In defense of JKR's editor

[alexpie at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 35155

Pen Robinson wrote:
>Listening to a book (the Stephen Fry versions, in case it matters to
>anyone) forces me to experience the story one word at a time.  I have
>developed an increased respect for JKR's plotting, characterisation and
>misdirecting abilities, but I have developed something like hatred for...

>It seems to me that someone in the editing department could be a little
>more observant.

As I sit here, editing an absolutely ghastly book, I must address these 
comments.  If I had been editing JKR, I would have surgically removed any 
number of Dumbledore's twinkles, without anesthetic.  And, you know what?  
JKR would most likely have put them right back in.  No matter how brilliant, 
how tactful, how talented, the poor, oppressed copy editor is, the 
unappreciative, monomaniacal, lunatic author ALWAYS has the final say.   Not 
that I'm implying that JKR is any of these things.

Someone also mentioned (can't find it at the moment) that if JKR is nearly 
finished now, a book could be expected in April.  Nohow, no way.  There is 
the copy edit, JKR's review of same, proofreading, slugging, and on and on.  
Even on a crash schedule (which probably wouldn't be attempted for a book of 
this magnitude) we're talking summer at the earliest!
Ba, who now must go back to making changes that she knows will be changed