So here’s my experience of receiving one hardcover copy of STILTSVILLE (and only the one I’ve received so far — my editor sent it out hot off the presses, and my contract copies will follow at a later date):

The package arrived. I opened it. Then I put the book high up on a shelf, and ignored it for twenty-four hours.

The toddler agrees with Booklist that Mama's book is "written with great delicacy and discretion"!

I can’t say why, exactly. After twenty-four hours, I started circling it like a buzzard, stealing sideways glances. Finally, I picked it up. I looked again at my weird author photo. I read the acknowledgments, tentatively.

On my next circle around, I picked it up again and read one paragraph from the middle of the book. OK, that wasn’t too painful. I actually kind of enjoyed it. Maybe I’ll read another . . .

Another twenty-four hours later, I’d read roughly fifty paragraphs, all chosen at random, and all while standing next to the bookshelf, ready to drop the book back into the shelf at any moment.

But, hey, this isn’t so bad! I thought. I actually like a few of these sentences. I’m not cringing at every turn of phrase — I actually think some of this reads pretty well! Sure, I’d change this word if I had another go at it, and I’d maybe drop this sentence, and maybe add something here to clarify meaning . . . But again, I’m not having tremors or running screaming from the book.

To my surprise, I was actually kind of enjoying the experience of reading random chunks of my novel.

Twenty-four hours later, I sat down on my living room sofa, the book in hand. My toddler son was shooting hoops on the back porch, my husband was making dinner. I opened the book at the very beginning, on the dedication page.

I read the title page, the blank pages, and the first page of the first chapter. Still not so bad. I sipped from my lemonade. I relaxed.

Then, my stomach dropped. There it was. What I’d been dreading, and what I knew — though I hoped against hope — I would eventually find.

A typo. And not deep into the novel, around page 200 or so, where it might be swept up into the momentum of the narrative. No, this typo is on page 9.

Let me say that I pride myself on being a pretty clean writer. Even my first drafts are pretty clean, though not perfect, of course. I have training as an editor, and still read with that eye for mistakes. But what I didn’t realize before going through the publishing process is that most of the typos in a book — and there are always typos in a book — are not made by the author, because the author’s mistakes are fixed early on by the slew of editors, proofreaders, and copyeditors who work on the manuscript when it’s at its roughest.

That’s not to place blame elsewhere, but rather to highlight how many times a book is read — and improved — before it’s published, and how many times fixes are made. And we all know what happens when we mark up a manuscript and then input our corrections — a few new little typos are made. And then those are fixed and a [much smaller] number of even newer typos are made. And then those are corrected, and so on.

The book must be get out the door sometime, after all.

I understand how it happens, and I am certain that the people who worked on it did much, much, much more good than harm. But still, I had to put the book down. I will probably pick it up again when that feeling that makes my stomach turn and my shoulders tighten and my face flush fades a little.

And really, it’s wonderful to finally have the finished product, even if it’s just going to sit on a shelf. It’s wonderful to put it in my toddler son’s lap and watch him point to the jacket photo and say, “Mama!”

“That’s right,” I tell him. “Mama’s book.”  Mama’s book. My book. And, truly, I couldn’t be more thrilled.

–Sd

The writer Leah Stewart has just announced a contest meant specifically for book clubs. Forty-eight writers — including me — have offered 10 copies of a book, and 4 book clubs will win enough books to keep them going for a year (12 books, 10 copies each). Winners will also have the option of having the author call in when the book is discussed.

I have some personal favorite authors on this list, including Miriam Gershow (THE LOCAL NEWS), Dean Bakopoulus (MY AMERICAN UNHAPPINESS, forthcoming), Julia Glass (I SEE YOU EVERYWHERE) and Benjamin Percy.

On the list you’ll find novels, memoirs, and story collections, several of which aren’t even out yet. Among the writers are award winners, bestsellers, and Oprah, Target, and IndieNext picks. Over the next several days Leah will be featuring them individually on her Facebook page. In the meantime, please look through the list below, check out the websites, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

The contest closes at 5 p.m. EST on Friday, July 2. There are three ways to enter, and you can use them all, (though please don’t use #1 or #3 more than once):

1) Comment on or like Leah’s post on Facebook.

2) Tweet or retweet info on our writers and the contest (you can use the link http://bit.ly/90QmVW). So that Leah can find your entry, be sure to include the hashtag, #yearofbooks.

3) Join the book club contest’s mailing list for information on future publications and promotions here.

You do not have to be in a book club to enter, although if you win it would certainly be a good time to start one. If you are in a book club, encourage other members to enter to increase your club’s chances of winning.

The books range from literary fiction to beach reads, and everything in between:

Husband and Wife, by Leah Stewart
@leahcstewart, http://www.leahstewart.com/

The House on Fortune Street, by Margot Livesey
http://www.margotlivesey.com/

The One That I Want, by Allison Winn Scotch
@aswinn, http://www.allisonwinn.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Allison-Winn-Scotch/49841196684?ref=ts

I See You Everywhere, by Julia Glass

Love in Mid Air, by Kim Wright
@kimwright, http://www.loveinmidair.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/LOVE-IN-MID-AIR-by-Kim-Wright/359234790765?ref=ts

Diamond Ruby, by Joseph Wallace
@joe_wallace, http://www.josephwallace.com/

Belong to Me, by Marisa de los Santos
http://www.marisadelossantos.com/
http://www.facebook.com/marisa.delossantos?ref=ts

Pictures of You, by Caroline Leavitt
@leavittnovelist, http://www.carolineleavitt.com/, http://carolineleavitt.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/carolineleavitt?ref=ts

Good Things I Wish You, by A. Manette Ansay
@amanetteansay, http://www.amanetteansay.com/

The Seamstress of Hollywood Boulevard, by Erin McGraw
http://www.erinmcgraw.com/

Girl Trouble, by Holly Goddard Jones
http://www.hollygoddardjones.com/, http://hollygoddardjones.blogspot.com/

Tunneling to the Center of the Earth, by Kevin Wilson
http://www.wilsonkevin.com/, http://wilsonkevin.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=4712089&ref=ts

Miles from Nowhere, by Nami Mun
http://milesfromnowherethenovel.wordpress.com/bio/

The Nobodies Album, by Carolyn Parkhurst
@CParkhurst1, http://www.carolynparkhurst.com/, http://www.octaviafrost.com/

Red Hook Road, by Ayelet Waldman
@ayeletwaldman, http://www.ayeletwaldman.com/
http://www.facebook.com/ayeletwaldman?ref=ts

Disaster Preparedness, by Heather Havrilesky
@hhavrilesky, http://www.rabbitblog.com/, http://www.salon.com/entertainment/tv/heather_havrilesky/index.html

Stiltsville, by Susanna Daniel
@susannadaniel, http://www.susannadaniel.com/

My American Unhappiness, by Dean Bakopoulos
http://www.deanbakopoulos.com/index.html
http://www.facebook.com/dean.bakopoulos?ref=ts

Sea Escape, by Lynne Griffin
@lynne_griffin, http://www.Family-Life-Stories.com/
http://www.facebook.com/LynneGriffin?ref=ts

Real Life & Liars, by Kristina Riggle
@krisriggle, http://www.kristinariggle.net/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Novels-of-Kristina-Riggle/250614105762?ref=search&sid=540474396.407354928..1

The First Husband, by Laura Dave
@lauradave, http://www.lauradave.com/

The Local News, by Miriam Gershow
@miriamgershow, http://www.miriamgershow.com/
http://artist.to/miriamgershow

Good Enough to Eat, by Stacey Ballis
http://www.thepolymathchronicles.blogspot.com/

Refresh, Refresh, by Benjamin Percy
http://www.benjaminpercy.com/

How to Sleep Alone in a King-Sized Bed, by Theo Nestor
@howtosleepalone, http://www.theopaulinenestor.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/How-to-Sleep-Alone-in-a-King-Size-Bed/226636320553?ref=ts

The Truth About Delilah Blue, by Tish Cohen
@tishcohen
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tish-Cohen/118720878150252

A Maze of Grace, by Trish Ryan
@trishryan, http://www.trishryanonline.com/

The Love Goddess’s Cooking School, by Melissa Senate
@melissasenate, http://www.melissasenate.com/
http://www.facebook.com/MelissaSenate

The Embers, by Hyatt Bass
@hyattbass, http://www.hyattbass.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hyatt-Bass/121019377925649?ref=ts

[TBA] by Jason Pinter
@jasonpinter, http://www.jasonpinter.com/, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jason-pinter/

The Last Will of Moira Leahy, by Therese Walsh
@theresewalsh, http://theresewalsh.com/, http://writerunboxed.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Therese-Walsh/135862286426942

Life After Yes, by Aidan Donnelley Rowley
http://ivyleagueinsecurities.com/
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000061574617

Not Ready for Mom Jeans, by Maureen Lipinski
@maureenlipinski, http://www.maureenlipinski.com/

After You, by Julie Buxbaum
@juliebux, http://www.juliebuxbaum.com/blog/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Julie-Buxbaum/119804978055852

The Lost Girls, by Amanda Pressner, Holly Corbett, & Jennifer Baggett
@lostgirlsworld, http://www.lostgirlsworld.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Lost-Girls/155815108248?ref=ts

Exley, by Brock Clarke
http://arsonistsguide.com/author-blog

The Seven Year Switch, by Claire Cook
@ClaireCookbooks, http://www.ClaireCook.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Claire-Cook/24954647610?ref=ts

Stay, by Allie Larkin
@AlliesAnswers, http://www.AllieLarkinWrites.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Allie-Larkin-Writes/116227021725680?ref=ts

Pieces of Happily Ever After, by Irene Zutell
@irenezutell, http://www.irenezutell.com/
http://www.facebook.com/irene.zutell?ref=ts

Pug Hill, by Alison Pace
@alisonpace, http://www.alisonpace.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alison-Pace/110942295604233?ref=mf

The Opposite of Me, Sarah Pekkanen
@sarahpekkanen, http://www.sarahpekkanen.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sarah-Pekkanen/215202723761?ref=mf

The Transformation of Things, by Jillian Cantor
@jilliancantor, http://www.jilliancantor.com/

Out of the Shadows, by Joanne Rendell
@joannerendell, http://www.joannerendell.com/

Love Stories in This Town, by Amanda Eyre Ward
@amandaeyreward, http://www.amandaward.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Amanda-Eyre-Ward/69247505328?ref=ts

Trophy, by Michael Griffith

Tethered, by Amy MacKinnon
@amymackinnon, http://www.amymackinnon.com/
http://www.facebook.com/amy.mackinnon1?ref=ts

The Language of Light, by Meg Waite Clayton
@megwaiteclayton, http://www.megwaiteclayton.com/
http://www.facebook.com/megwaiteclayton?ref=ts

Miss Me When I’m Gone, by Philip Stephens
http://www.philipstephensauthor.com/

I’ve just been forwarded an advanced copy of Booklist’s review of STILTSVILLE. It’s great! I’m so pleased. Here it is:

Frances Ellerby travels from Georgia to Miami for a wedding and meets the two people who will change her life. One is the glamorous, sexy Marse, a native of Miami, who introduces her to the two great loves of her life: her husband, Dennis, and the sun-drenched landscape of Biscayne Bay. The author’s organization of the story into seven sections, each of which recounts a seminal year in Miami history and Frances’ life, is a surprisingly successful technique for creating suspense in a book characterized by lushly descriptive and complex writing. The first-person narration provides a vivid look at the characters important to Frances as she becomes a deeply involved wife, mother, and friend. Perhaps the most important character in the story is the city of Miami, which always looms large in Frances’ consciousness until the bittersweet ending of her story—an ending that could have been melodramatic and maudlin but is written with great delicacy and discretion. This promising first novel will appeal to readers of family stories, literary fiction, and southern writing.

I’ve been anxiously awaiting Publishers Weekly’s review of STILTSVILLE, so I’m very pleased that it was so positive. I am pretty sure nothing about me has ever been called exquisite.

Stiltsville

Susanna Daniel, Harper, $24.99 (320p) ISBN 978-0-0619-6307-0

With its lush flora and constant sun, South Florida is the true star of Daniel’s exquisite debut, which follows a marriage over the course of 30 years. In 1969, having traveled from Atlanta to Miami for a college friend’s wedding, 26-year-old Frances Ellerby meets glamorous Miami native Marse Heiger, who introduces her to Dennis DuVal and his house on stilts in Biscayne Bay. Though Marse has set her cap for Dennis, he and Frances fall in love and marry within a year. “I had no idea then,” Frances says, “what would happen to my love, what nourishment it would receive, how mighty it would grow.” Dennis and Frances have a daughter, Margo, buy a house in Coral Gables, and their life together proceeds as a series of ups and downs, beautifully told from Frances’s pensive, sharp perspective. As the years pass and Miami changes, so do Frances, Dennis, and Margo, and the nuances of their relationships shift and realign, drawing inexorably toward a moving resolution. (Aug.)

What should a fiction writer sacrifice for factual accuracy?

Hurricane Andrew was the focus of the discussion that started this three-part saga. In writing about Andrew, I relied on memory and research both. Both memory and research, though, are sometimes faulty. Whether I was wrong about being in the eye of Andrew or not (I still don’t quite know — I think it depends on whether the house in the novel is north or south of the Hurricane Center in Coral Gables, which is a difference of blocks, and which wasn’t noted in the novel), I would say that this was not, ultimately, one of my writing sins, since the eye did pass over the area at large.

But it’s a good example of a writing sin of another kind — the sin of including something that tears a reader out of the story and sets him to scratching his head instead of continuing to the next page. We don’t want that, and we should do what we can to avoid it.

Recently I read a review of a novel that featured some sort of weaponry — I don’t recall what type, and I didn’t notice when reading the book that the weaponry, according to the reviewer, would never have been used in the situation of the novel. That author lost the fraction of readers who actually know about that stuff, maybe. Maybe the loss, in this case, wasn’t terribly huge — but I bet if someone had brought the inaccuracy about the weaponry to the author’s attention during the revision process, she would have changed it immediately.

It’s not that writers don’t care about detailed accuracy — it’s that our knowledge is limited. We research, yes, but often we don’t even realize what we should double-check. We skim over a sentence and find it absent of flags, and we move on.

However, I think most writers would admit that they would, in some select instances, after giving it a good amount of thought, sacrifice a few intimately knowledgable readers for the many who don’t quite know the world as fully, and might be less inclined to notice a wayward detail. It’s a contradiction, because in most ways the readers who know your world intimately are the ones writers crave and appreciate the most, as if they are reading your work on several levels. But, still.

For example: I had doctors read my book to check the medical stuff. One of them said to me, “This wouldn’t happen, medically, but most people wouldn’t know that. And I think you should leave it in, because it’s beautiful.”

After some thought, I ended up writing around it (which means I did a little writing to acknowledge the problem on the page), but I left it in. I’m not saying it was the right thing to do, but that’s what I did. Because ultimately I agreed with the doctor friend — it was beautiful, and it was true to my characters and their relationship.

Do I cringe when I think of the readers who will be jarred by the details I got wrong, intentionally or unintentionally? Yes. Take the above not as an excuse, but as an open apology, and a promise that, if I may boldly speak for others, writers don’t mean to make these kinds of mistakes, and we will continue to try our best not to.