Rachel R. Smith's Blog, page 21

The deep red crystal…

Harbinger’s Harbinger! (and Sumo!)

I’m very excited for today’s blog update! In preparation for the release of Reflection: Harbinger of the Phoenix, the blog has gotten a new look. Check out that awesome header image (please tell me it’s awesome…I’ve spent hours working on it!). Also an updated tagline and the new color scheme.

I’m also busily working on proofing/revising/editing Harbinger’s manuscript. I could save myself a lot of time if I could just write everything with perfect wording, grammar, and spelling the first time around. That’s totally possible, right? ^_-

Sumo finds the editing process thoroughly boring and passed out on the sofa next to me after General Hospital ended. (I love the fact that there’s a tiny paw print on the sofa in front of his face!)

Looks like a good idea to me…

Reflection: Harbinger of the Phoenix (Records of the Ohanzee book 2) is coming later this month!

The moon sat just over his shoulder…

Sumo Wishes Everyone a Happy National Dog Day!

Sumo wanted me to make a post so that he could wish everyone a happy National Dog Day! What better way to celebrate than to share some pictures showing the many faces of Sumo?

First, my favorite expression: Happy Sumo ^_^ He makes this face pretty often, especially in connection with hearing phrases like “Sumo go too” and “Sumo go outside”. He absolutely loves riding in the car, but he is especially happy when he gets to ride in his new car seat. The happier he is, the more his ears disappear. ^_-

Next up, Sad Sumo. This is the face that he makes when he hears “bye-bye” or someone puts on their shoes. Occasionally, this face is successful in drawing out the phrase “Ok, Sumo go too”, in which case, Sad Sumo turns into Surprised Sumo (below).

Surprised Sumo. Lots of things lead to surprised Sumo, but the tricky part is getting the picture before before he bursts into a fluffy, blurry bundle of barks.

Here, we have cuddly Sumo. Sumo absolutely loves blankets. Laying on them, rolling on them, rolling in them, you name it, he loves it.

Lastly, this isn’t a facial expression, but it is Sumo’s little secret…

I write best with the TV on as background noise, so Sumo gets to watch lots of daytime TV. For the most part, he couldn’t care less about what’s on–unless there’s a dog on, then it’s time to bark until the dog is gone. But I’ve discovered that Sumo loves watching General Hospital, especially when Nina and Franco are on. Well, I should amend that. Sorry, Franco, it seems like Nina is the one that he’s really watching. Whenever she is on, Sumo sits or stands in front of the TV with his full attention on the screen.

Opinions Needed! Which do you prefer? Round 2

Version 1

Version 2

Thank you to everyone who gave feedback on the previous cover photos! I’ve taken some of those suggestions and tried to integrate them into the newest image (version 2 above). I really liked the idea of adding the crystal to the bottom right, as some of you suggested. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to make it work. I did think that area needed something though. I found a perfume bottle this weekend, which is part of the story in book 2 and it seemed just the thing to add.

So…which do you prefer? Version 1 or Version 2?

Opinions Needed! Which do you prefer?

Version 1

Version 2

I’m working on the cover image for book 2 of the Records of the Ohanzee series and I need some input. Above are the quick and dirty versions of the cover using each base image (keep in mind that the pictures still need to be color adjusted etc). I’d like to keep the overall cover design consistent with the layout for book 1 (below), but I just can’t decide which image I prefer between version 1 and version 2.

So my question is: which one do you prefer? What do you like or dislike about it?

A Rose Among Roses

Little Free Library

There’s Reflection: The Stranger in the Mirror on top of the stack!

Over the weekend, we ventured down to the local bike trail and dropped off a paperback copy of Reflection: The Stranger in the Mirror at a Little Free Library. I left a handwritten note in the cover for whomever happens to pick up the book (which is ironically similar to the messages in the covers of the books that are so integral to the plot of the story itself!). I can’t even describe how ecstatic  I would be to, one day, find a response here or on Facebook from someone who came across this copy. I wonder if that will ever happen?

Now I just need to restrain myself from going back and obsessively checking to see if anyone has taken it yet. Is it silly that I worry about the little house/box being waterproof because I don’t want my poor book to get all wet?  The box was very well made and the other books inside were all in very good condition, so I’m sure this is just a matter of me being over-protective. ^_^;  (But I can’t help but worry a bit because each book is sort of like a little piece of me! I want it to go out into the world and be loved. Ugh, that sounds so cheesy, but it’s the truth so I may as well own up to it.)

Anyway, if you haven’t heard of the Little Free Library, you should definitely check it out. Visit their website here to learn more: http://littlefreelibrary.org/ Maybe one of you would want to create your own Little Free Library! You can also find any existing ones near you by searching the map on their website here: http://littlefreelibrary.org/ourmap/

Happy reading!

Not Book Related, But Funny Enough to Share

Having pizza night at the house with my parents and stumbled onto this little gem in the Cheetos bag. Cue the Fonz “Ayy” references in 3…2…1…

Thanks to my dad for being my hand model!
Sumo approves this blog post!

Sometimes words are hard

I’m sure this is a phenomenon that almost everyone has experienced–whether you are a student writing papers or a thesis, a writer, or a professional that writes reports etc for work. Some times I sit down to write and the words flow smoothly from my brain through my fingers and onto the page in perfect prose. And some days I can’t even string two words together coherently. I don’t understand it, or why it happens, but it’s definitely a thing.

Yesterday was one of those days. I knew exactly what I wanted to write, how to write it, and even had an outline to work from. I tried for hours to muddle through and be productive despite the “block”, but ended up leaving myself in a frustrated daze and barely able to carry on a conversation with my husband. To his credit, he did try talking to me for awhile but the best answers I could muster were something along the lines of “me no today write good able”. I swear I could feel grey hairs springing out of my scalp. I was rescued when he whisked me away to eat out for dinner. By the end of the evening my scrambled brain had pieced itself back together and I managed to write for a few hours before bed. My hero! ^_-

Today, I’m back on track and happily tappity-tapping away. However, I find that even though I’m happy and productive today, this isn’t the case for everyone in the house. Exhibit A below illustrates my point far better than I can describe it. His attempts at distraction have been repeatedly spurned in my attempt to make up for yesterday’s lack of productivity. Here you see the rare Sulking Sumo, which eventually evolved into the adorable Sleeping Sumo. You should see the face he made when I finally decided to take a break and said the magic word “outside”. But that’s a story for another day…

We are not amused.
Chomping on Blue Dog’s tail is a must for optimal sleep.