I asked God for a breadcrumb.
God sent me a special loaf.
I have been blessed with the best and most amazing friends on the planet.
Blogs have addressed my concerns. Comments and emails have offered encouragement, hugs, and some great ideas.
The problems have not gone away.
A peek inside: I’m in writing limbo. I have the book contracts. The first one is with the editor now. I don’t have a book cover yet, and won’t for another month or two. Going with a small publisher means I have to do a lot of my own marketing. To do my own marketing, I need a book cover. And so is spirals. I remind myself I have plans to set in motion as soon as the book cover arrives. In the meantime, there’s plenty to keep me busy, but then something new will show up. My publishing company is developing an APP for the company and suggesting each author create their own APP. Again, I need a book cover. This is something I can do as soon as the cover shows up. And I circle back again. I’ve been doing some heavy re-writing of the second book scheduled to be published, due at the end of next month. I’m very aware of the time constraints, and wondering what in the world I was thinking when I agreed to… volunteered! to all this. I sent in the proposal. I didn’t think they’d accept it! They did. Lesson learned. Do not underestimate myself. In the meantime, I’m endeavoring to figure out how to live with my choices… hmmm… if I had to do over, would I change it? If I could have devoted more time to my writing sooner, yes, but if I could go back and delay seeking those contracts… Nope. Wouldn’t change a thing.
The problems are still there, but God sent me angels to lift me up, inspire me, and remind me to not give up. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. You are such blessings to me.
Dearest Judy,
You are a blessing to us too.I am really excited about your books being published. Keep us posted. (((Hugs)))
By: Kara on May 25, 2012
at 4:48 am
(((Kara))) Thank you!
By: Judy on May 25, 2012
at 4:53 am
What goes around comes around. You encourage and inspire me, hoping to help back. π
By: Ruth on May 25, 2012
at 6:27 am
You do! Thank you!
By: Judy on May 25, 2012
at 6:31 am
Sounds like a stressful, but exciting, time! Go you!! π
What’s an APP?
By: Cassandra on May 25, 2012
at 6:36 am
Thanks, Cassandra!
I’m not an expert, but if I understand them correctly, APPs are like shortcuts. It downloads to a smart phone or iPad type device or even your computer. You click on it, and it takes you to whatever it represents. For example, author Melanie Atkins has her own APP. You download it, and it lists her books, her social networking, her website, and where to buy her books. I suppose it’s a shortcut to specific information.
By: Judy on May 25, 2012
at 6:56 am
Ohhh, as in “There’s an app for that!” I was reading it like it was an abbreviation, along the lines of IPO. I thought it was a business thing. (chuckle)
By: Cassandra on May 25, 2012
at 10:34 am
Actually, I think the capitalization isn’t how it usually appears so much as how it feels to me. π
By: Judy on May 25, 2012
at 11:52 am
Here is a link to develop a good APP
http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/userexperience/conceptual/mobilehig/AppDesign/AppDesign.html
If it needs to be done, there is a web page telling you how to do it. π
By: Ruth on May 26, 2012
at 5:50 am
Too bad there isn’t an app for that. π
By: Judy on May 26, 2012
at 9:29 am
You have worked so hard to get to where you are today; you deserve to be successful and happy. You are a wonderful writer and I have learned a lot from you.
Thank you (((Judy)))
By: Molly on May 25, 2012
at 7:18 am
Thank you, and you are most welcome! (((Molly)))
By: Judy on May 25, 2012
at 7:31 am
I don’t know if this will help you with your particular dilemmas, but a lot of books do marketing before they have a final cover. They just have temporary covers, either with simple title texts or sometimes with images that give a sense of the story. Typically a note will appear on either the front or back cover stating that it is not the final book cover.
I’ve seen these on lots of advanced reader copies (known as ARCs or sometimes “galleys” or on things like postcards or bookmarks that do pre-publication marketing. It takes so long for books to go to publication yet most booksellers place their orders around 6 months in advance of publication. Frequently nothing is completely finalized when the orders need to be placed.
By: vicariousrising on May 25, 2012
at 11:39 am
Oooo yes! I’ve seen this! I thought about trying it myself, then worried about doing it wrong.
Funnily enough, lifebegins45 had a post on that exact problem, today.
http://lifebegins45.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/why-am-i-fighting-now/
By: Judy on May 25, 2012
at 11:55 am