• Managing files and photographs is making you lose your mind. Make a Dropbox for each book chapter and place a copy of the master Word doc and copies of any potential photos in it. Copy the exact photo file names( big _ plant _ 365. jpg) into the docs where they go so that it is easy, once the manuscript is in production, for the art department to find the photo.
Chapter files provide a place to store copies of potential photo candidates for chapters. If you’ re scrolling through photos for a different project but find one that could work for a book section, copy it into that chapter file. Murphy’ s law is that if you don’ t copy it over, you won’ t ever find it again when you need it.
• Your editor / contact is uncommunicative or sends you 12 separate emails about each chapter, for every chapter. Don’ t be scared to keep emailing or calling if you have a burning question or, conversely, to ask your editor to consolidate questions into a single email. Everyone wants the book to get done and if you’ re going to forget things if they come in 12 emails, say so. I repeat: The burden of communication is on you. If you ask a question and it isn’ t answered, press on with writing and keep trying to get in touch with the editor.
• You’ re going to miss your deadline. Stay in close contact with your editor during the last month or so before your deadline. Let them know what you’ ve written, what’ s left and if you think you’ re going to miss the deadline and by how much.
In extreme cases where you are up against a hard deadline and still have a lot to write, you might consider bringing in a ghostwriter to help you. I have pinch hit for people and hired fellow GWA members to help me finish my books by checking plant names or writing glossary entries.
IT’ LL ALL WORK OUT
Eventually the book will get done. Remember: You and your publisher are partners and you both want a quality finished product. Except in extreme cases, they are not going to fire you and make you give back your advance. Remain professional, don’ t make excuses and stay in contact with your editor if you have an emergency. Procrastination does not count. Neither do holidays, plans to move, vacations or other pre-scheduled events that will make you late.
Katie Elzer-Peters is a writer, book packager, and marketer in the horticulture industry. She loves reading, running, and electronic dance music. Connect with her at www. thegardenofwords. com.
HOTOFF the press
— Continued from page 7
detailed descriptions and accessible science. Holm, an environmental educator and research assistant, brings to light captivating information about bees’ life cycles, habitats, diet, foraging behaviors, crops they pollinate, nesting lifestyles, seasonality and preferred native forage plants.
• • •
Jan Johnsen The Spirit of Stone: 101 Practical & Creative Stonescaping Ideas for Your Garden St. Lynn’ s Press 192 pages, $ 21.95 Published February 2017
In The Spirit of Stone, awardwinning designer Jan Johnsen presents a richly photographed, authoritative guide to creative and practical uses for stone in the landscape: Steps, paths, garden walls, dry streams, benches, rock gardens, driveways and more. Stone’ s practicality is especially and appreciated by homeowners concerned with low maintenance, sustainability and water conservation, with the side benefit of enhancing property value. The Spirit of Stone is an essential idea book and how-to for designers, stonemasons, builders, homeowners and DIYers.
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Mary-Kate Mackey Write Better Right Now— The Reluctant Writer’ s Guide to Confident Communication and Self-assured Style Career Press 224 pages, $ 15.95 Published December 26, 2016
This is the writing book that bridges the gap between what you know and how you want to say it. Write Better Right Now deconstructs the writing process with practical tips, fast shortcuts and handy summations. This quick read is based on Mary-Kate’ s 14 years of teaching at the University of Oregon’ s School of Journalism and Communication and her numerous writing presentations for GWA meetings.
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Jacqueline Soule Arizona, Nevada & New Mexico Month by Month Gardening: What to do Each Month to Have a Beautiful Garden All Year Cool Springs Press 216 pages, $ 24.99 Published December 1, 2016
Given the vast garden styles and plant preferences that pepper the Southwest, Soule set out to produce a monthby-month garden guide that offers the best for Southwest gardens. Arizona, Nevada & New Mexico Month by Month Gardening includes all the specifics on growing annual and perennial flowers, bulbs, edibles, roses, groundcovers, shrubs and vines throughout the year— including a section on water gardens.
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Writer’ s Robin Stockwell Confident
Succulents: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing, Designing, and Mary-Kate
_
Mackey
Growing 200 Easy Care Plants Oxmoor House 288 pages, $ 24.95 Published January 2017
WRITE
RIGHT
BETTER
NOW
The Reluctant to
Guide
Communication
Self-Assured Style
SUCCULENTS
The Ultimate Guide to Choosing, Designing, and Growing 200 Easy-Care Plants
ROBIN STOCKWELL
Readers will find inspiration for imaginative and exciting new ways to use succulents in striking garden designs, containers, vertical walls, indoor arrangements as well as step-by-step projects like bridal bouquets and terrarium displays. Replete with color photography and details throughout, Succulents will impart fans with important information, such as how big a certain plant grows, when it blooms, plus its water and exposure needs.
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