Last week I approved the final proof of my memoir, When Love Sticks Around. It has been a long process getting here, but one that has also been so enjoyable.
My book went through several in-depth edits to improve the story, the details, and the grammar. After that, my project manager and I read through the book three more times to look for typos or layout issues. This whole process has taken more than a year in total. But with each of these edits and proofs, I have come to respect the publishing industry, and my publisher in particular, so much. Brandylane and Belle Isle care so much about their authors. They want them to succeed, and they go above and beyond to make that happen.
I can’t wait for the paper copy of the proof to be in my hands, but I know this, like all other steps in the publishing process, will take time and love and patience.
In the meantime, I’d like to share a few more endorsements for my memoir. The first is from Amy Bayne, a colleague and acquaintance of mine that I met through the Fredericksburg Literary and Art Review. She published two pieces of mine in the past. FLAR has since gone inactive, but the journal was something I was so proud to be part of. Here is her endorsement:
In When Love Sticks Around, Danielle Dayney instantly transports us to moments throughout her life with relatable cultural touchstones and references, linking us to her young self growing up in a struggling, working-class family in upstate Ohio throughout the ’80s and ’90s. Her story of family, hope, and perseverance opens a space for us to laugh, acknowledge,and remember moments in life that shape us as adults. It is a work of great compassion and great joy. A.E. Bayne, writer, artist, and publisher of the Fredericksburg Literary and Art Review
The second endorsement comes from Betsy Ashton, who I know from The Virginia Writers Club. Over the years of being a member, Betsy has proven to be someone I can reach out to for answers to my questions as well as encouragement when I almost gave up on getting my first book published. Here is her endorsement:
Dayney’s well-written and poignant collection of personal essays makes you laugh, seethe, and cry. In other words, this is life itself. Betsy Ashton, Author of Out of the Desert
Thank you to Amy and Betsy for reading my book and saying such nice things. I truly appreciate your time and kindness.
Photo by RetroSupply on Unsplash
