An Ominous Addendum
I just got a note from my editor’s assistant at Norton… “Susan, a heads up that first pass (gigantic) will arrive with you tomorrow.” This will be my first look at the [...]
The proper temperature at which to scald a chicken (and other matters).
My photo-chronicle of the Great Chicken Plucking seems to have raised a burning question in dozens of minds: what is the proper temperature at which to scald a chicken? The answer, according to [...]
Vancouver, that author questionnaire (again), and the book goes to composition
This week’s update comes from Surrey, British Columbia, just south of Vancouver; my mother was supposed to lecture at an education conference here, but a family emergency kept her home, so [...]
Design decision: timelines
I had an email today from Morgen, my editor’s assistant at W. W. Norton, asking my opinion over the design of the time lines for the end of each chapter. The book designer has sent along [...]
It’s ba-a-ack, redux
Yesterday, without warning, a HUGE cardboard box arrived on the porch, courtesy of the FedEx man (who has not been warned about the existence of the omnivorous beagle). Yes, the copy-edited [...]
The cover! It’s on Amazon! It’s real!
Today, the book showed up on Amazon for the first time! It’s so early in the process that there’s not much information on the page yet, but go visit it anyway: History of the Ancient [...]
In search of expert readers (and the spring crop of baby chicks–)
The maps have gone, and illustrations are going this week–I’m just waiting on one last image, of the Midas Monument, which I had to buy from Corbis. (For $425. They’re the [...]
A multitude of details and duties
The news of the weekend: Sarah Dunning Park, my wonderful map-artist, has finished all 99 maps. I’ll be sending the hard copies on to Norton for copyediting next week, after which [...]
Time lines and captions in the mail…and a medieval side-trip…
I did it! 83 revised time lines, copy, captions, and credits for all pictures, and a list of maps and illustrations all went to Norton at the end of last week. I need to get the images themselves [...]
Copyediting and permissions–and deadlines
I am happy to report that Art Resource, a company that handles the licenses for thousands of different kinds of images, has given me a great deal on most of the illustrations I need. [...]
Gasping and clutching my chest
Looks like Bruce Nelson won the poll below in a landslide. Thanks. Now for news from the annoying-details-of-production front. I have FINISHED, yes, finished, drawing all the maps, and have [...]
Negotiating the permissions maze
I’m almost done with the maps (only fifteen left to draw), and I’m bracing myself to face the permissions nightmare. The Norton guidelines for clearing permissions say that every [...]