The Black Cat monthly round-up: July 2022

August 5, 2022 By Hannah McCall in Monthly round-up Tags: books, editing, fiction, July, proofreading Leave a comment

We had a heatwave in the UK and I was yet again grateful that I invested in a portable air-conditioning unit a few years ago. It’s only useful for two to three days a year (although that will change, I am sure), but it’s still money well spent. There’s no way I could proofread accurately in temperatures around and above 40°C.

What I’ve been working on

I finished off the psychological thriller critique I started in June, alongside the proofread of a YA fantasy novel. I moved on to the copy-edit of a satirical crime thriller by an author I have had the pleasure of working with before. I also had a memoir to proofread for one of my publisher clients – I find I enjoy proofreading the occasional bit of non-fiction, as long as it doesn’t come with an extensive reference list or lots of footnotes. Which is just as well, as this was followed by another memoir, and I’ll complete that in early August.

What I read for fun

I managed to fit in one for-fun read in July. I’d had The House in the Cerulean Sea on my TBR list for some time. I wanted something relatively soft and gentle, and I think this book fits the bill. Throw in my favourite trope – found family – and I’m sold. It’s a lovely fantasy story, with sprinkles of wonderful humour and a touch of melancholy. It’s a tale about hope and love and acceptance, and I think we need more of those in the world.

The Black Cat monthly round-up: July 2021

August 3, 2021 By Hannah McCall in Monthly round-up Tags: copy-editing, editing, fiction, heatwave, July, proofreading, The Kingdoms, writing Leave a comment

July brought us a brief heatwave in the UK, and I can’t say that I enjoyed it. It’s one of very few things that make me miss working in an office – at least there was air-conditioning and I wasn’t constantly worried my computer was going to overheat/explode. I bought my own air-conditioning unit last year, and while it is a bit noisy and it takes up a bit of room, it was money well spent (even if it only sees use for a week every 12 months).

What I’ve been working on

I was back to a full-on schedule in July. I finished the critique I’d started in June and moved on to the critique of the second book in a fantasy series. I critiqued the first book in the series, so it’s wonderful to see how the story is going to progress and to see that the writing has taken such a huge step forward. I’ll be working on this one until mid-August. There was only one proofread for this month – a new novel from a client I work with a lot. It was an absolute pleasure, as usual. My two copy-edits were also for long-standing clients. I’m currently editing (it’s a beast of a book, so I will be working on it in August too) the last book in an epic fantasy series, and I will be very sad to see our collaboration come to an end. There are also some character deaths I’m trying not to take personally… The other copy-edit is a psychological thriller set in the 1980s, and once I have finished that edit, I’ll move on to the edit of a much longer novel by the same author.

What I read for fun

I finally managed to dedicate some time to reading The Kingdoms, and I absolutely loved it. Natasha Pulley is one of my favourite authors, and I admire her writing so much. It’s always so beautiful. I’ve seen some criticisms of The Kingdoms for being confusing, but I didn’t find it to be so. If you’ve read the author’s other works (The Watchmaker of Filigree Street, for example) it won’t be anything you aren’t prepared for. It’s a historical adventure novel with wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey elements. Enjoy the ride.

Looking ahead

I’ve been allowed to bring forward my appointment for the second dose of my COVID vaccine, which is very welcome. It means I will be fully vaccinated before I – and this is not a joke – go ghost hunting. My friend was owed a birthday outing and this is what he has decided he would like to do. I will be going to Oxford Castle for an overnight ghost-hunting adventure – a sentence I never thought I would write. My sister has already drawn the line at using a Ouija board; I’m wondering what the included snacks will be.

The Black Cat monthly round-up: July 2018

July 30, 2018 By Hannah McCall in Monthly round-up Tags: books, editing, English, July, proofreading, publishing, SfEP, writing Leave a comment

July has been a busy month, and the UK heatwave didn’t help productivity at Black Cat HQ. The tower fan and lots of ice cream have got us through.

The launch

Black Cat Editorial Services has been up and running for a week. The name and brand have been well received, and I am so very grateful for all the support that has been shown.

Things I’ve been working on

The monthly round-up_ July 2018(1) It’s been all books this July and all for publishing houses. I started the month with a proofread of a biography of an amateur runner, and then took on an epic work of fiction set during the English Civil War. It reminded me of one of the great strengths of fiction: it made that period feel real. It was no longer merely a series of conflicts that happened hundreds of years ago; it was a terrifying, almost tangible reality.

I finished July with the proofread of a lovely novel about an elderly gentleman who didn’t feel part of the world anymore. It was beautifully and thoughtfully written.

Local meeting

The SfEP West Surrey and North Hants local meeting took place in early July. We managed to nab an outside table at the Heron on the Lake in Fleet. It was a beautiful day, and a lovely lunch in good company. Discussion included our current projects and the merits, or otherwise, of the training courses we had undertaken. The next local meeting will be in September.

Looking ahead

No summer holiday for me this year. But August won’t just be for work: I’ve signed up for Future Learn’s Introduction to Linguistics course, which looks fascinating. My thanks go to Hugh Jackson for alerting me to its existence.