M² — OUR STORY STARTS HERE KDP INTERIOR · REPLACEMENT BLOCKS First edition · Fareeda Blabb Publishing How to use this file -------------------- 1. In Word or InDesign, change the BODY paragraph style from Distributed / Justify-all-lines to Justified, last line left. That single change kills the stretched short beats. 2. Work down the list. Each block is Find → Replace. Book page numbers match the printed footer. PDF page = book + 8. 3. Dialogue throughout should be British single quotes (‘…’). Nested quotes, if any, take doubles. Do not restyle the glossary glosses in double quotes — those mark English translations. ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ heading-fina · Section heading run into the first sentence Chapter Eighteen · The Car Printed page 253 · PDF page 261 Drop-in: FULL PAGE (or the marked passage) PROBLEM The heading IV. FINA—WAITING and the opening sentence Fina was awake. have been concatenated into one line. FIND She went inside. He sat in the car for eleven minutes before he drove away. IV. FINA—WAITING FINA WAS AWAKE. Of course she was. REPLACE WITH She went inside. He sat in the car for eleven minutes before he drove away. IV. FINA—WAITING Fina was awake. Of course she was. NOTE Drop the heading on its own line, then start the body with “Fina was awake.” — capital F, period, paragraph break. ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ch16-vi · Missing section VI — numbering jumps V → VII Chapter Sixteen · Buɗan Kai Printed page 227 · PDF page 235 PROBLEM After V. THE GIFTS BASIN the next heading is VII. TRANSITION—BETWEEN THE MORNING AND THE NIGHT. There is no section VI. “TRANSITION—” also reads like a draft label. FIND VII. TRANSITION—BETWEEN THE MORNING AND THE NIGHT REPLACE WITH VI. BETWEEN THE MORNING AND THE NIGHT NOTE Then on the following page, renumber the grand-dinner heading: VIII → VII. ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ ch16-vii · Grand dinner heading — follow-on number Chapter Sixteen · Buɗan Kai Printed page 228 · PDF page 236 PROBLEM Once VI is restored, this heading is currently VIII. FIND VIII. THE GRAND DINNER—NIGHT REPLACE WITH VII. THE GRAND DINNER—NIGHT ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ dup-niece · Rufa’i watches his niece — sentence printed twice Chapter Fifteen · The Walima Printed page 215 · PDF page 223 PROBLEM The longer sentence is complete. The next sentence repeats its opening and then stops. FIND He watched his niece move through the compound in her crystals and her veil and felt the peace of a man who has discharged his responsibility well and found the result satisfactory. He watched his niece move through the compound in her crystals and her veil. Abdulrahim would have approved. REPLACE WITH He watched his niece move through the compound in her crystals and her veil and felt the peace of a man who has discharged his responsibility well and found the result satisfactory. Abdulrahim would have approved. ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ dup-history · Uncle’s warning printed twice Chapter Seven · The Uncle Watches Printed page 99 · PDF page 107 PROBLEM Rufa’i already says the two sentences in the paragraph above. They then repeat as orphaned double-quoted lines — a leftover from a rewrite. FIND glass down with the deliberateness of a man punctuating a sentence. ‘I am also telling you that your history is not the same thing as your judgment. Do not let one stand in for the other. Do you understand me?’ “Your history is not the same thing as your judgment.” “Do not let one stand in for the other.” REPLACE WITH glass down with the deliberateness of a man punctuating a sentence. ‘I am also telling you that your history is not the same thing as your judgment. Do not let one stand in for the other. Do you understand me?’ ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ dup-idiots · “We were both twenty-one” printed twice Chapter Eight · Cousin Ruqayya’s Wedding Printed page 110 · PDF page 118 PROBLEM Manar says the two sentences in single quotes. They then repeat, split across the page turn, in double quotes, before he laughs. Cut the echo. FIND managing all afternoon, but directly, fully. ‘We were both twenty-one. We were both idiots.’ “We were both twenty-one.” REPLACE WITH managing all afternoon, but directly, fully. ‘We were both twenty-one. We were both idiots.’ NOTE On the next page, delete the leftover line “We were both idiots.” so the paragraph begins: He laughed. ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ dup-idiots-2 · Opening leftover on the verso Chapter Eight · Cousin Ruqayya’s Wedding Printed page 111 · PDF page 119 PROBLEM Orphaned echo sitting above “He laughed.” FIND “We were both idiots.” He laughed. REPLACE WITH He laughed. ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ layout-line · “The line connected.” stretched across the measure Chapter Eighteen · The Car Printed page 256 · PDF page 264 PROBLEM Three words have been force-justified to full width. The following greeting also uses the wrong quote marks. FIND The phone rang twice. The line connected. “Assalamu alaikum,” she said. REPLACE WITH The phone rang twice. The line connected. ‘Assalamu alaikum,’ she said. NOTE Keep “The line connected.” as its own short paragraph, last-line-left. Do not distribute the words. ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ layout-silver · “His was silver.” stretched across the measure Chapter Twenty-One · Makkah Printed page 286 · PDF page 294 PROBLEM Three-word beat force-justified to full width. FIND meant to last. His was silver. It was the only ring he would ever have worn. REPLACE WITH meant to last. His was silver. It was the only ring he would ever have worn. ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ layout-pause · Makkah bedside — stretched “A pause.” plus missing quotes Chapter Twenty-One · Makkah Printed page 291 · PDF page 299 Drop-in: FULL PAGE (or the marked passage) PROBLEM “A pause.” is distributed across the measure. Two speeches sit on one line. Mo’s colour speech has no quotation marks at all. FIND He was quiet for a moment. “Allah wrote the timing correctly,” he said. A pause. “Neither of us was ready before then.” She looked at him. ‘Besides,’ he said, and the corner of his mouth moved, ‘you did eventually wear the amber.’ ‘I did,’ she said. I have seen you in every colour now. In sha Allah, I’ll spend the rest of my life discovering your favourite colours. REPLACE WITH He was quiet for a moment. ‘Allah wrote the timing correctly,’ he said. A pause. ‘Neither of us was ready before then.’ She looked at him. ‘Besides,’ he said, and the corner of his mouth moved, ‘you did eventually wear the amber.’ ‘I did,’ she said. ‘I have seen you in every colour now. In sha Allah, I’ll spend the rest of my life discovering your favourite colours.’ ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ layout-tuesday · Tuesday cadence — every short beat stretched Chapter Twenty-Two · Coming Home Printed page 310 · PDF page 318 Drop-in: FULL PAGE (or the marked passage) PROBLEM The closing cadence of the wardrobe scene has been force-justified word by word. Same words; they need to sit as short, last-line-left paragraphs. FIND She looked like someone who had decided to live. She already was. She turned from the mirror. Breakfast. A call to her husband. Plans for the commercial kitchen. Four children who would soon be awake. It was a Tuesday. She smiled. Then she went to live. REPLACE WITH She looked like someone who had decided to live. She already was. She turned from the mirror. Breakfast. A call to her husband. Plans for the commercial kitchen. Four children who would soon be awake. It was a Tuesday. She smiled. Then she went to live. ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ layout-peace · “She felt peace.” stretched across the measure Chapter Twenty-Three · The Beginning Printed page 321 · PDF page 329 PROBLEM Three-word beat force-justified to full width. FIND lost. She felt peace. It was enough. REPLACE WITH lost. She felt peace. It was enough. ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ prose-and-semi · Broken “and;” plus quote marks on Manar’s answers Chapter Eight · Cousin Ruqayya’s Wedding Printed page 112 · PDF page 120 PROBLEM “permitted—and; his hand” is a punctuation snarl. Manar’s two answers to Bahar are in double quotes. FIND permitted—and; his hand didn't receive the instruction immediately. REPLACE WITH permitted—and his hand didn’t receive the instruction immediately. NOTE On the same page, change the answers to Bahar: ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ quotes-remembered · Manar to Bahar — single quotes Chapter Eight · Cousin Ruqayya’s Wedding Printed page 112 · PDF page 120 PROBLEM The rest of the novel uses British single quotes for speech. FIND ‘Yaya?’ she said—well? “He remembered.” Bahar waited. “Everything.” REPLACE WITH ‘Yaya?’ she said—well? ‘He remembered.’ Bahar waited. ‘Everything.’ ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ prose-fina-quotes · Fina’s line missing quotes; “Yade” missing a space Chapter Nineteen · The Waiting Printed page 263 · PDF page 271 PROBLEM I believe I’ve earned a report. is spoken and currently has no quotation marks. Yade should be Ya de. FIND ‘Fina.’ I believe I’ve earned a report. Manar looked at her sister—the youngest of them, the one who had left and built a different life and called at the right moments and said the true things and had, across this entire year, been the version of love that did not require managing. ‘Yade,’ Manar said. REPLACE WITH ‘Fina.’ ‘I believe I’ve earned a report.’ Manar looked at her sister—the youngest of them, the one who had left and built a different life and called at the right moments and said the true things and had, across this entire year, been the version of love that did not require managing. ‘Ya de,’ Manar said. ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ prose-fina-para · Fina’s speech run into Manar’s action; one double quote Chapter Eighteen · The Car Printed page 254 · PDF page 262 PROBLEM A paragraph break is missing after “I love him.” One line uses American double quotes. FIND ‘You cannot see anything on my face.’ “That face. I know that face.” REPLACE WITH ‘You cannot see anything on my face.’ ‘That face. I know that face.’ NOTE Later on the same page, split Fina’s last line from Manar’s action: ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ prose-fina-tea · Paragraph break after Fina’s “I love him.” Chapter Eighteen · The Car Printed page 254 · PDF page 262 PROBLEM Manar picking up the tea is a new beat and currently sits inside Fina’s speech paragraph. FIND He is ridiculous and I love him.’ Manar picked up Fina’s cold tea and drank it. REPLACE WITH He is ridiculous and I love him.’ Manar picked up Fina’s cold tea and drank it. ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ prose-nakiya · Comma splice on the nakiya Chapter Seven · The Uncle Watches Printed page 100 · PDF page 108 PROBLEM Two clauses joined with a comma. FIND The nakiya on the plate, neither of them had touched it. REPLACE WITH The nakiya on the plate — neither of them had touched it. ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ prose-but-dash · Space before the em-dash Chapter Twenty-One · Makkah Printed page 285 · PDF page 293 PROBLEM “but —the kind of tears” has a stray space before the dash. FIND Or she was, but —the kind of tears REPLACE WITH Or she was, but—the kind of tears ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ quotes-batch · British single quotes — remaining doubles Chapter Five–Twenty-One · dialogue pass Printed page 62 · PDF page 70 PROBLEM The interior is set in British single quotes. These lines still use American doubles. Same words; swap the marks. FIND QUOTE PASS — replace each left/right double with a single. REPLACE WITH p. 62 “Rose gold,” she murmured. → ‘Rose gold,’ she murmured. p. 71 Safiya / Mo texting scene — every “…” → ‘…’ “You’ve typed that three times.” → ‘You’ve typed that three times.’ and so on through “It’s people who complicate it.” → ‘It’s people who complicate it.’ p. 84 “Hadiza Salamatu the Third!” → ‘Hadiza Salamatu the Third!’ p. 87 “Baba.” / “Mm?” / “I’ve never seen you come home lighter.” After a while he said, “In sha Allah.” → ‘Baba.’ ‘Mm?’ ‘I’ve never seen you come home lighter.’ After a while he said, ‘In sha Allah.’ Also fix the straight apostrophe: didn't → didn’t p. 120 “Thirty-five years I’ve known this man. I’ve never seen him walk toward anything that slowly.” → ‘Thirty-five years I’ve known this man. I’ve never seen him walk toward anything that slowly.’ p. 129 “I know you’ve driven everyone else for years,” he said. “Now I wanted you to have something that’s only yours.” → ‘I know you’ve driven everyone else for years,’ he said. ‘Now I wanted you to have something that’s only yours.’ p. 134 She whispered, “Alhamdulillah.” → She whispered, ‘Alhamdulillah.’ p. 142 “Not tonight,” she whispered. “Tonight, just let me love you.” → ‘Not tonight,’ she whispered. ‘Tonight, just let me love you.’ p. 188 “Hajiya Bilkisu,” he said with quiet courtesy, “thank you for looking out for the children.” “They’re doing very well.” “Ready?” → ‘Hajiya Bilkisu,’ he said with quiet courtesy, ‘thank you for looking out for the children.’ ‘They’re doing very well.’ ‘Ready?’ p. 212 “Alhamdulillah,” he murmured. → ‘Alhamdulillah,’ he murmured. p. 213 “About time.” → ‘About time.’ p. 214 “Bilal,” someone called. → ‘Bilal,’ someone called. p. 215 “Na’am,” he answered, without stepping away. → ‘Na’am,’ he answered, without stepping away. Also: boy's → boy’s (curly apostrophe) p. 230 “Ready?” → ‘Ready?’ p. 241 “My brother would have approved.” “… “I hope so.” “I know so.” → ‘My brother would have approved.’ ‘I hope so.’ ‘I know so.’ Also: Rufa'i → Rufa’i (two straight apostrophes on this page) p. 245 “Alhamdulillah,” he said. “Alhamdulillah,” she murmured. → ‘Alhamdulillah,’ he said. ‘Alhamdulillah,’ she murmured. p. 267 “Toh,” she said. → ‘Toh,’ she said. NOTE Do this as a Find: “ Replace: ‘ pass, then a Find: ” Replace: ’ pass, then spot-check the pages above. Do not touch the glossary, where doubles are used for English glosses of Hausa. ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ gloss-iddah · Iddah is not another spelling of ihdad Chapter Glossary · Hausa terms Printed page 343 · PDF page 351 PROBLEM The current entry reads “Iddah (also written ’ihdad.)”. They are different words. Iddah is the waiting period. Ihdad is the widow’s mourning (no adornment) during that period. The novel itself uses both correctly — the glossary should too. FIND Iddah (also written ’ihdad.) The waiting period observed by a Muslim woman after the death of her husband or the dissolution of her marriage. For a widow, the iddah lasts four months and ten days, during which she does not remarry, does not leave the home unnecessarily, and wears no adornment. It is both a religious obligation and, in the communities depicted in this novel, a social one. REPLACE WITH Iddah The waiting period observed by a Muslim woman after the death of her husband or the dissolution of her marriage. For a widow, the iddah lasts four months and ten days, during which she does not remarry and does not leave the home unnecessarily. It is both a religious obligation and, in the communities depicted in this novel, a social one. Ihdad The mourning observed by a widow during her iddah: she wears no adornment, no perfume, and no colour. In this novel, Manar’s black abayas are ihdad made visible. Iddah is the period; ihdad is the dress and conduct of that period. They are not the same word. ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ gloss-maama · Maama / Maama — duplicate headword Chapter Glossary · Hausa terms Printed page 344 · PDF page 352 PROBLEM Printed as “Maama / Maama”. The second form should be Mama. FIND Maama / Maama Mother / Mummy. An affectionate term used by adult children for their mothers. REPLACE WITH Maama / Mama Mother / Mummy. An affectionate term used by adult children for their mothers. ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ gloss-tawaf · Tawaf headword stranded on its own line Chapter Glossary · Arabic terms Printed page 348 · PDF page 356 PROBLEM Every other glossary term sits on the same line as its definition. Tawaf has been broken onto a line of its own. FIND Tawaf The ritual of circling the Kaaba seven times counterclockwise REPLACE WITH Tawaf The ritual of circling the Kaaba seven times counterclockwise ════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════ Optional polish (not required for this drop-in) POV headers I. DEEN TG—… are readable as his nickname. If you want a more literary register: I. DEEN—THAT MORNING and I. DEEN—WHAT HE FIGURED OUT.