The good news—I have a keyboard and the problem had not corrupted any data.
The bad news—I got to work on the Intruder galleys again and realized when I read a sentence I NEVER would have written that the copyeditor had seriously messed with the text—
Jane, bless her, figured how to get a PDF converted to a Word Perfect file (using ‘copy’ and notepad, I think) and we were thus able to run compare-write to see what damage had been done: universal, pernicious, information-changing, conversion of Cajeiri’s ‘tone’ to Business English, meddling with Bren’s ‘voice’, and changing the political outlines of the aishidi’tat by deciding to capitalize things and make them districts, changing the word ‘clan’ to district, and those are only small samples of what this person did on every single page.
Betsy Wollheim, bless her, is horrified, and will stand behind my corrections, but I now have 241 singlespaced pages to go through and view all the corrections (red ink) that number about 8 per page, and sometimes involve having to rethink the politics involved, or to recall why I made a particular word choice — and I know, or I would have used some other word—and do things that just play hob with my concentration on the current book. You all know what a hellish time I have had this year getting this book going, and why—and I had FINALLY gotten on a roll—
Now this. I could spit nails.
Does this copy editor know you have legions of fans who are eagerly awaiting Intruder? If this delays the publication, many of will be filing Intent!!
Oops – “many of us” …guess I need a copy editor.
‘Sidi-ji might suggest sending a ‘thank you’ gift of high alkaloid tea to the copy editor!
Horribly unprofessional, but I hope the c/e gets well from whatever mental illness caused her to hallucinate your ms into a non-fiction book.
I am glad that your editor and publisher are on your side. Although, that does not surprise me; the really good publishers are good for a reason. Many reasons. I’ve heard lots of nice stories about DAW and its publishing and editorial staff.
Mistakes happen. This one was monumental, but hopefully can be worked out without too much more drama.
Many hugs to you. Also a large pot of gfi, and a bottle of whatever liquor you prefer.
Hawke: Considering how often vodka-and-orange show up in her writings, how could you not think to offer her that? 🙂 But just one glass, CJ, we need you to stay sharp. :cheers: