Posts Tagged ‘publishing’

What will The Curse Giver’s Cover look like? Want to take a peek?

Thursday, April 25th, 2013

Book covers are a lot like people: They come in different sizes and colors, interpreting all kinds of diverse concepts and ideas, seeking attention. Selecting a book cover is an important part of the process of putting together a book, because, let’s face it, we all judge a book by its cover. I know I do. Don’t you?

The advent of the electronic book took the pressure off cover design, at least for a little while. Many of the original electronic readers weren’t capable of showcasing the cover’s art and many authors and publishers took advantage of that to cut back on cost. After all, original cover art is expensive and in the current book market, everyone is looking for ways to increase those very slim margins.

But new electronic readers and tablets are reversing that trend. These newer e-readers are perfectly able to convey the nuances of a well-designed cover, many of them in high definition. Book covers are back and authors and publishers everywhere understand the need to put out covers that grab the reader’s attention.

I want the same for my books. I’ve been very fortunate to work with quality publishers who seek to put together excellent books. In my experience, one of the big advantages of working with independent publishers is that they seek and value the author’s opinions. So I was thrilled when my publisher, Lida Quillen of Twilight Times books asked me for ideas about a cover for The Curse Giver.

I got to work on a range of concepts, from simple to complex, from easy to hard. Original cover art is not just pricy; it’s time consuming and labor intensive. Lots of publishers choose to illustrate their covers with stock art because they can save lots of money. So I was delighted when my publisher selected Brad Fraunfelter, http://www.bradfraunfelterillustration.com/, who proposed a very realistic cover with lots of details in a slightly painterly style similar to the art of Donato Giancola.

His proposal’s rough sketch was ambitious, following my most complex cover suggestion. It showed a powerful warrior holding a woman whose naked back displayed the faint outline of butterfly wings. At first, I was a little shocked. If you’ve seen my books, you know that none of them showed people on the covers. That’s because I like to respect the reader’s individual imagination. But in his original proposal, the artist didn’t show faces, just bodies. I liked the power I saw in those images. I liked the passion he brought to the proposal.

In the next few weeks, Brad Fraunfelter will be completing the cover. It will be very different from my previous books. I don’t know exactly what the end result will look like, but I have no doubt about a couple of things: It will be an original piece of art and it will be a bold statement.

Want to take a peek?

Here it is!

CurseGiver_sketch_med (3)

What do you think?

A New Book Contract: How and Why

Monday, August 13th, 2012

In my world, when your iPhone flashes an email greeting that includes an offer for a new publishing contract, you know that the humid Florida summer has just gotten a tad cooler and life has treated you to a sweet cup of café con leche on the terrace.

I hadn’t been on the hunt for a new publisher for too long. In fact, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to look at all. My very small publisher had done an amazing job with the Stonewiser trilogy. Together we had achieved much and won a bunch of national prizes. I loved working with those folks, but I was writing faster than they could publish me, and even they understood that opportunity and continuity are key for a newbie on a roll.

My publisher at Mermaid suggested I query some of his peers, small-to-medium independent publishers with an established record. I dragged my feet. Maybe I could just wait until 2014. I whined and complained. Querying is time consuming, exacting work. I’m choosy. They’re choosy. I want to be writing. They’re busy. My MBA background came to the rescue. Assess the situation. Evaluate the options. Establish the goals. Get on with it, girl. After putting all the excuses behind me, I got to work, quickly whittling down the list to—well—one.

I forced myself to query three independent publishers. To my shock and surprise, within days, they all requested The Curse Giver’s manuscript. I settled to wait. Waiting is not my forté. I know authors who have waited upwards of nine months to hear if a manuscript has been accepted for publication. Me, I’ve got too many stories clamoring to be told. I wanted to be in print in nine months. I also knew who I wanted to publish The Curse Giver.

Enter Lida Quillen of Twilight Times Books. She authored the irresistible hook heading the email I mentioned earlier. Two days after the initial query, she requested the manuscript. Two days after I emailed her the manuscript, she offered me a contract. I said yes. I had known since the moment I completed my research that I wanted TTB.

Why?

Experience is one reason. Quillen is an independent press pioneer, known for being a steady rudder in the industry’s choppy waters. Performance is another reason, measured in business growth, an impressive author list and numerous award-winning titles. Fit is the final reason. TTB cares about excellence. I care about excellence. That’s why I chose to go with TTB.

So the contract is signed and the adventure begins. If you’ve ever wanted to know the ins and outs of publishing a novel, you’ll get a good tour here. Come along if you like. It’s a new contract, a new book and a new journey.

Why do I write?

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

People always ask me. I have a hard time explaining what it is like to have these stories piling up in my mind’s library, leather-sheathed volumes streaming with luminous flows of digital sentences coalescing into vivid characters, begging—no, demanding—I tell their stories. Writing builds me up, keeps me learning, forces me to look at the world and at the people around me with new eyes each day, pushing the boundaries of my limited self in wondrous discovery.  I write not just because I love to write, but because I have to write. Writing is my life’s greatest adventure, my personal compulsion, the best of my addictions, my heart’s ultimate passion. And I will be writing all the way to THE END.

Welcome to my blog.

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

Every so often, when the world is quiet and the restless thoughts of the day spawn the imagination’s free wanderings, I like to share my thoughts. Day or night, you’re welcome to come along.