Caren Simpson McVicker · Author · added almost 4 years ago · 2 likes

Dear Henderson House supporters,

It’s official!! The team at Inkshares is reading my manuscript and I can expect to receive my editorial letter around October 18th. "What the heck is an editorial letter?" you may be asking.

Well, an editorial letter is a manuscript evaluation. It addresses bigger picture issues like the primary characters’ story arcs, pacing, character development, and other elements of effective story telling.

Based on the extent of the concerns in the editorial letter, we will know how much rewriting I have to do and we can, hopefully, begin to think about a publication date. I’m so excited for this next phase in the process. One of the main reasons I wanted to work with Inkshares was to have a full editorial experience, learn about my areas of weakness, and become a better writer!

For those of you interested in reading the early draft chapters of book two, working title Sequoya Road. I have created a project page on Inkshares. SPOILER ALERT: If you didn’t finish Henderson House while the draft was available online, the early chapters of Sequoya Road definitely contain spoilers so read at your own risk. As always, I’d love your feedback. Here’s the link. For updates specific to Sequoya Road, please follow that project.

https://www.inkshares.com/books/sequoyah-road

Many thanks for all your support on this journey. Feels like we’re really moving now!

Best,

Caren

Caren Simpson McVicker · Author · added almost 4 years ago · 6 likes

Happy September!

I have a quick update from the home team at Inkshares. Henderson House is next in line. They are currently working on editorial letters for Stephen Harrison’s novel, Infodemic - Stephen is a fellow contest winner.

Infodemic is about an unlikely group of volunteers who must race to defend the world’s most popular online encyclopedia against malicious disinformation during a global pandemic.

The Inkshares team will move from a present-day online battle for the truth, to 1940’s Bartlesville and a private struggle between two sisters to find it as well. Oh, those sneaky universal themes :)

I will keep you posted, but next on deck is a great spot to be.

Cheers,

Caren

Geri A Sauls · Reader · edited about 4 years ago · 1 like

I would definitely love to continue following the Henderson House adventures! Please post draft chapters.

Caren Simpson McVicker · Author · added about 4 years ago · 8 likes

Happy Monday to all my Henderson House supporters!

I don’t have any updates from Inkshares other than a wonderful confirmation that once my time comes, Henderson House will get all the editorial attention and support it needs to become a wonderful book. I can’t tell you how much I am looking forward to the editing process. In many ways, taking a long break from the book and its characters is probably a good thing as I will come to the editing process with the ability to see the work with new eyes.

Thank you all for your patience and continued support. I have a new blog post up on working on more than one book at a time, and yes I am! You can check that out on my website at:

https://www.carenmcvicker.com/post/more-than-one-book-at-a-time-yes

Also, if you want to follow my author page on Facebook, you’ll find that at:

https://www.facebook.com/CarenSimpsonMcVickerWriter/

I’m working to get all the tools in place so I’m ready to hit the ground running once we get this book into production.

If you are interested in seeing draft chapters of the second book in the Henderson House series, let me know. I can set up a draft page on Inkshares and upload a few.

Wishing you and yours a safe and healthy end to the summer or winter for my Aussie friends!

Cheers!

Caren

Caren Simpson McVicker · Author · added about 4 years ago · 10 likes

Dear Henderson House supporters,

Yesterday, I emailed the manuscript of Henderson House to Inkshares. I reached the point where the book wasn’t going to get any better without a professional editor and it felt wonderful to set it free! Well, a little scary when I pressed send, but later it felt amazing:)

What’s Next?

We have officially taken the next step toward publication! Now, it’s on Inkshares to find the right editor for the book. I don’t know how long that will take. Once the book has an editor, we will work to get the book print ready. That might mean minor changes, it might mean major rewrites - I won’t know until I get some feedback.

Thank you all for hanging in there with me on this journey. I will keep you posted as soon as there is any news. June was a difficult month. I loved the editing process, but it was draining, and I did not have much energy left for writing. Now that the book is out of my hands, I hope to dive into Book Two and get back into my writing groove.

That’s the update from rainy Vermont. Have a great weekend and for those of you in the US, Happy 4th of July!

All the best,

Caren Simpson McVicker

Geri A Sauls · Reader · edited about 4 years ago · 1 like

Can’t wait to start reading the sequel!!

Caren Simpson McVicker · Author · added about 4 years ago · 12 likes

Dear Henderson House Supporters,

News Flash!

My upcoming novel, Henderson House, is the May 2021 Break the Bechdel with Strong Female Characters Syndicate pick at Inkshares. This group celebrates female characters who are well-crafted and multi-dimensional. I’m thrilled for Bessie, Florence, and Mrs. Henderson to be recognized! There’s a wonderful new badge on my Inkshares page.

How’s the editing going? Thanks for asking...

I read the entire novel as an e-book, making no notes whatsoever. I read it like a reader. Trust me, it’s hard to turn off your writer brain AND your editor brain and just read the darn story! The good news is, I really liked it!

After the read through, I wrote notes like I would if I had read someone else’s book. Notes about weaknesses in the plot, character development, and pacing.

Next, I printed out the entire manuscript and divided it by Point of View. I read all of Bessie’s chapters as if they were one story. Then Florence’s and then Mrs. Henderson’s. What a wonderful editing technique! This time through, I made and editing marks in the printed document and marked sections that need work.

This week, I will begin making changes to the manuscript. Inkshares has said they won’t have time to get started on my project until the end of the summer, but my goal is to get my revised manuscript to them by the end of June. I’d love to be first in line when their work load eases up.

In other news...

I started the sequel to Henderson House! I shared the first chapter of the next book with my writers’ group last week, so Book Two is underway.

Thank you again for all of your support. Here’s hoping we’re reading Henderson House on the beach next summer.

All the best,

Caren Simpson McVicker

Geri A Sauls · Reader · edited over 4 years ago · 1 like

Definitely would love to see the final chapters! So excited for you!

Caren Simpson McVicker · Author · added over 4 years ago · 4 likes

Dear Henderson House supporters,

Happy April! I hope wherever you are spring is springing.

Here is a quick update on Henderson House:

My revisions to the end of the novel are almost complete. Once again, these characters are telling me where they think the story needs to go...and they’re right!
Next up, I will do a full manuscript edit. I’m reading Intuitive Editing by Tiffany Yates Martin and can’t wait to implement her process.
Then the manuscript goes to Inkshares. I’m shooting to be finished by the end of May.

Inkshares has been very forthcoming about their backlog after suspending new releases due to the pandemic. I corresponded with Avalon at Inkshares yesterday and she said they will probably not start on anything new until late summer.

If anyone is interested in reading the revised final chapters, please message me!

All the best,

Caren

Caren Simpson McVicker · Author · added over 4 years ago

Thanks @Geri A Sauls - I would be happy to let you continue reading! Look for an email from me:)