A New Cover and a New Direction

Well, hello there my wonderful friends. I've been getting some questions, specifically on Facebook, about the direction I am going to be taking in the future, and now that my new book cover is showing up, It's probably well past time to clue everybody in.

To begin, I should probably back up a bit. I'm not sure how many people know at this point, but despite great effort and desire to make it successful, my publisher has gone out of business. I hold no bitter feelings. Some disappointment--well, a lot of disappointment--but I feel that they did all they could and it is time for me to move on.

I've done a lot of thinking and praying over the past few months, trying to decide what to do. I know how challenging it is to find a publisher for a series that has already started, but I didn't want this one to sit on a shelf for ten years while I try to build up a reputation with my other work so I could reprint and finish out The Woldchild Saga. So many of you have asked repeatedly when the next book is coming out, and I've hated to tell you that I didn't know.

So, I've taken things into my own hands. As of today, I printed The Sapphire Flute as an e-book at Smashwords.com and you will eventually be able to find it on Amazon and Barnes and Noble as well as other places, all downloadable for only $1.99. You may be blinking your eyes right now in astonishment that the cost of the book is 1/10th of its hardback price, but you saw right. It is $1.99.

When I began writing, I did it for the sheer joy of it and only wanted to share my stories with others. Publishing this way allows me to do that. You can have the book, cover and all, for less than it would cost you to make a quick drive-thru for lunch. About 1/3 of the cost. All I want to do is share this story with others and let them find some joy in it as I have.

Now, I know some of you may feel you can't download an e-book because you don't have a nook or a kindle or other e-book reader. But guess what? You don't need one. My brother reads books on his phone all the time, and if that is too small a screen for you, you can read on your computer. Amazon has a Kindle version for PC, and I know there are many others types out there.

If you don't have an e-book reader yet, may I just put in a word about them? They are amazing. My eyes tire easily and I have a hard time reading from a computer screen for long periods of time, but reading from my kindle is just like reading a newspaper because of the new technology called electronic ink. It literally looks like it is printed on the screen, and then you push a button and voila! The next page is there. I love my kindle more than almost anything in my house--aside from people, of course--though there are days with my kids I wonder . . .

Just kidding! Wow, I've gone way off from where I meant to go with this.

Going back now. In leaving my publisher, I received my rights back, but they, understandably, kept the rights to things like the artwork, cover art, typesetting, etcetera, so I've had to redo that myself or have it done. Now, since I am NOT an artist, no matter how much I might wish to be, I hired a friend of mine who is also a writer by the name of Deirdre Eden Coppel to do my cover art. She did a fantastic job, well beyond my expectations.

Here, let me show you. The original cover, in case you need reminding, was this:

Now, I love this cover. I really do. It is a bit juvenile looking for the story inside, but it is stunning to look at. I have a poster of it on my wall, and with it being the first book I ever published, it will always have a place in my heart. It's bright. It's colorful. I love the way the flute is twined with the title. I love the wolf. And though you can't see it, I love the dark tree line on the back.

But obviously I couldn't keep it, so Deirdre and I talked about what I wanted and what she envisioned, and we came up with something that I think we both love. I know that the first time I saw the finished draft I stopped breathing, I was in such awe, and I literally had tears in my eyes. It is beautiful and exactly what I wanted.

And finally I have a cover that represents my book. It is a true reflection of what is inside. Want to see it? Well here you go!

So, it's been a journey--sometimes hard, and other times wonderful. I plan to publish the entire series as e-books and also as audio books, all for download. I'll be doing the reading myself as I have a small studio I built here in my office. That will be coming soon. And if there are enough people asking, I may even have some actual books printed, though I'm not sure when at the moment.

I'm sure many of you are still asking, "Karen, when can we expect the NEXT book? I've already read this one!" Well, let me tell you. Deirdre has agreed to do the covers for the entire series for me, so as soon as I have a cover for The Armor of Light, I will make it available through Smashwords, also at a really good price, then will have the audiobook follow shortly. I'll finish the series as quickly as I can. I just have one other book to write first.

Anyway, that is what has been going on. I'll keep you updated on when things change or I have a new version or book or audiobook available for upload. For now, if you want The Sapphire Flute you can get it HERE. And let me know what you think. I always love to hear back from my readers.

The Poetry Challenge #2

We have a winner! I must admit, as soon as I read this author's two entries, I knew that all three of mine were going to be skunked. This is a well deserved win, and without any further ado, I shall announce that our winner for Poetry Challenge #2 is . . .

Rebecca Blevins for The Reading Tree!

Congratulations, Rebecca! You've just been granted bragging rights, and to prove that you won, I'm sending you a widget/button to go on the sidebar of your blog announcing your win to the world.

Any of you that didn't get the chance to read the poems this week, I'm leaving them posted until this week's challenge begins, so you still have time to go and read them. It's worth the time, believe me. And just to wet your appetite for more poetry, I'm posting Rebecca's poem right here.

The Reading Tree

Book bangs at my side suspended,

Wrinkly plastic crinkles as I

Jump, hug the rough branch, swing my

Bare legs around, bark does bite, but

Worth a scrape or three

Shift around, slightly shaky then

Become concrete, steady, steady

Stand and climb, four, five, the story

Thumps with golden promise, it is

Nearly free

Reach, pull, sit and rest and

Dangle legs, lean back on another

Branch, quiet, sacred, no one else

Comes here, but ants—I share, birds all

Ignore me

Slide the plastic off my arm and

Hold my world close to me, sunlight

Splashes, dots the pages, I am

Smiling by myself—but I am not

Alone.

Poetry Challenge #2 Voting

The poems are posted and voting has begun!

The poetry challenge voting runs through Saturday at midnight and anyone can vote. Just read through the poems under the poetry challenge heading, then go to the sidebar and click the button of the one you liked best.

A few new rules:

1) If you entered a poem, please don't vote for yourself.

2) If you entered a poem and want your friends and family to vote, please don't tell them which poem is yours. Let them choose their favorites just like everyone else does. It's only fair, right? Let the poems speak for themselves.

That's all! Now go and enjoy these beautiful entries, all memories from childhood by the authors.

Flash Fiction Challenge Winner!

Well, our first Flash Fiction Challenge is done, and boy did we have a blast with this one. The prompts for the challenge were a wolf, purple, and murder. Things were neck and neck for quite a while there, with a four way tie that was finally broken near the end.

And without further ado, I will announce our top three winners. You might want to take the time to go and read the stories if you haven't had a chance yet. All of the entries were entertaining and very good. But the one who took the cake, triumphing over all other entries, was--

"NIGHT DANCE" written by James Blevins with 6 out of 23 votes

Coming in a close second was "MURDER IN THE PINES" by Karen Hoover (ME!) with 5 votes

And a very close third was "THE PRANK" by Betsy Love with 4 votes

Thanks to everyone for entering, voting, and reading. I hope you'll return next Monday for Flash Fiction challenge #2 with all new prompts and a heck of a lot of fun! Way to go, James!!!

Poetry Challenge #2

Hello, my friends! A new poetry challenge begins today. Visit the Poetry Challenge tab to find out what this week's prompt is.

You have until Midnight Thursday to submit your poems to me for posting, and then voting will begin,

Can't wait to see what you come up with this time around!

The Flash Fiction Voting Begins!

The stories are posted and ready to be voted upon! Now, here are the rules if you wish to vote.

You must read all the stories all the way through, not just vote on a story because your friend wrote it. You may still vote for your friend, but please take the time to read the rest of the stories first.

You may pick only one to receive your vote

You must go to the sidebar and press the button of your favorite story.

Check back on Friday to find out who won.

Read away, dear friends, and don't forget to vote! (gee, I sound like a commercial . . .)

Celebrate Life

A friend of mine posted this on Facebook today and it just hit me particularly hard. I had to share.