NWACC Class Was Fun And Y'All Did Great Work

To contact us Click HERE


Good morning friends.  Yesterday was class one for our May Jewelry made simple, and we began with earrings.

Amazing class.  Lots of talent, and many new things to learn to make wire wrapping more interesting and easy to do.  As you  see in pictures,  many produced 4 and more pairs of earrings, all different in color and style.
My husband, Greg does all the photography so everyone can show off their original work.  There is exilaration as we see new items, and ideas work out.

Next week we will work with necklaces, bracelets, rings and pendants.  More fun!

The final week will include repairing jewelry in our boxes that is not worn, and work with wire.

We really enjoyed class yesterday, and really that is the most important attribute of having a hobby.  We are all learning to make the most of pieces we have.  Adding to the collection is always fun.

I'm on my way to "All strung Out" to get new beads to feature in our work next week. Alberto and Jeff go to great lengths to provide us with special focal beads and needs for our work.

See you all next week!

A chat with an AWESOME Cover Artist - Alicia 'Kat' Dillman

To contact us Click HERE
Where here it is, my cover artist for Purgatory Reign, The Pack - Retribution, The Pack (book 1 new edition) and Explorer X - Beta

And guess where we met? Twitter! Yep, online meetups with any possible talent you need to get the job done. I love twitter.

Since it led me to Alicia 'Kat' Dillman.


TELL US, Alicia, HOW DOES THE COVER MAJIC HAPPEN?



-What do you think indie authors or aspiring cover designers should focus on when selecting important elements of their story for the cover design? Should it show the main character, important imagery? What is that balance between showing what is important and giving too much away?

Stay true to your story, don’t do something just because it’s popular or currently trending. I’m attracted to covers like the one I designed for Daemons in the Mist so that’s what I created. But some readers are attracted to high concept designs like those on the Hunger Games, so you also have to know your audience when creating covers as well.

I would suggest featuring a character on the cover and if you can a place from the story. It doesn’t have to be from an important scene, actually it’s better if the location itself evokes some kind of visceral feel or emotion. You should never give too much away on a cover, like the ending for example (yeah crazy I know but I have seen covers that do this). If the fact that Nualla was a daemon was a surprise to the reader I would not have put her horns on the cover, but because she tells us what she is in the first chapter nothing was ruined.

What types of programs do you use for your covers? Give us your best advice for those who want to learn the art of making beautiful covers.

First off I have to say I didn’t learn this all overnight. I have a BFA in Illustration from the Academy of Art and have studied book design for the past four years as well.

For my art (the painting part) I use Corel Painter, my custom designed brushes and a Wacom Intuos3 tablet. For the actual design of books I use InDesign since I design both the cover and internal pages of books. I also use it to design and format eBooks. For the Marked Ones mark that appears on the back cover and inside the book I used Illustrator.

My advice to aspiring book designers: Study books, not the stories in them, but the books themselves. The way they were constructed, the way they were laid out. Half of being an artist is learning to observe and analyze things. Look at some of your favorite covers and analyze why you like them, why they caught your eye. Why they said, “buy me, I’m awesome!” You can’t teach someone to be an artist, you can only teach them how to use the tools to become a better artist. For this reason I’m currently working on a series of informational eBooks for inspiring indie authors and designers.

Could you tell us about your process in creating the cover?First, I decide what story I’m trying to tell; what I’m trying to get across in the image. Sometimes I sketch out a quick thumbnail in the computer or on a scrap of paper. The thumbnail is nothing to look it, more like visual shorthand because I can see the image I want in my head. But most of the time my design work and sketching is done in my head, it’s a skill I developed during art school.After that, I hit the books, analyzing what’s out there. Trying to design something that’s true to the story while at the same time something that will stand out from the pack of other new releases.

For the base of Purgatory Reign’s cover, stock photography was used as part of a newer art form called Enhanced Photo Imagery. I head on over to the stock photography sites and browse for what I need. I then download their mock images and jump into InDesign to start mocking up a cover based on the template generated by the book printers. When I get the cover design the way I like it, I send it to the client and they purchase the chosen images.

Next it’s on the Painter where I take my custom designed brushes and go to town. Once the painting is complete, I head back over to InDesign and import the final art before exporting the file and sending it off to the printer. And that’s how my covers are born.

Alicia Kat Dillman Creative Director of KatGirl Studio
www.katgirlstudio.com

Maryland Writer's Conference this Oct. 21st

To contact us Click HERE
This Saturday I'll be speaking at the Maryland Writer's Conference, as a member of Maryland Writer's Association, as an author, Vice President of Mid-Atlantic Book Publishers Association and co-owner of Phenomenal One Press.

I can't wait. The program's wonderful and I'm happy to be a part of it. If you live in MD, DC, VA, PA and want to get ready for NanoWrimo or build your writing career, join me this Saturday at the Maryland Writer's Conference.

REGISTER HERE: http://www.cvent.com/events/maryland-writer-s-conference-2012/event-summary-e6bb5d1cfa924b358d17798fa9f3891b.aspx

• When

• Saturday, October 20, 2012
  8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
  Eastern Time Zone

• Where

• University of Baltimore ’s Thumel Business Center
  11 W. Mt. Royal Ave
  Baltimore, Maryland 21201
  USA

WRITING IN TIMES OF CHANGE

With the changing horizons in the publishing industry, authors are trying to navigate all the opportunities now available to them. Join the Maryland Writers Association.

Keynote Speaker, MARITA GOLDEN will speak on 'The Changing Tides' and will give a panel on 'How to write a story your reader will never forget'

Also, panels, workshops and more on 'Write to Market' for Poets, Young Adult Fiction Authors, Short Story Authors and Script Writers. Learn how to write a best-seller, how to pitch it, how to market it and how to publish it.

Pitches! Query Letter Review and  Review of the first five pages with verbal pitch of your manuscript by leading Literary Agents and Editors.

SESSIONS & TOPICS: From Books-To Script-To Movie, Speed Writing Workshop, Fiction's Forgotten Discipline, Writing In Response To Current Events, Edit it Write, Writing Sell Worthy Query Letters, Writing for Personal Growth and Publication, Build Your Author Platform, Seducing Agents With Your Synopsis, Writing Romance That Sizzles, Write & Market Memoirs, Fifty Shades of Marketing Poetry, What is a Publisher And Should I Become One, Marketing Short Stories, The Space Between Non-Fiction and Fiction, Children's Writing Past-Present and Future and MUCH MORE!
Click here to see schedule
LITERARY AGENTS and EDITORS attending. Sign up for your session today!

Roseanne Wells

Roseanne graduated from Sarah Lawrence College with degrees in Literature and Dance. She joined JDLA as an associate agent in 2012. Previously with the Marianne Strong Literary Agency. An avid reader, Roseanne discovered her passion for book publishing during her internship at W. W. Norton, and she approaches agenting as a writer's advocate, editor, and partner. She is also an arts reviewer for PlayShakespeare.com and a volunteer for Housing Works Bookstore Cafe in Soho, NYC. An avid reader, she discovered her passion for book publishing during her internship at W.W. Norton and hasn’t looked back. Wells is interested in narrative nonfiction, science (popular or trade, not academic), history, true crime, religion, travel, humor, food/cooking, and similar subjects. She is also actively expanding the agency’s fiction list and looks for strong literary fiction, YA, sci-fi, fantasy, and smart detective novels (more Sherlock Holmes than cozy mysteries).

Brittney Ross

Brittney Ross is in editorial at the Hudson Street Press and Viking imprints of Penguin USA . Currently specializing in narrative nonfiction and popular science books, she also has experience on the agency side, working with children’s, YA, women’s and general commercial fiction.

Claudia Gabel

Ms. Gabel is a Senior Editor at Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Children’s Books, acquiring and developing middle grade and YA fiction in a variety of genres. Her best known titles are the 2010 Stonewall Award-winning novel Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher, and the Scarlett Wakefield mystery novels by Lauren Henderson. She is also the author of the YA series In or Out (Scholastic/Point) and the YA mash-up novel Romeo & Juliet & Vampires (HarperTeen). She lives in New York City.

Jessica Sinsheimer

Now an Associate Agent at the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency, she’s developed a reputation for fighting office members to see incoming manuscripts first—and for drinking far too much tea. Her most recent sale is RIPPER, a paranormal/historical YA novel, about a Victorian girl who takes down Jack the Ripper–and its sequel. She is most excited about finding literary, women’s, and Young Adult fiction, and—on the nonfiction side—psychology, parenting, self-help, cookbooks, memoirs, and works that speak to life in the twenty-first century.

Meghan Stevenson

Meghan came to Hudson Street Press/Plume after editing the New York Times bestselling book The Bro Code for Touchstone Fireside. As a self-proclaimed how-to junkie, she loves taking a "master's class" in all things (and categories) prescriptive, but is keenly interested in the areas of pop science and psychology, love/relationships and health/wellness. For narrative nonfiction, she is particularly drawn to unusual hooks, a sense of humor and fresh voices, as well as exposing hidden worlds and funky subcultures. For Hudson Street Press, Meghan has most recently published The Meaning of Matthew by Judy Shepard and is excited about a savvy costcutting guide for Plume: Be CentsAble: How to Cut Your Household Budget in Half by Christy Pate and Kristin McKee due out in April.


Georgia McBride

Owner of Month9Books, a young adult imprint whose focus is anthologies and original single author titles made up of speculative fiction stories from some of today’s most admired young adult authors. All of our anthologies will have a charitable focus, with proceeds through 5,000 copies sold going to benefit a multiple charities.

We launch in February 2012, and our first anthology releases October 16, 2012. Georgia McBride is the founder and executive editor. TWO AND TWENTY DARK TALES: Dark Retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes is our first release. Anchored around the release of annual anthology will be 5-8 other titles from both debut and established writers. We’d love for you to join us! Please send your resume to info (at) month9books (dot) com.

I'm Speaking At the Maryland Writer's Conference!

To contact us Click HERE
Yes, it's winding down and I'm getting pumped for the conference in Maryland this weekend. (click here to find out more: http://www.marylandwritersconference.org/)

Maryland Writers Conference - 2012


Writing in Times of Change   Not only am I speaking at the conference but I'm co-chair of it with an amazing woman, Kay Chilcote, who's jumped in at the last minute to get the event in order.   If you're in the Maryland Area, you can just walk in an pay to attend the event.   SESSIONS & TOPICS: From Books-To Script-To Movie, Speed Writing Workshop, Fiction's Forgotten Discipline, Writing In Response To Current Events, Edit it Write, Writing Sell Worthy Query Letters, Writing for Personal Growth and Publication, Build Your Author Platform, Seducing Agents With Your Synopsis, Writing Romance That Sizzles, Write & Market Memoirs, Fifty Shades of Marketing Poetry, What is a Publisher And Should I Become One, Marketing Short Stories, The Space Between Non-Fiction and Fiction, Children's Writing Past-Present and Future and MUCH MORE!

ALSO, one very special feature that I added to the conference when I started to volunteer 3 years ago, the Editors and Literary Agents pre-viewed the query letters and First 5 pages of the manuscripts for the authors who gave their verbal pitch.   If you can't be at the conference please plan to attend one next year. They are great events that get you networking.

LIfe Of PI - Movie Review

To contact us Click HERE

I did it. Took my daughter to see this movie that captured her with the beautifully powerful animals portrayed in this tale.

But it wasn't what was advertised. It wasn't what I expected. And I was glad I came.


Okay, let's go over what I was expecting. An animal version of Avatar, a visual fantasy of colors and more. What I got was...

Blurb:  Fandango.com

After deciding to sell their zoo in India and move to Canada, Santosh and Gita Patel board a freighter with their sons and a few remaining animals. Tragedy strikes when a terrible storm sinks the ship, leaving the Patels' teenage son, Pi (Suraj Sharma), as the only human survivor. However, Pi is not alone; a fearsome Bengal tiger has also found refuge aboard the lifeboat. As days turn into weeks and weeks drag into months, Pi and the tiger must learn to trust each other if both are to survive.

My Review:

Yes, it got off to a slow but interestingly cute start. You learned about Pi's never ending quest to find hope, God's purpose for him, and did this with the open innocence of a boy that had feared nothing. I loved him immediately as he fit the role of a youngest son perfectly. But on the night of the storm that sets a pivotal point in this movie, you experience his pain, his fear, everything. The acting was wonderful, the story interesting (but truth was I didn't think it would be) and the tiger's role phenomenal. There were spots of true beauty and a bit of fantasy in the movie, although I have to be honest it wasn't to the magnitude I expected by the trailers and advertisement for this film. My daughter and I loved the ending, the conclusion and the questions it left us with. Although there was finality to the story, it left you thinking way after the film. And that by far is amazing. Now if you are expecting a face paced, action packed, visual wonder, this may not be your cup of tea. But if you like to get to know the characters of a movie on a deep level, and leave with asking yourself about your own personal journey. then this is for you. I gave it a 4 out of 5 claws because of the disjointed way it was advertised compared to what was delivered.

There's a Light. . .

To contact us Click HERE
I posted this picture of my daughter on Facebook this morning and one of my friends, who has known my girl since she was born, said how beautiful she is and that there is a light that shines in her.



Well, that got me thinking about the light that shines within us. . . at our baptism we are charged with the task to "let our light so shine before others" so that the world may see Christ at work in us and in the world. Is that what my friend sees in my daughter?  Is that what I see when I look out into the congregation on a Sunday morning and I see eyes filled with tears of joy, smiles pasted on happy faces, looks of yearning to hear more and more about God's love and mercy? Is that what I see in our small group when sisters and brothers in faith encourage one another and support one another on this journey?  I believe it is.

One thing I know about this light that shines within us is that it isn't "us."  When we are plugged in to the source of our hope and strength, something is exuded from our faces. . . our lives.  What people see in us is actually the light of Christ shining through.  They often mistake it for "us" rather than what it really is. . . the light that shines through all darkness, Jesus our Lord.  This light can attract others to us. . . it can draw them our way.  We must always remember that it is not to "us" that they are being drawn, lest we begin to rely on that kind of affirmation, but it is to the One who gives the light and who is the light.  That light is very beautiful indeed!  It is something we notice almost right away in each other if we are in tune with the Spirit. . . we also feel it within ourselves as it seems that love will ooze right out of us onto those we meet.  That's because we see Christ in them. . . we see them as God sees them. . . and we become the ones who share God's love with the world.  Just like the light is not ours, so the love is not ours. . . it comes from God and flows through us to others.

May you be light to the world just like my little sunshine girl!  May your heart be wide open to love others the way that God has first loved you.  May you be blessed by the fullness of Christ Jesus in your heart and mind and soul and spirit.

a.

NWACC Class Was Fun And Y'All Did Great Work

To contact us Click HERE


Good morning friends.  Yesterday was class one for our May Jewelry made simple, and we began with earrings.

Amazing class.  Lots of talent, and many new things to learn to make wire wrapping more interesting and easy to do.  As you  see in pictures,  many produced 4 and more pairs of earrings, all different in color and style.
My husband, Greg does all the photography so everyone can show off their original work.  There is exilaration as we see new items, and ideas work out.

Next week we will work with necklaces, bracelets, rings and pendants.  More fun!

The final week will include repairing jewelry in our boxes that is not worn, and work with wire.

We really enjoyed class yesterday, and really that is the most important attribute of having a hobby.  We are all learning to make the most of pieces we have.  Adding to the collection is always fun.

I'm on my way to "All strung Out" to get new beads to feature in our work next week. Alberto and Jeff go to great lengths to provide us with special focal beads and needs for our work.

See you all next week!

A chat with an AWESOME Cover Artist - Alicia 'Kat' Dillman

To contact us Click HERE
Where here it is, my cover artist for Purgatory Reign, The Pack - Retribution, The Pack (book 1 new edition) and Explorer X - Beta

And guess where we met? Twitter! Yep, online meetups with any possible talent you need to get the job done. I love twitter.

Since it led me to Alicia 'Kat' Dillman.


TELL US, Alicia, HOW DOES THE COVER MAJIC HAPPEN?



-What do you think indie authors or aspiring cover designers should focus on when selecting important elements of their story for the cover design? Should it show the main character, important imagery? What is that balance between showing what is important and giving too much away?

Stay true to your story, don’t do something just because it’s popular or currently trending. I’m attracted to covers like the one I designed for Daemons in the Mist so that’s what I created. But some readers are attracted to high concept designs like those on the Hunger Games, so you also have to know your audience when creating covers as well.

I would suggest featuring a character on the cover and if you can a place from the story. It doesn’t have to be from an important scene, actually it’s better if the location itself evokes some kind of visceral feel or emotion. You should never give too much away on a cover, like the ending for example (yeah crazy I know but I have seen covers that do this). If the fact that Nualla was a daemon was a surprise to the reader I would not have put her horns on the cover, but because she tells us what she is in the first chapter nothing was ruined.

What types of programs do you use for your covers? Give us your best advice for those who want to learn the art of making beautiful covers.

First off I have to say I didn’t learn this all overnight. I have a BFA in Illustration from the Academy of Art and have studied book design for the past four years as well.

For my art (the painting part) I use Corel Painter, my custom designed brushes and a Wacom Intuos3 tablet. For the actual design of books I use InDesign since I design both the cover and internal pages of books. I also use it to design and format eBooks. For the Marked Ones mark that appears on the back cover and inside the book I used Illustrator.

My advice to aspiring book designers: Study books, not the stories in them, but the books themselves. The way they were constructed, the way they were laid out. Half of being an artist is learning to observe and analyze things. Look at some of your favorite covers and analyze why you like them, why they caught your eye. Why they said, “buy me, I’m awesome!” You can’t teach someone to be an artist, you can only teach them how to use the tools to become a better artist. For this reason I’m currently working on a series of informational eBooks for inspiring indie authors and designers.

Could you tell us about your process in creating the cover?First, I decide what story I’m trying to tell; what I’m trying to get across in the image. Sometimes I sketch out a quick thumbnail in the computer or on a scrap of paper. The thumbnail is nothing to look it, more like visual shorthand because I can see the image I want in my head. But most of the time my design work and sketching is done in my head, it’s a skill I developed during art school.After that, I hit the books, analyzing what’s out there. Trying to design something that’s true to the story while at the same time something that will stand out from the pack of other new releases.

For the base of Purgatory Reign’s cover, stock photography was used as part of a newer art form called Enhanced Photo Imagery. I head on over to the stock photography sites and browse for what I need. I then download their mock images and jump into InDesign to start mocking up a cover based on the template generated by the book printers. When I get the cover design the way I like it, I send it to the client and they purchase the chosen images.

Next it’s on the Painter where I take my custom designed brushes and go to town. Once the painting is complete, I head back over to InDesign and import the final art before exporting the file and sending it off to the printer. And that’s how my covers are born.

Alicia Kat Dillman Creative Director of KatGirl Studio
www.katgirlstudio.com

Maryland Writer's Conference this Oct. 21st

To contact us Click HERE
This Saturday I'll be speaking at the Maryland Writer's Conference, as a member of Maryland Writer's Association, as an author, Vice President of Mid-Atlantic Book Publishers Association and co-owner of Phenomenal One Press.

I can't wait. The program's wonderful and I'm happy to be a part of it. If you live in MD, DC, VA, PA and want to get ready for NanoWrimo or build your writing career, join me this Saturday at the Maryland Writer's Conference.

REGISTER HERE: http://www.cvent.com/events/maryland-writer-s-conference-2012/event-summary-e6bb5d1cfa924b358d17798fa9f3891b.aspx

• When

• Saturday, October 20, 2012
  8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
  Eastern Time Zone

• Where

• University of Baltimore ’s Thumel Business Center
  11 W. Mt. Royal Ave
  Baltimore, Maryland 21201
  USA

WRITING IN TIMES OF CHANGE

With the changing horizons in the publishing industry, authors are trying to navigate all the opportunities now available to them. Join the Maryland Writers Association.

Keynote Speaker, MARITA GOLDEN will speak on 'The Changing Tides' and will give a panel on 'How to write a story your reader will never forget'

Also, panels, workshops and more on 'Write to Market' for Poets, Young Adult Fiction Authors, Short Story Authors and Script Writers. Learn how to write a best-seller, how to pitch it, how to market it and how to publish it.

Pitches! Query Letter Review and  Review of the first five pages with verbal pitch of your manuscript by leading Literary Agents and Editors.

SESSIONS & TOPICS: From Books-To Script-To Movie, Speed Writing Workshop, Fiction's Forgotten Discipline, Writing In Response To Current Events, Edit it Write, Writing Sell Worthy Query Letters, Writing for Personal Growth and Publication, Build Your Author Platform, Seducing Agents With Your Synopsis, Writing Romance That Sizzles, Write & Market Memoirs, Fifty Shades of Marketing Poetry, What is a Publisher And Should I Become One, Marketing Short Stories, The Space Between Non-Fiction and Fiction, Children's Writing Past-Present and Future and MUCH MORE!
Click here to see schedule
LITERARY AGENTS and EDITORS attending. Sign up for your session today!

Roseanne Wells

Roseanne graduated from Sarah Lawrence College with degrees in Literature and Dance. She joined JDLA as an associate agent in 2012. Previously with the Marianne Strong Literary Agency. An avid reader, Roseanne discovered her passion for book publishing during her internship at W. W. Norton, and she approaches agenting as a writer's advocate, editor, and partner. She is also an arts reviewer for PlayShakespeare.com and a volunteer for Housing Works Bookstore Cafe in Soho, NYC. An avid reader, she discovered her passion for book publishing during her internship at W.W. Norton and hasn’t looked back. Wells is interested in narrative nonfiction, science (popular or trade, not academic), history, true crime, religion, travel, humor, food/cooking, and similar subjects. She is also actively expanding the agency’s fiction list and looks for strong literary fiction, YA, sci-fi, fantasy, and smart detective novels (more Sherlock Holmes than cozy mysteries).

Brittney Ross

Brittney Ross is in editorial at the Hudson Street Press and Viking imprints of Penguin USA . Currently specializing in narrative nonfiction and popular science books, she also has experience on the agency side, working with children’s, YA, women’s and general commercial fiction.

Claudia Gabel

Ms. Gabel is a Senior Editor at Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Children’s Books, acquiring and developing middle grade and YA fiction in a variety of genres. Her best known titles are the 2010 Stonewall Award-winning novel Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher, and the Scarlett Wakefield mystery novels by Lauren Henderson. She is also the author of the YA series In or Out (Scholastic/Point) and the YA mash-up novel Romeo & Juliet & Vampires (HarperTeen). She lives in New York City.

Jessica Sinsheimer

Now an Associate Agent at the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency, she’s developed a reputation for fighting office members to see incoming manuscripts first—and for drinking far too much tea. Her most recent sale is RIPPER, a paranormal/historical YA novel, about a Victorian girl who takes down Jack the Ripper–and its sequel. She is most excited about finding literary, women’s, and Young Adult fiction, and—on the nonfiction side—psychology, parenting, self-help, cookbooks, memoirs, and works that speak to life in the twenty-first century.

Meghan Stevenson

Meghan came to Hudson Street Press/Plume after editing the New York Times bestselling book The Bro Code for Touchstone Fireside. As a self-proclaimed how-to junkie, she loves taking a "master's class" in all things (and categories) prescriptive, but is keenly interested in the areas of pop science and psychology, love/relationships and health/wellness. For narrative nonfiction, she is particularly drawn to unusual hooks, a sense of humor and fresh voices, as well as exposing hidden worlds and funky subcultures. For Hudson Street Press, Meghan has most recently published The Meaning of Matthew by Judy Shepard and is excited about a savvy costcutting guide for Plume: Be CentsAble: How to Cut Your Household Budget in Half by Christy Pate and Kristin McKee due out in April.


Georgia McBride

Owner of Month9Books, a young adult imprint whose focus is anthologies and original single author titles made up of speculative fiction stories from some of today’s most admired young adult authors. All of our anthologies will have a charitable focus, with proceeds through 5,000 copies sold going to benefit a multiple charities.

We launch in February 2012, and our first anthology releases October 16, 2012. Georgia McBride is the founder and executive editor. TWO AND TWENTY DARK TALES: Dark Retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes is our first release. Anchored around the release of annual anthology will be 5-8 other titles from both debut and established writers. We’d love for you to join us! Please send your resume to info (at) month9books (dot) com.

I'm Speaking At the Maryland Writer's Conference!

To contact us Click HERE
Yes, it's winding down and I'm getting pumped for the conference in Maryland this weekend. (click here to find out more: http://www.marylandwritersconference.org/)

Maryland Writers Conference - 2012


Writing in Times of Change   Not only am I speaking at the conference but I'm co-chair of it with an amazing woman, Kay Chilcote, who's jumped in at the last minute to get the event in order.   If you're in the Maryland Area, you can just walk in an pay to attend the event.   SESSIONS & TOPICS: From Books-To Script-To Movie, Speed Writing Workshop, Fiction's Forgotten Discipline, Writing In Response To Current Events, Edit it Write, Writing Sell Worthy Query Letters, Writing for Personal Growth and Publication, Build Your Author Platform, Seducing Agents With Your Synopsis, Writing Romance That Sizzles, Write & Market Memoirs, Fifty Shades of Marketing Poetry, What is a Publisher And Should I Become One, Marketing Short Stories, The Space Between Non-Fiction and Fiction, Children's Writing Past-Present and Future and MUCH MORE!

ALSO, one very special feature that I added to the conference when I started to volunteer 3 years ago, the Editors and Literary Agents pre-viewed the query letters and First 5 pages of the manuscripts for the authors who gave their verbal pitch.   If you can't be at the conference please plan to attend one next year. They are great events that get you networking.

A chat with an AWESOME Cover Artist - Alicia 'Kat' Dillman

To contact us Click HERE
Where here it is, my cover artist for Purgatory Reign, The Pack - Retribution, The Pack (book 1 new edition) and Explorer X - Beta

And guess where we met? Twitter! Yep, online meetups with any possible talent you need to get the job done. I love twitter.

Since it led me to Alicia 'Kat' Dillman.


TELL US, Alicia, HOW DOES THE COVER MAJIC HAPPEN?



-What do you think indie authors or aspiring cover designers should focus on when selecting important elements of their story for the cover design? Should it show the main character, important imagery? What is that balance between showing what is important and giving too much away?

Stay true to your story, don’t do something just because it’s popular or currently trending. I’m attracted to covers like the one I designed for Daemons in the Mist so that’s what I created. But some readers are attracted to high concept designs like those on the Hunger Games, so you also have to know your audience when creating covers as well.

I would suggest featuring a character on the cover and if you can a place from the story. It doesn’t have to be from an important scene, actually it’s better if the location itself evokes some kind of visceral feel or emotion. You should never give too much away on a cover, like the ending for example (yeah crazy I know but I have seen covers that do this). If the fact that Nualla was a daemon was a surprise to the reader I would not have put her horns on the cover, but because she tells us what she is in the first chapter nothing was ruined.

What types of programs do you use for your covers? Give us your best advice for those who want to learn the art of making beautiful covers.

First off I have to say I didn’t learn this all overnight. I have a BFA in Illustration from the Academy of Art and have studied book design for the past four years as well.

For my art (the painting part) I use Corel Painter, my custom designed brushes and a Wacom Intuos3 tablet. For the actual design of books I use InDesign since I design both the cover and internal pages of books. I also use it to design and format eBooks. For the Marked Ones mark that appears on the back cover and inside the book I used Illustrator.

My advice to aspiring book designers: Study books, not the stories in them, but the books themselves. The way they were constructed, the way they were laid out. Half of being an artist is learning to observe and analyze things. Look at some of your favorite covers and analyze why you like them, why they caught your eye. Why they said, “buy me, I’m awesome!” You can’t teach someone to be an artist, you can only teach them how to use the tools to become a better artist. For this reason I’m currently working on a series of informational eBooks for inspiring indie authors and designers.

Could you tell us about your process in creating the cover?First, I decide what story I’m trying to tell; what I’m trying to get across in the image. Sometimes I sketch out a quick thumbnail in the computer or on a scrap of paper. The thumbnail is nothing to look it, more like visual shorthand because I can see the image I want in my head. But most of the time my design work and sketching is done in my head, it’s a skill I developed during art school.After that, I hit the books, analyzing what’s out there. Trying to design something that’s true to the story while at the same time something that will stand out from the pack of other new releases.

For the base of Purgatory Reign’s cover, stock photography was used as part of a newer art form called Enhanced Photo Imagery. I head on over to the stock photography sites and browse for what I need. I then download their mock images and jump into InDesign to start mocking up a cover based on the template generated by the book printers. When I get the cover design the way I like it, I send it to the client and they purchase the chosen images.

Next it’s on the Painter where I take my custom designed brushes and go to town. Once the painting is complete, I head back over to InDesign and import the final art before exporting the file and sending it off to the printer. And that’s how my covers are born.

Alicia Kat Dillman Creative Director of KatGirl Studio
www.katgirlstudio.com LM Preston (www.lmpreston.com) , author of THE PACK, EXPLORER X-Alpha and BANDITS

Maryland Writer's Conference this Oct. 21st

To contact us Click HERE
This Saturday I'll be speaking at the Maryland Writer's Conference, as a member of Maryland Writer's Association, as an author, Vice President of Mid-Atlantic Book Publishers Association and co-owner of Phenomenal One Press.

I can't wait. The program's wonderful and I'm happy to be a part of it. If you live in MD, DC, VA, PA and want to get ready for NanoWrimo or build your writing career, join me this Saturday at the Maryland Writer's Conference.

REGISTER HERE: http://www.cvent.com/events/maryland-writer-s-conference-2012/event-summary-e6bb5d1cfa924b358d17798fa9f3891b.aspx

• When

• Saturday, October 20, 2012
  8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
  Eastern Time Zone

• Where

• University of Baltimore ’s Thumel Business Center
  11 W. Mt. Royal Ave
  Baltimore, Maryland 21201
  USA

WRITING IN TIMES OF CHANGE

With the changing horizons in the publishing industry, authors are trying to navigate all the opportunities now available to them. Join the Maryland Writers Association.

Keynote Speaker, MARITA GOLDEN will speak on 'The Changing Tides' and will give a panel on 'How to write a story your reader will never forget'

Also, panels, workshops and more on 'Write to Market' for Poets, Young Adult Fiction Authors, Short Story Authors and Script Writers. Learn how to write a best-seller, how to pitch it, how to market it and how to publish it.

Pitches! Query Letter Review and  Review of the first five pages with verbal pitch of your manuscript by leading Literary Agents and Editors.

SESSIONS & TOPICS: From Books-To Script-To Movie, Speed Writing Workshop, Fiction's Forgotten Discipline, Writing In Response To Current Events, Edit it Write, Writing Sell Worthy Query Letters, Writing for Personal Growth and Publication, Build Your Author Platform, Seducing Agents With Your Synopsis, Writing Romance That Sizzles, Write & Market Memoirs, Fifty Shades of Marketing Poetry, What is a Publisher And Should I Become One, Marketing Short Stories, The Space Between Non-Fiction and Fiction, Children's Writing Past-Present and Future and MUCH MORE!
Click here to see schedule
LITERARY AGENTS and EDITORS attending. Sign up for your session today!

Roseanne Wells

Roseanne graduated from Sarah Lawrence College with degrees in Literature and Dance. She joined JDLA as an associate agent in 2012. Previously with the Marianne Strong Literary Agency. An avid reader, Roseanne discovered her passion for book publishing during her internship at W. W. Norton, and she approaches agenting as a writer's advocate, editor, and partner. She is also an arts reviewer for PlayShakespeare.com and a volunteer for Housing Works Bookstore Cafe in Soho, NYC. An avid reader, she discovered her passion for book publishing during her internship at W.W. Norton and hasn’t looked back. Wells is interested in narrative nonfiction, science (popular or trade, not academic), history, true crime, religion, travel, humor, food/cooking, and similar subjects. She is also actively expanding the agency’s fiction list and looks for strong literary fiction, YA, sci-fi, fantasy, and smart detective novels (more Sherlock Holmes than cozy mysteries).

Brittney Ross

Brittney Ross is in editorial at the Hudson Street Press and Viking imprints of Penguin USA . Currently specializing in narrative nonfiction and popular science books, she also has experience on the agency side, working with children’s, YA, women’s and general commercial fiction.

Claudia Gabel

Ms. Gabel is a Senior Editor at Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Children’s Books, acquiring and developing middle grade and YA fiction in a variety of genres. Her best known titles are the 2010 Stonewall Award-winning novel Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher, and the Scarlett Wakefield mystery novels by Lauren Henderson. She is also the author of the YA series In or Out (Scholastic/Point) and the YA mash-up novel Romeo & Juliet & Vampires (HarperTeen). She lives in New York City.

Jessica Sinsheimer

Now an Associate Agent at the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency, she’s developed a reputation for fighting office members to see incoming manuscripts first—and for drinking far too much tea. Her most recent sale is RIPPER, a paranormal/historical YA novel, about a Victorian girl who takes down Jack the Ripper–and its sequel. She is most excited about finding literary, women’s, and Young Adult fiction, and—on the nonfiction side—psychology, parenting, self-help, cookbooks, memoirs, and works that speak to life in the twenty-first century.

Meghan Stevenson

Meghan came to Hudson Street Press/Plume after editing the New York Times bestselling book The Bro Code for Touchstone Fireside. As a self-proclaimed how-to junkie, she loves taking a "master's class" in all things (and categories) prescriptive, but is keenly interested in the areas of pop science and psychology, love/relationships and health/wellness. For narrative nonfiction, she is particularly drawn to unusual hooks, a sense of humor and fresh voices, as well as exposing hidden worlds and funky subcultures. For Hudson Street Press, Meghan has most recently published The Meaning of Matthew by Judy Shepard and is excited about a savvy costcutting guide for Plume: Be CentsAble: How to Cut Your Household Budget in Half by Christy Pate and Kristin McKee due out in April.


Georgia McBride

Owner of Month9Books, a young adult imprint whose focus is anthologies and original single author titles made up of speculative fiction stories from some of today’s most admired young adult authors. All of our anthologies will have a charitable focus, with proceeds through 5,000 copies sold going to benefit a multiple charities.

We launch in February 2012, and our first anthology releases October 16, 2012. Georgia McBride is the founder and executive editor. TWO AND TWENTY DARK TALES: Dark Retellings of Mother Goose Rhymes is our first release. Anchored around the release of annual anthology will be 5-8 other titles from both debut and established writers. We’d love for you to join us! Please send your resume to info (at) month9books (dot) com.

I'm Speaking At the Maryland Writer's Conference!

To contact us Click HERE
Yes, it's winding down and I'm getting pumped for the conference in Maryland this weekend. (click here to find out more: http://www.marylandwritersconference.org/)

Maryland Writers Conference - 2012


Writing in Times of Change   Not only am I speaking at the conference but I'm co-chair of it with an amazing woman, Kay Chilcote, who's jumped in at the last minute to get the event in order.   If you're in the Maryland Area, you can just walk in an pay to attend the event.   SESSIONS & TOPICS: From Books-To Script-To Movie, Speed Writing Workshop, Fiction's Forgotten Discipline, Writing In Response To Current Events, Edit it Write, Writing Sell Worthy Query Letters, Writing for Personal Growth and Publication, Build Your Author Platform, Seducing Agents With Your Synopsis, Writing Romance That Sizzles, Write & Market Memoirs, Fifty Shades of Marketing Poetry, What is a Publisher And Should I Become One, Marketing Short Stories, The Space Between Non-Fiction and Fiction, Children's Writing Past-Present and Future and MUCH MORE!

ALSO, one very special feature that I added to the conference when I started to volunteer 3 years ago, the Editors and Literary Agents pre-viewed the query letters and First 5 pages of the manuscripts for the authors who gave their verbal pitch.   If you can't be at the conference please plan to attend one next year. They are great events that get you networking.

Purgatory Reign - BLOG TOUR - Kick Off!

To contact us Click HERE

These are the dates and places so far!

Join in for the buzz!

Pre-order today! IF YOU PRE-ORDER a paperback copy, go to my website and let me know by pushing the email button (www.lmpreston.com) and you will get a FREE poster!

Want to join in on the tour? It's going until the end of May! Just let me know :-D and I'll gladly add you to the list.


December3 – Spotlight @ BeLoved Books4 – Interview @ Laurie’s Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews5 – Interview @ Sarah Carr6 – Interview @ Tory Michaels7 – Extended Excerpt @ A Little Bit of R & R Reviews10- Guest Post @ Me and Reading 11 – Spotlight @ The Book Hoard12 – Extended Excerpt @ YA Cafe14- Review + Spotlight @ Lindsay’s Scribblings15 – Guest Post @ My Home Away From Home17- Guest Post @ Jacob’s BeLoved Books

January3 – Spotlight @ The Page Flipperz7 – Spotlight + Extended Excerpt @ Celtic Lady Reviews14 – Interview @ Mark of the Stars 28 – Extended Excerpt @ Reader Girls

February - Official Release of EBOOK Feb 1st!
6 – Interview @ Full Moon Bites
March4 – Extended Excerpt @ Girls Heart Books5 – Guest Post @ Melissa Stevens
April1 – Guest Post @ Lauries Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews5 – Extended Excerpt @ Melissa Stevens17 – Review + Giveaway @ Fictional Candy

May- Official release of Print Book May 13!
18 – Review @ Reader Girls

I'm Speaking At the Maryland Writer's Conference!

To contact us Click HERE
Yes, it's winding down and I'm getting pumped for the conference in Maryland this weekend. (click here to find out more: http://www.marylandwritersconference.org/)

Maryland Writers Conference - 2012


Writing in Times of Change   Not only am I speaking at the conference but I'm co-chair of it with an amazing woman, Kay Chilcote, who's jumped in at the last minute to get the event in order.   If you're in the Maryland Area, you can just walk in an pay to attend the event.   SESSIONS & TOPICS: From Books-To Script-To Movie, Speed Writing Workshop, Fiction's Forgotten Discipline, Writing In Response To Current Events, Edit it Write, Writing Sell Worthy Query Letters, Writing for Personal Growth and Publication, Build Your Author Platform, Seducing Agents With Your Synopsis, Writing Romance That Sizzles, Write & Market Memoirs, Fifty Shades of Marketing Poetry, What is a Publisher And Should I Become One, Marketing Short Stories, The Space Between Non-Fiction and Fiction, Children's Writing Past-Present and Future and MUCH MORE!

ALSO, one very special feature that I added to the conference when I started to volunteer 3 years ago, the Editors and Literary Agents pre-viewed the query letters and First 5 pages of the manuscripts for the authors who gave their verbal pitch.   If you can't be at the conference please plan to attend one next year. They are great events that get you networking.

Breaking Dawn Part 2 - Movie Review

To contact us Click HERE
Well here we go. I'm warning you, I went to see this with my daughter who did not want to read any of the Twilight Saga books, but went with me to each of the movies.

I'm going to give our mixed reviews of this final installment of the Twilight Series.




I will forewarn you, I like my vampires bad, really, really bad. And my werewolves, deadly. But I do enjoy a good love story too.

Fandango Blurb:

Bella (Kristen Stewart) awakes -- as a vampire -- from her life-threatening labor, and her newborn daughter, Renesmee, proves to be very special indeed. While Bella adjusts to her new state of being, Renesmee experiences accelerated growth. When the Volturi learn of the baby's existence, they declare her to be an abomination and sentence the Cullens to death. Bella, Edward (Robert Pattinson) and the rest of the clan seek help from allies around the world to protect their family.

My Review:

I love vampires. But I like 'em beautiful, evil, mean, sinister, deadly, vicious and ... conflicted. Did I get that with Breaking Dawn Part 2. Well, sort of. There were many opportunities for this to be so much more but it wasn't. Sure the sappy love story was there. Yeah, there was killing and nashing of teeth towards the end. But  the bad acting in parts and corny lines had me laughing outloud and distracted from some of the intensity. Now my favorite part was the fighting and carnage towards the end, only for it to be ... an illusion. What a let-down for a horror lover like myself. Now for my daughters POV who haven't read the books but enjoyed the earlier movies. She thought it was rather 'creepy' with the Jacob and 'imprinting' on the kid. She quickly got over that feeling when Jacob (Taylor) stripped. Overall we enjoyed the movie, but our expectations weren't quite met. So we gave it 3 out of 5 fangs.

NWACC Class Was Fun And Y'All Did Great Work

To contact us Click HERE


Good morning friends.  Yesterday was class one for our May Jewelry made simple, and we began with earrings.

Amazing class.  Lots of talent, and many new things to learn to make wire wrapping more interesting and easy to do.  As you  see in pictures,  many produced 4 and more pairs of earrings, all different in color and style.
My husband, Greg does all the photography so everyone can show off their original work.  There is exilaration as we see new items, and ideas work out.

Next week we will work with necklaces, bracelets, rings and pendants.  More fun!

The final week will include repairing jewelry in our boxes that is not worn, and work with wire.

We really enjoyed class yesterday, and really that is the most important attribute of having a hobby.  We are all learning to make the most of pieces we have.  Adding to the collection is always fun.

I'm on my way to "All strung Out" to get new beads to feature in our work next week. Alberto and Jeff go to great lengths to provide us with special focal beads and needs for our work.

See you all next week!

Success. . . It Ain't All it's Cracked up to Be!

To contact us Click HERE
I've Been Called An Overachiever Before. . . Imagine That!

My Webster's Dictionary on my Mac's Desktop defines overachiever as one who is "excessively dedicated to achieving success in one's work."  I'm not sure then that overachiever is the right word to pin on me.  I think a better moniker would be incessant fidget.  I simply cannot sit still!  I certainly have not achieved "success" in the standard measurement of success.  By the world's standards I have failed to live up to my potential.  Just ask any of my fellow pastors who serve larger congregations who have nailed me down by saying, "You're wasting your potential," or "You're wasting your gifts."  Especially now that I am no longer in the ELCA but in the North American Lutheran Church I have heard that battle cry that I have wasted my potential.  Ouch.

To be sure, I have given up on any measure of status in my former denomination.  Many cannot understand why I did what I did, why I led my flock the way I led them.  A couple of handfuls of colleagues no longer speak to me, want nothing to do with me.  Truth is, I'm still the same Amy I always was, haven't changed- I think they just weren't paying attention or didn't want to hear what I was saying all along.  So, I guess I've given up some great potential (whatever that means). . . but perhaps it was just a dream that others had for me, and not the path that God put me on.  I hope that's the case, otherwise I have wasted a whole lot of time in prayer, confession, grief, and worship.  It's strange because folks who wanted nothing to do with me before are now walking toward me, meanwhile long time friends are walking away.  It's kind of like that in the church and in life isn't it?  A revolving door of relationships. . . it just keeps rolling around on the tracks and people jump in and out of the spaces between the glass.



Success. . . isn't it supposed to look different in the church?  If pastor's wanted to be successful then they should go and work in the business world where they can make more money, have more prestige, travel to lovely places for conferences that are paid for by the companies they work for. . . instead we serve small communities with all their frailties, fall in love with the people there (don't be funny-you know what I mean!), sit by their bedsides, talk to them in the late hours of the night when things are going wrong, adopt their children as our own, spend our own money for breakfasts, lunches, dinners and craft projects.  Success, it ain't all it's cracked up to be!  (Sorry Grandma Mildred, I had to use that word ain't-- she used to said, "Ain't ain't a word and I ain't going to say it."  Ooops I said it again!)

The other thing about this is that I don't remember Jesus ever promising us "success."  I would think that folks in the church would understand that!  And for the record. . . I don't think I'm wasting anything!  Please stop saying that to me, it only means that YOU think I'm not living up to YOUR expectations.  Tell it to the people I serve everyday and see if they think anything is being wasted. . . tell it to the seven track teams and 300+ kids I've coached over the years and see if they think I'm wasting anything. . . tell it to the youth who know how much I adore them and see if they think I'm wasting anything.  . . tell it to Noah and Anna, the two I gave birth to and see if they think I'm wasting anything. . .

Overachiever--- NOT!
Busy, crazy, fidget who can't sit still, passionate, driven, fun loving, laughter producing, silly, overbooked. . . YES!  And loving it most days!  Thanks be to God!

Image Credit: thegogreenblog.com

There's a Light. . .

To contact us Click HERE
I posted this picture of my daughter on Facebook this morning and one of my friends, who has known my girl since she was born, said how beautiful she is and that there is a light that shines in her.



Well, that got me thinking about the light that shines within us. . . at our baptism we are charged with the task to "let our light so shine before others" so that the world may see Christ at work in us and in the world. Is that what my friend sees in my daughter?  Is that what I see when I look out into the congregation on a Sunday morning and I see eyes filled with tears of joy, smiles pasted on happy faces, looks of yearning to hear more and more about God's love and mercy? Is that what I see in our small group when sisters and brothers in faith encourage one another and support one another on this journey?  I believe it is.

One thing I know about this light that shines within us is that it isn't "us."  When we are plugged in to the source of our hope and strength, something is exuded from our faces. . . our lives.  What people see in us is actually the light of Christ shining through.  They often mistake it for "us" rather than what it really is. . . the light that shines through all darkness, Jesus our Lord.  This light can attract others to us. . . it can draw them our way.  We must always remember that it is not to "us" that they are being drawn, lest we begin to rely on that kind of affirmation, but it is to the One who gives the light and who is the light.  That light is very beautiful indeed!  It is something we notice almost right away in each other if we are in tune with the Spirit. . . we also feel it within ourselves as it seems that love will ooze right out of us onto those we meet.  That's because we see Christ in them. . . we see them as God sees them. . . and we become the ones who share God's love with the world.  Just like the light is not ours, so the love is not ours. . . it comes from God and flows through us to others.

May you be light to the world just like my little sunshine girl!  May your heart be wide open to love others the way that God has first loved you.  May you be blessed by the fullness of Christ Jesus in your heart and mind and soul and spirit.

a.

NWACC Class Was Fun And Y'All Did Great Work

To contact us Click HERE


Good morning friends.  Yesterday was class one for our May Jewelry made simple, and we began with earrings.

Amazing class.  Lots of talent, and many new things to learn to make wire wrapping more interesting and easy to do.  As you  see in pictures,  many produced 4 and more pairs of earrings, all different in color and style.
My husband, Greg does all the photography so everyone can show off their original work.  There is exilaration as we see new items, and ideas work out.

Next week we will work with necklaces, bracelets, rings and pendants.  More fun!

The final week will include repairing jewelry in our boxes that is not worn, and work with wire.

We really enjoyed class yesterday, and really that is the most important attribute of having a hobby.  We are all learning to make the most of pieces we have.  Adding to the collection is always fun.

I'm on my way to "All strung Out" to get new beads to feature in our work next week. Alberto and Jeff go to great lengths to provide us with special focal beads and needs for our work.

See you all next week!