The View from Inside the Book

Monday, July 20th, 2009 | Posted by: Andrew Kent

I’ve been waiting a lot lately — mainly for the cover and page proofs of my latest novel, “The Green Monster: A Johnny Denovo Mystery.”

I remember doing this for my first book, “Spam & Eggs.” I remember thinking everything took forever. I remember obsessively checking emails, calling as soon as I had something, moving things along as rapidly as possible, wanting to get it done while wanting to get it right.

But before I’d published a novel, I remember waiting as a consumer of books and movies — waiting for the next Harry Potter novel, the next Lord of the Rings flick, or the next Malcolm Gladwell book.

The anticipation is different, depending which side you’re on.

As a reader, I was waiting to see what the franchise or author I liked was going to do next — what concept would they explore, what plot twist would they introduce, or what visual splendor would they unleash. I was expecting to lose myself in a form of creative expression worthy of my time and my anticipation. I was hoping to have my loyalty as a reader and fan rewarded.

As an author now, with a second book in a series just about to be published, I’m waiting for different reasons. I’m nervous, and I’m trying to make sure that what I imagined and worked to create many weeks and months ago comes together well. I have to guard against errors, shifts in design direction, page changes that could wreck the reading experience. It’s a little more defensive in this role. I have a vision of the finished work, and I’ve turned my final draft and elements over to the publisher. Now, I have to help hone the finished product, but also guard against changes that wouldn’t match the vision.

I guess the difference comes down to knowing. As an author, I know what the second book is meant to be. For the fans I might have created with the first book, they aren’t sure. They’re hoping it’s as good as the first, hoping their favorite characters are there, hoping it’s exciting and interesting.

I know it is, I know what happens, and I know what’s going to happen even after this book. My job is to hold it all together, make sure it’s fully realized.

I’m waiting to see if I can do it.