Today isn't any special sort of day, probably rather typical.
First thing I did today was finished a few things on my Launch notes for today's meeting. Usually I send these out the day before the meeting, but I didn't have all I needed yesterday from one of my authors, so I waited until this morning.
Then the launch meeting, for us, is THE MOST IMPORTANT meeting. It is here that we decide the title, reading line, series name, and cover direction. Midnight Ink launched two books today. (And two yesterday and two next week!) It takes me anywhere from an hour to a day to prep for these meetings. Today's meeting didn't run as smoothly as I wanted. One was the second in a series so that was definitely easier. The second book was a debut. It's harder because you want to get it right the first time. I tend to get very frustrated when other departments don't understand what I want or push back from it. I know part of it is just me wanting everything to look like I want it to, but another component is that sometimes I can't convey what it is I want. So today I left the meeting a bit frustrated. Ulitmately, it will be ok though. When the art department starts working on the cover, if it isn't right, we keep working on it. For some reason, some book covers are easy to do. The concept is clear when I am reading the manuscript. Sometimes it worse than pulling teeth. You tug and tug and tug (or think and think and think) and nothing comes.
When I returned to my desk, I had to read and approve some back cover copy routings. Then I needed to email my Fall 2016 authors about back cover copy for their books which I have to hand in next week. I answered a couple emails. Ate lunch. And started a manuscript that will be launched next week. And so far I don't have ideas for those.
Later this afternoon I have my bi-weekly meeting with my boss and then a meeting with the art department about selecting an illustrator for one of our new books.
And where am I falling behind? Sending out revision requests to authors, figuring out my 2017 schedule (which looks like I will only be acquiring a handful of manuscripts,) answering emails, and everything else I have forgotten. I don't know why but it feels like I keep falling further and further behind. I suspect I will never catch up.
Nose back to the manuscript now. I have to remember that I can only do one thing at a time. And my most important job is finding great books to publish for you all.
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