Mary J. McCoy-Dressel

Hello everyone. I’ve been neglectful of posting on my blog, and I apologize for not getting around to yours, either. I do miss visiting with you. I’m making my appearance on Facebook and Twitter to stay updated. Yes, I’m still here, but my blog is lonely. Remember, at the end of 2017 one of the writing topics for the 52-Week Blog Challenge was about resolutions. One of my writing goals mentioned a major revision on two books. I’m deep into this as we speak. #LifeGoesOn

In other words, I’m consumed with this project and working long hours each day—ten to twelve hours while arguing with my muse at night to put down her lariat and go to sleep.

I’m not only revising one book, but two, because Nora and Tristan had two books.

Why would I do this to myself? When I finish my revisions, this will be one complete book where part of the first book will flow into the second book as one complete story.

Part of one book you ask? This was the culprit keeping me awake at night, but after two weeks, I figured it out. The books are Cowboy Boss and his Destiny and Tristan’s Destiny, Double Dutch Ranch Series: Love at First Sight. I’ve deleted over 90K words from Cowboy Boss and his Destiny #1  and a little from Tristan’s Destiny #1.5. Take that, book pirates!

Cowboy Boss will never be the same book as it is now, and in fact, I’m getting ready to pull these two books from publication until the revision is finished, reedited, and formatted. It’ll be fine for new readers to begin the series with Heartbreak’s Reward, book #2 in the series or Whispers of Forever, book #1 in the spin off series.

Does this sound easy? I hope you said no. It is not easy.

Another reason for doing this is because I have learned so much and come a long way since I wrote Cowboy Boss. This book no longer reflects the other books in my series, nor does it reflect my writing of today. Therefore, this no longer fits as my series starter. So, yes, I’m doing this major revision for my future. Am I taking a chance by doing this? Yes. Am I hesitant about doing this? No. (not any more.) Am I scared about doing this? Terrified.

If you’re a writer, you’ve probably heard that writing is a marathon not a sprint. Consider this another mile in my marathon. #WritersLife

Oh, woe is me… The life of a writer. Oh, for joy… The life of a writer!

Cowboy Boss and his Destiny had originally been written as a standalone happy-go-lucky holiday story. It never turned out to be a holiday story or a single-title book. When I first wrote the book, I knew about half way through, this would start a series. Sure, it is a happy-go-lucky love story, but…

A reviewer called it a Hallmark movie with sex. However, the comment wasn’t meant to be positive. This book has its lovers and haters. (Read my Open Door Closed Door post.) To add some angst and more emotion and conflict to Nora and Tristan’s life, I gave them book 1.5, which will be added to the new version of Cowboy Boss as a complete story that flows together as one. LESS than a fourth of Cowboy Boss readers are reading book 1.5, anyway, but a lot of that book was necessary to further the series.

I’ve saved around 10K of Cowboy Boss before it blends into the new version where Tristan and Nora’s bond is put to the test and takes my characters on a more dramatic journey in this new version of Cowboy Boss and his Destiny, #1.

There are many dilemmas facing me as I decide how to publish this BRAND-NEW version:

• Will this new version be a 2nd edition? If this is a 2nd edition, the original versions will remain with reviews intact.
• Will I delete the original 1st editions and start all over? Will retailers allow me to do this? I want the original versions to disappear.
• Will I re-upload this over the original book #1 then delete or unpublish the original book #1.5, which doesn’t show up in my series, anyway? Regardless, book 1.5 will go away one way or another. Of course, the reviews will go with it, and this book gets the best reviews. I’ve saved them.

While I’m on the subject of reviews: Reviews help tell readers, someone is at least reading the book. No reviews make it look like the book is just sitting there unread. Who wants to take a chance on that book?

Whoops, I digressed from the topic here—revising books.

I hear a lot about upcoming or new authors not wanting to self-publish. I get where you’re coming from. I had to make that choice once.

Making a revision like this to benefit my writing career would never be possible if I hadn’t published these two books myself. Nor would I be able to change the cover or pick the images for all my covers, especially my handsome heroes. I love having this control over my own books.

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My next dilemma here is to change or not to change the cover. With this story now being so different, I think it deserves a new cover. Update: I changed the cover and it was the right decision!

If you’ve read this far, thank you for sticking around. I must be making up for lost time with all these words.

Have any of you published a 2nd edition? If so, what became of the 1st Edition? I don’t think Amazon will let us kill off the first edition if we publish a 2nd edition. In fact, I’m sure they don’t pull a first edition, and the upside to this is to have reviews available, albeit, new reviews will have to be garnered for the 2nd edition. I plan on finding out before I make a decision.

The entire series to date:

 

There it is, folks. I laid it on the line, and I’m hoping for the best.

Super Bowl friends, enjoy the game!

See y’all when I see ya. Miss you.  ❤