Aubergine St. Valentine has to face her reality. She has two groups of fans who regularly read her books: the incapacitated (old ladies who reside in senior housing) and the incarcerated (not so old readers who reside in secure housing), neither of whom enjoy unlimited funds.

Her new Acquisitions Editor did not function in the slow lane. Not the type for slow Sunday drives along rural byways, no watching the seasons change from a rocking chair—Three weeks. In my office. We'll do lunch. Be there or lose your place on the fall list. Oh, and by the way, meet your new associates. We need to pump up your manuscript. Fans today demand a high level of reality, we need to help you make your book more enticing to today's readers, and, of course, help you surpass your new sales goals.