Jacqueline E. Smith's Blog, page 23
March 18, 2015
Spring Fever
Spreading a little springtime color.
All Pictures Copyright���� Jacqueline E. Smith 2015
March 17, 2015
Boy Band: The First Copy!
Just a quick update: The first copy of Boy Band is here!
Sadly, no, it’s not at Barnes and Noble (though it will be online soon), but it is the dream, isn’t it?
There are still a few revisions to be made and a few adjustments to make to the cover, but it is always so exciting to hold a new book in your hand for the first time, and I am so very excited��for this one. ��It began as a simply #NaNoWriMo project, one I wasn’t even sure that I would finish. ��Five months later, here it is! ��Life is pretty neat.
Boy Band��will be available on Nook, Kindle, Amazon.com, and BarnesAndNoble.com on April 21!
Enter to win 1 of 5 signed copies at GoodReads.com:��https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/129034-boy-band
Much love, everyone!
March 13, 2015
Fascinating New Thing
Okay, so this piece has nothing to do with the song (if you know the song, ten points to you). ��But there are a lot of new and exciting things happening.
First of all, I found out last night that a short story I wrote has been selected for publication in a new Anthology coming out in May! ��The Anthology is called��Lurking in the Deep��and it features a collection of stories centered around water-based fears, i.e. sea monsters, mermaids, ghosts of those lost at sea, etc… ��As soon as I found out about it, I knew I had to submit something. ��I love the ocean, as you all know, and I love scary stories, again, which you all know.
Just for the record, the ocean in my story is a lot more sinister than Gulf Shores, Alabama.
Another bit of exciting news that I’d like to share is that my dear friend Paula has just published her first children’s book! ��It’s called��Jack Learns to Grill��and it is so, so, so cute. ��It’s��the first in a series about her dingo, Jack, in which he learns new skills and lessons about life. ��It is beautifully illustrated by Tana Jacks. ��If you have children in your life or if you’re an animal lover, I hope you check it out! ��It’s a darling book!
Paula’s Blog:��https://paulawalkerbaker.wordpress.com
Jack Learns to Grill:��http://www.amazon.com/Learns-Grill-Paula-Walker-Baker/dp/1508579210/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426194297&sr=1-1&keywords=jack+learns+to+grill
Finally, I think I’ve come up with a new idea for a few blog posts, but I’m going to have to work on them a little bit to see if it’s actually going to be something worth pursuing. ��I’ll let you know!
Also, thank you to all who’ve sent me pictures of��Cemetery Tours! ��Keep ‘em coming!
Have a great weekend, y’all!
March 12, 2015
Calling All Readers and Selfie Enthusiasts!
Hi, friends!
Okay, so I’ve had this idea. ��I mentioned it on Facebook and Twitter, but it was all kind of choppy and spewing out ideas. ��It wasn’t very organized. ��So I’d like to put it out there again in a more thought-out and thorough way.
I’m looking for pictures of��Cemetery Tours. ��Specifically, I’d love selfies of readers holding the book (or eBook). ��If you’re not a fan of selfies, I’d also love to see pictures of��Cemetery Tours��on your bookshelves.
Examples:
I would love to be able to share these images, not only here on my blog, but on my new Cemetery Tours themed Pinterest site as well:��https://www.pinterest.com/cemeterytours/��
If you are an author, blogger, musician, whatever, along with the picture, I will most certainly include a brief bio and a link to your website. ��This is all about publicity, not just for me, but for my friends as well. ��We help each other out. ��It’s what we do. ��Also, I’m a really big fangirl of my own books and I like to have as many pictures of them as possible! ��;)
If you’d like to send me a picture and a link/bio, please send everything to CemeteryToursSeries@gmail.com.
Thank you all so much, and please, if there’s every anything I can do for you, let me know!
Much love!
March 11, 2015
A Dream is A Wish
As many of you probably know, Disney’s live action��Cinderella��hits theaters Friday. ��I am ecstatic. ��I’ve already bought the soundtrack, the background on my phone is Ella and the Prince, I am already obsessed with this movie and I haven’t even seen it yet.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. ��I love Disney, and I especially love Disney Princesses. ��I always have. ��I always will. ��My mom had me watching all the old Disney classics before I could talk.
Case in point:
I��mean, I really didn’t have a choice. ��I was indoctrinated. ��But I’m happy that I was. ��Disney was a huge part of my childhood and it remains a source of magic, love, and inspiration in my life to this day.
I’ve heard all the arguments. ��Disney gives young girls unrealistic expectations in love. ��All Disney Princesses want is a man to save them. ��Disney teaches girls to give up everything for guys they barely know.
Obviously, I don’t agree with these arguments. ��I was raised on Disney Princesses (heck, I was raised thinking I��was a Disney Princess) and I have never felt inclined to throw everything away for a man. ��I never thought that my life should revolve around finding a husband. ��I never wanted it to. ��Instead, all those Disney Princesses I so loved and admired inspired me to dream of a life full of adventures and magic and yes, love. ��But love doesn’t necessarily have to mean romantic love.
My favorite Princess was always Ariel. ��I’ve made this known countless times here on this blog and on Twitter and in my everyday life. ��I loved her because she was different and because she wasn’t afraid to dream. ��I’ve heard the argument that she gave up everything for a man. ��While that is true, it’s also true that she was dreaming of the world above long before she met Prince Eric. ��She was curious, she was adventurous, and she was determined. ��That’s why I continue to admire her to this day.
I could sit here and make cases for Disney Princesses all day. ��Jasmine taught me to be independent. ��Meg taught me that good people sometimes make bad choices. ��Even Snow White taught me that chores are so much more tolerable with a little bit of music. ��Although I will admit, Snow White really isn’t that smart. ��In fact, she’s a downright ditz. ��But oh well.
For me, Disney will always be a reminder to me to believe in magic��and to believe in possibilities. ��And I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. ��After all, if those who came before us had not dared to believe in the impossible, who knows where we would be today? ��Would man have walked on the moon? ��Would we have our modern medicine and scientific wonders? ��I��don’t know. ��But I like to think that we, as a global community, will continue to believe in the impossible.
March 10, 2015
A Few Facts
I was tagged by my friend and fellow writer, Ben (https://benjaminditmars.wordpress.com) to answers these questions. If you’re reading this… I tag you! ��Yes, I know, that’s cheating. ��Again, I don’t believe in Internet peer pressure.
Astrological Sign:��Capricorn
Middle Name:��Elizabeth
Hair color:��Dark Hazel
Biggest Fear:��Sunken Ships and Vomiting
Quirks:��It would probably be��easier��to list��my normal traits…
Age: 27
Favorite non-alcoholic drink:��Water
Favorite Hobby:��Photography
Favorite Sport:��Baseball
Favorite candy:��Anything chocolate
Favorite Musician/Singer: My sister
Favorite actor:��Geoffrey Rush
Favorite author:��Meg Cabot
Place you want to go you’ve never been: Australia
Favorite flower: Hibiscus, bluebonnets, and sunflowers
Trait You Find Attractive in Others:��Sense of humor. I love people who can make me laugh.
Favorite TV Show:��Boy Meets World and Frasier
Favorite snack food:��Potato chips. I’m an addict.
Favorite bit of Geekery: I have quite the impressive DVD��and book collection. ��
Of Design and Decimals
I’ve learned something about myself in the last week or so. ��I really, really enjoy designing book covers. ��I didn’t think I’d be very good at it, especially since my earliest attempts ended up looking something like this:
You get the idea. Not good, right? ��I’m really thankful for my friend and cover designer, Ben. ��I have to admit, these looks a lot better:
Designing the cover to��Boy Band��started out the same way as those early copies of��Cemetery Tours.
In other words, not good. ��Thanks to the advice of my friend and editor, however, I decided to go back and see if I couldn’t come up with something a little better. ��I have to say, I’m pretty happy with the end result, and I hope it looks as good printed on an actual cover as it does on my computer screen.
Like I said, I ended up really, really enjoying the design process and I’m hoping it’s something I can learn more about and maybe help others with in the future.
There was one downside to the whole thing, however, and that was… Math. ��In order to successfully upload the image to the designer’s website, you have to add in and extra .25 inches, then in order to create a spine you had to add and multiply all these other decimals and as you can probably tell, I barely even figured out how to get it done. ��There is no way I’d actually be able to explain it. ��My notebook ended up looking like this:
Don’t even bother to check my math, because I can tell you right now it’s wrong. ��I’d happily lived my post-high-school life secure in my faith that I would never, ever use math in my everyday life. ��Well, I guess the joke is on me. ��Not only did I have to use math, I was also cruelly reminded of how much I suck at it. ��Grrrrr.
On a happier note, however, my proof copies of��Boy Band were approved and are on their way to me now. ��I’m super excited to see them! ��I just hope the cover looks okay. ��If not, it might be back to the drawing board.
Before I sign off, I also wanted to show you my new, improved, and redesigned website,��http://www.windtrailpublishing.com. ��It looks a lot more cheerful now.
Enjoy your day, everyone! ��I pray that you don’t have to do any math.
March 9, 2015
Feeling Cluttered
It’s raining. ��It’s been raining a lot. ��True, the sun came out for a few blessed days last week, but for the most part, we’ve been under constant cloud cover. ��I keep trying to remind myself that it’s good for the lakes and plants and that makes me happy. ��But I miss the sun. ��I miss being outside. ��I’m tired of being cooped up. ��It’s the worst.
On the bright side,��Boy Band is getting closer and closer each day to being ready for publication. �� ��I have to do a little bit of editing on the cover still and do a final edit on the interior manuscript, but for the most part, it’s really coming along! ��I’m so excited.
I’ve also been asked to speak at a writer’s group at a library, so that’s good. ��I love meeting writers��and of course, I really love talking about books!
Aside from the edits to my own book, however, I have quite a few other things to do this week and thanks to this stupid rain, my brain is feeling all muddled and messy, like I can’t think straight. ��I’m terrified there’s something I’ll forget, someone I’ll let down.
Anyway, this blog post is clearly reflecting the weather outside and my mood and I apologize for that. ��I just need to stop worrying about everything I need to do and actually sit down and do it. ��That’s the only real way to make the cluttered feeling go away.
I hope your day is sunnier than mine!
March 7, 2015
Blogiversary | Cemetery Tours by Jacqueline Smith – Book Review
Thank you for the amazing review, Danielle! I can’t wait to find out who wins the Giveaway! Last chance to enter!
Originally posted on Stories Unfolded:
BOOK REVIEW | CEMETERY TOURS
ABOUT THE BOOK
���Some secrets are best kept laid to rest.
At least, that���s as far as Michael Sinclair is concerned. At twenty-seven, he has spent his entire life perfecting the art of pretending that the ghosts he encounters on a daily basis do not exist. Now, if only the dead would let him rest in peace.
Unfortunately, that doesn���t seem likely, especially after Kate Avery and her ailing brother, Gavin, move in next door. Kate and Gavin are haunted, and not by a dearly departed loved one. This spirit is aggressive, menacing, and harboring a dark resentment toward Gavin. In spite of every instinct advising him to walk away, Michael finds himself seeking to uncover the mysteries of Gavin���s past, and falling for the bright and lovely Kate. Yet competing for her affection is Luke Rainer, television���s hottest celebrity ghost hunter and the only���
View original 1,140 more words
March 6, 2015
Cover Reveal: Boy Band
I know it’s late, but I worked really hard last night on designing the back cover of my new YA novel, Boy Band!��I have never designed a book cover before, so I had no idea how it was going to turn out. ��Keep in mind, it still needs a little tweaking, but I wanted to share it with you so far!
I’ve actually really enjoyed creating my own book covers. ��Who knows? ��Maybe cover-design is one more thing I can add to my resume!
Remember, you can enter to win one of five signed copies of Boy Band here:��https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/129034-boy-band
Please enter and spread the word!
Also, please check out��https://danielleelisemiller.wordpress.com��for a chance to win eBook copies of BOTH��Cemetery Tours��and��Between Worlds. ��There will be three winners and you can choose either Nook or Kindle.
