New Project

May 2008

Long-time friend, Dr. Betty Flinchum, is here briefly. We have become close friends during her regular stays as a visiting professor at the university. She has written a book about the Governor General, Sir Colville Young. She is here for the introduction of the book amid great ceremony. Betty is giving all the proceeds of the book to the university or perhaps to her program of sending special Belize students to her University of North Florida for graduate work. I always enjoy Betty and didn’t think the couple of hours involved in lunch would be a strain on me.

 

Yesterday’s lunch with Betty was delightful. She always stays at the Chateau Caribbean, so I suggested that we eat there. Used to love it, but have not been there in years. I was most interested in hearing about the reception for her book. We laughed over her three TV interviews. She obviously baffled the reporters slightly when they accused her of supporting Colonialism or complained at an outsider’s having written the book. Her replies were polite, cogent, and unexpected.

I was touched and very flattered when Betty asked me to write a review of the book. I hope that, with luck, I honestly can come up with something that can be used to promote it. And she also wanted me to edit it carefully to find any corrections necessary for the second printing, expected this fall.

 

Betty had a copy of the book autographed by Sir Colville and by herself delivered to me this morning. I have read the first third of it and am most impressed. The writing is reasonably easy. I see the odd punctuation error that I expect to catch when I go back through the text line by line.

Sir Colville is a remarkable man, literally a Renaissance Man. I had no idea how musically talented his entire family has been for several generations, including a five-year-old grandson. He has several degrees, is a recognized linguistics authority, is a musician, composer, poet, and playwright, and has been both a teacher and an administrator.

I am absolutely delighted to have a new project and am thrilled to be a part of this modest book.

June 26, 2008

I just have sent the most recent version of the Sir Colville Young book off to Betty. She returned from Italy early this week and didn’t need as long to recover from an arduous return trip as I expected. We have had a flurry of messages back and forth. I sent her a general message asking her to read through the entire text before trying to compare it with the original. I also sent a list and some details of changes. She seems happy about everything.

July 2008

I just have had a telephone call from Sir Colville Young. He wanted to thank me for the review I wrote for his biography. He talked for quite a long time and was highly complimentary. I look forward to meeting him (again), perhaps next time Betty is in Belize.

February 2009

Betty was in Belize for a week. She went directly to Belmopan to work with the university. She took time Saturday before her flight out to have a brief visit with me. Things look good for the book. It has been decided to cut down the stock of first editions by supplying the books to all the schools and libraries in the country. That will leave room for a second edition.

November 2010

Betty has been back in touch about the second edition of her biography of Sir Colville Young. She also is back at work on an autobiography. Her colleagues here in Belize have been urging her to write one. I have promised to edit it for her. This time I may be able to do a better job, starting from the beginning.

I am delighted at having something concrete and useful to do in all this free time I have these days.

 

I am busy editing anecdotes for Betty’s autobiography. Enjoying the work. I think we finally settled on a design for the cover of the second edition of the biography of the Governor-General.

February 2011

Betty is in the country briefly on University business. We are busy together on her autobiography. She does a chapter, then emails it to me for editing. It is pleasant work, and I am enjoying her tales.

Betty came for tea this afternoon so we could have a nice, unrushed visit. It was delightful. She gave me a copy of the newly released second edition of the biography of Sir Colville, autographed by both the Governor-General and herself. We had a pleasant time discussing the current book. Solved some problems that are handled more easily in person than by email. Betty is obviously pleased to have me editing her writing, and I am delighted to have an author who follows her editor’s suggestions.

Betty returns to her lovely, weatherized log-cabin home in the North Carolina mountains tomorrow.

February 2012

Betty is in town on business. She came to see me Monday. We had a wonderful time. Betty also gave me a card with a lovely thank you for the editing I am doing on her travel book. She enclosed a payment on account. She talks about a contract for the work I am doing. However, I haven’t a clue about the monetary value, and I am having a ball doing it.

May 2012

I have been working on Betty’s travel book. She brought a particular naïve, ebullient male student into several anecdotes. It has taken two chapters and much weaving to put it all together nicely. Now I understand that I never received her Yorkshire stories, so I will have to find the right places for them.

I am happy to know that I have more editing waiting for me.