San Diego, California.

San Diego is one of the three largest cities in California, second only to Los Angeles and San Francisco in terms of population, and is also the second stop for Virginia's book signings.

Ten o'clock in the morning, in the bookstore of a department store in the city center.

The signing is about to begin, and Virginia is doing the hand activity. Signing is a physical job, which is very damaging to the wrist, and you need to be prepared for protection.

Next to her, a man was talking to her.

He was none other than Isaac Fields, editor and writer under Smith and Glammore Publishing.

Isaac and Virginia have known each other for a while, and he has been Virginia's editor since the first installment, and he has not changed since. After the run-in of the two parts, the relationship between the two has been so good that they can joke with each other.

"Virginia, I think it's better for you to redesign your signature, it's complicated, it's ugly. ”

Seeing that the signing was about to begin, Isaac said with a smile.

Virginia said angrily, "You reminded me too late! I also think this is too complicated, but it's hard to change it anymore." ”

"Anyway, I think I asked you for your opinion on this font at the beginning, and you nodded at the time. ”

Speaking of which, Virginia stared at Isaac with unkind eyes.

Isaac smiled awkwardly and tried to excuse himself: "This...... I didn't have much experience at the time. ”

Of course, Virginia didn't believe it: "Who are you fooling, I don't believe that a senior editor who has worked in a publishing house for five or six years will not understand this." ”

"Haha!"

Isaac couldn't refute it, so he could only snort.

Virginia wasn't the kind of person to chase after her, and seeing Isaac like this ended the conversation.

"By the way, do you have a new copy in your hand?"

"Copy? There are so many new books here that smell of ink, why are there copies?" Isaac didn't know he was mistaken, and he said, pointing to the stack of new books beside him.

Virginia shook her head and said, "I mean not my book, but yours." ”

"You didn't want my brother to see your new work, so I already gave him the copy you gave me. ”

Isaac was able to fulfill his dream as a writer thanks to Evan. Although the sales of his debut novel "The Gods Themselves" can only be said to be mediocre, the work itself has been praised by many critics, and it can be said that the debut is extremely perfect. Therefore, Isaac is very grateful to Evan and very much for his vision, so he wants to hear what Evan has to say about his new work.

"Really, so quickly, I just gave you the manuscript a few days ago. Isaac said excitedly, "Thank you so much, Virginia. ”

"Of course there is a copy of the manuscript, I have one with me, and I can get it when you want to read it. ”

"That's good, I'll look at it on the way back when I go back. ”

"I think you're very well written......"

Virginia was about to comment when a staff member came over to inform her that the signing had begun, and Virginia had to keep her mouth shut.

……

Virginia stayed in San Diego for only half a day before returning to Los Angeles.

A week later, she will go to San Francisco, which is the third stop.

Before leaving, Virginia took Isaac to San Marino to meet Evan.

"Virginia, your hands are alright!"

"It's fine, a week off, it's all right. ”

Between siblings, greeting is simple and direct.

"Long time no see, Isaac. ”

Isaac hadn't seen Evan in a while, so he seemed a little excited, and almost forgot to reach out and shake Evan's hand when they met.

"Evan, I'm going to prepare tea and snacks. ”

After a few words to Audrey, Virginia went to the kitchen.

"Evan, that one, you should have finished reading it, right?"

"I'm done. Evan nodded, and his gaze turned to Isaac: "Great work, whether it is the novelty of the setting, the plot, and the moral are impressive. The only regret is that it's a bit shorter. ”

Although Evan did not go into a long speech, he undoubtedly gave an extremely high evaluation. After hearing this, Isaac said excitedly, "It's great that you can like it." ”

Evan nodded, then asked, "Isaac, how did this Mr. Granmore arrange." ”

Isaac replied, "He's going to release it in November, first in a magazine, and then in a single book." Before that, he asked me to try to improve and reduce the imperfections. ”

"As for the length, Granmore has also mentioned that I'm already thinking about expanding it into a series, at least a trilogy. ”

"Well, I can't wait to know the future of the Empire. ”

After getting Evan's evaluation, Isaac didn't stay long and left quickly. Before leaving, he took with him some of the comments that Evan had jotted down during his "review".

Virginia left with Isaac.

……

The next day, Monday, October 10, New York, Smith & Granmore.

10:30 a.m. ET.

"Jingle bell!"

The phone rang from the editor-in-chief's office, which lasted less than a second before stopping.

It's Grammore's habit to answer the phone as fast as he can, never letting the ringtone ring for a second longer.

"Hey, this is Smith & Granmore. ”

"Hey, Granmore, I'm Evan Warren. ”

Hearing the familiar sound, Granmore leaned the microphone closer to his mouth to make his voice clearer.

"Good morning, Mr. Warren!" said Granmore, solemnly, "I haven't heard your voice in a while, and I miss it so much." ”。

"Good morning, Granmore. Evan said, "It's still morning on my side." ”

"It seems so. Granmore squinted at the clock on the wall, there was a three-hour difference between the east and the west, and it was only eight o'clock on Evan's side, "Did you have any orders for you to call me so early?"

"Yes, there are two things I want to talk to you about. Evan didn't hide it either, and said bluntly: "The first thing has to do with Isaac. ”

"I've seen his new work, I think it has a lot of potential, he is a signed writer of our publishing house, I want to focus on him as a training object, you can take a look. ”

"Another thing, I remember that there are no heavyweight awards in the field of science fiction, I want to run one, you think about it, make a plan. ”

After listening to Evan's request, Granmore did not respond immediately, but pondered for a while.

"BOSS, Isaac's matter, I have no opinion on my side, the publishing house will give enough resources to make him the science fiction master of our publishing house. ”

"As for the awards, with the influence of our publishing house, it is estimated that it will be quite difficult, and my opinion is that it is better to cooperate with other publishing houses. ”

"Boss, look ......"

"Granmore, I said it, you can do it. ”

"I see. ”