It's after midnight, and my best friend, Renee', is at her house reading a chapter of my current manuscript.  She reads each chapter after I complete it and lets me know if I'm keeping on course, holding her interest, and she edits grammar.  Bless her heart for doing this so late at night, taking time after her own busy day.  It got me to thinking about all the things that happen before a book ever hits the shelves.  And it goes something like this:

1.    Characters jump into Beth's head and introduce themselves.
2.    A plot takes shape.
3.    Beth gets to work.
4.    Renee' reads behind Beth, each chapter after she finishes.
5.    Amish friends answer questions.  Any expert authorities offer input.
6.    Characters REALLY get going by about Chapter 3, telling Beth all their little quirks, secrets, desires, etc.
7.    Research is ongoing.
8.    Then at some point...characters take over and the book writes itself.
9.    Beth goes back and addresses plot issues, checks time lines, general cleanup.
10.  Then does it again!
11.  Manuscript is sent to Lancaster County to be read by Amish friends.
12.  My mom reads it!  She can catch typos that everyone else misses!
13.  If expert authority was used, manuscript is sent to him/her to be read.
14.  Manuscript goes to main editor at publisher, and she reads it.
15.  Then freelance editor reads it.
16.  Substansive edit begins.
17.  Round of revisions for Beth!
18.  Amish friends/expert advise.
19.  Sometimes, a second round of revisions.
20.  Freelance editor does line edit and sends to publishing editor.
21.  Publisher has manuscript proof read by several people.
22.  Galleys come back to me for review.
23.  Then my husband reads it and usually find something we all missed.  He's so good!

I'm pretty sure I've missed several steps, but you get the picture.  And, in addition to all this, there are sales and marketing people preparing to sell the book before it's even finished.  People are working on the cover.  It takes a lot of combined talent from a lot of people to turn a manuscript into a book - beginning with those first editors who see the manuscript in it's rawest form, like Renee' and my mother.  I have a fabulous editor at Thomas Nelson who turns what I believe to be a good book into something even better.  There are tons of people behind the scene that most people will never hear about. 

I know my friend, Renee', is exhausted.  But, it's now 12:30 and she's still reading the chapter.  She'll call me when she's done because she knows I "need" her to push me forward.  Now, that's a friend.  My best friend.  And I know my other friend, Rene (different spelling, different person), is reading this and going "what about me?"  She helps me too!  And she is getting ready to be really busy reading behind me on my next project!  She's also spent LONG hours editing for me right up until my deadline. 

Hope everyone is having a joyous holiday season!