of what has happened so far.

Once the decision was made to go ahead with the book called Mennonite Girls Can Cook. .
I asked Judy and Anneliese to become my right and left arms.
Together we decided which recipes we wanted most to include in this book.
We made a very long list and then whittled it down to a compilation of recipes that we feel should be in every Mennonite and beginner cookbook.

We delegated the recipes around to the other girls from the blog. .
and then we all set to work to think through our recipes. . .testing. .writing. .and photographing them.
This all took place during the spring and summer with the final recipes being completed early September.

As they came in through google documents. .
I put them into folders and their pictures were uploaded onto various albums that the design team will then be able to download and insert into the final manuscript.

While Anneliese and Judy were doing the first set of edits I was making a map of the book.
Every recipe has it's spot and has numbers coinciding from the map to the folder to the album.
Judy and Anneliese each read over all the recipes checking for obvious errors and then I did a third round before beginning to compile them all into one manuscript.

On October 1st it was sent to the publisher and we all took a bit of a breather.
Then. .
Amy our publisher sent it on to the first round of professional edits.

A month has passed. . with parts of the manuscript coming back and then being sent off again. .
and now I am at the stage of receiving the recipe edits.

So . . .
currently. .I am reading through the recipes once again . .
emailing the girls with questions regarding their recipes. .
and then making my notes in green as opposed the the red that had been sent to me.

It is just the most fascinating process.
We have learned an enormous amount in the past few months and we've all agreed that we would never attempt to self publish a cookbook and are thankful that we had the good sense to not even try.

For those of you that have asked the hows and whats. .
I hope this fills in the details for you a bit.
I can't imagine how we would have accomplished what we've done without all ten girls doing their part.
Things will be a bit quieter here on my personal blog. 
During the next month I plan to post three times a week.
I'll be back to full postings the beginning of December.

So. .there you have it..

All for now. .

Comments

  1. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  2. It does sound fascinating! I have preordered a copy :)
    and can't wait to receive it...once all your edits are complete, of course!

    Have a productive and blessed day!
    Niki

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  3. So exciting!! I can hardly wait to hold the hard copy in my hands. I'm thinking it will be the perfect shower gift for all the newlyweds in my circle!

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  4. Sounds like a lot of work, but we can't wait to see the end results!!!

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  5. What a learning curve for all of you. It is so good to know what care is being put into this book so the end user will enjoy having a good product.

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  6. We never stop learning, do we? Who would have thought that you'd be learning the ins and outs of book writing/editing/publishing? It's good to know that it's in capable hands! I'm eager to see the finished product!

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  7. Well...it all looks orderly and under control over at 'central station'!

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  8. I worked for a year as a copy editor reading medical textbooks and even a few novels. I would've loved to read a cookbook! It is a long, involved process and even with all the edits, mistakes will be made because everyone is human. Perhaps the final typist will slip up and off it will go to press. It would cost a fortune to do anything perfectly and that's why there are people who make a game of reading the dictionary for errors. Life's too short for that, don't you agree? All the best and I'm glad that you are enjoying the process.

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  9. sounds so interesting and exciting indeed! It's always neat to see the actual makings of the book that go into the final product! Can't wait to buy a copy! :)

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  10. That is a gigantic project....and I look forward to the final product of all the hard work of each one of you on the team. Can't wait to see what you've chosen to include.

    I love your new blog look...perfect for Autumn.

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  11. I appreciate you and all your hard work Lovella!

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  12. Thanks for posting this. I am so interested in the writing and publishing process and loved reading about your experience so far. It sounds like hard work but so rewarding. I can't wait to see the final product and know that I was able to have a glimpse behind the scenes.

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  13. Appreciate you so very much..take some breaks okay?

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  14. Well, it looks like you will be too busy to get into any kind of trouble for a while! We are so glad to have someone at the helm who is not too easily intimidated and who does not mind learning a few new tricks.
    Enjoying the ride with you!

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  15. It is fascinating to see all the work that goes into making a professional cookbook, Lovella. Good luck with all the work and enjoy the process. I am looking forward to receiving the finished product in June.

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  16. Hi Lovella, I am so glad that things are going well with the cook book. I am so looking forward to it being published.
    Sue

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  17. I'm overwhelmed just thinking of how much time you've put into this book. It is a testimony to your vision and hard work. You, Judy and Anneliese have been so great to work with. Thank you for all your efforts. I can hardly wait to see the finished book.

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  18. Who better to do this production than you and your crew. I know without a doubt it will be very well done. I can't wait to see the finished book. I wish you all the best.

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  19. I love looking at your office...my husbands's desk looks like that all the time..one screen with farm records and the other with the latest news cast or my blog post.
    Yes you three girls have accomplished alot and it's wonderful to be a part of this exciting dream.

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  20. I read that the release date is now at the beginning of May. I'm so excited to hear this. I'm planning to get the cookbook ASAP and review it on my blog. I know it's going to be a good one.

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