Jennifer L. Davidson's Blog, page 12

Being annoying paid off

My instinct was right. I knew the cover image for Sincerely, sad dad could look better than when I had it printed the first time. As much as I beat myself up over making last minute changes, it totally paid off. I received the second printed copy yesterday and it looks amazing! I couldn't be happier. I don't know what the hell I did to it the first time, but I must have learned a few things while I was messing around with the software. The other change to the cover is using gray instead of black across the top and bottom. It looks a little softer and I think fits the mood of the story better. Now all I need to do is update my website and various other locations and I'll be all set. Hooray for being annoying!

I'm so annoying

I'm completely annoyed with myself. I can't leave well enough alone. I'm "fixing" something that doesn't necessarily need to be fixed, or does it? That's my problem. I received the paperback version of Sincerely, sad dad and am not completely happy with how it looks printed. I know it's all my fault. The software I used to create the cover is completely over my head so I resized and scaled the hell out of the photo. Sorry, Paul. Yesterday, I submitted another cover, which is only slightly different, to see if I could fix the clarity of the image. Now, I'm second guessing my actions. I mean, it is a bit late to be making this type of change. I'll hopefully receive the paperback in a couple of days and prove myself wrong, and then be happy with the original cover. I love it online, which is most important since 90% of my sales are for ereaders. Besides this drama I'm creating for myself, everything is looking good. I'm ready to click the buttons to publish. It's time to get started on book #3!

Making lists

Since choosing a release date for Sincerely, sad dad, I've been making lots of lists. There are so many things to do at this point in the process! Fortunately, I kept a journal of how the last book release worked so I've been paging through that to keep me on track. I'm doing pretty good so far. The manuscript file is almost ready for the Nook and Kindle. I haven't even started getting it ready for the other ereaders. That takes a bit more time and a lot of patience. It brings me back to my tech writing days of troubleshooting html and other types of files. As for marketing, I'm once again unsure of what to do. I'll print some business cards, inundate people on Facebook, and...and...I'm not sure what else. Well, I do plan on passing out more books this time so that's different. More thought will have to go into this area. If anyone out there has some low-cost marketing ideas, I'm all ears!

My photo shoot

Last night, our family went out to take mom's picture for her new book. Sounds like a good time, right? Actually, it was kind of weird. I put on the new shirt I bought for the occasion, along with a necklace from my daughter's collection of hand-me-down jewelry, and we hit the public bike trail near our house. It was me all dolled up surrounded by a bunch of sweaty runners and bikers. I can only imagine what they must have been thinking.

My husband, from only a few feet away, took several pictures while I moved this way and that just like I've seen on America's Top Model. It's way harder than it looks! In some photos, my eyes were half open. In others, my hair was already getting poofy. Plus, can we talk about the mosquitoes? Good grief! We all ran back to the van after the final location, with the final shots being of my two youngest kids. They had to have their time too.

We got back home and I uploaded the photos onto the computer. I was disturbed. Did I really look like that? Was my chin getting broader? My eyelids lower? UGH!!!! I stepped away for a moment and pouted. I eventually went back to the computer and saw that there were a few photos that might work if I cropped them and enhanced them a bit. Long story short, I now have an author photo that will last me until the next book release.

Sincerely, sad dad - available 8/28/12

Sincerely, sad dad will be available online where books are sold on August 28, 2012. Man, it feels good to finally share the news! I've been keeping the title and book description a secret for about a month now. It's hard keeping secrets! I can't wait for people to start reading it. My reviewers have all said it's better than Missing Maggie. They said it in a good way, that I've come a long way as a writer. I feel like the story is better too. I really tried to concentrate on the elements I was lacking in Missing Maggie. It's not perfect by any means, but it's a step in the right direction, and it was certainly easier to write for whatever reason. There are many reasons behind that actually. Number one being that I feel confident that I can tell a good story. Not everyone is going to like it, but I'm okay with that. Pleasing everyone was a big concern for me before self-publishing the first book. I must have been such a drag to be around at the time. I'm not a drag this time. This time I have pure excitement running through my veins. The excitement of the unknown, not knowing if the second book will draw even more readers. Anyway, check out my website for more details on Sincerely, sad dad.

www.jenniferldavidsonwriter.com[image error]

New goal: Book #2 by Labor Day

Why wait? I've had it in my head that I need to wait until October to self-publish book #2, but the manuscript is ready and the cover is about ready. Why wait? I see no reason any longer. My new goal is to get this thing out there before Labor Day weekend. Sales for Missing Maggie are the best they've ever been so I'm hoping those new readers will like one or the other, or both. The publishing process takes some time so I'll need to order my proof copy by the end of next week I figure. Also, it takes weeks to have it available in the iStore. Getting a copy for the Nook isn't real pressing since I might sell one a month through that channel. My head is spinning with everything that needs to get done, but sometimes it's better to work under pressure. Although, it isn't like I'll get fired if I miss my deadline. I'll keep you posted.[image error]

Cover time

I just received some photo options from photographer, Paul Pluskwik, to adorn the cover of book #2, which will be ready to preview in the very near future. Paul has an amazing eye for capturing images that tell a story all by themselves. I love that! I'm sticking with the northern Minnesota theme because I think nature shots leave a lot to the imagination. For Missing Maggie, I considered staging a whole scene of people. I even went to another friend who is a photographer with the idea. I ended up changing my mind because ultimately I'd rather let the reader conjure up his or her own images. I generally don't like reading books with pictures of people on them. I want to be the one who develops the character. I want to pick the characteristics of the man or woman that is leading me through a story. Don't you?[image error]

Status update

Book #2:
I've chosen a title. The cover is in the works. I hope to have a preview of the cover, along with the book description, on my website by mid August.

I printed the manuscript one more time this weekend so that I can read it AGAIN for grammatical errors. I hope not to find any, but I doubt that will be the case. I have a feeling no matter how many times I read it, there will always be something I can improve.

Book #3:
The summary is pretty much complete. I'm currently working on the outline. I like to map out the chapters before I start writing. I tend to stray from the summary and outline, but a writer always needs something to start with. My approach with Missing Maggie was different, but it took me about three years to complete. I don't intend to spend that much time on this book or any other book in the future. My goal is to publish book #3 next March. That's a very ambitious goal and only time will tell if I'm able to stay on schedule.[image error]

The best place to find interesting characters

They aren't main character material by any means, but some of the people that attend small town street dances deserve a mention. I went to one over the 4th of July and had a blast. The music was decent and the beer was cheap. From afar, I met tambourine lady and balding mullet man. They stood out from the crowd, what can I say. Tambourine lady danced alone for two hours before the firehouse garage filled up with patrons. Balding mullet man was running the sound board for the band so the back of his head was directly in front of us for hours. Tonight we're heading out again and I can't wait to see who shows up. Will the anorexic woman come with her five children in tow? Will the guy wearing rainbow suspenders make an appearance? What a great subplot for Kody and Kendall. Yes, they will be attending a street dance in an upcoming book![image error]

Feeling scattered

Ever get the feeling that you're running around with your head cut off? There are plenty of things I need to do, but it seems none of them are getting accomplished. I've been sleeping in, which is bad business for a person like me, forgetting to make to-do lists on my never-ending supply of sticky notes, and wandering around aimlessly worrying about everything that needs to get done. As with the rest of the world, there's always something else that comes before that other something, and then there's the offspring with their demands. What's up with that? Back in my day kids found things to do on their own. Just kidding. I'm sure I followed my mom around the house asking for food and telling her how bored I was. With that in mind, today I'll walk a little faster so they can't catch me and make a list of things that won't get done.[image error]