Do you write, Shadow? 

The reason I ask, and I'm not the expert here, but from my online classes the important thing is to write.  If you get caught up in the editing, then some personalities never get to putting it down on the paper part. I've seen that from several classmates in online classes who are themselves editors and copywriters.  They agonize over getting it down perfectly and then are truly discouraged when they never get past Chapter 2.  (and apparently you should toss out all first chapters automatically in the final draft!)

Also, don't overlook the fact that your cousin has probably spent a huge amount of time and has a large personal emotional investment into what s/he has accomplished.  If s/he isn't looking for editing help--then they just need a pat on the back for creative effort.  S/he will figure out for her/himself that they have a long way to go before it's ready to turn in.

Now, if you aren't writing Shadow, why aren't you?   push push prod prod  :-)

I've been a reader my whole life and sold books for 8 years, which is why she asked me to help her edit.  We also have a fantastic relationship, where I can actually tell her the truth, not just the polite stuff.   I've tried to be very careful to help guide, but not to overwhelm or direct, because it is her book not our book.  The sense of urgancy for her comes from meeting an agent this week-end at a workshop who asked my cousin to send her a submission.  My cousin wants to send her query while the agent still remembers her.  My cousin thinks she needs to clean it up and tweak some.  I'm just afraid she has more to do than she realizes.  I forsee alot of late nights for her this week

I don't write    I've had a few ideas now and then, but nothing that ever made me want to put pen to paper.   

Question.  My cousin wrote a book and asked me to be her first reader/ initial editor.  Since we've started she has been through 2 more drafts and her first round of readers.  She thinks she just has some final tweaking to do, I think she has another whole edit to do.  When I asked her if she was able to read the whole book through without stopping she said no   By page three she is noticing things and by page 15 she had to stop to edit.

So my question for all you writers is, when do you feel your book is done?  I know that nobody is every completely satisfied , but what's the point where you let it go?

Regarding vactions-

Spain is an excellent idea.  Southern Spain sounds even better!  Oddly enough I have a co-worker who is there currently 

Any suggestions on how to help convince SF to continue Dresden?  Thanks for the great job you do.  I enjoy 

I'm so glad Uncle Hugo's is getting the signing.  Nothing against Barnes and Noble, worked for them for several years, but I love Uncle Hugo's (and it's counterpart Uncle Edgar's