Today I welcome author Tara Taffera as she shares about her editing process--and her very personal editor.

Take it away, Tara!

Hi all, I write contemporary Christian romance and Love Reunited, the last book in A Divine Love Series launched April 29. Click here to read the first two chapters.

Today, I want to share something about my editing process and how my husband Cory reads each of my books before publication. What’s funny about this is he hates to read. I mean hates it—so I am flattered that he reads each one without complaint.

For some reason, I don’t recall many of his edits for book one, Love Ordained. But his edits of book two, Love Unfailing, really stand out. First, this book included many baseball scenes as the main character is a high school baseball coach. I chose baseball as it’s his favorite sport, and I knew he could offer input if I needed it. He polished those scenes to ensure they were authentic. But the funniest part is when he wrote things like this in the margin: More detail. What kind of food? What color dress? For someone who doesn’t like to read, he offered valuable feedback.

When I wrote Love Reunited, I included more descriptions as I kept hearing him in my head. It must have worked because he had minimal edits.

I’m so blessed to have him in my life and to have his support of my writing. So, you never know where valuable feedback will come from. I never thought some of my best edits would come from a guy who hates to read and certainly doesn’t read romance!

Here is the first page of Love Reunited:

Elizabeth

It’s a good thing I’m not looking for happily ever after. If I were, I’d move to the dance floor among the other unmarried women in their newly bought dresses lining up to catch the bouquet. I step toward the door, needing some air, and my gaze falls on the bride and groom—two of my best friends. Tony and Anna stand wrapped snugly in each other’s arms, their love visible for all to see. Everyone knows those two are meant for each other, and to be a part of their big day as one of the bridesmaids is a blessing.

Anna’s dark hair falls on bare shoulders, and her olive skin, the benefit of her Greek roots, makes all girls in the vicinity jealous. Tony matches her coloring, though his comes from an Italian gene pool. Tony stares at his wife for the millionth time that day. He gazes at her strapless dress, which hugs every curve, grazes her cheek with his hand, and kisses her softly on the lips.

My heart melts to see Christian, Anna’s brother, whispering in my best friend Gina’s ear. He brushes a stray hair that escaped the glittery clip, somehow keeping her thick Italian mane in place. Those two complement each other in every way, aside from their matching Mediterranean skin tones. Two kids haven’t lessened their love story. If anything, it blooms more each day.

I exit the room, grateful for the cool air. Or as cool as it can be on a May night in Florida. The only time one feels a breeze is when a storm rolls in. That certainly isn’t the case tonight, evidenced by the palm trees a few feet away from me, their branches still as the rocks scattered near the trunk. Tony and Anna chose the ideal resort for their wedding, as I view beauty at every turn. From the perfectly groomed shrubs to flowers that burst out at every glance, including Anna’s favorites—tulips and lilies. Earlier today, she exuded giddiness, taking photos with her wedding party, the heavenly florals as nature’s backdrop.

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