I got the final review copy of my medieval book today. Oddly, it’s not a set of paper galleys like I’m used to. This time, it’s an electronic version. I can review the layout and double (triple!) check for errors right on the computer. It’s a little odd to be making notes on the computer, rather than with my trusty highlighter. I suppose it was bound to happen sooner or later, though.

As expected, it’s looking good. The graphics are wonderful. In another month or so it will be a real book! Not bad for a project I started back in early 2006, eh?

Curious to know what book edits look like? You can take a look at my edits for the first half of the book under the cut. You’ll see that I’m catching missed commas, redundancies, and other minor errors. Whose fault is this? Hard to say. The manuscript at this point has gone through many hands. I could have made errors in my original document, my editors (several) could have made errors as they reviewed and rearranged the copy, and errors could have been made during the layout stage as the text was copied and pasted. We  just hope that we catch all of the errors in this final read through!

Page 4:
[CUT: So] The borders changed often as different rulers took over.
Medieval people: should we define Germanic?
“People originating from Northern Europe including Danes, Swedes, Norwegians, and Germans.”
Page 6:
First graf: …Roman Empire, [which was in power] right before the Middle Ages.

Page 9:
First graf: I’d like to strike this: Whether they deserved it or not, Arthur and his chivalrous Knights of the Round Table have become an epic legend.
Maybe instead: Is this the man that we know as King Arthur? Historians are still debating about that!
Page 10:
Block: When they were infants, adults cut them, leaving behind gruesome scars [so that they’d grow into frightful warriors].

12:
Serfs:
Serfs had to work [for], and sometimes give a portion of his crops [to], the land- owner.

They had to have permission from their lords before [leaving his land].

22:
In the lead to juggling sticks, last word should be travels.
In step one, instructions are jumbled. Fix:
Wrap duct tape around each end of the longest dowel numerous times to create a thick “knob” on each end. This is your juggler.
Do your best to keep the duct tape equal thicknesses at each
end, so that the weight of the stick will be balanced. Check this by balancing the center of the stick on your finger.

23:
Instruction 5 has an extra comma.

==============
24:
2nd graf: Omit: “just like farmers”
25:
end of first graf: In fact, many of them became part of the [omit: or] nobility.
2nd graf: he had his own pony that he rode and cared for, {to ride and care for} ??

27:
Block: should it be THE CHIVALRIC CODE?

Last graf: Strong, armed men [switch: stole from], killed…

29:
last graf: This seems awkward as it is since we haven’t mentioned armor yet:
[In the latter part of the medieval era], plate armor replaced chain mail, making it harder for knights to in-flict wounds with the edge of the blade.

33:
first sentence needs serial comma: these
organizations performed military, religious and charitable acts.

Second graf: needs serial comma: He presided over three ranks of members: knights,   chaplains and sergeants.

34:
second graf: first sentence spacing is wonky

40:
Intro:
This is a fun project but one word of caution[:] it is very important that you never put plaster down the drain. [I]t will clog your plumbing.
41: Variation: should be cardstock, not cardboard

44:
last graf:
Soldiers built a wooden shed and used chains to hang a [tree
trunk horizontally] from the heavy beams of the structure.

46:
Make your own trebuchet: Don’t you think this would benefit from an illustration of the final product?

54: first sentence redundant: the attackers down or they dropped
large rocks [omit: down] onto the attacking
men.

58: step 4 should be Unbraided

62: title – Does that say MOCK mead or MOCT mead?

64: Intro redundant: Pokerounce is [made] of toasted bread
spread with honey, spices,
and nuts. You might find
that this medieval treat
deserves a place on
modern-day menus.