Posted on September 1, 2009 - by MG
Delivery Cupcakes for Joshua Files 4
Delivery Cupcakes for Joshua Files 4
You can tinker with a manuscript forever, but eventually you have to let go, let that first person read it. In my case it’s my husband and then my editor. And so far, for a good 9 months after I’ve delivered the ms, no-one else.
It’s kind of nice, actually. As an author, you totally own the story until people start reading it. It exists only in your mind. And eventually, to be read (hopefully, if you’re lucky!) Most of us write to be read, so that’s a really exciting point too. It will certainly improve with editing, will become more readable and more people will be able to enjoy it. But there’s also something special about the time during which the story is belongs only to the author.
To celebrate sending off the manuscript for Joshua 4, I made Red Velvet cupcakes from a recipe in my new Hummingbird Bakery Cookbook (from the famous Hummingbird American bakery on Portbobello Road in London). Amazing! So little butter and eggs! Such a lot of icing sugar! And I can haz incredible cupcakes freshly baked in my own home!
Now for the quick-witted among you I am going to give some Joshua 4 spoilers.
And tomorrow I will remove them right after my shower!
Google’s cache will still have it for a while but by the time anyone looks for Joshua 4 spoilers near to 2011, it will be long gone…
BIG SPOILERS WERE HERE UNTIL 10AM ON 1ST SEP BUT NOW ARE GONE!
Now – forget everything you just read!!!
MG Harris
Emailed from my BlackBerry®
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The MG Harris Blog
Website of MG Harris, author of the children's book series "The Joshua Files".Information for school visits and events.
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September 1, 2009
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Aaah, the pros of staying up late
Those cupcakes look AMAZING, i’m getting that cook book…now. I’m so hungry now.
Joshua 4 sounds interesting. Seems like there could be a slight change in tone. Looking forward to reading it, but first, Joshua 3, which doesn’t have a name yet?
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September 1, 2009
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Well spotted Lukas!
Yes, there’s a change in tone. I hope the tone starts to shift throughout Joshua 3 (which is called ZERO MOMENT). Instead of grieving for his dead father and sister, Josh starts to focus on something else, equally painful and perhaps more immediate. It’s all part of growing up…
Meanwhile the time-travel side of things will kick in, which has been very enjoyable for me to write. Muahaha. If life is dangerous for Josh in the present…the past is even more scary…
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September 4, 2009
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Tone changing, can be risky, but i’m sure you’ll make the transition perfectly =)
P.S got the hummingibrd bakery cookbook! Those pictures are soo….yum.
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September 4, 2009
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It’s a calculated risk Lukas. As you said yourself, where could I go after Ice Shock? Couldn’t repeat that plot structure. You only improve as a writer by taking risks. I set out to produce something that you can’t compare to Ice Shock because from the outset the tone is different…anyway, my publishers have just finished reading it and they were very happy…
You got the recipe book! I might make the chocolate cupcakes tomorrow. Put a photo on FB when you make something!
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September 5, 2009
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Of course, your right, it has to keep changing, nothing ever stays the same ey. I believe in you and that you will do well as an author and continuing to keep the Joshua Files fresh and exciting!
I just finished making the lemon cupcakes! The smell is amazing.
Likewise, tell me how your cake making goes!