I finished the latest book by my favorite author, and then the next day I picked it up and read it again.  In the process of reading it the second time, I revised my "The Perfect Book" criteria.

My "The Perfect Book" criteria used to be:

When I pick up The Perfect Book a second time, I read every word again.

Because when a book is good enough that I want to read it again, the biggest issue I run into is that most of the time the authors dump big chunks of too much information and backstory into the story.  So when I go back to read the book again, I already know all that information and end up skipping big chunks of the book the second time around.

It's a joy when I run into a book that's so skillfully written that the backstory is seamlessly interwoven into the story and it's no hardship to read every word the second time.  I really, really enjoy those stories, and applaud those authors.  I want to write like that!  :-)

After I read this book, I was able to verbalize this situation and thereby modified my criteria:

When I read The Perfect Book a second (or more) time, not only do I read every word, but each time I reread it, I pick up new information and nuances, thereby learning more about the plot and characters, and deepening my experience with every reading.

Wow!  :-)  Not only was the book a great read the first time, but I got so sucked into the action of the story and I was so focused on the action, that I missed nuances.  Then I read it a second time, and because I knew what was up, I was able to enjoy it even more, because I was able to pick up the little bits I missed the first time.  And I suspect that if I read it again, I will pick up even more. (Read more)

I am so tickled!  Adrienne Giordano's second book, "A Just Deception", is about to be released from Carina Press and she passed along the finalized copy and see what it says in the acknowledgements:

I must, must, must acknowledge Jackie Powers and her wonderful insight when working through early characterization issues. Your advice helped me dig deep and I’m so grateful.

She wanted to surprise me, and I was surpirsed, and gratified.

Thanks, Adrienne!  I had a great time talking with you, I didn't expect this, and I'm really looking forward to reading the final draft.  :-)

Wow!!  **grin**

I worked, at least all the work there was to do.  But mostly I cleaned and organized today.  I had a paper-box full of papers that needed to be filed, or needed something else done with them, and I went through the box today.  I also took a large stack of papers of writing-related-stuff and organized it all so I can actually FIND stuff... novel concept.  I tagged a bunch of websites and recycled the paper copies.  And just a whole bunch of stuff like that.

And I actually made it to the same Panera as the gal who wanted to talk about plotting, so we did that for two hours.  I showed her the process I used with my manuscript with all the sticky notes and that seemed to fit what she needed, so it felt good to be able to help.

When meeting people at Panara to discuss plotting... make sure that both people are going to the SAME Panera.  **grin**

Last night, I couldn't figure out why she didn't show up, and she couldn't figure out where I was.  Well... come to find out she was sitting in one Panera and I was sitting in another.  :-) 

It wasn't a total loss; I had a quiet dinner away from the kids and got stuff done.  Both always good things.  :-)

We're trying again tonight.  This time, we both confirmed that we are talking about the same place AND we exchanged cell phone numbers.

Live and learn.  :-)

Good me.  I worked more hours today. 

I also got a few things done on my to-do list, including calling around to find a place that still had appointments for school physicals (bad me for letting it go this long), and critiquing a synopsis and 3 chapters. 

I also got more insight into Jane's characters... her guys are going to keep me on my toes.  Also pondered my other manuscript, but haven't made decision which file I will actually open first.

So, I'm tired but not sleepy... does that make sense?  I shall go up and ponder book more, that will certainly make me sleepy.  :-)

Spent four hours today with a gal I've been mentoring (or playing Literary Midwife, whichever you want to call it) mostly talking about plotting.  Since plotting is what I've been dealing with lately in this edit, it's always useful for me to try to explain it to somebody else.  While we were indeed talking about her books, making myself explain the concepts made things more solid for me.

After we got done, and I got other stuff out of the way, I went over Jack Bickham's "Scene and Structure" book, because I needed to look his explanations over again to redraw the illustration I made for the concepts in the book.  I think I've puzzled that out, and tomorrow if I get a minute I'll redraw it, which I think will really help me. (Read more)