Writing a Second Edition

by Florence Wetzel

The Journey of Dashiki

I wrote my cozy mystery Dashiki from 2004 to 2006. I spent the next year querying agents, and to my delight, I finally found one who loved the book. But despite much hard work, he was unable to find a publisher, which was a great disappointment for both of us.

Dashiki gathered dust until 2012, when I decided to self-publish the book with iUniverse, something I had done previously with other manuscripts. Although Dashiki received a few good reviews, it never took off in any significant way, and eventually, the book faded into online obscurity.

Renewed Interest and Social Media Connections

In 2019, I published The Grand Man: A Swedish Mystery. That’s when I joined the rich world of Instagram and started connecting with reviewers and readers. I self-published three more books after that, all the while learning more about online marketing.

As the years went on, it often seemed a pity that my earlier self-published titles never had the benefit of exposure via social media. I decided to gradually release second editions of those books, hopefully giving them a fresh chance to shine. Dashiki had been a lot of fun to write the first time around, so I chose to begin with that book.

What Is a Second Edition?

What exactly is a second edition? It’s a revised and updated version of the original, offering the author a chance to fix typos, fine-tune the prose, or include bonus content. Second editions receive a different ISBN, have a new release date, and are considered to be entirely distinct books.

Steps to Create a Second Edition

Creating a second edition does not happen overnight.

Unpublishing the Original

My first step was to unpublish the original edition of Dashiki. This ensured the old version was no longer available, though I couldn’t stop the sale of used copies online. I filed a request with iUniverse, and within a week, they removed the book from their catalog and sent me the original files.

Evaluating the Rewrite

Next, I read through the book to determine how deep a rewrite was needed. The book is set in 2003, and I considered modernizing the plot to 2025. But this would have required weaving in the internet and social media, which wouldn’t have enhanced the story in any meaningful way. I decided to leave the time frame alone, keeping intact details like my character’s landline and lack of GPS.

Structural Edits

I was relieved that an intensive rewrite wasn’t necessary, but the chapters and paragraphs needed adjusting. When I first wrote Dashiki, I didn’t really know how to structure a book. Although I had studied writing with author B. J. Chute at Barnard College in the eighties, I hadn’t attended any additional writing classes or workshops in the years that followed, and my understanding of how to organize a novel was incomplete.

In the 2010s, I addressed this gap by immersing myself in online videos, free seminars, and attending the Iceland Writers Retreat twice. When I started on the second edition of Dashiki, I applied what I had learned, including breaking up chapters and paragraphs to make the book more reader-friendly.

Fine-Tuning the Details

The next level of edits was more granular.

Trimming Unnecessary Details

I pared down unnecessary details in my descriptions and took a hard look at the abundance of jazz facts. These references catered to jazz lovers but risked overwhelming others, so I trimmed them wherever I could.

Correcting Subtle Issues

Subsequent edits were even more fine-tuned. This included fixing a bad habit of repeating characters’ names instead of using “he” or “she.” I also kept an eye out for subtle repetition, such as a character saying, “No, I don’t think so” instead of the simpler “I don’t think so.”

Fixing Plot Errors

To my shock, I also uncovered mistakes in the plot! For example, a weekly listening session in the book started at inconsistent times, which disrupted the timeline of the murder. Fixing errors like these was deeply gratifying.

Updating the Cover and Publishing Strategy

A Fresh Cover

A fresh cover is essential for second editions, both to establish a clear difference between the two editions and to update the artwork. My graphic designer is a talented young man with an excellent eye for form and color, and I’m extremely happy with the final product.

Switching to KDP Amazon

Another change was creating the book via KDP Amazon and enrolling it in Kindle Unlimited. I did this to help boost the book’s visibility and make it easily accessible to readers.

Releasing the Second Edition

After months of hard work, Dashiki reentered the world on January 1, 2025! The original plot and characters remain, but the book feels fresh and more readable. I really enjoyed returning to Dashiki, and my efforts on social media will hopefully help this cozy mystery find enthusiastic readers, something which simply didn’t happen the first time around.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Florence Wetzel was born 1962 in Brooklyn, NY.  She writes in different genres, including her release Sara My Sara: A Memoir of Friendship and Loss, which was published in July 2024. Her novels include the thriller The Woman Who Went Overboard and the Swedish mystery The Grand Man. She has also authored horror short stories, a book of poems and memoir essays, and co-authored jazz clarinetist Perry Robinson’s autobiography.

CONNECT WITH FLORENCE WETZEL!
LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/FlorenceWetzel
Facebook: Florence Wetzel
Instagram: @florencewetzel108
LinkedIn: Florence Wetzel

DASHIKI

A cozy mystery with a dash of romance set in the vibrant world of jazz.

During an interview with reclusive jazz singer Betty Brown, journalist Virginia Farrell is shown priceless tapes from the iconic 1957 Thelonious Monk-John Coltrane gig at the Five Spot. When Betty is found murdered, Virginia is determined to recover the tapes and uncover the truth behind Betty’s death.

In the spirit of Nancy Drew, Virginia teams up with her six-foot blonde roommate to investigate the various suspects. Detective Robert Smith from the Hoboken Police Department joins the case, quickly becoming absorbed by an unsolved murder possibly linked to Betty Brown’s death, as well as an undeniable attraction to Virginia.

Dashiki is a cozy mystery laced with romance, immersing readers in the captivating world of jazz, where musicians, journalists, scholars, and enthusiasts intersect in an entertaining whodunit.