Choosing a Cover Artist

 




      Choosing a cover artist for your novel is an important and personal endeavor.

      I was looking for someone who:

* listened to my ideas

* knew the tone of my novel

* could interpret someone's thoughts into a visual representation of their novel

Where was I going to find such a person?





That's when I stumbled upon this cover:

 

 

My friend, and fellow author, Jeff Bauer, went with Babski Creative Studios. It was this impressive cover design that sold me. I've already begun decisions with an artist from the company. My humorous novel about a man who works for a dog food factory is set to release at the end of January. I can not wait to see the design Elizabeth Babski creates for me!

 

 

More information on Jeff Bauer can be found at: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6855956.Jeff_Bauer 

 

What I do for love...

What I do for love…

What I do for the love of writing, that is.

It’s certainly not fame. Though, one day I do hope to be published. Not so much to be “famous” as to have others read my stories and live through my characters. One of my favorite questions to ask a stranger is: What is the best thing that could ever happen to you? The answer is so telling. Hands down, my response to my own question is to accidently stumble upon someone reading a book I’ve published on a plane or by the pool. Better yet, would be if they do NOT recognize I’m the author and we discuss the book. Even better, they like it.

So, what is that I do for the love of writing?

First, I’m in two writing critique circles. An online one with my former Houston Writers Club friends and a local one in Tallahassee, FL. The online group meets weekly via web conferencing and we email one another our ms at the beginning of each session.  While one individual is reading aloud their ms, the rest of us are critiquing it on the computer. Then, it is the next persons turn. The local group, and I use the term ‘local’ loosely since I travel two hours from Dothan, AL to attend, meets once a month.  In this group of five, the ms is emailed out the week before and at the meeting we discuss each person’s work.

Second, I read. Mainly, I read young adult novels and fantasy novels. And by reading, I should say studying because I underline, highlight, and take notes. Sometimes it seems to take me forever to get through a book because I’m so busy dissecting the way it was written. You might think that this takes away from my enjoyment of the novel….but you’d be wrong.

Third, I write and edit for about six hours every week day. It’s my job.

And maybe…. *I’m raising my diet coke to the air.* ….my dreams of being a published writer will come true. Maybe, even this year.

My Voice or His

Author George Lasher once told me that I’d be a successful writer when I finally found my voice. Obviously, he wasn’t referring to my volume- which could deafen penguins in Antarctica- or my opinions- which are definitive, endless, and always unsolicited. Not understanding what he meant, I carried on…writing and writing.

                Somewhere along the way, writing transformed from a hobby into something that I felt was achievable. I have explored picture books, chapter books, and comedy. And still, he was right, my dabbling missed something. I began to pray that I would be inspired and that I would improve. I finished writing an adult comedy (my first completed novel) and set out on my second. Eighty pages into that work my perspective changed on life. I stopped asking God for specific things that I wanted and needed. Instead, each day, I simply said, “Let me know your will.”

             As I sat down to write on my story- which I was very much attached to- I distinctly felt that I should cast it aside for this new world that began taking shape in my mind.  And, as my very first act of following His plan for me, I did. Ironically, that is the theme of the book: Having faith to follow God’s plan for you.  Five months later, I am completely finished. I read the final chapter to my writing group last night.

              I look back on what I’ve written. Desiree’s conflicting impulse to push people away and her desire for a forever family. Zach’s determinations to help Gretchen, even if it means defying a god. And, the principles my characters learned along the way, they were mine. As my characters learned eternal truths, so did I. Yes, I look back on this story and see my voice. That foster child who struggled for love but fought it at every turn. The one whose past could never stay buried. That teenager who was taught the truth, but refused to act on their knowledge. The one that took the long road to find the light. These are my stories embedded within the pages of a science-fiction, young adult novel. Within it is my voice. But, more importantly, there’s His voice, too.

             I’d ask you to wish me luck in finding an agent, but then I remember.

Houston Writer's Conference

     Since I am paid in "family moments"--- you know those magical fiveseconds of a day where your kids tell you your the best mom ever because you picked green beans out from the garden together or you've agreed to let them help make pancakes---two-hundred and fifty dollars for a writing conference is a lot of money. But, wow, was this conference worth it!
   Honestly, I'm expecting to be bored senseless with alot of lectures, like I was back in college. (Not talking about your class Sissy.) It turned out to be quiet the opposite.
  The energy level of the presenters at the conference was amazing. I took the young adult track, for the most part. All of my speakers were practically doing song and dance numbers like they were from Gypsy. I kept picturing them breaking out into song and singing, "Let me, entertain you. Let me, make you smile!" I kid you not when I tell you one of the presenters put on fairy wings!
   One of my favorite quotes from the conference was from Elaine Scott, an author published 40 times over. She said, "Write as if they will confiscate your computer on Friday." I love that. I was really bummed the email address she gave me didn't work. If anyone knows her email address, I wanted to shoot her a note about how I loved her lecture.
  Besides talented, experienced writers giving us advice on what to do and not to do, there were many agents there.  I was able to interview with four of them. I was surprised by how friendly, nurturing, and helpful the agents I spoke with were.  Granted, during the first interview I was crazy nervous...but as the energy of the conference rubbed off on me...I was on a roll. The best feeling happened in one of my interviews. When the agent was listening to my pitch, I could really tell they were really appreciating the uniqueness and humor of the story and characters. It felt great to have an agent appear to take a genuine interest in my story.  Crossing my fingers  the agent I felt a connection to works out!

Best place to get dialogue.

As if you needed a reason to get out and meet your neighbors or actually go to church....but if you are a writer... you just might...because I have gotten the BEST dialogue and speech patterns from talking to neighbors or listening to people give lessons in church.  After all, no loud music or noisy crowds like the mall.

For example: Nigerian man speaking English during a Sunday school lesson.  I noticed for the most part he sounded like an American.  But on longer words with more than two syllables, he was VERY articulate/ over articulate for someone living in Texas.  Also, every o after the first consant was pronounced as an ah sound.  So, correct became cahrrect and work became wahrk.  He was educated, too, so his vocabulary was more extensive than some other people.  He also said, "Any other thoughts?" when he wanted someone else to volunteer to talk.  The last thing I noticed was that the short i sound was pronounced with a long e sound.  If became eef, interesting became een-trist-ing.

Taking Undercover to the Mall

One of my dialogue exercises suggests you go to the mall and ease drop on people's conversations, then write down what you remember.  Well, I found several problems with this suggestion.  1) the music at the mall is so loud and obnoxious that you can be standing next to someone and not hear people talk. So, I thought, the food court might be better, but alas, the music and noise is so loud there and the chatter so everywhere, that you cannot hear the person sitting right next to you, either.  This picture is of me trying on a dress as I record the two sentences I just heard when I first entered the mall.  I was afraid someone would notice me taking notes on my phone, so I thought... dressing room!  I bought that dress!

At this point, I am still trying to run to the dressing room to record my snip bits of dialogue I heard.  I was a little disappointed at how little I could overhear in a certain amount of time, but more I was disappointed in how "immature" the language of both adults and teenagers was.  For example: sixty year old white woman with a hickish country accent, drab looking clothes, over weight, and a curved back stated into her cell phone: "When I say she's bad, I mean  she's gone all to heck."  Or... as I was waiting in the Chick-fil-a line, a pimply overweight teenager with red curly hair was rating girls after they left the line, in front of the other customers... just like we didn't exist. "I rate that one a seven," he says about this adorable, petite girl who works at Claire's (I had already run into her at the store and had a conversation ). The other two do a moaning, like they disagree.  "What u don't think so?" They moan again.  "What u think I was being too nice?"  At this point, I am finally at the cash register, and the guy stops talking as if he realized finally that they rest of the restaurant could hear his conversation.  Of course, I had some witty comeback in my mind to berate him in front of the restaurant, "For a guy that I would rate a zero, you are not one to be rating women, especially your customers."  That comment flickered in my head, as did summoning the manager because I really enjoyed the conversation that I had with that Claire's girl, and I knew I was next to be rated.  However, I choose the nobler path... emulating Chaucer... Do you remember Chaucer from A Knight's Tale, "I will eviscerate you in fiction. Every pimple, every character flaw. I was naked for a day; you will be naked for eternity."  Beware the person who scorns the writer!  I didn't buy those clothes in my hands, but I did try them on, along with a two hundred dollar sexy dress that made me look amazing while still having sleeves and going an inch above my knees, but too much money and no place to wear it!

The last dress I tried on and didn't buy- didn't like that black line across my breasts. After this, I decided that running to the dressing room was a waste of time.  I actually found the best way to hear a conversation in the mall was walking in the hallway.  Anyone who was unfortunate enough to walk behind me, I typed what they said just as they said it.  My best conversations went unwritten and were with two different shop employees, which I didn't write down because I was too interested in shopping in the store to focus on my main agenda...my writing exercise. 

So, was my undercover trip to the mall successful?  Four hours, 11 different types of people, and 135 words noted.  Better than nothing, I guess.   

Dialogue

When I got to a chapter in my last novel and knew what was going to happen, but didn't have the words to get started... I just began with dialogue. I thought to myself...what are the people in this scene going to say one another. Then, I just started typing it out without names, description, or even quotation marks. After I finished two pages of nothing but dialogue, I went back and added all the description, names, body language, and actions. Oh yeah, I inserted the punctuation, too. Apparently, that is necessary. In the end, the chapter would have been fleshed out from the two original pages to ten pages.

So, as I begin formulating and stewing over my next novel... I have decided to practice the art of dialogue. I picked up this book called, Write Great Fiction: Dialogue, Techniques and Exercises for Creating Effective Dialogue. I have read the first few chapters already and engaging myself in all of the suggested dialogue exercises.

One of the tasks suggests that you write a scene that reveals the inner motivations of both people through dialogue. In an effort to be more realistic, I turn to my husband and implore that he do an acting exercise with me. He, of course, makes the horrible mistake of saying yes to me... (horrible for him because now he was so good I am going to try to do this more often.)

So, I give him the character and background that I want him to act out... I tell him what his motivation is and what he is NOT saying that is very important to the entire scene. I recorded the dialogue of our pretend confrontation, so I could transcribe it later for my self-assigned assignment. Have to tell you, this acting out really helped keep the dialogue realistic. I'd share the outcome, but it will be in the middle of my next book. You'll just have to read it then.

Better Writer than a Querier

Here is my main problem with writing... getting someone else (sorry Deanna and Madeline - best friends and children don't count in the book industry) to read my oh so wonderful writing because am not a celebrity or an already famous writer.

So, I am beginning to think that I am a better novelist than query letter writer.

Adult Comedy Fiction Novel

Well, I finally finished my adult comedy, a whole 80,000 words and 306 pages of dog, children, work, Mormon, and dare I say I threw in a little potty and x-box humor for the men out there..... as if a man who looks like Mario Brother's and smells dog breath for a living was not funny enough.... this thirty-year-old man has to find a way to make a lovely brunette advertising agent, who is the current girlfriend of his best friend and neighbor, interested in him.

So, I am back to looking for agents and publishers...

Messages to Mommy

I grew up having lots of pen pals. I loved writing letters to old friends (moved alot as a kid), people that we met on vacation (I could befriend anyone), former camp mates (Especially For Youth at BYU), or just plain strangers (other kids met in AOL chat rooms). However, my favorite all time pen pal was my sister, who was one year older than me- not to be confused with the one three years older who wrote me once (shame shame shame.)

Most people don't even like their sisters, let alone write them. But, most people live with their sisters, too. I, however, was a foster kid, and me and my sisters had been separated from each other since I was nine years old - not in different homes in the same city either- think me in Florida and them in Oregon, Texas, or Virginia. So, when you can only see your sisters for two weeks, every two years...you must write (no such thing as cell phones then and long distance bills were very expensive).

So, when my seven year old daughter, Gwendolynn, could pick anyone she wanted to be pen pals with- It was adorable that she choose me. For the last four weeks she writes me a letter in a notebook, then waits for me to read it and respond. Then, she secretly writes back. Though half of what she writes I can't make out, because she is still developing her writing and spelling skills, I adore her weekly messages to mommy.

Finding an Agent for my Undiscovered Genius of a Series

Ok, world… I have this incredibly brilliant (choking on my own vanity here) and uplifting children's book series I am writing. These characters are quiet literally my children and I, going through a typical suburban life and letting our imaginations transform the world around us into unlimited possibilities. I know, you are wondering why is that sentence bold; don’t get ahead of me.
So, what is this incredible series called you want to know because you already are hooked on my sassy personality (choking again). Sisters of Sugar Land. I think it is cute, mainly because I’m an English teacher who thinks alliteration rocks the world, but still, I like it. LDS members out there will like the double meaning of “sisters.”
Last Thursday, I sent out my first round of queries to find an agent for my series. (Most of these agent website sites have a pre-apology note posted on their submission page: Sorry it will take 3 months to respond to your query, thanks for your submission.)
Today, I got four responses back (guess they aren’t as busy as they claim). Three said “Not for me” and I kid you not when I tell you that was the entire response. A fourth asked for the entire manuscript. I did a happy dance for about four minutes. When I sat down to send the manuscript, something inside told me to go to the agent’s website again. (I say again, because I really have looked over all the websites I sent my queries to.) Immediately, I get the “no way are you sending it to them” feeling. “But, they want to actually read my work, not some stupid cover letter!” I argue with myself. So, I set out to find out WHY I shouldn’t send it. I re-read the bios of the agents. I write down all of the books they have gotten published and then I look all of those books up online. I know, I know, it is like self-torture as I find each and every one of those books were published and marketed horribly. Many were actually rip offs of other popular series (published with the same name even).
To make up for my rejection, (which I don’t take personally, because they didn’t even read my book…because if they had they would have signed me immediately) I set off to find another agent.
So, I find an agent to query that I like and wouldn’t you know it… this agent has a line by line rubric of what she wants in her query… which is NOT anything that I can just copy and paste from my standard query. So, I wasted an entire day making a special query just for ONE literary agent who had extremely specific sentence by sentence requirements for her submission query... and she is likely to not even request to read my manuscript after all that trouble. And that bold sentence at the top… was line 7 of her special query requirements: Why can you, only you, and no one in the whole world write this story? Duh, it is my actual life… I wanted to write that… but the sentence in bold sounded better.