editing

One Step At A Time To Getting My Business Going

Angela3 Comments

It seems to be taking me forever, but I have to say, the sunshine in Michigan has helped my motivation. It did go from 70 degrees during the week to snowing the next week, but I think it will be warming up for good now.

And I apologize for the blog post you all got alerts to about “When Parenthood is Not a Horror Story.” That was supposed to post to my blog, parenthoodandotherhorrorstories.com My internet connection has been well beyond shady for the past several weeks, and it is nearly impossible to do anything online.

I have my LLC license in place and filed with the State of Michigan, and found a great logo building website and created my logo. I will be changing the blog a bit in order to have a static first page, but for those of you who follow me, your alerts will take you directly to the blog.

Next up is finding a great theme to use to change this up, and hopefully nothing too difficult to maneuver while I continue to look for a better internet provider.

I should have another book review up tomorrow for a great book I finished a couple days ago, and I am reading another story and should be finished with that one in short order as well.

I am heading to Illinois Thursday morning to be a part of “The Lincoln Funeral Train”, so be prepared for a ridiculous amount of pictures and all things Abraham Lincoln very soon!

May your stories bring you smiles!

What’s Keeping Me Busy Right Now

AngelaLeave a comment

I am currently reading, for my own pleasure, “An Irish Country Wedding” by Patrick Taylor, M.D. This is one of several books in his Irish series, and the 5th one I am reading, out of 10 currently in the series. Patrick Taylor is a licensed Medical Doctor, retired, as well as a former Professor.

Patrick Taylor, M.D.
Patrick Taylor, M.D.

These are great stories about 2 Doctors who live and work in the Irish town of Ballybucklebo. They are set in the 1950’s and further on, depending on the story you are reading. There is a lot of back story information about the political issues that have happened in Ireland since the 1930’s, and it lends a good deal to the story without being overwhelming.

An Irish Country Wedding

It does not take long into the first story of this series to fall in love with the Doctors, their housekeeper Kinky Kincaid, and all the various characters throughout the quaint village of Ballybucklebo. If you are a fan of all things Irish, the political history of Ireland, or like stories that accurately reference medical terms and issues, while teaching you something at the same time, I would highly recommend you give Patrick Taylor’s books a try!

I am also in the process of editing one book that I am nearly finished with, and should be starting on another book editing job tomorrow. I am really loving getting to be on this side of the literary world, while helping authors publish the best possible story they can!

Are you reading anything at the moment that you can’t put down?

Editing For Dialect

Angela8 Comments

My biggest concern when editing a story that uses a specific dialect, is that not everyone may understand that is what is going on, and think I am a terrible, hack-job editor.

I am currently editing a story that uses dialect different than you find in the majority of English written books. The dialect being used is not a heavy accent that portrays someone who lives in the Deep South, or New England, or the likes. It is not a play on the words so much, as it is that there are words missing.

Words are missing because the characters in the story use English as a second language. I am sure we have all had the pleasure of meeting an interesting person who did not use English as their main way of communicating. So you have a conversation that seems almost abbreviated, with the ‘extra’ words that are used in the English language not being used when someone is using English as their second language.

Have you heard that the English language is the hardest language to learn? It is true. More than any other language, the English language has so many “rules and regulations” concerning the use of it, that it can be difficult for pretty much anyone to use it correctly, even if it is the only language they know.

So for an example, what you might read is the following; “She found him at bus station.” If I were writing the story, I would say “She found him at the bus station.” I see nothing wrong with writing a story this way, when it is necessary to set the scene and make it authentic.

I am currently editing a story by a very talented author, and it took about 3 sentences into the second chapter where the characters were having a conversation for me to realize that what I thought were errors, were intentional. The main characters use English as their second language. I think if the author did not write it using this dialect, it would take away from the story.

Which brings me back to my main concern; will everyone who reads this story understand that it is supposed to be written in that style? I think I am pretty safe, as it is a very in-depth story and one that will interest a specific genre.

If you are a writer, do you use dialect in specific novels you write to lend authenticity to your story?

As I Finish Up Your Stories…

Angela4 Comments

…I would like to ask that if I had indeed contacted you about reading, reviewing, proofreading, and/or editing your story, and you have not heard from me, to please send me a personal email.

Those whom I am about to review are Marilyn Cohen de Villiers, “A Beautiful Family”, Kate O’Hara, “Aphrodite on the Half Shell”, the 2nd book of “The Universe of God 2: the Chronicles of Jesus”, (twestephens please email me, I am lacking contact information). Also Adan Ramie’s, “Darkness Undone”.

Mary Ellen Deleon, please send me the date of your blog post on the 3 chapters you asked me to read, I can have that done as soon as I hear from you.

CB, I left a reply on my post, please contact me via my email so I know if there are certain ones of your short stories you would like me to look at, and I need your contact information as well.

I also am in the process of reviewing 2nd stories for Caryl McAdoo and Tony Smith.

If I have not mentioned you and had contacted you previously, Please send me an email. I likely just overlooked it, as I know there are books I purchased and are on my nook that I did not list here. Some books I found from reading through your blogs, and you did not necessarily ask for a review; I just found the premise of your story interesting, and wanted to read it!

I also received a couple emails from persons unknown to me, and unless if you put “Book Edit or Review” somewhere in the subject line, I would not have opened it. I do still have them in my inbox, but please send me another email so I know you are someone who has seen my blog post and not a random email virus waiting to infect my laptop!

Thanks so much, I look forward to hearing from you, and Happy Reading!

angi.gibbs@yahoo.com

We Interrupt Your Friday Fun Facts…For This Special Announcement

AngelaLeave a comment

I have a list of 15 books, that I have purchased or were sent to me free, for review. I am already through one book, halfway through the next, and expect to have at least two more finished before the weekend is over. (No, I do not feed my children, I just throw them a scrap of food when they ask!)

Some of you have asked for a review and have been in contact; some of you filled out the form and disappeared. So I just wanted to put this statement out there:

I said I will never post a review of your book without you seeing it first.

I Lied.

If I have a glowing review of your book, and it is already out to the masses, I will post it. I have been randomly finding books and reading and reviewing them, and the really bad ones, I would not name the author or title. (Yeah, I will not make this a habit: some of you that I have read over the last year just really need to stop typing and go work at the local gas station!).

I am editing and reviewing books that have not yet met their publication date: I will never post a review before you tell me you are ready. I have several of these. I will be in touch with you. I am excited to be able to publicize these great stories as you are marketing it to the masses. I could not be happier than to know I have read a story before very many others have seen it, and it will change the world (Yes, I have read those stories!)

But I am also reviewing books that are available to the masses. So for you; if I have a great review, I am not going to contact you before I post it. If I did not like it, I will certainly not post it and not tell you.

I want to be a writer. I do not have that determination, drive, energy, or time. But I do have a ridiculous knowledge of the English language, dialect based on time periods or culture, and research skills that the FBI would kill for. So I can help those of you who are writers, to write.

To E-Read or Buy the Real Deal

Angela8 Comments

It seems there is quite the battle between those who have given up their paper books for electronic readers, and those who refuse to use one. I have to admit that last year I got Barnes & Noble’s latest HD electronic reader, and have read some stories on it. I have people that ask me to review their books, and in some instances this is the only way I can access their stories.

I also said I would never own one. Because I could never give up my paper books. This is still the case. I have not even turned it on in at least 3 months. My excuse for getting it was I wanted to use it for my magazine subscriptions since I do not like throwing away magazines after I read them. I do get some subscriptions sent to my reader, but, as I haven’t used it in months, I am proving to myself that I just do not care for it all that much.

With that being said, I have crossword apps on it, and I love doing crossword puzzles. I have used it for that more than anything. But alas, I am too busy with other things to even have time for that.

I do not believe that the electronic reader will ever replace “real” books, and I would be devastated if that ever happened. But with so many authors finding it easier to publish, or self-publish this way, the brick-and-mortar publishing companies are possibly seeing a decline in manuscripts being sent to them.

Another reason I prefer real books? The fact that in most of the cases, that person writing that book had to endure the lengthy process of finding a publisher to accept their book, print it, and market it. Although I have never tried, I think it is safe to say this is no easy task. That doesn’t mean you still cannot come across a real book that does not completely suck, but the chances of you seeing spelling, grammatical, and story line errors are no where near as likely to happen.

I have read some pretty terrible things from self publishers. And I have also read the most amazing stories from self publishers.

How do you feel about the electronic reader?

Dead on Demand – and on we go……

AngelaLeave a comment

We catch up with Edwin on a flight to Vancouver, where his job prospect in Human Resources is located.

It hops right back to Vanhi, in the middle of a nightmare, seeing nothing but a pockmarked-faced man who has her bound and gagged. Waking up, and finding no cocaine to ease her nerves, she decides to get on her darknet account and find an anonymous dealer. Of course, she finds Edwin’s posting about needing a problem taken care of. Vanhi decides she has a problem that needs to be taken care of as well; Mr. Pockmarked-face. She quickly replies with her own message.

And we are back again to Edwin, who nails his interview for the HR position, and returns home to see his computer flashing with a received message.

OK, now here is something that really bugs me when I am reading. When something seems to just fall out of the sky and right into the story. Like facts, or information. Here is the next part I read, word-for-word.

‘Seems like a fair swap. What is your problem?’ he read.

Did she understand what she was proposing? Was she an undercover cop? Did it make a difference even if she was? He was, after all, anonymous (Campbell & Campbell, page 30).

How does he know that the person replying is a woman? (I re-read this section several times thinking I had to have missed something where she identified herself to him as a woman. Nope). Did she sign her name? Attach a picture of herself? This is the kind of thing that bugs me. I am used to the grammatical errors that seem to be in every single book I pick up lately (Do we not hire editors anymore people?) but random stuff like this is just ridiculous.

…….OK. Putting my soap box away…….

Back and forth Edwin and Vanhi continue to message. It seems like they can both close on this deal. Vanhi has a picture of Eleanor and her morning jogging schedule. Edwin decides to hang out in Vancouver for a while longer; not only for an alibi, but also because he needs to start getting used to his future home.

Vanhi preps a hypodermic with cocaine and ethanol, enough to get the job done. She starts staking out Eleanor’s morning jogging path, vowing to herself to take care of the problem the first clear chance she gets. She has a week to get it done and over with.

Beginning of “To Catch a Bad Guy” by Marie Astor

AngelaLeave a comment

This book seems like it is going to be a fun read. I have to say though, I did read a sentence that made me cringe.

“Her shoulder length blond hair was flowing down her back.”

Huh? How could she write this sentence, and how in the world did the editor miss it? LOL Anyhow, what I’ve gotten through so far….

Janet Maple-29 years old, a law-degreed professional, about to start a new job working for her high school best friend, Lisa Foley, the “Queen B” as Janet puts it. A downsizing at the District Attorney’s office became known to Lisa, who called and offered Janet a job just as she was losing hope.

Enjoying her new office, and her new raise, she is on the job a few minutes when Lisa lets her know they are having a business meeting with a man who she may be interested in. (Lisa was always controlling, and apparently she still is). Tom Wyman is his name, and as she tells herself she will not date this man, she finds him appealing just the same.

We briefly meet Dennis Walker, disguising himself as a computer ”geek” (his words, not mine!) to start working an investigation case involving Bostoff Securities. (I wonder what that’s about?). As Janet meets him while he is sitting at her desk the next morning, he introduces himself as Dean Snider, IT Analyst.

As Janet learns the in-and-outs of Bostoff from Tom, who is a legal counsel for Bostoff as well, she is uneasy about the fact that all transactions are taken care of in off-shore accounts. Tom telling her it is all completely legitimate does not ease her mind.

We go back to Dennis/Dean, who bugged all the necessary computers, and is watching as live data is being fed to Treasury office computers. He is looking for a money laundering scheme, and he is looking at Bostoff.

Janet remains uncomfortable, and goes to Lisa’s office, asking about the structure of the company. Lisa tells her to not worry about it, Tom does all the work, and they are basically there for appearance sake. Oh. And Lisa’s mom called Janet’s mom. That is why she now has a job. Yes. Janet is furious. It seems like Lisa is just as clueless about what is likely going on at the company as Janet. (At this point, I am saying that Tom is knee-deep in this mess, orchestrating it from behind the scenes).

Not being one to sit around and do nothing, Janet is determined to learn everything she can about Bostoff. (Nothing bad can come of that, right?) After meeting the powers-that-be, we sit in on a conversation where they are not happy with the new hire, and what if she is a whistle-blower? Hmmm.

There is some background information on the Bostoff family and where they came from, but nothing that I think is going to have any bearing on the story. If it does, I will fill you in!