Emma Michaels's Blog, page 58
June 17, 2012
Cover Art Extravaganza - My Second Cover
Anasazi The Story Behind the Cover
When it came time for the release of my second novel I had started learning more about graphic design, transforming physical art pieces into digital and a LOT about effects. Bokheim once again took me under their wing and decided that it was a great opportunity for a learning experience. Which is a large part of why I love them so much and now work for Bokheim Media, they take opportunities that present themselves even if it is only for the author's benefit because they honestly care about what they do and who they do it for.
We started searching for an image only this time I had decided I wanted it to feature Megan, the main protagonist in the second novel (and she and David are both the leads in the third - Firstling). I wanted it to be a red head with blueish green eyes and this time I knew a lot more about what effects I might be able to pull off to change an image. I found a photographer http://littlemewhatever.deviantart.com/ and bought the rights from her for one of her photographs. I then proceeded to use what I had learned and after the image was transformed into a cover, this was the final version:
To find out more about Anasazi stop by the 'My Novels' tab at the top or click here.
Coming up:18th - The Priest and the Peaches by Larry Peterson19th - Until Next Time by Amy Lignor20th - An interview with Amy Lignor21st - Firstling by Emma Michaels22nd - Night Sky by Jolene Perry23rd - The Color of Snow by Brenda Stanley24th - Knee Deep by Jolene Perry25th - The Dehumanized (Michael Loring) Cover Reveal26th - An interview with Michael Loring27th - Back to Bataan by Jerome Charyn28th - Sovereign Hope by Frankie Rose29th - An interview with Frankie Rose30th - The full 'Society of Feathers' series cover revealJuly 1st - The wrap up post, winners and more!
Sincerely,Emma Michaels
June 16, 2012
Cover Art Extravaganza - My First Cover
The Thirteenth Chime The Story Behind the Cover
The Thirteenth Chime was the first novel I had ever written (other then a trunk novel when I was 11 or so and the first half of a novel at about age 16) and when I signed with Bokhiem Publishing I mentioned a cover concept. I wanted to have there be a clock overlaying an eye as though it were the reflection from the observer's point of view and I hoped they would use a DeviantArt artist because I have been a fan of DA for a while now.
They asked me how involved in the process I wanted to be and I told them honestly, as involved as they would let me! I knew publishers didn't always give the author a say in their cover and was thrilled when they said that they would love to work with me to find the perfect artist and set up the full design. We saw an image by Tony McCulley on his DeviantArt page http://tonymcculley.deviantart.com/ and asked that he do a piece for the cover.
He transformed a normal eye into something unique and paranormal and from there I started learning more from the Bokheim Media team so that I could complete was design he had started. After I added the formatting, effects and font it was finished and I had learned TONS getting to work on the aspects I was given full control over with the Bokheim Media team as my tutors. It was my first cover and while I now do the majority of my work, if not all, on my own, I remain extremely proud of the outcome and the work that the Bokheim Media team, Tony McCulley and I put into it to make it happen.
To find out more about The Thirteenth Chime stop by the 'My Novels' tab at the top or click here.
Coming up:17th - Anasazi by Emma Michaels18th - The Priest and the Peaches by Larry Peterson19th - Until Next Time by Amy Lignor20th - An interview with Amy Lignor21st - Firstling by Emma Michaels22nd - Night Sky by Jolene Perry23rd - The Color of Snow by Brenda Stanley24th - Knee Deep by Jolene Perry25th - The Dehumanized (Michael Loring) Cover Reveal26th - An interview with Michael Loring27th - Back to Bataan by Jerome Charyn28th - Sovereign Hope by Frankie Rose29th - An interview with Frankie Rose30th - The full 'Society of Feathers' series cover revealJuly 1st - The wrap up post, winners and more!
Sincerely,Emma Michaels
June 14, 2012
Cover Art and Blogger Graphics Giveaway!
To kick off the 17 day
With the help of these sponsors
We have put together an amazing selection of prize packages for one lucky winner to choose from.
One blogger or author will win their choice of...
Customized Pre-made Cover To see the other pre-made covers click here
(Pre-made covers sold during this event will no longer be eligible as prizes)
Commission Cover Art To see my portfolio click here
Full Wrap Around HD Paperback Cover Art
Blogger Graphics includes banners, event images, signatures and more!
If you can imagine and describe it, I can make it happen.
To enter use the Rafflecopter form below It may take a moment to appear on some computers
a Rafflecopter giveaway
With the help of these sponsors
We have put together an amazing selection of prize packages for one lucky winner to choose from. One blogger or author will win their choice of...
Customized Pre-made Cover To see the other pre-made covers click here
(Pre-made covers sold during this event will no longer be eligible as prizes)
Commission Cover Art To see my portfolio click here
Full Wrap Around HD Paperback Cover Art
Blogger Graphics includes banners, event images, signatures and more!
If you can imagine and describe it, I can make it happen.
To enter use the Rafflecopter form below It may take a moment to appear on some computers
a Rafflecopter giveaway
June 11, 2012
How blogging led to meeting my best friend!
Today is a very special day.It is my best friend's birthday!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KERI!
In her honor this post shall be written in PURPLE .
In 2010 as I was preparing for the release of my first novel, The Thirteenth Chime, I learned what the blogging community can do when they come together to show support. I also met my best friend, Keri.
She asked if I would be interested in doing an interview on:
I checked out her blog and fell in LOVE with it. It was one of the short cuts on my toolbar before the next day was out.I said yes and once we started talking we never stopped. Last year we went to BEA together and got to meet in person for the first time and luckily, we got along even better in person. She is the person who helped me discover that rewriting is not a waste of time (which has changed my life and made me a much better author and person - not being afraid of being wrong and instead embracing the changes that noticing it can bring), the person who tells me when I am about to do something stupid (THANK YOU KERI, you have saved my butt a number of times) and the one person I can always trust to tell me the truth, even if it might sting.
So Keri, thank you for being you, for changing my life and for being my best friend. I hope you have an AMAZING birthday and wanted to let you know how much you mean to me. I am so happy that you are a part of my life luffly and know that whenever you need me, I am here.
Stop by Quill Cafe to get to see the amazing team of writers there and the blog that was the gateway to our friendship: http://quillcafe.blogspot.com/
In what ways has reading blogs or being a blogger changed your life?
HAPPY BIRTHDAY KERI!
In her honor this post shall be written in PURPLE .
In 2010 as I was preparing for the release of my first novel, The Thirteenth Chime, I learned what the blogging community can do when they come together to show support. I also met my best friend, Keri.
She asked if I would be interested in doing an interview on:
I checked out her blog and fell in LOVE with it. It was one of the short cuts on my toolbar before the next day was out.I said yes and once we started talking we never stopped. Last year we went to BEA together and got to meet in person for the first time and luckily, we got along even better in person. She is the person who helped me discover that rewriting is not a waste of time (which has changed my life and made me a much better author and person - not being afraid of being wrong and instead embracing the changes that noticing it can bring), the person who tells me when I am about to do something stupid (THANK YOU KERI, you have saved my butt a number of times) and the one person I can always trust to tell me the truth, even if it might sting.
So Keri, thank you for being you, for changing my life and for being my best friend. I hope you have an AMAZING birthday and wanted to let you know how much you mean to me. I am so happy that you are a part of my life luffly and know that whenever you need me, I am here.
Stop by Quill Cafe to get to see the amazing team of writers there and the blog that was the gateway to our friendship: http://quillcafe.blogspot.com/
In what ways has reading blogs or being a blogger changed your life?
June 8, 2012
Owlet! New Series Announcement!
Now that the cover art reveal for Owlet has gone live: http://foreveryoungadult.blogspot.com/2012/06/cover-reveal-owlet-by-emma-michaels.html
Please stop by and comment letting me know what you think!
Here is one of the announcements! Tribute Books has accept the first book in my new series, 'Society of Feathers'. You can find out more as I hop around the web and post the links in my Owlet tab above ^and if you aren't going to stop by the link above I still want you to see my cover sooo...(If you like it go comment on the reveal please <3) Release Date: October 13, 2012
More will be revealed soon including the blurb, the story behind the novel, why I made my main character asthmatic and more! So exciting!!! Plus, I am currently brain storming for some events as we get closer to the release. Lets just say it may include owls, chocolate, miniature books or other surprises. I have a feeling October will be a very busy month! :-p
Please stop by and comment letting me know what you think!
Here is one of the announcements! Tribute Books has accept the first book in my new series, 'Society of Feathers'. You can find out more as I hop around the web and post the links in my Owlet tab above ^and if you aren't going to stop by the link above I still want you to see my cover sooo...(If you like it go comment on the reveal please <3) Release Date: October 13, 2012
More will be revealed soon including the blurb, the story behind the novel, why I made my main character asthmatic and more! So exciting!!! Plus, I am currently brain storming for some events as we get closer to the release. Lets just say it may include owls, chocolate, miniature books or other surprises. I have a feeling October will be a very busy month! :-p
June 1, 2012
Exciting new changes!
Some of you may have noticed the new changes on my blog. The cover art section, the new for sale pieces, the schedule for my upcoming releases (which may be added to soon and will be updated regularly), etc. Well, there is more coming up in the next few months! Some things to look forward to:
A cover art event that will include a giveaway for...
a custom cover art package or blogger graphic!
This should be coming up some time in the next few weeks along with an announcement about my new series, the release of book 3 in the Sense of Truth series and and few surprises! I will be going over the covers I have done and telling you a bit more about the perspective from the artist's side of the table.
I have been asked by a number of bloggers what creating the cover art for a novel is like, how it happens, what it taken into account, etc. and while many different cover artists have different ways of creating the final product it sparked my idea for the event that will include the giveaway. :-)
Better get to planning and looking forward to being able to make the new announcements! <3
A cover art event that will include a giveaway for...
a custom cover art package or blogger graphic!
This should be coming up some time in the next few weeks along with an announcement about my new series, the release of book 3 in the Sense of Truth series and and few surprises! I will be going over the covers I have done and telling you a bit more about the perspective from the artist's side of the table.
I have been asked by a number of bloggers what creating the cover art for a novel is like, how it happens, what it taken into account, etc. and while many different cover artists have different ways of creating the final product it sparked my idea for the event that will include the giveaway. :-)
Better get to planning and looking forward to being able to make the new announcements! <3
May 28, 2012
Insight by Jamie Magee
I just noticed that one of my favorite books is free on kindle currently! The novel is Insight by Jamie Magee, one of my fellow authors over at The Writers Voice.
Its a fantastic read and why I ended up inviting her to be a part of the team. Book two and three are now out along with the first in a new series! I have added the link below! I would suggest anyone and everyone read it. Normally I know I mention a target audience but this book doesn't need one. It has everything.
My review:I love this book. There are many books that entertain me but not nearly as many that keep me glued to the pages the way this one did. Its plot and concept is unique and intriguing making it a pleasant break from all of the more recent YA trends. Add to it that Jamie has great pacing, character development and that for once it isn't a story where pieces start magically lining up, the main characters actually have to work for what they want and don't always have solutions handed to them. She blends the lines between the dark and the light until everything is the same odd shade of gray things are in the real world, or even more so, giving the reader a chance to have their own perspective untainted by the perspectives of the characters in the novel. It is a refreshing read and remains one of my favorites!
Sincerely,Emma Michaels
Its a fantastic read and why I ended up inviting her to be a part of the team. Book two and three are now out along with the first in a new series! I have added the link below! I would suggest anyone and everyone read it. Normally I know I mention a target audience but this book doesn't need one. It has everything.
My review:I love this book. There are many books that entertain me but not nearly as many that keep me glued to the pages the way this one did. Its plot and concept is unique and intriguing making it a pleasant break from all of the more recent YA trends. Add to it that Jamie has great pacing, character development and that for once it isn't a story where pieces start magically lining up, the main characters actually have to work for what they want and don't always have solutions handed to them. She blends the lines between the dark and the light until everything is the same odd shade of gray things are in the real world, or even more so, giving the reader a chance to have their own perspective untainted by the perspectives of the characters in the novel. It is a refreshing read and remains one of my favorites!
Sincerely,Emma Michaels
May 16, 2012
Top 5 Most Influential Novels
My top 5 most influential novels
These are the novels that changed my life:
This ornithology text book was given to me and signed by Patrick J. Lynch when I was only 4 and became a constant companion for me. It taught me that "Hope is the thing with feathers." - Emily BronteLearning about birds and watching them fly made me want to fly with them.
This novel showed me that there were endless possibilities left to explore. I may have been/be asthmatic and unable to run or be as physical as I wanted/want to get to be but through reading this series I was able to find a new strength I had not had and run as a female knight.
This novel taught me that you can be an outcast and rise to greatness. While I haven't risen to greatness yet, Queen Elizabeth has been an inspiration to me since, I went on to study her for years and continue to find her fascinating.
This novel taught me that sometimes unconventional love can be the most beautiful thing. I kept reading about happily ever after and just couldn't imagine life that way, this kind of love is the love I want. Something with depth and knowledge, something to be envied.
This novel taught me that sometimes things are meant to be unexpected. That you can pick up a novel on a whim and expect to be disappointed only to find the most unique and adventurous story you have ever read. Sometimes through reading a novel you can find a kindred soul, even if it is the soul of a character that is simply created by another and written into the pages of a book.
This ornithology text book was given to me and signed by Patrick J. Lynch when I was only 4 and became a constant companion for me. It taught me that "Hope is the thing with feathers." - Emily BronteLearning about birds and watching them fly made me want to fly with them.
This novel showed me that there were endless possibilities left to explore. I may have been/be asthmatic and unable to run or be as physical as I wanted/want to get to be but through reading this series I was able to find a new strength I had not had and run as a female knight.
This novel taught me that you can be an outcast and rise to greatness. While I haven't risen to greatness yet, Queen Elizabeth has been an inspiration to me since, I went on to study her for years and continue to find her fascinating.
This novel taught me that sometimes unconventional love can be the most beautiful thing. I kept reading about happily ever after and just couldn't imagine life that way, this kind of love is the love I want. Something with depth and knowledge, something to be envied. 
This novel taught me that sometimes things are meant to be unexpected. That you can pick up a novel on a whim and expect to be disappointed only to find the most unique and adventurous story you have ever read. Sometimes through reading a novel you can find a kindred soul, even if it is the soul of a character that is simply created by another and written into the pages of a book.
May 14, 2012
Doctor Who: The Last Voyage (Recommendation)
Fun Audio Book Recommendation:
I am an avid Doctor Who fan and while I have loved many of the regenerations of the Doctor and love Chris Eccleston and Matt Smith for helping bring the re-vamped series to life, David Tennant is "The Doctor" for me. Chris was my first and Matt is growing on me but there was something about David Tennant that glued me to the screen and kept it both dramatic and fun. So when a friend of mine Keri was going through an audio book phase (not actually a "phase" at all, now she has me listening to them too) I ended up finding this and and trying it out because of the pretty red button on it that says "Read By David Tennant". If you are a Doctor Who fan who loves the books, I highly recommend the printed books of course but the audiobooks read by cast members and especially David Tennant and Matt Smith are BRILLIANT.
I literally sat there and closed my eyes and could see it all play out like my own personalize Doctor Who episode while listening to Tennant's wonderful dramatization.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! I am definitely going to be trying out more of these. I will have more recommendations coming up soon for print, ebooks and audio. I think I might be coming up on a reading spree. I love reading while I get ready to market for upcoming releases because it always keeps me inspired to push forward!
I am an avid Doctor Who fan and while I have loved many of the regenerations of the Doctor and love Chris Eccleston and Matt Smith for helping bring the re-vamped series to life, David Tennant is "The Doctor" for me. Chris was my first and Matt is growing on me but there was something about David Tennant that glued me to the screen and kept it both dramatic and fun. So when a friend of mine Keri was going through an audio book phase (not actually a "phase" at all, now she has me listening to them too) I ended up finding this and and trying it out because of the pretty red button on it that says "Read By David Tennant". If you are a Doctor Who fan who loves the books, I highly recommend the printed books of course but the audiobooks read by cast members and especially David Tennant and Matt Smith are BRILLIANT.
I literally sat there and closed my eyes and could see it all play out like my own personalize Doctor Who episode while listening to Tennant's wonderful dramatization.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! I am definitely going to be trying out more of these. I will have more recommendations coming up soon for print, ebooks and audio. I think I might be coming up on a reading spree. I love reading while I get ready to market for upcoming releases because it always keeps me inspired to push forward!
March 10, 2012
Rewrites and new series
The crazyness that is my writing process has recently gone through a big change with the first novel of my new series. The Thirteenth Chime took me about one month to write and to be perfectly honest I didn't really go back through it after that point. Anasazi took me about one to two weeks to write and I went back through it for edits but didn't do more than a few pages of true rewrites. Firstling (coming out in a few months and book three in the series) took me about one month,and I did another month of rewrite and edits.
For the first novel in my new series I wrote it over the course of three years with more than three full novel rewrites and so many rounds of editing that I can no longer keep track and you know what? Reading back over it today, it was totally worth it. I wish I had given myself as much room to grow with my other novels. Now that I have my new writing style for the new series set up and have gone through so much with the fist novel the second novel in this new series is flowing out of me so smoothly I am shocked. It feels different, like I was meant to write it and the words are there on my screen and written across my heart just waiting to become visible.
I won't announce the release date yet but I will say, the title of the new series is 'Society of Feathers' and the first novel is currently titled 'OWLET'. The date, cover art and more goodies should be coming up soon!
Wish me luck on reaching my goal of publishing four books this year! I already have two written and in the publishing process and two I am almost halfway through!
Wishing you all a wonderful day and tons of wonderful reads!
Sincerely,
Emma Michaels
Disclaimer: This was written on my iPad, let me know if I manage any crazy autocorrects that are website worthy. :-p
For the first novel in my new series I wrote it over the course of three years with more than three full novel rewrites and so many rounds of editing that I can no longer keep track and you know what? Reading back over it today, it was totally worth it. I wish I had given myself as much room to grow with my other novels. Now that I have my new writing style for the new series set up and have gone through so much with the fist novel the second novel in this new series is flowing out of me so smoothly I am shocked. It feels different, like I was meant to write it and the words are there on my screen and written across my heart just waiting to become visible.
I won't announce the release date yet but I will say, the title of the new series is 'Society of Feathers' and the first novel is currently titled 'OWLET'. The date, cover art and more goodies should be coming up soon!
Wish me luck on reaching my goal of publishing four books this year! I already have two written and in the publishing process and two I am almost halfway through!
Wishing you all a wonderful day and tons of wonderful reads!
Sincerely,
Emma Michaels
Disclaimer: This was written on my iPad, let me know if I manage any crazy autocorrects that are website worthy. :-p
