Now that GASP is over with for the year, hopefully I can start working more on Holiday Heat. Three editions plus the first major collection are now out, and I’ve been a bit dilatory with my edits for April. But I’ve finished the six words edit, and here are the results:

• THAT — 503 to start, 426 to finish — removed 77
• JUST — 174 to start, 150 to finish — removed 24
  • This includes uses of the word “adjust” and “adjustment”, so it’s not wholly accurate.
• VERY — 104 to start, 101 to finish — removed 3
  • Most of these were actually forms of “every” or “delivery”.
• WHICH — 60 to start, 57 to finish — removed 3
• REALLY — 62 to start, 59 to finish — removed 3
  • I’m still trying not to use “really” as an adverb, and instead only use it in dialogue. I’m getting better, but I’m not perfect yet.
• ONLY – 70 to start, 68 to finish — removed 2
  • I have a tendency to replace “just” with “only”, which is why I do “just” second and “only” sixth.

April’s cover model is Amelia (the “girlfriend” in the “boyfriend/girlfriend” stories), who finally has a name. The artist has the cover models; I’m just waiting for her to choose one. Meanwhile, I have to do one more edit of the April edition and then put it into the publishing software, which shouldn’t take but another day or two.