My next book, ‘Roisin’ is very nearly ready for publication, and ahead of time for once.  There were just two teensy details I wasn’t happy about: the beginning and the end.  OK, on reflection, that might be a bit fundamental and I’ve been conducting major surgery on what had been a completed work.

The beginning, was just too long.  It needed to say the same thing in fewer words, so I’ve spent hours tweaking it to make it snappier.  It’s now a full quarter shorter and a lot more readable as a result.

The last few pages of the final chapter though, have been transplanted into a totally different book.  They had included little Danielle Fauld’s first big scene, then ended on a cliff-hanger.  Dannie’s bit is really funny and then her sister, Sofie (a.k.a. Monster) drops a bombshell.  In my humble opinion, it was one of my all time best bits.  The trouble was, it just didn’t seem to fit.  In essence, the story had already finished and as a result the ending rather outstayed its welcome.  So it’s now going to be the beginning of another book called ‘Debbie’s Gift’ and what had been the cliff-hanger will now be the introduction to that book’s main story.

I think the result is a much better book, and all done without anaesthetic.