Midnyte Reader: Guest Post by N.P. Grittiths

There are very few things guaranteed to darken a writer’s day more than the knowledge that they are about to start editing their work. It’s a necessary evil but one that can be made, if not painless, then certainly less migraine inducing.

Editing should be a law of diminishing returns (Stephen King says that the second draft should be the first draft less 10%) so don’t be surprised to find yourself putting a red line through whole sections of text. This is a good thing (although I can guarantee you it won’t feel that way) because it means that you’re developing a much tighter idea for the stories prose.

From the viewpoint of how long you should leave it between drafts, I always do three months. This allows me to get some distance and perspective on what I’ve written. A month would probably serve the same purpose but I certainly wouldn’t recommend anything less than that.

Once you feel happy with the manuscript, then pass it across to someone to read and critique. I would recommend getting someone professional to do this if you can afford it. Getting a friend to look at it will only end in tears. It’s tempting to want to do this but you need an unbiased opinion. Friends are not unbiased and they are far more likely to be nice than honest. Also, be prepared for the criticism that will come back with the response. Remember it’s not personal (but it’ll hurt nonetheless). Once you’ve read it, put it away, go scream in to a pillow (we’ve all been there), and then leave it for however long you give yourself between drafts. When you go back you’ll be grateful for the honesty, believe me.

After that, it’s all down to you. Is your pride and joy ready for the wide world? If the answer is yes, then you’re good to go. If it’s no then, not a problem, just repeat the process until you are happy.

Like I said, editing is a necessary evil but if you take your time and are willing to be brutally honest with yourself, it will transform your work from a rough draft into a finished article.

Isabella’s Heiress by N.P. Griffiths

Lost in the hollow shade of a phantom London, the reincarnation of an ancient hero fights for survival amidst warring factions of angels vying for dominion over the departed souls of all mankind.
“She is here now. She has come. The prophesied one.”
British attorney Emma Elliott has no recollection of how she came to be in a
silent, misty maze of cold pavements and towering buildings. More disturbingly, she doesn’t know how she came to meet this strange man now leading her swiftly through these darkened streets on an urgent, yet eerily solemn quest for shelter. The truth is brutal: Emma comes to the shocking realization that she has been killed in a freak road traffic accident and is now in the afterlife. Roaming the twilight version of London, Emma discovers her new world is ruled over by two groups of angels, one of which, the Cado Angelus, are disturbed fallen creatures who believe they have a divine right to rule the world. Emma finds herself drawn into an ancient conflict, the outcome of which will determine the
future of every human soul.
Joining forces with Father Eamon, a priest and her guide in this strange new world, and Taryn, her childhood best friend with whom she has been reunited in death, Emma must realize her full potential as a powerful spirit and work on behalf of the benevolent angels who have long kept their dark and tyrannical counterparts at bay. If she can harness her own hidden strength and reach her father, who remains in the living world, for the answers she has been charged to find, Emma may also have a chance of figuring out who she is. Could Emma be the reincarnation of Isabella Calabria, the only person in history to have ever taken a human stand against the divine? Could Emma Elliott be Isabella’s heiress?
In this unique and captivating supernatural thriller, N.P. Griffiths conjures a chilling image of London as an ageless purgatory home to the countless souls of mankind’s fallen. Isabella’s Heiress explores themes of redemption and forgiveness as one woman desperately tries to silence the demons of her past while wrestling with the present. A haunting and intricate tale for all reading ages with a strong and enchanting female protagonist, fans of George R.R. Martin, and Stephen King will lose themselves in N.P. Griffiths’ singular fusion of escapist fantasy and gritty European history.
About the author: N.P. Griffiths lives in Chafford Hundred, Essex, where he writes steadily and works for a large company specializing in information technology. He is currently writing the next book in the Isabella’s Heiress series. Isabella’s Heiress by N.P. Griffiths (published by Clink Street Publishing, RRP $14.99 paperback, RRP $6.99ebook) is available online at retailers including amazon.com and can be ordered from all good bookstores.
For a review copy or interview request please contact:
Diana Rissetto, Marketing and Publicity Executive / 646-664-4272 / diana@authoright.com