Rumer Haven's Blog, page 12

Cover Reveal for BLOCKED, by Jennifer Lane!

Ladies and gents, I am pleased to present the cover for an upcoming release by a lovely and talented author:

BLOCKED
by
Jennifer Lane

New Adult Contemporary/Sports Romance

Releasing
October 21, 2014
College freshman Lucia Ramirez has a secret crush on Dane Monroe. He’s a tall drink of water — blond, brash, and one hell of a volleyball player. Hijole. Lucia hopes her volleyball scholarship to his school will make him notice her.
Too bad what’s noticeable is Dane’s obvious hatred for Lucia. Her family’s politics contradict everything he stands for. And politics are front and center in both their families. Dane’s mother is about to face Lucia’s father in the race for US President.
When Secret Service throws them together, Dane can’t deny his frustrating attraction to Lucia’s athletic curves and sweet faith in the world. Amid the intense pressure of college athletics and presidential politics, can opposites not just attract, but overcome overwhelming odds to be together? Or do their differences block their match from the start?
Add it to your to-read shelf at Goodreads now! https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22573624-blocked

And if you would like to participate in the Release Event and/or Request to Review BLOCKED, you can find out more information HERE.
But wait...there's more!


GIVEAWAYJennifer Lane is giving away a $10 Amazon Gift Card and an Advanced Reader Copy of BLOCKED on her Facebook page! You can enter HERE.

About the Author
Get psyched for romance with psychologist/author (psycho author) Jennifer Lane! By day she witnesses growth in her psychotherapy clients, and by night she wrangles misbehaving fictional characters as she writes sports romance and romantic suspense with a psychological twist. She can’t decide which is more fun.
A swimmer and volleyball player in college, Jen wove some of her own experiences into Streamline—a military mystery about swimmers. And readers can dip their toes into Jen’s world of swimming romance by sampling her free New Adult novella  Swim Recruit .

College volleyball romance Blocked is Jen’s newest release, launching 10-21-14. Peek inside big-time college sports and even bigger national politics when the offspring of two presidential candidates find out whether opposites really do attract, or their match is blocked from the start.
Stories of redemption interest Jen the most, especially the healing power of love. She is also the author of The Conduct Series, a romantic suspense trilogy that includes With Good Behavior, Bad Behavior, and On Best Behavior. Ultimately, whether writing or reading, Jen loves stories that make her laugh and cry.
In her spare time she enjoys exercising, attending book club, hanging out with her plus-size, “I’m not fat, I’m big-boned” Izzie cat, and visiting her sisters and their families in Chicago and Hilton Head.
Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter 

SEVEN FOR A SECRET Soundtrack

I listened to a lot of classical music and big band jazz while drafting Seven for a Secret, but as I rounded the corner on completion, I decided to compile the actual soundtrack that had evolved over the course of the story. The playlist I've listed below is what I played on a loop during my final revisions before querying the manuscript. Not every song or artist is an exact match to what's in the book, but for me, this compilation captures the spirit and sound of this dual-period story perfectly. (Song titles are linked to corresponding YouTube videos.)

"I Try" by Macy Gray - This circa Y2K classic is what Kate sings and sways to after moving into her new Camden Court apartment.

"Chicago Bound Blues" by Bessie Smith - Following a friend's wedding, Lon drinks his sorrows away to this song by the iconic 1920s singer.

"If You Don't, I Know Who Will" by Bessie Smith - This is the gritty, sultry blues tune that Kate hears while making love to Dexter.

"Auld Lang Syne" by Duke Ellington - There are so many versions of this song, and though this one isn't from the 1920s, it's akin to the jazzy rendition that Lon would have heard at the Aragon Ballroom.

"Squeeze Me" by Fats Waller - Another tune from Lon's New Year's Eve at the Aragon.

"Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" by Nina Simone - Lon listens to a live jazz band play this at the Green Mill club in Chicago's Uptown, and Nina Simone's version bridges it brilliantly to modern day. 

"You & Me & the Bottle Makes 3 Tonight" by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - Kate doesn't have any 1920s-brand jazz in her CD stack, but the Swing Revival that was in full, well, swing by the late '90s sets the right mood as she plans a meet-and-greet happy hour for her new neighbors--her new hot neighbor, more specifically...

"Tonight You Belong to Me" by Gene Austin - Lon actually plays the original 1926 Irving Kaufman version of this sweet little ditty on his Victrola, but Austin's 1927 recording was easier to find. :)

"Cheek to Cheek" by Fred Astaire - While not referenced by title in the scene, this is the Fred Astaire song I imagine Kate playing at her Camden Court happy hour, as its lyrics lend themselves well to the "Heaven" section of the book.

"Moonlight Serenade" by the Glen Miller Band - A late 1930s classic, this one really gets the seniors two-steppin' at Kate's happy hour and suits the night-sky motif that runs through the book.

"A Room with a View" by Artie Shaw - Another 1930s staple, this Big Band song also plays at Kate's cocktail party and alludes to her voyeuristic tendency to spy on the neighbor living across the courtyard.

"Everybody Loves My Baby" by Fats Waller - Though this particular recording dates to 1940, the song is a jazz standard from 1924 and what Lon sings on his way to his Aunt Estella's house.

"Smooth" by Santana (feat. Rob Thomas) - After all the vintage throwbacks, the New Millennium had to represent on this soundtrack again, and this song totally evokes that period for me, as well as radiates the Chicago summer heat. 

"Rhapsody in Blue" by George Gershwin - A classical-jazz hybrid, this song was said to be Al Capone's favorite request at the Green Mill jazz club, and it's what Kate and Dexter hear there, too, over seventy years later.

"Tonight You Belong to Me" by The Bird and the Bee - While not explicitly featured in the book, this song plays in my mind and heart during the epilogue as the perfect bridge between the past and present story threads. It's such a sweet, modern rendition of the 1920s original, and its rippling, almost glimmering synthpop evokes a celestial, standing-in-line-for-Space-Mountain-at-Disney-World sound befitting Kate's planetarium job and all the stargazing throughout Seven for a Secret.

*BONUS TRACK*
Okay, this is a little embarrassing on two levels, but until my editor pointed out that using radio songs as ringtones wasn't really widespread as of 2000 (Embarrassment #1: My Faulty Memory), when Kate hears her cell phone go off at the end of the book, the ring was originally Lou Bega's "Mambo No.5" (Embarrassment #2: Trying to Incorporate Lou Bega's "Mambo No.5" into My Novel). Oh, whatever. Like you aren't dancing to it right now... FYI, Kate's phone is now set to the Nokia tune .

On that lively little note, thanks for jammin' with me to music both old and not-new-but-not-as-old. And now, we dance!

Calling All Flappers! Today, We DANCE!

I feel like I'm late to my own party for first posting this now, but the buildup to release day (a.k.a., TODAY!) has been such a weird and wonderful experience to savor. I'm so grateful to everyone who's been participating in the SEVEN FOR A SECRET promos and offering me support in general. I've been contacted by a lot of friends who have already downloaded their copy and started reading, so at this point, I'm just trying not to soil my knickers awaiting their reaction and the book reviews of kind strangers giving it a chance.

You can read the summary at my website or Goodreads. I suppose at this point, I should also divulge the deetz of where you can find this little sucker:


In the meantime, I'm having a ball over at the SEVEN FOR A SECRET Facebook party ! So join me and other authors over there to answer some trivia and become eligible to WIN giveaways galore! The event runs until 6pm EST today.

And you still have six days to enter the SEVEN FOR A SWEEPSTAKES giveaway for a chance to win a free ebook, Origami Owl® key charm like the key to Olive's secret, and an Anna Chocola® cloche hat so you can step out Eva style.

All right then, it's been fun beating my gums here, but I'd better ankle and get back to the FB party!

Today, My Book Became a Lady...

...and she feels quite proper wearing pearls.


Sending gobs of thanks to the bloggers who participated in today's cover reveal, including:

Nicki Elson at Nicki Elson's Not-So-Deep Thoughts Jennifer Lane at Jennifer Lane Books Michael Di Gesu at In Time (read his interpretation of the blurb!)Jillian at Read-Love-Blog (comment to win a free ARC!)Ninnie at Bookaholic Babe (comment to win a free ARC!)Jennifer Streck at Dragon Blog: Sassy Sisters on Fire (enter to win a free ARC at the Sassy Summer Book Party!)
You can also enter to win a free paperback copy of Seven for a Secret at Goodreads here:www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/101349-seven-for-a-secret
With only a week left to go before the release, I am truly grateful for the support already given by so many kind folks. Now that this book is all dolled up, let's hope she has someplace to go. :)

SEVEN FOR A SECRET Teaser #2

AVAILABLE AUGUST 12, 2014Omnific PublishingGoodreads 

SEVEN FOR A SECRET Teaser #1

AVAILABLE AUGUST 12, 2014Omnific PublishingGoodreads 

What "TO READ," What "TO READ"...

Darlings, that is my none-too-subtle way of announcing that
SEVEN FOR A SECRET  
is already up on  GOODREADS! http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22700275-seven-for-a-secret
It won't be wearing its pretty new outfit until the cover reveal on AUGUST 5th, and the official book release isn't until AUGUST 12th, but in the meantime, you can check out the book summary at Goodreads, and if you fancy the sound of it, please add it to your "TO READ" shelf!
Cheers, all!

SEVEN FOR A SECRET Blog Tour!

Well, folks, so far all is running according to sheh-jule...
(*fingers crossed*)

SEVEN FOR A SECRET is through its copy edit and pending the proofread, but the ARC is ready, the cover reveal is August 5th, and, if all goes to plan, the release date should be August 12th.

In the meantime, my publicist has put the call out for book bloggers to participate in the BLOG TOUR!
(click above for sign-up)


I know I keep saying it, but, man, things are gettin' real, yo. I am so grateful for all the support I've already received on this novel and thank everyone who's given a lil' unknown schmo like me the time of day. I do hope you enjoy the book if you read it. :) 

Ladies and Gents, a Toast...

...to Omnific Publishing's new agreement with Simon & Schuster and its Gallery Books imprint:

Simon & Schuster’s Gallery Books division has entered into a co-publishing agreement with Omnific Publishing in a deal that will see Gallery and Pocket Books co-publish a “select” number of titles with Omnific, while S&S will also take over all distribution.

Founded in 2009 in Los Angeles, Omnific is a romance publisher whose titles are aimed at the “modern sensibilities of today’s readers.” Areas it publishes in include contemporary, historical, paranormal, suspense, and erotic romance.

“Omnific have been innovators in both their editorial approach to romantic fiction, and in their publishing and business philosophy,” said Gallery president and publisher Louise Burke. “We have been greatly impressed with the high-quality and market success of many of their books, and look forward to a partnership that can take readership for their authors to new levels.”

-- Publisher's Weekly (7/7/2014)

Judging a Book by its Cover

Image from www.andrewkeir.comI now officially understand why most publishers do not include authors in the cover art decision. Even the most chill of us will become divas in the end, trying to dictate every detail when the simple fact is, we are not the marketers. We might fancy a pretty picture and think we know what is best for representing the story, but though we all think we have good taste, the basic truth is that we ALL cannot possibly. That doesn't stop me from assuming that I do, of course, and to be fair, my marketing team did like the input I provided; it's in keeping with house style, so they did everything to give this lil' Veruca Salt what she wanted.

But in the end, I was still torn between what I'd handpicked myself and what they'd originally offered me. My publicist said, "they are both striking. [...] I think you can't go wrong with either one." My editor likewise said, "I honestly don't know which I'd pick. :-/" And in a small poll among friends and family, the opinions were divided evenly.

Long story short: This was a bitch of a decision. Truly spoiled for choice. But as of this week, I did give Regis my final answer.

In the spirit of the book's title, I shall keep the cover a secret until its reveal. ;)

I've learned this from the process, though: In these modern days of Amazon and e-readers, how a cover looks as a thumbnail is critical to its marketing. Regardless of how gorgeous it may look on a full-sized book in your hands, even those buying print copies online will first view it as a thumbnail image. So as I tried to make up my mind between two stellar options, I was not only enlarging the images to appreciate their details but shrinking them as well to see what they'd look like online.

In the meantime, am just trying to process that this chosen cover will be appearing on Amazon.com, BN.com, and Omnific Publishing's website soon. I really don't think I know what I'm getting into here. But it's awfully exciting, and I'm just going to try to enjoy the wild ride.

I have to ask you all out of curiosity, though:  

When it comes to book covers, do you think less is more--i.e., a design that's catchy but simple and leaves you guessing what the story is about? Or do you prefer more detailed imagery that sets specific expectations? 

Cheers!

~ Rumer