<insert head-hanging emoji> Um, yes, that… I know that my anthology of Medium stories can be improved with further professional editing, of course, but we had two unforeseen high-cost events (bathroom leak that rotted sub-flooring; cracked tooth on one side of mouth requiring extraction and implant replacement, with dental insurance not starting until 2025) that made me decide that it was stupid to pull out more retirement funds for a project that boosts my ego but will never recoup the investment. So instead of a halfway decent book that doesn’t sell I’m opting for a book that doesn’t totally suck and doesn’t sell.

Plus I want to use that money for a pro edit of “Nerd Romance” at some point, when I feel like spending a couple grand to improve my only novel (which no one will read).

While we’re chatting… is it okay to mention you in the acknowledgements “for editorial corrections, suggestions, and general guidance”? You did help lots — I dropped two stories, changed the title on a third, and explained a character’s motives on a fourth. OTOH, you might not want your name associated with a book you didn’t completely edit. OTOOH, it’s not like many people will actually read that far…