Valerie Chase's Blog
August 11, 2014
The Why and How of Cover Redesign
Hi there! I've been swamped this summer with some family stuff; sorry for the long absence. One of the distractions was a trip to Italy, which was tons of fun -- I came back with lots of inspiration for future books :)
New CoversAstute fans have noticed that I've updated the covers of the Sea Swept books! The Full Steam Ahead cover received a few smaller tweaks, but the With Every Breath cover underwent a big makeover *cue montage music* so I thought it might be fun to talk about how and why an author (or publisher) might decide to revamp a cover treatment.
First, here are the new covers in all their new shiny glory:
Yay! My cats think I should have added a paw print or two, but I revoked their design privileges after seeing the "artwork" they scratched into the door trim ...
Why Embark on a Cover Redesign? Some authors (like myself) design their own covers. Some hire them out. Both are totally valid decisions that depend on considerations like budget, design capability, and interest, but in either path, sometimes you might feel the covers need an overhaul.
There are a couple reasons this could be:
1. The cover just plain needs improvement. Maybe you no longer like the design at all, even if you loved it a few months before. Maybe it needs some tweaks to fine-tune the layout. Maybe you've learned more about what you want your cover to convey, and have realized that it could be clearer or more eye-catching.
Perhaps sales have been low, and you think the cover might not be drawing in potential readers. Or maybe your cover budget is bigger now, and you'd like to upgrade to a higher quality design.
2. You want to experiment.Perhaps your cover has reached a good number of readers, but you wonder if a different style or image might generate more interest. Trade publishers do this all the time - often it takes a redesign or two to find the perfect fit for a novel or series. Although sometimes I find I liked the first cover(s) better, I can usually see why the publisher decided to try a new approach.
Savvy indie authors experiment with book description, pricing and other elements to see what works best, and they know that a fresh cover could reach a whole new audience. There are lots of readers out there who might love your book but weren't hooked by that first cover. Change the cover, and you could find a new set of fans.
Covers are such a key part of marketing a book, and marketing is all about experimentation and reaching people. So try something new, and see what happens!
How To Redesign a Cover 1. First, take stock of what you have.What elements do you like? What resources are at your disposal? Can you afford a new stock image, or a new cover shoot, or a new round with a cover designer?
If you are the designer, what styles or effects are within your abilities? There might be a cover treatment you love, but don't know how to do. Can you find a tutorial that will improve your skills in that area?
2. Define what it is that you want to improve.This is when you write down all the things that bug you about the current cover, and try to view it objectively. Is it dynamic and interesting? Is it conveying the promise of the book? Showing the cover to people (friends, fellow authors) who haven't read the book and asking them what the cover conveys to them is often helpful. If they think it's a sweet romance but the book is really a cozy mystery, it's time to do more research into what book covers in your genre look like.
Other questions to ask: Are the colors working? What about the typography? Are the title and author name clear when the image is seen as a thumbnail? Are there any technical aspects (size, proportions, etc) that need fixing?
For me, I loved the original covers, but after a few months with them I realized that I wanted a few things changed. More color, for one. Full Steam Ahead's cover employed a washed-out effect, and With Every Breath showcased a black-and-white image. I wanted a more vibrant style.
I also wanted to standardize the cover sizes (they were a few pixels off, for what reason I'm not sure. Chalk it up to being a fairly new designer!), and change the proportions - my covers were wider than most. The last element was typography: I felt the title treatment overshadowed the cover image, and that some tweaks could bring the elements into more balance.
3. Work with your designerIf your designer is you, then go forth and experiment! Important: ask a couple trusted friends or fellow authors for opinions on the various iterations until you come up with the right feel. Trust me, after staring at the cover for hours, you won't be able to make objective decisions between four different font options or whether the drop shadow looks good!
The other key for author-designers is to take breaks. When you have something you like, sleep on it before declaring it final. In the morning, you will have fresher eyes and a little distance, and can evaluate whether further tweaks are needed. After making changes, sleep on it again.
If you hire a designer, make sure you clearly lay out what you're looking for: if it's tweaks, be clear about each change you want and how you want it done. If you are looking for a whole new image, color palette or feel, make sure you convey that.
What happens if you are stumped and your current designer isn't coming up with anything that inspires you? Try searching for a new one - everyone has a different style and skill set.
In my case, a few tweaks were all that was needed for Full Steam Ahead. I still loved the image, and had improved in my graphic design abilities such that I could deepen the color and bring it more into line with what I envisioned. I also tweaked the typography and text effects.
I love looking at old/new comparisons, so here's the old Full Steam Ahead cover next to the new version:
Not too different, just updated a bit. Now, since the title is smaller and doesn't take over the page, you can see the faces more clearly, and behold the awesome flirtiness going on :)
I've also learned a lot more about shading and ways to make text more visible: in FSA Cover: Original Jam, the photo is pretty light, and the white text could stand out more.
In FSA Cover: The Remix, the author name in particular is way more readable. There's a definite color palette, and the shadows and highlights are more stronger, giving more depth to the image. And I tweaked some minor things about the typography that had bugged me.
Here's the old/new comparison for With Every Breath:
Totally different!
For this book, the original image proved to be more of a problem. Though I love it and feel that it reflects Yasmin and West together, after much experimentation I still wasn't happy with the color, or lack thereof. Maybe a more experienced designer could have done something with it, but I couldn't, and Yasmin is so passionate and fun that she deserves a dramatic photo to represent her!
So I went searching for a new image, and found the one you see above right. It has fabulous color that I could deepen and tweak, and since it reminded me of a scene in the book (the photo shoot!) it felt like a perfect fit. I swapped the colors of the sans-serif and script fonts, and tweaked the typography so that it felt in balance with the image.
Voila! Instant (ha, more like week-long) cover revamp!
That New-Cover BlissWhen the new cover is finally finished, you're not quite done yet! Now is the fun part: sharing the new cover with the world :) Make a list of everywhere the cover needs to be updated: your website, Goodreads, all sales channels, Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites, and even in review copies of your ebook that you send out.
A cover redesign can be a lot of work, but can also be totally worth it. The cover is the face of a book, the first chance (and sometimes the only chance) that book has to hook a reader. So if you're interested in the behind-the-scenes process for book covers, or you're thinking of having your own cover redesigned, I hope this helped!
Have any of your favorite books had their covers revamped, and did you think it was a good move? If you're an author, have you done any redesigns for your books?
New CoversAstute fans have noticed that I've updated the covers of the Sea Swept books! The Full Steam Ahead cover received a few smaller tweaks, but the With Every Breath cover underwent a big makeover *cue montage music* so I thought it might be fun to talk about how and why an author (or publisher) might decide to revamp a cover treatment.
First, here are the new covers in all their new shiny glory:
Yay! My cats think I should have added a paw print or two, but I revoked their design privileges after seeing the "artwork" they scratched into the door trim ...
Why Embark on a Cover Redesign? Some authors (like myself) design their own covers. Some hire them out. Both are totally valid decisions that depend on considerations like budget, design capability, and interest, but in either path, sometimes you might feel the covers need an overhaul.
There are a couple reasons this could be:
1. The cover just plain needs improvement. Maybe you no longer like the design at all, even if you loved it a few months before. Maybe it needs some tweaks to fine-tune the layout. Maybe you've learned more about what you want your cover to convey, and have realized that it could be clearer or more eye-catching.
Perhaps sales have been low, and you think the cover might not be drawing in potential readers. Or maybe your cover budget is bigger now, and you'd like to upgrade to a higher quality design.
2. You want to experiment.Perhaps your cover has reached a good number of readers, but you wonder if a different style or image might generate more interest. Trade publishers do this all the time - often it takes a redesign or two to find the perfect fit for a novel or series. Although sometimes I find I liked the first cover(s) better, I can usually see why the publisher decided to try a new approach.
Savvy indie authors experiment with book description, pricing and other elements to see what works best, and they know that a fresh cover could reach a whole new audience. There are lots of readers out there who might love your book but weren't hooked by that first cover. Change the cover, and you could find a new set of fans.
Covers are such a key part of marketing a book, and marketing is all about experimentation and reaching people. So try something new, and see what happens!
How To Redesign a Cover 1. First, take stock of what you have.What elements do you like? What resources are at your disposal? Can you afford a new stock image, or a new cover shoot, or a new round with a cover designer?
If you are the designer, what styles or effects are within your abilities? There might be a cover treatment you love, but don't know how to do. Can you find a tutorial that will improve your skills in that area?
2. Define what it is that you want to improve.This is when you write down all the things that bug you about the current cover, and try to view it objectively. Is it dynamic and interesting? Is it conveying the promise of the book? Showing the cover to people (friends, fellow authors) who haven't read the book and asking them what the cover conveys to them is often helpful. If they think it's a sweet romance but the book is really a cozy mystery, it's time to do more research into what book covers in your genre look like.
Other questions to ask: Are the colors working? What about the typography? Are the title and author name clear when the image is seen as a thumbnail? Are there any technical aspects (size, proportions, etc) that need fixing?
For me, I loved the original covers, but after a few months with them I realized that I wanted a few things changed. More color, for one. Full Steam Ahead's cover employed a washed-out effect, and With Every Breath showcased a black-and-white image. I wanted a more vibrant style.
I also wanted to standardize the cover sizes (they were a few pixels off, for what reason I'm not sure. Chalk it up to being a fairly new designer!), and change the proportions - my covers were wider than most. The last element was typography: I felt the title treatment overshadowed the cover image, and that some tweaks could bring the elements into more balance.
3. Work with your designerIf your designer is you, then go forth and experiment! Important: ask a couple trusted friends or fellow authors for opinions on the various iterations until you come up with the right feel. Trust me, after staring at the cover for hours, you won't be able to make objective decisions between four different font options or whether the drop shadow looks good!
The other key for author-designers is to take breaks. When you have something you like, sleep on it before declaring it final. In the morning, you will have fresher eyes and a little distance, and can evaluate whether further tweaks are needed. After making changes, sleep on it again.
If you hire a designer, make sure you clearly lay out what you're looking for: if it's tweaks, be clear about each change you want and how you want it done. If you are looking for a whole new image, color palette or feel, make sure you convey that.
What happens if you are stumped and your current designer isn't coming up with anything that inspires you? Try searching for a new one - everyone has a different style and skill set.
In my case, a few tweaks were all that was needed for Full Steam Ahead. I still loved the image, and had improved in my graphic design abilities such that I could deepen the color and bring it more into line with what I envisioned. I also tweaked the typography and text effects.
I love looking at old/new comparisons, so here's the old Full Steam Ahead cover next to the new version:
Not too different, just updated a bit. Now, since the title is smaller and doesn't take over the page, you can see the faces more clearly, and behold the awesome flirtiness going on :)
I've also learned a lot more about shading and ways to make text more visible: in FSA Cover: Original Jam, the photo is pretty light, and the white text could stand out more.
In FSA Cover: The Remix, the author name in particular is way more readable. There's a definite color palette, and the shadows and highlights are more stronger, giving more depth to the image. And I tweaked some minor things about the typography that had bugged me.
Here's the old/new comparison for With Every Breath:
Totally different!
For this book, the original image proved to be more of a problem. Though I love it and feel that it reflects Yasmin and West together, after much experimentation I still wasn't happy with the color, or lack thereof. Maybe a more experienced designer could have done something with it, but I couldn't, and Yasmin is so passionate and fun that she deserves a dramatic photo to represent her!
So I went searching for a new image, and found the one you see above right. It has fabulous color that I could deepen and tweak, and since it reminded me of a scene in the book (the photo shoot!) it felt like a perfect fit. I swapped the colors of the sans-serif and script fonts, and tweaked the typography so that it felt in balance with the image.
Voila! Instant (ha, more like week-long) cover revamp!
That New-Cover BlissWhen the new cover is finally finished, you're not quite done yet! Now is the fun part: sharing the new cover with the world :) Make a list of everywhere the cover needs to be updated: your website, Goodreads, all sales channels, Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites, and even in review copies of your ebook that you send out.
A cover redesign can be a lot of work, but can also be totally worth it. The cover is the face of a book, the first chance (and sometimes the only chance) that book has to hook a reader. So if you're interested in the behind-the-scenes process for book covers, or you're thinking of having your own cover redesigned, I hope this helped!
Have any of your favorite books had their covers revamped, and did you think it was a good move? If you're an author, have you done any redesigns for your books?
April 28, 2014
WITH EVERY BREATH is out now!
I'm so excited this morning because WITH EVERY BREATH has officially launched! The book is now available on Amazon and B&N, and it will soon be out on Kobo, iBooks, and Google Play. I hope you love Yasmin's and West's story as much as I do!
To celebrate WEB's release, I thought it'd be fun to post 5 fun facts about this novel:
ONEWith Every Breath is the second New Adult contemporary romance that I've written. I really love writing in this genre!
TWOYasmin Alejo, the main character in WEB, was first introduced in my NA romance Full Steam Ahead. At first, I didn't intend for Yasmin to get her own story but I had so much fun writing her scenes that I simply had to give her her own book!
THREEBoth Full Steam Ahead and With Every Breath are part of the Sea Swept series, NA romances set on cruise ships. While a few of the characters overlap, all of the books can be read as stand-alones!
FOURI really tried to ramp up the sexiness in With Every Breath! There are a few scenes in this book that'll make your mom blush. :)
FIVEBoth Yasmin and West are cruise ship employees, but I've never worked on a cruise myself. Maybe one day though! It'd be a totally cool job environment, right?
Well, there you have it! Thanks for sharing this day with me. And if you end up reading the With Every Breath, please consider leaving a review. I absolutely love hearing feedback from my readers, and I can't wait to hear what you think!
Happy reading!
April 25, 2014
Read the First Chapter of WITH EVERY BREATH!
Today I'm so excited to share with you guys...
The first chapter of WITH EVERY BREATH! It will be published on Monday, April 28th!
Here is the blurb once more:
Have a great weekend, you guys!
The first chapter of WITH EVERY BREATH! It will be published on Monday, April 28th!
Here is the blurb once more:
Yasmin Alejo used to have a plan: get into grad school, work her butt off, and become Dr. Alejo, PhD.
But then her sister’s death shatters everything.
Heartbroken, Yasmin gets a job as a cruise ship photographer aboard the Radiant Star. She just wants some time to heal, but her infuriating—and annoyingly sexy—boss won’t give her any peace.
West Campbell used to care about more than money, but those days died along with his mom’s passing. Now he has only one goal: squeezing as much profit from the Radiant Star’s photography department as he can, in order to win a prized corporate management job. He won’t let anyone mess with that—especially not the feisty and gorgeous Yasmin, who seems more interested in getting to know the passengers than selling them vacation packages.
As they sail across open waters, Yasmin and West will fight storms, seasickness, and each other, until they can’t deny their connection any longer. Every tantalizing kiss will take their breaths away … but if they can’t get over the past, it might destroy their future.If you read the first chapter, please let me know what you think in the comments section, all opinions welcome! And if you like what you read, I'd love for you to add WEB on Goodreads or sign up for my mailing list for updates on my books!
Have a great weekend, you guys!
March 13, 2014
Cover Reveal for WITH EVERY BREATH!
I'm so excited to share the cover of WITH EVERY BREATH! What do you guys think? I hope you love it as much as I do!
WITH EVERY BREATH is Book 2 in the Sea Swept series—although you can definitely read it as a standalone!—and it's another sexy NA contemporary romance set aboard a luxury cruise. This novel follows Yasmin Alejo, a character introduced in FULL STEAM AHEAD (Sea Swept Book 1); and I absolutely loved telling Yas' story!
Here's the blurb:
_____
WITH EVERY BREATH will release on March 31, 2014! And to celebrate, I've dropped the price of FULL STEAM AHEAD to 99 cents for a limited time. It's now available on Amazon, BN, Kobo, iBooks, and Google Play. Be sure to grab a copy if you'd like!
WITH EVERY BREATH is Book 2 in the Sea Swept series—although you can definitely read it as a standalone!—and it's another sexy NA contemporary romance set aboard a luxury cruise. This novel follows Yasmin Alejo, a character introduced in FULL STEAM AHEAD (Sea Swept Book 1); and I absolutely loved telling Yas' story!
Here's the blurb:
Yasmin Alejo used to a plan: get into grad school, work her butt off, and become Dr. Alejo, PhD.
But then her sister’s death shatters everything.
Heartbroken, Yasmin gets a job as a cruise ship photographer aboard the Radiant Star. She just wants some time to heal, but her infuriating—and annoyingly sexy—boss won’t give her any peace.
West Campbell used to care about more than money, but those days died along with his mom’s passing. Now he has only one goal: squeezing as much profit from the Radiant Star’s photography department as he can, in order to win a prized corporate management job. He won’t let anyone mess with that—especially not the feisty and gorgeous Yasmin, who seems more interested in getting to know the passengers than selling them vacation packages.
As they sail across open waters, Yasmin and West will fight storms, seasickness, and each other, until they can’t deny their connection any longer. Every tantalizing kiss will take their breaths away … but if they can’t get over the past, it might destroy their future.
_____
WITH EVERY BREATH will release on March 31, 2014! And to celebrate, I've dropped the price of FULL STEAM AHEAD to 99 cents for a limited time. It's now available on Amazon, BN, Kobo, iBooks, and Google Play. Be sure to grab a copy if you'd like!
January 14, 2014
FULL STEAM AHEAD Launches Today!
I woke up absolutely giddy this morning because...
Wow, I can't believe that FULL STEAM AHEAD is officially published! It's out in the big wide world now, and I'm so excited to share it with you! Here is the blurb:
Seven days aboard a luxury cruise. The perfect getaway from it all.
At least, that’s what Georgia Cantwell is hoping for.
Georgia wishes she could run away from the nightmare that has consumed her life — but she can’t. With her inbox filling with menacing emails, all she can do is try to get through her sorority’s winter break cruise without anyone realizing how wrecked she is. So she really doesn’t need Jace McLaren, a green-eyed womanizer, seeing through her tacked-on smile when no one else seems to notice.
Growing up with a father in jail and a barely-there mom, Jace knows from experience that if you’re going through hell, there’s no way out but through. He has always steered away from girls like Georgia with her ice-queen attitude, but she’s in real trouble, and despite himself he pushes past her walls.
As much as Georgia tries to ignore it, Jace won’t let her pretend with him. But she can’t risk telling him the truth. Her past would ruin his trust, her family, her future—everything.FSA is now available on Amazon and B&N! Feel free to check out the first chapter or a steamy excerpt if you'd like to read sample pages. I hope Georgia and Jace win you over!
But out on the open ocean, there’s nowhere to hide. And when Georgia’s secrets come tumbling out, it might take more than Jace to save her.
To celebrate my debut release, I'm giving away an Amazon gift card and a few e-copies of FULL STEAM AHEAD! If you end up reading the book, please consider leaving a review. I absolutely love hearing feedback from my readers, and I can't wait to hear what you think!
Thanks for sharing this day with me!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
January 13, 2014
Want Another Taste of FULL STEAM AHEAD?
Yay, Full Steam Ahead launches tomorrow!
After spending the weekend checking for typos and formatting the final manuscript, I am so very excited to share this book with you all! I already have a bottle of celebratory champagne and a pint of my favorite Ben & Jerry's ice cream (Half Baked!) chilling in the fridge. Tomorrow can't come soon enough!
Until then, how about a little snippet of Full Steam Ahead? Below, you'll find a swoon-y kissing scene between Georgia and Jace!
. . . . . EXCERPT. . . . .
The club stops spinning for a moment. Jace’s mouth is soft, much softer than I’d have thought given the roughness of his jaw under my fingertips. He doesn’t move for a heartbeat, and it’s like we exist in a bubble outside of this dance floor, outside of time.
But he pulls away from me. “What’s gotten into you?” He breathes, our mouths only inches apart. “I thought—”
I kiss him again. I need to forget about those emails, forget about my parents, forget about Hunter and Kelsey. I need to lose myself tonight, and Jace hooks up with lots of girls, so I’m sure he’ll know how to take my mind off of my problems. I’ve seen how he looks at me, so I know he’s interested. We’ll have some fun, and both get what we want.
My tongue traces along Jace’s mouth and then I gently bite his bottom lip, tugging it teasingly. I dip my thumbs into the waistband of his jeans and feel the warm skin of his stomach, so hard and smooth. I moan before I can stop myself.
Whatever I’m doing must be working, because Jace starts to kiss me back. His hands settle at my waist, trailing down toward my hips. Our kiss deepens and his tongue circles around mine, once, twice. Soft as a whisper. I’m lost in a rush of feeling, and I wrap my arms around his neck to draw him closer. I need him closer.
I push us toward the outskirts of the crowded room.
The lights move dizzyingly in the dark, and the music throbs through my limbs. Jace and I reach an empty spot by the wall. Here, we’re hidden from the dance floor by a tall potted fern decorated with white twinkling lights. The tiny lights reflect in Jace’s eyes, which take me in hungrily.
His hands move over my tank top to the bare skin of my shoulders, and I shiver as heat spikes through my limbs. My own fingers roam across his skin again eagerly: his waist, his back, across his hard abs that tighten at my touch… It has the temperature of a fever.
Jace dips his head to kiss my neck, and those dangerous lips make my whole body tingle. My thoughts go wild as I imagine him kissing down my belly, past my hips, and lower still. For a while we are a whirlwind, hot and spinning, and I haven’t felt so alive in months. Maybe years. I can’t help but think that it never felt like this with Hunter—this heat, this need. Not even when we first started dating.
I had no idea what I was missing.
And I don’t want it to stop.
______________________
If you want to find out what happens, be sure to buy your copy of Full Steam Ahead tomorrow! Check back here for the buy links or sign up for my newsletter!
January 6, 2014
Read the 1st Chapter of Full Steam Ahead!
I'm so excited to share something special with y'all today...
The first chapter of Full Steam Ahead!
So if you'd like to get a little taste of my debut, please click on the link and read to your heart's content! I sincerely hope that you like it—but if it's not your cup of tea, thank you so much for reading it anyway!
Gosh, this is so surreal! For so long, these characters and this plot have existed happily in my head and on my laptop, but now we're only a week away from FSA's release. I can't wait for my launch day, and to finally release my novel in that great big sea of publishing. There's a bottle of champagne waiting in the fridge for me already!
If you end up reading my first chapter, please let me know what you think in the comments section, all opinions welcome! And if you like what you read, I'd love for you to add FSA on Goodreads or sign up for my mailing list for updates on my books!
The first chapter of Full Steam Ahead!
So if you'd like to get a little taste of my debut, please click on the link and read to your heart's content! I sincerely hope that you like it—but if it's not your cup of tea, thank you so much for reading it anyway!
Gosh, this is so surreal! For so long, these characters and this plot have existed happily in my head and on my laptop, but now we're only a week away from FSA's release. I can't wait for my launch day, and to finally release my novel in that great big sea of publishing. There's a bottle of champagne waiting in the fridge for me already!
If you end up reading my first chapter, please let me know what you think in the comments section, all opinions welcome! And if you like what you read, I'd love for you to add FSA on Goodreads or sign up for my mailing list for updates on my books!
Read the 1st Chapter of Full Steam Ahead!
I'm delightfully nervous (is such a thing possible?) to share something special with y'all today...
The first chapter of Full Steam Ahead!
*Chews on nails*
So if you'd like to get a little taste of my debut, please click on the link and read to your heart's content! I sincerely hope that you like it—but if it's not your cup of tea, thank you so much for reading it anyway!
Gosh, this is so surreal! For so long, these characters and this plot have existed happily in my head and on my laptop, but now we're only about a week away from FSA's release. I can't wait for my launch day, but I can't help but feel a little apprehensive too. Will people like it? Will people even pick it up?
My fingers are squeezed so tightly it hurts!
Anyway, I'm rambling now. If you end up reading my first chapter, please let me know what you think in the comments section, all opinions welcome! And if you like what you read, I'd love for you to add FSA on Goodreads or sign up for my mailing list for updates on my books!
The first chapter of Full Steam Ahead!
*Chews on nails*
So if you'd like to get a little taste of my debut, please click on the link and read to your heart's content! I sincerely hope that you like it—but if it's not your cup of tea, thank you so much for reading it anyway!
Gosh, this is so surreal! For so long, these characters and this plot have existed happily in my head and on my laptop, but now we're only about a week away from FSA's release. I can't wait for my launch day, but I can't help but feel a little apprehensive too. Will people like it? Will people even pick it up?
My fingers are squeezed so tightly it hurts!
Anyway, I'm rambling now. If you end up reading my first chapter, please let me know what you think in the comments section, all opinions welcome! And if you like what you read, I'd love for you to add FSA on Goodreads or sign up for my mailing list for updates on my books!
January 2, 2014
New Goals for the New Year!
Oof, I didn't mean to take such a long blog hiatus!
Blame it on the holidays, I suppose. The last-minute shopping. The last-minute decorating. And, of course, the last-minute cookies that I simply had to eat before bed. :)
Now that 2014 has arrived, I've been thinking a lot about new year's goals, especially goals concerning my career. Unbelievably, my debut Full Steam Ahead launches in twelve short days! Meep! The date has definitely snuck up on me, and I can't believe that I'll have a book out there in the world. Will people like it? Hate it? Will anyone even read it? Gosh, I sure hope so!
As a debut author, I'm trying to keep my expectations very modest but I still have a few goals and dreams bumping around in my head. So *deep breaths* here's what I'm hoping for in this upcoming year:
1. Publish at least three books in 2014. FSA is the first book in the Sea Swept series, which are all set aboard a luxury cruise liner and which feature characters who are all introduced in Full Steam Ahead. My plan is to write three books in the series although I'd be happy to extend it to five if I find a readership for it. But for now, I'll focus on these first three titles and get them out into the world in 2014!
2. Break even monetarily! One day I would absolutely love to make my living as a full-time writer but for now I'm simply hoping to break even. By mid-April, three months after FSA's launch, I'd love to say that I recouped the costs that I put into the book (like buying the stock image, paying for tours, etc.) and maybe I'll even make enough to cover the costs for Book 2. Or treat myself to a nice dinner. Fingers crossed!
3. Get a fan letter. Now this—this!—would definitely be a dream come true. And it'd be even better if said letter didn't come from my mom. Haha. Anyway, while it would be great to make a real living as a writer, the reason I started writing in the first place is to share my stories with readers—stories that they will hopefully enjoy and maybe even love! So if I get a fan letter or email sometime this year, I will be one happy and giddy and tear-filled girl.
So those are my modest goals for 2014! Here's to hoping that I'll be able to see them come true as this new year unfolds! But if not...there's always 2015, right? Haha.
Enough about me though! What are some of your goals, both professional and person, for this year?
Blame it on the holidays, I suppose. The last-minute shopping. The last-minute decorating. And, of course, the last-minute cookies that I simply had to eat before bed. :)
Now that 2014 has arrived, I've been thinking a lot about new year's goals, especially goals concerning my career. Unbelievably, my debut Full Steam Ahead launches in twelve short days! Meep! The date has definitely snuck up on me, and I can't believe that I'll have a book out there in the world. Will people like it? Hate it? Will anyone even read it? Gosh, I sure hope so!
As a debut author, I'm trying to keep my expectations very modest but I still have a few goals and dreams bumping around in my head. So *deep breaths* here's what I'm hoping for in this upcoming year:
1. Publish at least three books in 2014. FSA is the first book in the Sea Swept series, which are all set aboard a luxury cruise liner and which feature characters who are all introduced in Full Steam Ahead. My plan is to write three books in the series although I'd be happy to extend it to five if I find a readership for it. But for now, I'll focus on these first three titles and get them out into the world in 2014!
2. Break even monetarily! One day I would absolutely love to make my living as a full-time writer but for now I'm simply hoping to break even. By mid-April, three months after FSA's launch, I'd love to say that I recouped the costs that I put into the book (like buying the stock image, paying for tours, etc.) and maybe I'll even make enough to cover the costs for Book 2. Or treat myself to a nice dinner. Fingers crossed!
3. Get a fan letter. Now this—this!—would definitely be a dream come true. And it'd be even better if said letter didn't come from my mom. Haha. Anyway, while it would be great to make a real living as a writer, the reason I started writing in the first place is to share my stories with readers—stories that they will hopefully enjoy and maybe even love! So if I get a fan letter or email sometime this year, I will be one happy and giddy and tear-filled girl.
So those are my modest goals for 2014! Here's to hoping that I'll be able to see them come true as this new year unfolds! But if not...there's always 2015, right? Haha.
Enough about me though! What are some of your goals, both professional and person, for this year?
December 20, 2013
12 Days of New Adult Romance: RUMOR HAS IT by Elisabeth Grace
Alas, we have reached the last day of my Twelve Days of New Adult Romance blog series! *Sniff, sniff* The good news though? I think I may have saved the best for last!
So today I give you... RUMOR HAS IT by Elisabeth Grace!
For one thing, doesn't that hook just suck you in? I think every girl wants to get swept off her feet by a sexy green-eyed stranger who just happens to be a music or movie star! For me, it was always Gavin Rossdale or Leo DiCaprio. :)
For another, the writing in this book is absolutely delicious! I adore Ellie's voice—especially her determination and laugh-out-loud one-liners. RUMOR HAS IT is definitely one of those books that you need to carve out a few hours to read because you're not going to want to put it down!
And lastly, Elisabeth is the sort of author who I aspire to be one day! She's gracious, kind, and has written a killer NA debut to boot. Be sure to keep track of her in 2014 because I have no doubt her career is going to skyrocket!
Be sure to follow Elisabeth on Facebook and Twitter! You can also win an e-copy of RUMOR HAS IT (along with a slew of other NA books) by entering my giveaway below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
So today I give you... RUMOR HAS IT by Elisabeth Grace!
All publicity is good publicity, right?
Unless you’re recent college grad Ellie Wagner and an embarrassing video of you and your boyfriend goes viral. Every man in your life abandons you, but who knew a one-minute clip of your latest doomed relationship would brand you a slut, prevent you from getting your perfect job, and force you to keep doing the one thing you swore you’d never do again…live with your mother.
But staying with mom and her latest boy-toy (is this husband number four or five?) until your life turns around might not be all bad. Especially when you fall – literally – at the feet of a sexy, green-eyed stranger who offers you freedom and a life of luxury on a gold-rimmed platter. There’s only one little problem – the man of your dreams is none other than Mason Nash, the latest hip-hop star busting up the music charts. Fame and fortune are his calling cards and he’s vying to steal the show on a new reality TV series that will catapult him into mainstream stardom. Hello spotlight.
The man behind the famous persona is perfect for Ellie in every way, but can she overcome the ugly pitfalls that come with Mason’s celebrity status? Or will she be forced to choose between the man she loves and the independent life she longs for? After all, fame and fortune aren’t always what they seem and not all publicity is good publicity…Why am I so darn excited to feature this amazing NA romance today?
For one thing, doesn't that hook just suck you in? I think every girl wants to get swept off her feet by a sexy green-eyed stranger who just happens to be a music or movie star! For me, it was always Gavin Rossdale or Leo DiCaprio. :)
For another, the writing in this book is absolutely delicious! I adore Ellie's voice—especially her determination and laugh-out-loud one-liners. RUMOR HAS IT is definitely one of those books that you need to carve out a few hours to read because you're not going to want to put it down!
And lastly, Elisabeth is the sort of author who I aspire to be one day! She's gracious, kind, and has written a killer NA debut to boot. Be sure to keep track of her in 2014 because I have no doubt her career is going to skyrocket!
Be sure to follow Elisabeth on Facebook and Twitter! You can also win an e-copy of RUMOR HAS IT (along with a slew of other NA books) by entering my giveaway below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
