After a lot of back and forth, got the synopsis for the next book into good working order. For those around the site for a long time, the story for The Last Track revealed itself after wandering around for more than a year through various drafts. While everything worked out in the end, I wanted to try doing it a little differently for this book. Thus, the two page synopsis.

The Last Track actually had no synopsis until after the book was finished and agents started requesting one in response to queries, very late in their consideration process. Not only does the synopsis make for one point of stress, having one in hand relieves the concern about whether there is a viable story.

Speaking of “this book”, besides the pre-production technique, trying something different with the title as well.

Because it took so long to get the first book into print, two of the titles had to be scrapped when they appeared in new releases by Very Big Authors. Complete coincidence, but irritating when I was certain about having the perfect title a first and then a second time. So I have decided on a throwaway title for now, one I don’t care about in any fashion; it’s just about giving the book a name. Much easier referring to a manuscript by title rather than “the novel” or “this book.”

The throwaway title: The Cropsey Effect.

Maybe the “fake” title will serve the project better than the “real” one. Ah, time will tell.