Dear Author

We still don’t have a cover for Ship of Souls, which is frustrating, but I just went through the line edits and really appreciated how thorough yet practical “Emily” was. Here are some of the remarks from her editorial letter, which was only a page and a half:

Overview

This manuscript contains a lot of value within a relatively small number of pages. There are adventure, budding romance, history, and messages about religious and racial tolerance and healing, as well as true friendship. The only edits necessary were consistency of format or punctuation, which I have detailed below.

Structure/Plot Flow

The scope of this book is incredible. It not only informs readers about the history of the Revolutionary War but also about the African Burial Ground, and it ties in the tragedy at Ground Zero.

Characterization

The characters in this book are quite unique—real people, each with his or her complexities. The characters convey important messages in a way that readers understand: how teamwork and sticking together can change the outcome of a difficult situation, and that everyone wants respect, compassion, and friendship. The fact that D, Keem, and Nyla are young but capable of accomplishing so much is sure to be inspiring to readers.

You also introduce elements of everyone’s home life that are not resolved when the book ends: Keem’s strict father, Nyla’s stepmother’s gambling issues, and D’s difficulty being himself with Mrs. Martin and the challenge of a new baby. This is true of real life, where problems and conflicts do not go away overnight, and it also suggests the possibility of a sequel.

I hope these edits and comments are valuable in helping the manuscript achieve your publishing goals. Good luck in your revision, and I wish you all the best for this manuscript and future books.

—Emily, Editor

Emily, you’re my kind of editor…