Cover me baby.

Judge me by my cover.

Most of us do it. Maybe not every time but, far too frequently. We walk through a book store and we stop and decide to read more about a book based on its cover. What attracts us varies by the genre we’re interested in, or the mood we’re in.

For me personally how a cover impacts me decides whether or not I’ll pick the book up and read the back. This means the book could be stellar but I’ll never know if the cover doesn’t rock my socks.

It may not be fair but people are visceral by nature. We react to what we see. What’s my point? As an author it means my covers need to be eye catching, intriguing with just enough mystery to make people want to know more.

As with any first attempt my very first covers were what might be generously called passable. They weren’t awful but they certainly were not anything close to what they should have been. Why were they only ok you ask? I made them myself. I assumed with my limited knowledge of photo editing I could do the work myself, save some bucks. If you have a background in graphic arts this might be true, or if you have the time and talent to dedicate to the art of cover creation then you will probably succeed. I however found that I am not one of those people. Thankfully lovely Ravenborn helped me update my covers very recently. Simple changes can make a huge difference. 

 

Everything for a Price

As you can see the before and after speaks for itself. The work Ravenborn did is clean, professional with an eye for what the public likes to see. It might not be your style of book or even something that would attract everyone. But, it’s certainly eye catching and a vast improvement over my attempt.

Why do I bring this up? Your work, your writing is your baby. You’ve put time and effort into creating something you’re proud of. Your cover should reflect this. Finding a good cover artist and even spending the money to have a truly professional cover made is worth it. You wouldn’t go to a job interview in sweats and a ratty tank top.

Your books cover is how it interviews the reader. The way you dress your book helps decide if it will be “hired”.

Of course there are many people who will buy a book regardless of cover, style or genre but on the whole we decide with our eyes first.

So create your work of art, let the words flow just make sure you have a cover that flows right along with the words.

Share with me

What you got?

I love to write that’s a given considering my previous posts. I blog because I hope that just one thing I say helps someone else. Almost as much as writing I love reading. There’s very little I’ll refuse to read. If I were a wealthy woman I’d probably end up a hermit having purchased ALL the books and reading until I withered away.  Today though I’m interested in all of you. (However many of you are actually reading this blog) I want to know what you’ve written, if you written more than one book share your favorite. If you only write blogs share share and share some more.

None of us should take this journey alone. We should be giving and taking advice, encouraging each other and promoting each other. It’s the only way any of us will get anywhere.

Not to mention I’m just a plain curious person. So if you read this I want to know how you found me, why you read my blog and any suggestions.

An easy task? Maybe not but one if you’re willing to take on I’ll be hitting the follow button or downloading books as often as I can.  (I’m not independently wealthy). And as I can I’ll be happy to share my thoughts.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

What are you Up to?

What are you up to?

I get this question a lot. Often times I answer with the mundane tasks of my life. But when asked about my writing I’m never sure how to answer.

Does anyone really want to know what my characters are doing? Or that I’ve been stuck rewriting the same scene over and over for a week. I think for the most part only other writers can understand the ebb and flow and ups and downs of writing life.

There are days when I sit down and three hours later I realize hey I should feed the kids. Then there are the days where I’d rather go to the dentist than try to write. Not to mention the work of trying to choose just the right name or location.

As writers these things matter. The details, nuances and even the things that no one else might notice they stand out to us. These details can get us moving or bog us down depending on the position of the moon, if Leo is in the fifth house and what socks we’re wearing. 

It’s why we form writing groups, support groups and contests. We need the constant reminder that 

while we might not be doing what everyone else is doing. We’re doing what writers do. We drift off at a coffee shop when we watch two people slyly holding hands under the table hoping no one notices. Is it new love, is it an illicit affair or are they a years married couple trying to rekindle a dying fire. We view things in a way others don’t

Even the morbidity of death isn’t just sad its story fodder. If not for us personally, than at the very least we have the moment of “Aha I know who’d like this.”

In our heads we have multiple timelines, storylines, worlds and people all shouting to get the most attention. Then we sit down and hope the voices don’t suddenly quiet.  

Yet when asked what we’re doing we simply answer with “writing” Because how does one answer with all of that?

So I’m asking you..

What are you up to right now?

Black Holes and Light at the End of the Tunnel.

I thought I had it together. I was doing great. I blogged and tweeted every day. I made sure to update my author page and write like a madwoman. I was very happily moving right along. A few bumps here and there but otherwise doing pretty well.

Then my muse decided to move far, far away. I wasn’t just unable to write I was unable to contemplate writing. I couldn’t take notes, form ideas just nothing. Not only was this shocking but it went on for far longer than I’ve experienced before. My personal life hit a snag, which transferred into all aspects of author life.

No blogs, or tweets or anything resembling the “work” I love to do. Then two months ago it started to come back. One day it was just finally there. Finally the ability to write research, and be interested in all things writing had returned. The first day I put around 6,000 words down. I sat back and hoped and prayed this meant it would last. And so far it has.

I wrote in this blog about being consistent. And, I truly believe that’s true but what I also know just how ugly the black hole of nothingness is. The part of me that was missing came back and I’m treating it gently so it isn’t inclined to leave again.

I’ve managed to finish the first draft of my next novel, not a short but a full-fledged book.  It is currently out with beta readers in the hopes it isn’t awful. I know it has two or three more rounds before it’s ready but I’m hopeful. I’m working on a short, the last in the Priceless series. Long overdue and probably forgotten by now, but, I still plan to finish what I started.

I’m happy to be back and ready to restart this journey.

Losing It

It's been a while since I posted, okay more than a while. An unforgivably long time. I'll apologize right now. Sometimes the ability to write just leaves me. Not in a slow subtle lingering goodbye. More like hopping a junk-yard train mid-kiss.

Thankfully this doesn't happen too often. When it does I'm left sort of shell shocked and twisting in the wind. I try to have writing built up for these rare occurrences. Thankfully I did when it comes to stories and the like. Sadly I spaced the whole blog aspect.

Thankfully the writing gift has embraced me again. I feel like that moment after you've been holding your breath too long. you take in a great lungful of air and your whole body wakes up. Your senses are no longer dull. The world finally has color and sound again.

I could list all the reasons I ended up this way. Specific stressors, life events, and even the holidays. But really the root of why the ability to write left me doesn't matter. At least not in hindsight. All I clearly know is that it's a feeling I loathe. It's almost like losing the ability to hear or speak. You manage, you function but not in the way you did before.

Writing is such a part of who I am that when it won't happen I feel slightly lost. I have an amazing family, husband, friends and the like. I would never make light of those wonderful gifts and how important they are. But to me not being able to write is painful. And then of course the vicious circle happens. Not being able to write frustrates and angers me and I get stuck there.


I hold onto the fact that it always passes. It took a while this time. Now though I'm on the other side of it. I'm standing outside the tunnel and enjoying the bright light of "I can do this again" 

For anyone whose hung on this long without thinking I'm a crazy woman I hope you never deal with this. If you have here's a cyber pat on the back so you know you're not alone.

It gets better. In the moments when it isn't better just know there is light at the end of that long black tunnel.

It doesn't get old.

 

Remember Me

I'm so excited to announce the release of my second book. Remember Me is an Erotic interlude about a woman with no memory and a man with secrets.

I thought after I released my first book that I couldn't feel that excited again. After all, it was my first jump into the world of real publishing. Yet as I sit here today able to announce that my second book is officially for sale I can't help but feel almost the same excitement.

It's a pretty amazing thing to know that you have you work out there on the world stage just waiting for someone to love it as much as you do. Whether I sell one copy or thousands the satisfaction comes from knowing once again I jumped the hurdle of doubt and did it again.

If you haven't published yet I'll remind you that as well as being excited is the worry that it won't be received well etc. But, for me at least, the happiness outweighs that.


I'll likely spend the next few days checking and rechecking the reports that tell me what the sales are. At some point I'll be frustrated or even discouraged. Still the moment of knowing you did it, that you published something is worth pushing for, worth writing into the night for, worth every bit of sweat and frustration writers know every day.

About taking a break....

I wrote about how being consistent is important and it absolutely is. Making sure your voice, your name and your work is constantly out there and in the face of the reading public is vital. But and it's a big but it's also highly important to take a step back now and then. In order to be good at anything; being a parent, a spouse, a friend, a worker or a writer means having time off. Real time off when you don't have to think about whatever role it is you haven't had a break from. As a spouse and parent I think it's vital for alone time from your children and spouse as well as date night with your spouse to both disconnect and reconnect with what we love about the people in our lives. This includes friends and family. At work in the real world we get days off and when those days off are few and far between we begin to show the strain and resentment that comes from doing anything continuously.

Being a writer is no different. We have to learn when we're getting close to burn out or that overwhelmed feeling that doesn't let up. Sure we can keep writing but at some point if you don't allow yourself a break you'll begin to hate the thing you used to love. It will become a chore with only a hint of the passion you used to have. It can take a long time to get past that feeling.

I'm not saying this happens to everyone but it's something that happens a lot especially to writers just learning their way. Usually they are listening to the advice of "write everyday". That is good advice on the whole but we have to allow for real life, illness, moodiness and down right fatigue. Also it's really okay to not feel like writing . This year I completed NaNoWriMo ten days early and was completely psyched to continue writing everyday. I got tired, I got busy, I managed to write every few days and had fun but I also let myself have a break. I had met my goal my metaphorical "deadline" after that I felt I deserved a rest.

You can take these well earned and much needed breaks and still stay consistent and present in the public eye.  A little planning is all it takes. If you blog and are having a creative day try to complete one or two blogs in advance and putting them in draft status. Don't publish them the next time you feel like you need a blog. Post them when you've had a run of days where you don't feel like posting. You might be tired, sick or just angry at writing in general. It's really helpful to have a few just waiting. As a mother of four who has something come up more often than not it's very helpful. The same for author page posts, graphic art for book covers and even Twitter posts.

If you're anything like me you'll have days when your creative energy seems to overflow. Use those days to bank art, ideas, notes and posts. I promise they will come in handy. If you do flash fiction, or fanfiction, or shorts you can do this as well. If nothing else it will give you a starting point, a place to draw new ideas from.


But overall what I want to stress is it's important to take a break, let your mind rest now and then. It allows your brain to reset itself find the energy needed to keep writing, creating in a way that you'll actually like when you look at it again.