What a wonderful Christmas story! When Ivy buys an old farmhouse, she doesn’t realize it is the home of the former town Santa, and that a Santa Suit she finds will be the key to happiness for more than one person. The characters are endearing, and the story is fun, magical, and just right for Christmas. The reader is transported to the Christmas season in a big way.
Sometimes you just want to relax with a book that is just a lot of fun without too many complications, especially at Christmas. This is such a book.
I recommend this to anyone who wants to experience some Christmas joy.
I received a free copy of this book from the St. Martins Press via Netgalley. My review is voluntary.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mary Kay Andrews
MARY KAY ANDREWS is the New York Times bestselling author of 29 novels (including The Santa Suit; The Newcomer; Hello, Summer; Sunset Beach;The High Tide Club; The Weekenders; Beach Town; Save the Date; Ladies’ Night; Christmas Bliss; Spring Fever; Summer Rental;The Fixer Upper; Deep Dish; Blue Christmas; Savannah Breeze; Hissy Fit; Little Bitty Lies; and Savannah Blues), and one cookbook,The Beach House Cookbook.
A native of St. Petersburg, Florida, she earned a B.A. in journalism from The University of Georgia. After a 14-year career working as a reporter at newspapers including The Savannah Morning News, The Marietta Journal, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where she spent the final ten years of her career, she left journalism in 1991 to write fiction.
Her first novel, Every Crooked Nanny, was published in 1992 by HarperCollins. She went on to write ten critically acclaimed mysteries under her real name, Kathy Hogan Trocheck. In 2002, she assumed the pen name Mary Kay Andrews with the publication of Savannah Blues. In 2006, Hissy Fit became her first New York Times bestseller, followed by fourteen more New York Times, USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestsellers. To date, her novels have been published in German, Italian, Polish, Slovenian, Hungarian, Dutch, Czech and Japanese.
She and her family divide their time between Atlanta and Tybee Island, GA, where they cook up new recipes in two restored beach homes, The Breeze Inn and Ebbtide—both named after fictional places in Mary Kay’s novels.
The love between Veuve Clicquot and her husband, Francois. Then, she falls in love with her salesman, Louis Bohne, who asks to marry him. But according to Napoleon Code if she marries, ownership of the winery goes to him. Then, there is Napoleon and Josephine, one of the most famous and enduring love stories on earth. Then why did he divorce her? Find out in CHAMPAGNE WIDOWS, $5 off kindle today.
Did you ever hear the shocking and heartbreaking love story of Napoleon and Josephine?
Theirs was the most passionate, confusing, tender, manipulative, and damning love I ever heard of, and I loved sharing it in my new novel CHAMPAGNE WIDOWS. Napoleon was obsessed with Josephine, 6 years his elder, a Martinique, and a divorcee with children. He wrote her letters daily from the war fields, begging her to come to him. He wrote to her to his dying day.
Then why did he divorce her and marry someone he never met?
I awake full of you. Your image and the memory of last night’s intoxicating pleasures have left my senses no rest.
Sweet, incomparable Joséphine, what a strange effect you have on my heart. Are you angry? Do I see you sad? Are you worried? My soul breaks with grief, and there is no rest for your lover; but how much the more when I yield to this passion that rules me and drink a burning flame from your lips and your heart? Oh! This night has shown me that your portrait is not you!
You leave at midday; in three hours I shall see you.
Meanwhile, my sweet love, a thousand kisses; but do not give me any, for they set my blood on fire.
B.
November 21, 1796
I am going to bed with my heart full of your adorable image… I cannot wait to give you proofs of my ardent love… How happy I would be if I could assist you at your undressing, the little firm white breast, the adorable face, the hair tied in a scarf à la créole. You know that I will never forget the little visits, you know, the little black forest… I kiss it a thousand times and wait impatiently for the moment I will be in it. To live within Joséphine is to live in the Elysian fields. Kisses on your mouth, your eyes, your breast, everywhere, everywhere.
But, then he hears news of Josephine, and writes:
I don’t love you anymore; on the contrary, I hate you. You are a vile, mean, beastly slut. You don’t write me at all; you don’t love your husband; you know how happy your letters make him, and you don’t write him six lines of nonsense…
Soon, I hope, I will be holding you in my arms; then I will cover you with a million hot kisses, burning like the equator.
Self-Published Saturday is my effort to help self-published/indie authors promote their books. Self-published authors have to do it all, from editing to cover design to marketing. If I can help promote their books in even a small way, I am happy to assist! I thought I’d attach links and covers of some of the wonderful Indie books I’ve reviewed in the past. Be sure and click on the cover to check out the book description and buy links on Amazon. Check them out and you won’t be disappointed! I’ll do other lists of this type regularly.
This is the first in the Robin Hood Trilogy. The second book is Robin Hood’s Widow, and the third is Robin Hood’s Return. These are five-star reads that combine the Robin Hood legend with Historical Fiction.
This wonderful novel by Gail Meath was an Editor’s Choice for the August 2021 edition of Historical Novels Review Magazine, the magazine of the Historical Novel Society. It got 5 stars from me, too.
Another five star read, the Siege of An Loc is a historical novel about the Vietnam War told from the perspective of a South Vietnamese soldier.
This is Book one in the fascinating dystopian series Juche by Adria Carmichael It set in a North Korean concentration camp in the 1990s. There have been three books released currently.
This is a collection of Tanka poems that explore the issue of grief and celebrate the lives of the author’s departed family. This 5 star collection will cause you to both smile and cry.
Another 5 star poetry collection. Louise Bélanger’s Your Word, Your World is a collection of Inspirational poems that celebrates God and his creation.
This is Book 1 in the Talisman Series by Brett Salter. Rome is a boy who accidentally sets a tree on fire and eventually finds out he is really a dragon! Great 5-star Young Adult Series. This is the first book in the Alice and Trudy mystery trilogy. Alice and Trudy have opened up a hotel that caters to the elderly, and their gang of residents is a hoot!
This fantastic book by Patricia Furstenberg takes you, through photographs, illustrations, and 100 word stories, on a trip through time in Transylvania’s history. You start in Neanderthal times and work up to the present. Really an entertaining and educational 5 star read.
Full disclosure, I am the editor on this book. But it’s a wonderful start to a cozy mystery series by Gail Meath that is set in the 1920s. Jax Diamond, private investigator, and his canine assistant Ace are on the case when a talented Broadway playwright is murdered. It will be released November 11, 2021.
BEFORE YOU GO
If you decide to check out some or all of these wonderful books, please leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, and any other sites you use. Reviews are like gold to self-published authors.
Self-Published Saturday is my attempt to help self-published authors with the heavy task of marketing. Self-published/indie authors have to do it all, from editing to cover design to marketing. If this blog can lighten the load even a little bit, I am happy to assist! This week, I’d like to introduce you to a wonderful children’s book, Dilly Dally Sally by E.M. Blake.
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Explore East London on a quiet summer day and discover how Sally finds her way home. Will her friends the swans and geese help?
The story is inspired by the real wildlife of Regent’s Canal and Limehouse Basin in London. There’s amusing situations and familiar objects to encourage parent-child interaction. It’s great as part of the bedtime routine while helping to support their reading skills. Have fun learning about animals, numbers and the love of family, plus develop life skills like relaxation versus procrastination, problem solving and safety.
This picture book combines photographs of places and wildlife in East London with the tale of a lost duckling to help stimulate children’s natural curiosity about the world. It’s reality with a dash of fiction and rhyme.
BOOK REVIEW
This is a fun and educational children’s story that takes a walk with a very lost duckling as she tries to find her way home. Accompanied by real-life photos of Regent’s Canal and Limehouse Basin in London, this also teaches kids about these areas while they are reading a cute and entertaining story. The rhymes are adorable and may encourage kids to try rhymes of their own. Children and adults will enjoy the photos and the irresistible rhyming tale of Sally and her adventures.
I downloaded a copy of this book on Kindle Unlimited, where subscribers can read it for free.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ellie M. Blake lives in London. She loves taking photographs of nature and writing stories. Her other interests include travel, cooking and healthy happy living.
Once upon a time, she worked in education and did many other jobs, before, after and during completion of an MA in English literature, LLB, B.Commerce and BA.
Dilly Dally Sally is her first book.
Click the yellow ‘follow’ button to receive emails about new book releases and special deals.
She enjoys connecting with people. Please get in touch.
While I love the fun rhymes, real-life pictures of wildlife, and educational opportunities this book provides, the cover needs some work. The duckling on the front appears to have possibly been pasted in, as the background around it is a little darker than the rest of the photo. The lettering on the cover is not showing up well, and the author might consider trying a different color or font. This does not affect my rating of the overall book.
*Kindle Unlimited Subscribers can read the ebook for free.
*If you buy the book(s), please leave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, as well as anywhere else you review books. Some people feel very daunted by writing a review. Don’t worry. You do not have to write a masterpiece. Just a couple of lines about how the book made you feel will make the author’s day and help the book succeed. The more reviews a book has, the more Amazon will promote it.
*Please click on the “share” buttons below and share these books with your Twitter, Facebook, and WordPress followers. A little bit of help from all of us will help self-published authors go a long way!
It was the most anticipated summer break of their young lives.
For Bran Lampshire, that summer of 1986 would be far different. The lure of a wilderness adventure sends him and his friends on a troublesome journey that would see them far from home and into the isolated shadows of the Sleathton Estate. In a forgotten land where nature thrives, an unexplained mist settles upon the shaded grounds. And stories were told of events so chilling, they were forcibly buried over time.
Lose yourself beneath the endless trees. And discover that legends are sometimes so much more than ghost stories.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
M.L. Rayner
Born and bred in the county of Staffordshire. Matt is a keen reader of classical, horror and fantasy literature and enjoys writing in the style of traditional ghost stories. During his working life, Matt joined the ambulance service in 2009, transporting critically ill patients all over the UK. After writing his first novel, Matt was welcomed into the family of Question Mark Press publishing and now dedicates his time on future releases. His hobbies include genealogy and hiking, and he enjoys spending time with his wife, Emma, his children, and his family.
Bran and his friend Marcus are going on an adventurous trek from their town of Bonhil Dale into the wilderness surrounding the mysterious Sleathton Estate. Marcus has planned a 9-day hike and decides to also bring along Jack, an odd new boy in town, much to Bran’s displeasure. The three boys hike into the woods and meet an old man, Gregory, who takes them to his house for the night. When one of the boys disappears, Gregory begins to tell a story of children disappearing in the swamps and mists of the forest. Blended into the novel in separate chapters is the story of a missing girl, Olivia, who is chasing a ghostly voice through the same forest.
Amongst the Mists is a clever mix of paranormal and horror fiction with a heavy dose of folklore and sprinklings of the crime/thriller genre. M.L. Rayner perfectly blends ghostly figures, mythical creatures, and mysterious characters into a hair-raising but clever tale. The mystery will keep you guessing until the end, and the cliffhangers between chapters raise the alarm level even more. The fates of the children collide and the ending is surprising and unexpected. The author’s note at the end is not to be missed as he tells of myths and legends that influenced this book. Fans of horror and the paranormal, bring your imagination and a flashlight, and be prepared for some terror, because we are about to travel into the Mists.
I received a free copy of this book via Zooloo’s Book Tours. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
*Kindle Unlimited Subscribers can read the ebook for free.
Q&A WITH AUTHOR M.L. RAYNER
Let’s go beyond the bio. Tell us something about yourself we might not know after reading your bio.
I love comic cons and collecting signed memorabilia. I usually attend these conventions three or four times a year.
You mention your inspiration for Amongst the Mists in your author’s note at the end. Could you share a little of that inspiration for our readers?
Many local stories can just get lost in time. I think there are so many tales of myths and ghosts that many don’t realise there is an element of truth to them. For Amongst the Mists I wanted to capture a little bit of old story telling.
As a reader, I find that genres cross many lines. While some classify your books as horror, I would classify them also as paranormal/magical realism. This one has some of the crime/thriller genre in it as well. How would you classify it?
I would agree with you. Although I set out to purely write a short story of *something* in the woods, it exploded into something much more. The idea I had for this book was horror. But yes, you’re quite right. There is a good slice of Paranormal and crime involved. If I had to pick I would lean towards Paranormal
This is something I’ve always wanted to ask a writer of paranormal/ghost stories: These stories are supposed to be a little scary. Do you ever scare yourself while writing these stories?
I can get Goosebumps from time to time. Its all down to the image you create in your head. You have to translate that to paper and hope the reader envisions the same.
I have read your previous book, Echoes of Home, as well as this one. Tell our readers about your previous work and what you might be working on next.
Echoes of home is written in the style of a classic ghost story, and as clean as I could make it. After reading plenty of horror novels I wanted to write something based on not just ghosts but the unsettling sense of isolation. My first book is very special to me and includes a very powerful, yet true backstory.
What’s up next – I am currently writing my first YA horror book which will be part of the new Question Mark Horror series. I believe it is due for release around March next year.
As your writing journey continues, what are some things you have learned that you can share with other authors?
Help is always at hand. I am involved with a very supportive group of authors and admins that all support each other. Try and share your work to gain feedback and don’t be put down by advice.
eBook Publication Date: October 1, 2021
Lion Heart Publishing
Genre: Historical Fiction
Triple-gold-medal-winning author Rebecca Rosenberg serves up a triumphant tale of talent and ambition, love and loss, betrayal and redemption, and accepting yourself and others for who they are.Champagne, France, 1800
Twenty-year-old Barbe-Nicole has inherited Le Nez (an uncanny sense of smell that makes her picky, persnickety, and particularly perceptive) from her great-grandfather, a renowned champagne maker.
Her parents, however, see Le Nez as a curse and try to marry her off to an unsuspecting suitor. But Barbe-Nicole is determined to use Le Nez to make great champagne. When she learns her childhood sweetheart, François Clicquot, wants to start a winery, she rejects her parents’ suitors and marries François despite his mental illness.
The Widow Known as Veuve Clicquot
Soon, Barbe-Nicole Clicquot must cope with her husband’s death. Becoming a widow known as Veuve Clicquot, she grapples with a new overbearing partner, the difficulties of making champagne and the Napoleon Codes preventing women from owning a business. All this while her father takes a military uniform contract from Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, who wages six wars against European monarchs, crippling Veuve Clicquot’s ability to sell her champagne.
Challenging Napoleon
Using Le Nez, Veuve Clicquot struggles through unbearable hardships and challenges Napoleon himself. When she falls in love with her sales manager, Louis Bohne, who asks her to marry, she must choose between losing her winery to her husband, as dictated by Napoleon Code or losing Louis. In the ultimate showdown, Veuve Clicquot risks imprisonment and even death as she defies Napoleon.
California native Rebecca Rosenberg lives on a lavender farm with her family in Sonoma, the Valley of the Moon, where she and her husband founded the largest lavender product company in America. A long-time student of Jack London’s work and an avid fan of his daring wife, Charmian, Rosenberg is a graduate of the Stanford Writing Certificate Program. Her books include: GOLD DIGGER, the Remarkable Baby Doe Tabor, The Secret Life of Mrs. London, Lavender Fields of America, and the Champagne Widows series.
Enter to win a paperback copy or eBook of Champagne Widows by Rebecca Rosenberg!
The giveaway is open to US addresses only and ends on October 29th. 10 winners will receive a prize pack including a signed copy of Champagne Widows, champagne earrings, champagne jellybeans, champagne bubbles, and a champagne bath bomb! You must be 18 or older to enter.
Champagne Widows
“For anyone who loves champagne, a must-read novel about Veuve Clicquot.” ~ Judithe Little, best-selling author of The Chanel Sisters”These first known women of Champagne/Sparkling winemaking may not have even realized how strong they were until they had to learn and do it all to survive for themselves and their wineries! Reading Champagne Widows makes it even more of an honor tolearn a craft still dominated by men.” ~ Penny Gadd-Coster, ExecutiveDirector of Winemaking, Rack & Riddle
“The sun-drenched vineyards of France, a real-life heroine who against all odds refuses to give up her dreams… and champagne. What’s not to love? And that’s just what Rebecca Rosenberg delivers in Champagne Widows. Barbe-Nicole Clicquot was a woman ahead of her time, a fascinating blend of ingenuity, heart, and sheer tenacity, with a nose for wine and a head for business. A 19th century widow who built an empire as war raged all around her. Note: This richly woven tale is best savored slowly, though with all delicious things, it won’t be easy.” ~ Barbara Davis, best-selling author of The Last of the Moon Girls.
“Champagne Widows is a witty, accomplished novel, featuring a tough and charming heroine of the first order. One can’t help but root for Barbe-Nicole, an astute businesswoman who brilliantly holds her own against none other than Napoleon Bonaparte. Although the events unfold two centuries ago, the story feels so modern, the characters could be your friends and neighbors. As easy to love as a glass of Veuve Clicquot, this may be Rebecca Rosenberg’s best book yet.” ~ Michelle Richmond, best-selling author of The Marriage Pact.
“Award-winning author, Rebecca Rosenberg returns with another Historical Fiction jewel in CHAMPAGNE WIDOWS. Meet the women who succeeded in creating world class champagne in a time men ruled business and society. Lovers of history, romance, and French culture will relish the multi-layered plot and cast of characters including the ultimate French icon, Napoleon Bonaparte.” ~ Johnnie Bernhard, award-winning author of Sisters of the Undertow
BOOK REVIEW
What a wonderful work of historical fiction! We are immediately transported back to the Napoleonic wars, and meet Barbe Nicole Ponsardin, the gifted “Le Nez” who can smell the hidden essence of the grapes she grows. Her sense of smell is so powerful that she sometimes thinks she can smell “..the stink of a lie, or the perfume of a pure heart.” She dreams of using this uncanny sense of smell to make champagne. We watch as Barbe Nicole refuses to give up the right to marry the man she loves, Francois Clicquot, and begins their wine business. The bloody path of Napoleon is recounted by Francois, a former soldier, who is haunted by atrocities he was forced to commit in war.
Barbe-Nicole becomes a young widow, the “Veuve Clicquot,” tragically losing Francois to illness. She continues to try to grow their wine business, employing many widows along the way. Her father is in a business contract with Napoleon himself, and Barbe Nicole is forced to deal with the Emperor while trying to protect her father, who is in fact a royalist. At the same time, she is trying to retain control of her winery. This inspiring story of the first “champagne widow” and owner of the champagne house Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin is woven throughout with history of the Napoleonic wars. The portrayal of Napoleon himself is fascinating. The grit and determination of Clicquot to keep her lands and grow her business, even in the midst of war, is an inspiring look at the timeless and continuing fight of women for their rights. I especially enjoyed the cunning of “Le Nez” and her ability to continually thwart the plans that others made for her life. This spirit of independence possessed by Cliquot and others paved the way for the rights of women today.
Rebecca Rosenberg has made the past come to life. Barbe-Nicole’s determination sparkles as brightly as her champagne, and Napoleon is plagued by the devil that drives him to further and more shocking atrocities. Those interested in Napoleon, the Champagne Widows, or the history of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin will enjoy this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours (HFVBT). My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.
I’m so excited! I wanted a better logo for all my social media accounts, one that really reflects me and my personality, and here it is! I contacted artist Angela Fernot after I saw a book cover she had done for Wes Verde’s historical novel Jalopy. The amazing cover of Jalopy is below, along with some other images of unbelievably cool art by Angela Fernot. I couldn’t be more pleased with this logo.
I also wanted to get an artist’s perspective, so below I have a Q&A with Angela. This is my first interview with a professional artist.
I was given images of the full logo, the logo without the text, and the text without the logo.
Text Only
Logo Without Text
Full Logo
I couldn’t be more pleased to have a logo that is eye-catching, versatile, meets all my social media needs, and reflects ME and my personality. Check out the interesting interview with Angela below!
Q&A WITH ANGELA
Art by Angela Fernot
In addition to the questions, I inserted a few comments along the way in bold
Tell us a little bit about your journey as an artist. Has art always been your career?
I’ve always been involved with art one way or another. When I started working, I was 11 years old, and I babysat for family friends. After that, I was working in restaurants, but I would draw whenever I had a free moment. To be honest, I never knew for sure that it was art or nothing else. I considered joining the military at one point, because I had a very strong desire to help others and I love to travel. I was even encouraged to become a police officer, a nurse, and a teacher by different family members.
However, I could never fully walk away from art. I went to college and a trade school studying art, and when I graduated I actually worked for a small online art gallery for six years while teaching art classes part time on the side. At the gallery I learned so much about the art world and how much more there was to being in the industry…I got to do graphic design, marketing, sales, and project management. I visited a printing press, participated in curating gallery exhibits, and I even got some freelance work from myself.
After being with the company for six years, my fiance and I were given an opportunity to move to a new state, and I was able to become a freelance artist full time as of 2019! I have definitely questioned whether I was meant to be an artist, but I have never walked away from it. I can’t imagine my life any other way.
I first saw your art on the cover of Wes Verde’s book Jalopy, but the gallery on your website is wonderfully varied. You’ve done everything from comics to portraits. Have you done other book covers?
Cover by Angela Fernot
Thank you so much for looking! Technically, I’ve done comic book covers! I’d love to do more book illustrations, but it hasn’t happened quite yet. My artistic variety has acted as both a blessing and a curse. I am able to create in many different styles, but I have been told that my diversity keeps me from truly standing out. (Note from Bonnie: Your talent stands out, believe me!)
We have many self-published authors on this site, and one of the things they are responsible for is cover design. What is your opinion of the importance of the book cover? As an artist, when you are choosing a book to read, do you judge it by its cover?
Oh, I am so VERY guilty of choosing a book based on the cover! I particularly enjoy romance novels, and when I see the typical shirtless man with a helpless looking woman on the cover, I can’t help but roll my eyes. (Note from Bonnie: Me, too!). I am guilty of reading some of those books, but I have actually found my favorite novels tend to move away from that style of cover.
My favorite book covers incorporate strong design elements, and if they have a full image or scene (like the cover I created for Wes Verde). I prefer to see painted or drawn art over photographs, unless the photos are heavily edited to make them more artistic and less like a movie poster.
Overall, I am most easily drawn to graphically strong covers that have colorful imagery, strong graphics, or really wonderful fonts.
Can you give our self-published or new authors advice on choosing a designer/artist for their book cover? I think a lot of design comes down to the preference of the authors and their style. When Wes wanted me to paint a watercolor illustration for a book cover, I was surprised. I worried that it might seem dated. In actuality, it worked rather well with his story, because it complemented the time period and evoked the feeling he wanted readers to have while immersed in his world.
What is most important is to look at OTHER book covers you like, and identify WHY you like them before you choose an artist. Put together a folder or Pinterest board, take notes, and look at what you like and what you don’t like.
Review the work of the artist you want to choose. Do they offer graphic design? Illustration? Both? It is not actually common to have one artist who does it all and does it well. You may want to hire one artist for your art, and another for the graphic design (like your title, placement of text on the cover, and how the art and lettering works together).
When you approach your designer, be open to suggestions, but make sure they are able to deliver the vision you are looking for. A good designer will be able to interpret your ideas with you, and tell you if something you want just doesn’t work.
Don’t be afraid to save up a little and spend money for someone who can truly give you what you want. You and your book are worth it!
Also, approach more than one designer and be prepared to wait a while. Some artists have a waitlist, so it is good to have a clear timeline in mind. Don’t pay in full up front. Make a deposit when you know the terms are clear, and don’t be afraid to have a contract for the work.
Finally, please be kind to your artist! Sometimes, clients misunderstand how complex a job can be, and it always goes more smoothly when we can have patience and clear communication. Oh, and communication is key. Both the artist and author should definitely have a good, open line of communication. It just makes things run more efficiently. (Note from Bonnie: Angela was GREAT to work with and so patient!)
When you are working on a book cover, what information do you need from the author in order to create the best design for their book?
I love this question!! For me, that Pinterest board or ‘vision board’ is very important. I want to know what the author likes, and I need to understand how much they know about design so that I may gently coach my client in the right direction if I feel they may not understand exactly what they want.
I also need to know the basic plot of the book. I know it seems silly (Note from Bonnie: It’s not silly at all), but it helps me get a feel for the style of the art/design. Should it be dramatic? Dark? Creepy? Cozy? Elegant? Modern? It’s like dressing for an occasion. You want to dress your book up to be the best looking cover for the right kind of crowd. (Note from Bonnie: I LOVE THIS)
The dimensions of a book cover are also important, so wherever an author wants to publish or print, please check the guidelines. They’ll be listed somewhere.
Finally, I just need to know if the author can talk to me! I love to have phone or video meetings to get to know who I’m working with, but if that isn’t an option or preferred method, I like to be able to get clear feedback from my clients as we work through each stage of the job.
What has been your most rewarding job or project in your career?
Art by Angela Fernot
Oh, this one is tough, because every project has rewards! I’d say right now I am actually most proud of the Tales of Cape Fear anthology comics I have been a part of. The books are a collaboration with Memory Lane Comics, our local comic shop in Wilmington, NC. I am the project manager, lead designer, editor, and art coach for the first two books, and we’ve worked with over 15 different artists so far!
My fiance and I are working on book three, and he helped with layouts on the last book. The sense of community in this project has been strong. It continues to grow and inspire me every step of the way! We even helped put together a launch event, and Memory Lane Comics hosted a beautiful indoor mini convention for the artists who worked on the second book.
This project fulfills so many of my needs! I get to create a story in each book, I always do one of the covers (but we also make a variant), and I create the graphic elements, design, and marketing materials for everything we’ve done. We also pair writers and artists, so I have had the pleasure of seeing a writer’s vision come to life in ways that surprise and thrill them! It is such an incredible experience!
Thanks so much, Angela, for answering my questions! You certainly made my vision for my online presence come to life in a way that was better than even expected!
Self-Published Saturday (SPS) continues on a Sunday because I wasn’t available yesterday. Nothing will ever stop SPS, not even if I miss Saturday completely! Self-Published Saturday (SPS) is my effort to help self-published and indie authors with the heavy task of marketing their books. Self-published authors have to do it all, from cover design to marketing and more. This is my effort to take a bit of that load and help promote their books on a Saturday. This week, Saturday got away from me because life happens, but it lives on. The spirit of SPS is the same, Saturday or Sunday. Please share these books on your social media, so all of your followers can see these great books as well. Below is a review of an important self-help book, How to Stop Binge Eating and Learn to Love Food Again.
BOOK REVIEW
This is a wonderful book for those who have a problem with overeating or who need to eat healthier. I loved the approach by this book, which is not a diet at all. It teaches new practices that will help you develop healthy lifelong eating habits, which in turn should help you lose weight. If you, like me, have tried all the diets without lasting success, read this book!
One of the things I loved the most about this approach is that it doesn’t eliminate any food group. Instead, it talks of eating a majority of healthy, unprocessed foods and learning to limit the sweets and simple carbs without giving them up completely. You learn about how sweets and simple carbs affect the body, and you are given the information to succeed, but not deprived of any foods.
I would recommend this book to anyone, like me, who has tried every single diet without success. This approach takes away the diet and focuses on you.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksirens. My review is voluntary.
*Kindle Unlimited Subscribers can read the book for free.
*If you buy the book(s), please leave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, as well as anywhere else you review books. Some people feel very daunted by writing a review. Don’t worry. You do not have to write a masterpiece. Just a couple of lines about how the book made you feel will make the author’s day and help the book succeed. The more reviews a book has, the more Amazon will promote it.
*Please click on the “share” buttons below and share these books with your Twitter, Facebook, and WordPress followers. A little bit of help from all of us will help self-published authors go a long way!
Champagne Widows
by Rebecca Rosenberg
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