When We Were 21

I had hoped to have the electronic version of A Rose for Sergei available by now.  My editor-daughter did warn me about all the time involved with writing/editing/publishing.  It is definitely taking a lot longer than I ever imagined.  I was advised by a few experienced authors to make sure I had several people proofread my manuscript before publishing.  I needed different people to check for specific items:  typos, dates, formatting, flow, continuity, etc.

I realize that asking someone to proofread an entire book is a huge undertaking.  My friend and former co-worker, Suzanna accepted the challenge.  After all, she was the one who kept telling me that I needed to write about Sergei.  She was an excellent choice—we often proofed each other’s papers at work.  I asked her to check my formatting and look for any misspelled words, and then I didn’t hear back from her for several weeks.  I started to get worried.  Uh-ohhh, I thought.  Problems?  I was relieved when I finally got an e-mail.

Anyway,

I finished your book a couple of nights ago and then have thought about it for a few nights.  I think your book shows Sergei in such a lovely light.  What a kind, caring person he was—how much he changed.  I think you accomplished your goal by coming across how you must have been at 21.  Young and feeling like nothing bad ever happens to anyone . . . .  It speaks to every young person’s take on life.  How they think everyone lives forever.  I didn’t cry . . . because I knew what was coming, but your reaction to his death came across as raw and emotional—it has stuck with me.  Also, I appreciate all of the references to the time period.  It was a neat insight into how men and women treated each other, bosses and secretaries, etc.

When I started the book, I was set on looking for formatting errors.  I found just a couple of small things.  As I became engrossed in your story, I forgot to look for errors!

Not to worry, I thought.  I do have other proofreaders.  The fact that Suzanna was so absorbed in my story that she forgot everything else was actually good news.  I could not have asked for a better book review.