The Boston Girl
It’s done. The Boston Girl, my fifth novel and twelfth book, has been submitted, accepted and copyedited. Publication date: December 9, 2014.
Addie starts the story in 1915 when she is fifteen years old and the world begins to open up to her, the daughter of immigrants who live in Boston’s polyglot North End. The 1910s and ’20s were a fascinating period: short skirts, movies and new opportunities for women.
I sent the copyedited manuscript to New York on June 26, which turned into a bit of a drama when the mailroom lost it. This was a big deal because copyediting is done the old fashioned way: pencil on paper. The wonderful Laura who worked on my book was meticulous and thoughtful and saved my credibility a lot. Then I wrote responses to her comments. Hundreds of hours of work hung in the balance.
But lo! I had made a copy of the marked up text – something I had never done before — so all was not lost. And then they found the original in a warehouse somewhere.
Sheesh. And then, whew. No harm no foul and it’s off to the typesetter.
A week later and I’ve I cleaned my desk. I filed some files. I have put new liners down in the kitchen cabinets. I’m having lunch with friends I neglected in the marathon to finish the book. I’m back to yoga twice a week. I’m cooking.
I have started reading three books, hoping to be swept away but it hasn’t happened because I’m so fidgety. In truth, I’m adrift. I don’t really want to start something new but empty hands make me nervous.
People ask if this is like having post-partum blues, and even though there are similarities I always say no. With a book, you push hard the last few months and then you give it away, wait for someone to tell you whether or not it’s viable, and you don’t see it again for several weeks. When you get it back, there are questions and corrections all over it. And then you send it back again. And by the time readers start cooing over the brand new arrival (I hope), I no longer remember the names of some of the minor characters.
This is not a plea for help so please, do not make suggestions for my next novel. It doesn’t work that way. Actually, I have no idea how it works. It’s a mystery. *
And I’m trying to be okay with that.
*March 17 blog post, “Finishing the hat.”
I can’t wait to read it!!!
Congrats! i want to be one of the early ones to read it, review it and interview the author on Jewish radio at Shirim in Worcester! And one day soon play drums for you!
I’m puzzled too by the photo used on the cover of my American version. At the end of the book, it’s said that there was a photo taken of the women. From the narrative, one would assume that the photo showed the faces of the key characters and that they were the only ones in the photo. Yet the cover photo for the book shows the backs of three and the faces of three. Did I misunderstand?
Anita, I was very happy to read recently that “tent” will be a movie. I read it when it first came out. And I am glad to see you are publishing The Boston Girl as well. I knew you when…RESOLVE, Harvard School of Public Health, and other obligations put us together. Wishing you very well. Bev Freeman, Boston
I just finished reading Boston Girl. I LOVED it. I am 88 yrs. old, having been born and
brought up in Boston. We retired to Cape Cod in 1980, and loved that. When I became
a widow my daughter insisted that I come to live near her in Freeport, Illinois! What a
change. I miss my friends and miss the ocean. So I pick up any book about Massachusetts that I can. But your book has kept me so happy for a week. I hated to
have it end. I have been to all the places you mentioned so it was like a trip home.
Thank you again for such joy. Eleanor