Copy Edits and Kitchenettes

So a few days ago I received the copy edits for the second book in my Cumberland Creek series. This book, formerly know as SCRAPBOOK OF SHADOWS, is now called SCRAPPED. Like many writers, I have a love-hate relationship with my book at this point in time. But, I love that an editor with a fresh pair of eyes is going through the manuscript and pointing out little mistakes or inconsistencies that I could not catch because I’m so close to the story.

But it also kinda annoys me that I did not catch these things myself.

Things like “You already sat your character in this chair on the last page.” Or “They are in the basement and the tea kettle goes off and they are served tea much too quickly. Your character has to get up stairs and come back down and so on." Hmmm. Had I neglected to mention the kitchenette in the basement? It seems I had. In my head, there’s always been a kitchenette there, yet does my reader know it? Probably not. Yet, I’m sure I mentioned the fridge and counters in my first book. But have I mentioned the stove? Have I mentioned the word “kitchenette”? Well not in this book anyway.

Thank goodness for copy editors. Some writers despise them. I don’t get that. They’ve saved me on more than one occasion. Copy editors are one of the MANY unsung heroes in publishing—at least to my way of thinking. Let’s hear it for copy editors!