The Jerusalem Puzzle is Finished!
I delivered The Jerusalem Puzzle to Harper Collins in London last Monday, by email. I had finished it the previous Thursday. I spent most of last weekend doing one final edit.
That was a hundred page a day edit. The kind of edit that drains something from you as you go on and on and on for endless hours each day.
But I did it. And I’m glad I did it. There were logical errors, which you see better when reading through a novel fast.
I fixed an issue in the middle about the dig in the old city of Jerusalem, which they visit in the novel, and I changed a big part of the ending too.
I spent about a year on The Jerusalem Puzzle from concept to fourth draft. I expect Harper Collins will come back in July with a series of suggestions as to how to tighten it up. These I will address during July and August. There may be more editorial suggestions in September too and then some copy editing changes in October, perhaps twice, and that will be it, I hope.
I am pleased with how The Jerusalem Puzzle turned out.
It may even be better than The Istanbul Puzzle! The Jerusalem Puzzle will be released January 17, 2013. It should be available in other languages after that. The Istanbul Puzzle is being translated into 9 languages.
I hope you enjoy The Jerusalem Puzzle when it comes out. I enjoyed creating it. If you would like to pre-order it from Amazon click here.
And I greatly appreciate every comment and kind word and recommendation you give for it.
I will be submitting an outline for The New York Puzzle to Harper Collins in the next 10 days. Once that is agreed I will start writing The New York Puzzle.
Below is a photo of the Jaffa Gate in Jerusalem, which I took earlier this year. This is the main entrance to the city from the west. It features in a few scenes in The Jerusalem Puzzle.



I am so pleased your happy with the end result, I cannot wait to read it. Have had it on preorder with Amazon since I finished the Istanbul Puzzle a few months ago. You have actually made my day by confirming there will be a New York Puzzle, as it is my favourite city, ever! Well done Laurence
)
Many many thanks Alison and Mag! Your support truly makes this job amazing! Watch out for London launch news January and join me for a glass of wine at the launch if you’re in London.
Its a great moment for a writer when the “final verdict” emails off to the publishers !!! Well done., L.P. Intrigued to hear of the New York Puzzle !!! Bring, Bring !!!
Wow – a hundred page edit a day….that’s really going for it! Really looking forward to reading it – and you think it’s even better than the Istanbul Puzzle – you are a very talented man indeed
)
I look forward to reading The Jerusalem Puzzle, as the city of Jerusalem is very close to me and my heart (I live only 15 kilometers outside the city!)
Jan 17 on Amazon.com! I hope you enjoy it!
Really enjoyed The Istanbul Puzzle so glad to hear there are more in the making!!