Yesterday, L.T. Host asked how many beta readers I have.
Starting today, four fabulous humans are slogging their way through my WIP- my husband and three fellow teachers. Strangely enough, none are history teachers, but I begged an English teacher, science teacher, and the German teacher to read the book. I've also had another super-fab English teacher read a very early draft before I finished the WIP and she gave me some valuable feedback that helped me develop my characters, but she's now indisposed with an infant. I don't know any other writers in the flesh to pull into my cadre of beta readers, but I like to think teachers are some of the more critical readers around. And you know, it's not like they have anything else to do with all their free time. ;)
Of course, flipping through the pages today I found a gazillion things that need culled or reworded, but I refuse to touch the book for another 6 weeks. Saving any major epiphanies (love that word!), of course.