Back in January, six years after THE TRAZ was released, I
deemed it ready for a makeover. This thrilling crime novel was not only the
first is my BackTracker series, but my debut novel—the first book of mine ever
published.
Ah, the thrill of holding that paperback in my hands, seeing
my name on the cover, inhaling the intoxicating smell of its freshly-printed pages.
The sound when I riffled the pages.
After publishing THE TRAZ, I went on to publish FATAL ERROR
Book 2, FIREWALLS Book 3, and OPERATION MAXTRACKER Book 4 and SHADOW RIDERS, a
novel that runs parallel to my series. Also during this time, WolfSinger
Publications out of Colorado published my two science fiction novellas,
SCHRODINGER’S CAT and DISPASSIONATE LIES.
My experience as a writer expanded and my writing abilities,
bloomed. Although never embarrassed by those earlier releases, I had an intense
desire to revisit them, improve them, and make my series more cohesive from
start to end.
I spent 2017 doing just that and have now completed the
exercise. The second editions of both THE TRAZ and FATAL ERROR are now on the
market in both ebook and paperback formats. Doing the revisions was a lengthy
and difficult, but passionate exercise, topped with the skilled editing help from
Elaine Denning and stunning new covers by Cathy over at Avalon Graphics.
Although the first edition of FATAL ERROR is no longer
available for purchase, the first edition of THE TRAZ is. I suggest aspiring
novelists may want to purchase both books and compare them to see firsthand the
difference powerful, skilled, keenly-edited writing can make to a story.
Right off the top (after noticing the new cover), readers will
see the difference a powerful opening page makes. CHAPTER I of the second
edition of THE TRAZ effectively introduces not only the novel but the series.
It creates a glorious sense of suspense that doesn’t ease until the final
chapter. It’s full of danger, anticipation, and fear.
This scene came to me in a dream and is what started me
writing this series. Every night, it appeared to me, but would never advance.
The vision would end before I knew who that young girl on the ridge was, what
she was doing, and what danger pulsed through the scene.
Because of the difficulties of starting a series in the
middle of a drama, which is where this scene takes place, editorial decisions
led to cutting that initial scene. The power it had over me, however, was never
forgotten.
By comparing the two editions of THE TRAZ, you can decide
for yourself how effective that change to the opening chapter is, as well as
examine the effect other revisions have on the novel.
If you have purchased FATAL ERROR in the past, you can get
the re-release and compare those two books as well.
If you have any comments or suggestions on the revisions, I’d
love to hear from you!
New and Improved has been brought to you by the BackTracker series.
Web site: http://www.eileenschuh.com
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