Yes, As a Matter of Fact, I *Am* a Moron!

I screwed up.

I talk a lot about authors doing their research. Getting facts right. Earning readers’ trust. It’s really important to me.

And I got it wrong.

Over on Goodreads as well as in a personal email it was pointed out to me that throughout both of my Montreal novels, Asylum and Deadly Jewels, I referred to the Prime Minister of Canada as the premier. I think I was probably thinking in French, as I often do, but no matter where that “premier” came from, I should have double-checked myself. I should have been more careful.

I also talk a lot about how traditional publishing enables you to have someone else look at your work. In the case of these two books, I read them. My literary agent read them. My acquisitions editor read them. My developmental editor read them. My copyeditor read them. None of us noticed it.

My reader did.

I am not making excuses, by the way. I am the author and the buck most definitely stops with me. I am pointing out that even when we think we have it right, we sometimes have it wrong.

My reader is correct: this is not a small slip, an innocuous gaffe. At a time when world-changing events are being played out in the political arena, I should at least get the the title of a world leader correct. Especially if I'm going to be placing my stories in his country. So yes, as a matter of fact, I am a moron.

But an apologetic one. Mea culpa. I was wrong.