Monday Meanderings - February 9th

First Meandering ...

I'm working on a ghost story, believe it or not. I don't do horror, so it's not going to be too scary. It involves a castle. Now I really a want to go back to Ireland. That place gives Yanks a whole new feel for what's "old".

For example. This is a picture I took during my Ireland trip a few years ago. This is the outside of Ross Errilly Friary. It was abandoned only a few years after Columbus "discovered" America.

Abandoned.

Yeah, those Irish built things to last.








Here's a shot from the inside.












Second Meandering ...

Got to attend a book signing by Michael Jensen and David Powers King for Woven (I'll be reviewing it on Friday).

It was a hard week last week. I look really tired. lol

I'm standing next to the awesome Michelle Argyle who is not only a wonderful author but designs my book covers (as Melissa Williams) as well.

Third Meandering ...

We've been doing some house hunting again. My brother-in-law is visiting for a genealogy conference he and hubby are attending this week (while I'm at LTUE). Later this summer BIL and SIL will be moving here, and we're looking at possible retirement houses. A nice duplex would be lovely, but so often they're just rentals. 

It's frustrating. Everything is so dang expensive. I love this place, but that is one drawback.

Fourth Meandering ...

Out of curiosity, how's your weather been? Ours has been breaking records for warmth. I complained not long ago about wishing it was April. Um, that's just about what we've been getting here.

Torn Canvas Launch Date and a Nomination

Two big events for me today!

First, now that I've set the release date for Torn Canvas, it's time to show my purty cover.

Modern-day pirates took more than Jori Virtanen’s friends; they stole his face. Not only does the twenty-four-year-old former model have to confront months of reconstructive surgery, he discovers his previous life was as superficial as his looks. Jori struggles to make a new life for himself as an artist while evading the press. They expect a hero, but he knows the truth. His beauty masks a beast.

Olivia Howard’s given up a normal life for her job, and the sacrifices are finally paying off. The twenty-six-year-old talk-show host’s ratings are heading to the top of the charts. Her dream is to make a difference in people’s lives, but the studio wants mind fluff—like interviewing hot model Jori Virtanen. When Olivia learns the guy helped rescue passengers on a cruise excursion from kidnappers, she knows this is the story she needs to make her case. The only problem is the hero was injured, and now he’s disappeared.

The more Olivia learns about the man behind the scar, the more intrigued she becomes. But Jori is no girl’s happily ever after. Once she finds him, Olivia has to free his heart and heal the beast.

Funny story about the cover. 

As my cover designer (Melissa Williams aka author Michelle Argyle) and I worked out the details, I struggled a little with that dang open shirt.

Yes. Torn Canvas is an adventure romance (like A Change of Plans).

Yes, I chose this picture because of a scene in Torn Canvas.

But I also write clean romance. I didn't want to lead any potential readers astray. Don't ever mess with a reader's expectations by giving them a cover that makes them think a clean romance is going to be steamy.

I looked at the first design (very similar to the above but the title banner was opaque). I saw that navel and thought, "Um ...."

So, Michelle moved the banner lower on the cover to hide the navel. Oh, great. Now the guy's nipple was prominent. Ugh! That was worse.

So, navel or nipple?

Uh, clean romance here. The navel won.

The official launch date for Torn Canvas is June 16th.

If you'd be willing to help with the blog tour, the signup is here.

And thank you!

Second--as if this post isn't long enough--I have one more favor to ask.

A Change of Plans has been nominated for a RONE Award, and the voting for my category is THIS week. You need to sign up with InD'Tale magazine to vote, but it's free and painless.

My category is New Adult, and you can find it here. I would love your vote!

To the right is the review that won me the nomination.

Hope's Watch Cover Reveal

I'm so excited to reveal my own new cover today.

Ain't it purty?

Click here for my awesome cover designer.

Elle Reinhardt loves people and has a gift for turning groups of strangers into friends. When she talks her best friend Lyn into taking a month-long Pacific cruise, Elle is in her element, gathering fellow passengers to her. But things go horribly wrong when a ship excursion ends in death and disaster at the hands of modern-day pirates. 

Filled with her own emotional wounds from the experience, Elle tries desperately to buoy up the grieving loved ones as they wait for news on those lost at sea. Malcolm Armstrong, friend of one of the missing men, arrives to act as family spokesman. Elle knows it’s unreasonable, but she resents his presence. When Mal offers the strength she so desperately needs, will she be able to let go of her animosity and accept his support? 

This ebook-exclusive short story includes special excerpts from both A Change of Plans and Torn Canvas (coming April 2014), books 1 and 2 of the Safe Harbors Series.

Hope's Watch is a short story releasing in January 2014. It stars Elle, the best friend of Lyn from A Change of Plans.

I'm looking for bloggers for the January launch. If you think you can help, please sign up here.

A Change of Plans. Also available in audiobook.

Lyn wants to move on. She just doesn't realize it will take pirates, shipwreck, and an intriguing surgeon to do it.

Friday Musings While on Hiatus

by Donna K. Weaver

Yes, my life is crazy right now, but you know, it's also good. Here are some of my recent highlights:

• Received my rights back for A Change of Plans.
• Since this is a series with at least three companion novels, it now has a name: Safe Harbors.
• Updated the cover (see it on the right).
• Formatted the digital versions of the second edition, including a sneak peek of the second book, Torn Canvas. This books stars Jori from A Change of Plans.
• Worked with my former publisher to get the paper copy formatted. The interior looks wonderful--very similar to the original even though I've had to use a different printer. Just waiting on a couple of tweaks to the cover and the paper copies should be available.
• Signed up my editor for Torn Canvas--the awesome Katharina Brendel who was the lead editor on A Change of Plans.
• Had initial discussions with my cover designer, Melissa Williams (aka author Michelle D. Argyle) for the cover of Torn Canvas. Michelle/Melissa also did the A Change of Plans cover.
• Set a month for the release of Torn Canvas--January 2014.
• Furiously working on a major rewrite of Torn Canvas after preliminary input.
• I'm part of the Ripples Effect Romance series coming out in March. So excited to work with the authors in this linked series.

That 18-day Hawaiian cruise in later January

is looking awful good right now.

Another major thing I'm involved with is Dauntless. I think I've mentioned it, but here's a bit more about us. I think it's best described by fellow Dauntless Author, Amber Argyle:

I've joined forces with an eclectic mix of everything from bestselling to debut authors to create a collaborative called Dauntless. We are fearless authors dedicated to our craft and our success in the publishing world. Our goal is to be each other's marketing team and support system. 

For readers, Dauntless means going to one place to keep up-to-date on all our books. It means coupons and freebies. It means interacting with some of your favorite authors. It means weekly posts on book related topics.
For writers, Dauntless means weekly posts on the craft and marketing side of writing. It means networking and establishing relationships. 

And it's all in good fun. 

Grab our button, post it on your page: 
Like us on Facebook and Twitter Follow our blog. Join us on Pinterest 

Some of our members include: Elle Strauss, Konstanz Silverbow, Cindy M Hogan, Donna K. Weaver, Megg Jensen, Angela Corbett, Amber L Argyle, Nancy Thompson, Katie, G.P. Ching, Sawyer Bennett, David P. King, ali cross, Cameron Jace, Wendy Knight, Jolene Perry, RaShelle Workman, Donna Hosie, Stephanie Fowers, and Lani Woodland 

Pretty cool, huh?

Now I'm going back to my hole and work on those edits.

New Cover

I loved my original cover for A Change of Plans. The storm at the top rocked. I loved the seriousness of the couple on the lower half that foretold that the book wasn't all sweetness and light.

But everyone and their brother wanted to use that couple too. All over the freakin' the place. Seems like everywhere I turned there was another book with that couple on it. It's the challenge that comes from using stock photos. While I think my cover was the most beautiful and engaging of any that I saw, the couple was hard to forget.

It's like going to a fancy dress ball and seeing someone else there wearing your very same outfit.

So I decided it was time to change out the bottom picture. I worked again with the awesome Melissa Williams who did the original cover.

I love that it still has the same feel as the original cover, with the raging surf at the top and the title in the middle. The silhouette of the couple with the faint image of a cruise ship on the distant horizon is perfect. We should be ready to change it out everywhere in the next week or so. So excited!

Your thoughts?