The Integer

Book 2 had a title, and then it didn't. It had a title that I thought was pretty cool, but the more I researched the word, the more I realized that anamnesis is something far too deep and complex to be attributed to a single book. Anamnesis is a more encompassing word that, in my mind, is the crux of the whole trilogy. So Book 2 became title-less again.

I remember how long it took me to come up with a name for The Trace. I tried variations of different things for weeks until I finally settled on a title that I thought worked. The Integer came from a two-minute search. When I read the full definition, it clicked.

​To explain why I chose The Integer, I probably need to explain why I chose The Trace. Essentially, The Trace is about Ella searching through remnants for a conclusion that is expounded upon in The Integer. There are left behind traces that she is tracing back to their origin. That's a pretty vague explanation, but I don't want to give too much away. An integer is a whole number and, more importantly, a complete entity. In the first book, Ella traces evidence to discover the whole picture - a complete entity - that is detailed in The Integer. So, a trace leads to an integer. Get it?

What is the state of The Integer now, you might ask? Let me tell you, dear reader. Book 2 is in the content-rewrite phase. This means my editor has given me his critiques, and now I'm reevaluating The Integer's execution. Once we're satisfied with that, so begins the line editing. 

I love editing. I've talked about it before; I'll talk about it again. Editing is fun because the spilling process is over, and now I have the almost whole picture that I get to fix. I like fixing. And I definitely like whole pictures (like integers. Get it again?).

My personal writing/editing process goes as follows:

• Spill words in Microsoft Word
• Print out giant document at Staples
• Scribble and scratch out all over the 300+ pages
• Fix up Word document a few more times until I get to the stage where I think the story is coming to a finishing close
• Take a break from writing
• Read the document on my Kindle, which helps me find grammar mistakes/typos
• Fix all those on Word
• Give the book to someone to read
• Assess their edits/suggestions
• Do any Word changes that need to be done
• Kindle it up until I'm satisfied
• Run to my editor and say, "K, here you go."

It might be a weird process, but it works for me. Taking a break and changing the medium in which I read the book are the two most important steps. A break gets me out of the tunnel vision that developed while writing, and reading on something other than a computer gives my eyes a break and helps me view the book as more of a book and less of a bunch of words put together. On a Kindle, my book seems real and legit. I get a little giddy. Then I go through the "cringing" phase where I regret ever writing. It's a process, folks.

During this content-edit stage, I must take my brain out of Book 3. Not that I haven't, erm, already started rewriting it. Not that I haven't, erm, already started a novella that will take place after Book 3.

Anyway. Now let's chat about the cover. Say goodbye to your favorite freckled gal, because The Integer will feature someone much less normal. I'm not talking about a Grifter here - just your average, hyper-thorough teenage guy who makes Ella (and me) want to pull her hair out because he's so flipping systematic and particular and stubborn.

Ethan Sheedy, welcome to the book cover.

Annelise worked her magic on this guy, who has just the "My life is too serious for you to understand" expression that he needed. He's even got that freckle by his eye, as described in Le Trace! Don't worry; his black-and-white state is only temporary. He's currently in the hands of Marianne, who loves putting up with my "Actually, make his eyes this color" and "What if you invert him?" and "I've decided I want Ella's face again; can you manipulate Ethan until he resembles Ella?" (Just kidding. Marianne would kill me. And say, "Uh, no" because she's a sensible human being.)

I'll keep you posted on the simultaneous progression of Ethan and The Integer. Stay tuned for the book synopsis and the reveal for the BACK cover! Any ideas?