Now I'll bet you've been wondering something ever since I introduced this saga on Day 1 and said my book has 60 authors. Is it really possible to write a novel by committee?

Well, that's the part I knew would work itself out in the course of this project. I confess I have always really hated group work. But I enjoy having my work criticized (I'm serious, I really do), and I love communicating with readers. So while I knew the writing itself would need to be done by me, pretty much in the same isolated way as always, I also wanted to give my Partners real ways to get involved with helping me make the book better.

At the outset, I published sample chapters on my website and asked the Partners for their feedback. I posed very specific questions to determine whether my Roican world--my newly invented race of blood-drinking, immortal beings--was coming across as too complicated, or if it was interesting and engaging. I asked questions to see how readers were reacting to the main characters, to the mood, to the story line as it was introduced. I inquired about the pacing, the ratio of action to dialogue to description, and so on.

All this input really helped me to make certain improvements in the writing. But that was only the beginning!

Seeing as I didn't want to put the entire book up on the web, I needed to find a smaller group of volunteers who were willing to contribute the time to read the whole manuscript and critique it to the best of their ability. Much to my delight, six women stepped forward to accept this challenge. Among them there was a reviewer, another author, an aspiring editor, even a woman for whom English was her second language!

I was absolutely stunned at how much effort these Reader Partners put into helping me with the book. Four of them actually went through every page, sending specific edits and comments that went a long way to improve the writing. I was amazed at the talent of these ladies! And it all made me even more eager to make this book fantastic.

As the writing proceeded, I reached a bit of an impasse concerning a key choice in the plot. It was time to hold another survey for the full team of 60-plus, to help me make the decision. Seeing as it would drastically effect the end of the book as well as the contents of any sequel, I needed to be sure to take the correct fork in the road, as it were. As usual, the Partners gave me very clear and insightful guidance, and I followed their recommendation gladly.

I also had one Advance Reader who uncovered a couple of serious flaws in the heroine herself. Oh horrors! Much discussion about these problems resulted in my writing several additional passages and editing others, and the effect on the overall book was tremendous. What a relief that this reader found the flaws I completely missed!

So, while I can't claim that 60 people hit the keys to type the words you will read in Bloodchained, the input and direction of these Partners undeniably determined what the book will be when it goes to print. And meanwhile, they are contributing in another, just as important way. To find out what that is...and I know you want to know...tune in tomorrow for Part 6 of "About Bloodchained"!

Link to part 6
Link to part 4