In the next two weeks, I have two somewhat important meetings coming up with two different authors. The first is with the author of the novel (which I still haven't finished reading) I have unofficially been assigned (still negotiating the contract). He's a middle-aged college basketball coach from Rhode Island. We'll most likely go to lunch and the sports editor, the publicist assigned to the book, and my boss will join us.
The second meeting is with the author of a reprint who hated her original book about an animal sanctuary in New York. She wants to rearrange the chapters, write new chapters, change the title, and get a new cover. Essentially, she wants a do-over, not a reprint. She doesn't trust the company, and she especially doesn't trust me. I have a feeling it has something to do with my title. Editorial assistants don't typically do the job of editors, so I think she just assumes I don't know what I'm doing. Every time I make a suggestion, she wants me to run it by my publisher or associate publisher—two pretty important men who don't have time for her BS. I'm concerned that if I can't pull her in and make her believe that I'm responsible and that I know what I'm doing, she's going to try to go over my head by calling someone higher than me every time we disagree on something minor. Her disagreements with the editor of the original book actually brought her into the office, where she sat down next to someone and asked questions about every single change in her manuscript. She's probably going to be worse this time around. We've already rejected her idea for the new cover (a picture of a turkey and a goat cuddling—no joke) and none of us are really fans of her new title, but we're letting it slide for now. She also wanted to write new chapters, but the associate publisher veto-ed that today. (I'm not sure if she knows this yet, though.) At this meeting, we have to eat vegetarian and we'll be joined by the associate publicist (who intimidates me more than any person I've ever worked with).
So my issue is... what do I wear? Do I go ultra business-like? Very, super professional? The dress code at the office is very casual—I went in a Planet Fitness t-shirt and jeans today. (I woke up with the worst headache and just didn't feel like getting my shit together. I'm having a rough week.) But I think I should represent the company better. Problem is, I don't think any of my dresses are appropriate for a business lunch and the only dress pants I own are kind of big on me. I've put off shopping the last few months and now I'm faced with a decision... Go buy some new clothes, or try to make something else work? I don't want to spend what is essentially rent money on clothes. But I kind of feel like I don't have a choice. I don't know when I'll find time to shop, but I'm going to have to do it soon. The first meeting can be as early as Tuesday. Maybe that's what I'll do Sunday afternoon. Maybe Constance will want to shop... Hm...
Saturday's out. I'm working OT this weekend. Got it approved and everything today. I was assigned three more books for the Spring season today from a series we're doing with Instructables.com. Which brings my total to... 8 or 9, I think. Half are reprints, half are from scratch. Regardless of whether they've been published before, though, they all need new covers and catalog copy and sales materials and I just haven't had time to think about them. My first big deadline is next Friday. Figured I could use this Saturday to get ahead. After work on Saturday, I'll come home and make vegetable lasagna for Date Night #3!
Oh, speaking of date nights! Although I doubt Matt will be able to accompany me next Thursday, I'll be going to a surprise party at my boss's apartment on Riverside Drive. I told Julie I'd be her date since her boyfriend is in law school and with the hours Matt puts in, he might as well be, too. The party is for one of our... well, I actually don't know what he is. He used to own a publishing company, but now works for us. He's been in the business 51 years, so they're throwing him a 50+1 party to celebrate. I wasn't going to go since I felt like I'd be awkward and uncomfortable, but then I found out how many people are actually going and figured I might as well. It'll be interesting to see where my boss lives, too. He lives in a really nice area, so I hope the apartment is kind of cool. It must be big if he invited the entire company and their +1s... Jealous! Also, this marks yet another event I should probably go shopping for.
I'm tired just thinking about the next week or so. Maybe this week really won't ever end. It's aready going on... 11 days without a break. I suppose I could consider last night a break since Matt and I skipped all our plans (grocery shopping, fancy Mexican dinner) due to thunderstorms. I came home, pretty much soaked through despite my umbrella, to find him in the living room surrounded by clothes. He must've done five or six loads of laundry last night between his work clothes, our regular clothes, and the towels. Mine were fresh out of the dryer and almost folded. It was sweet; he was so excited about it lol. So we put the clothes away and then I made tacos while he ran to the liquor store next door. We watched a marathon of American Pickers, drank, and called it an early night. Although I got a decent amount of sleep, it wasn't enough. I think tonight is going to be another early one. Not as early as Monday (8:30!!), but early enough.
Well... off to do some work and not get paid for it! Oh well. Someday I'll be done with all these late (and lame!) books (when you talk to me next, ask me how much I love Swedish boat restoration) and caught up on my own stuff. Someday soon, hopefully.
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