Cover art...I need your help!

Good afternoon!

I'm NOT what one would call an excellent cover artist. But I do enjoy the process and, with much trial and error, I've been able to create a couple fairly decent covers for some of my books.

Now, with Spark of a Hero's release announcement just around the corner, I need to do come cover art.

I also need to decide what the title is actually going to be.

Friends, I need your help BIG TIME!

I need you to vote on the art and the title.  Now, please forgive me, the pictures are rough and they do have the watermarks of the stock photo websites where I got them.  (Thank you, Dreamstime and Shutterstock!  I'm a faithful customer!!  But if you look at the two covers I've cobbled together today, as well as the titles, I'd like some feedback.  Which direction gives you a more favorable response?

COVER/TITLE  A

COVER/TITLE B

Now, in order to vote, either leave a comment here on the blog or hop on over to my FACE BOOK PAGE and leave a comment on there.  All you have to do is say "cover A"  or "Cover B" and "Title A" or "Title B"

I am definitely on the fence with both of these, and I know cover B is not as large, so it's not as easy to make out.  But there's a lot going on in both pictures.

And yes, I am leaning one way...slightly.

Readers, I depend on you for help!

And OF COURSE, everyone who votes will be entered into a drawing for a FREE COPY of the new book when it comes out!

LAST TWO DAYS FOR FREE ELSIE W.!

Hey Kindle Readers!

Today and tomorrow, October 26 and 27 are the LAST TWO DAYS for you to get Elsie W.'s FIRST BOOK for free!

CLICK HERE!

Last two days, and then Elsie goes WORLDWIDE for Nook readers, Sony e-readers, and everything else!

FREE LIES!

Good morning!

I'm so jazzed by the response to my free weekend of DREAM IN COLOR that I'm doing it again.  TODAY and TOMORROW ONLY:


LIES IN CHANCE is FREE for Kindle users!

CLICK HERE!

This is the book of my heart, this is the story and the characters that began my journey into writing.  It's a romance, yes, but there is so much more going on than a simple "boy meets girl" story.

Here's the description:

Shara Brandt doesn’t know how she wound up on a creek bank behind a school, miles from home. She doesn’t know who murdered her wealthy, but cruel, grandmother. She does know she has one chance to learn the truth about the murder, clear her name, and leave behind a shadowy past she can’t remember and can’t forget. She adopts the alias “Bethany Elias,” works her way into the hearts of the residents of Rock Harbor, and tries to ignore the way her heart races every time the reclusive Bryan Jacobs comes near her.

Emotionally bruised after his ugly divorce, Bryan trusts no one. He certainly doesn’t trust the beautiful newcomer, Bethany. He knows she’s hiding something, and he is determined to expose her secret. To do so, however, he must lie to her, and himself, about his motives…and the feelings stirring deep within him each time he sees Bethany.

It is their search for truth that will bind them together or shatter their lives forever, but only if they are willing to take a chance.

LIES IN CHANCE is free Saturday and Sunday only!

FREE DREAM!

Good morning!

Super special for everyone for the next three days:




My Rock and Roll Fairy Tale, "Dream in Color"  is going to be FREE on Amazon Kindle starting tomorrow, Sunday and running through Tuesday!

Click here for the free Kindle book!

  If you have ever had a crush on someone who seems out of reach...this is your book!

Ramona Simms doesn't live a colorful life. She has a dead end job, a gassy dog, and a mother who believes marriage is the only measure of success for a woman. She dreams her teen idol, the retired rocker Jesse Alexander, will take her away from everything someday, but the only Prince Charming in her real life is her coworker, the persistent, colorless, Virgil. Then Ramona learns Jesse is coming out of a retirement to do a series of concerts. Convinced this is her destiny calling, Ramona sets out on the journey of a lifetime, dreaming to turn her black and white life to something far more colorful.



This Kindle download will be free Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday!  Happy reading!

Welcome to post #200! Who wants a prize?

Good morning!


So here we are...post #200. When a television show has their 200th episode, they have a cake and take pictures. I don't like having my picture taken, and I really shouldn't be eating cake, so instead, I'm doing this:

Since I began this blog, back in June of 2009, a lot has happened in my life as a writer.  Today I'd like to take a trip back and look at things.

Since June of 2009, my first novel, Dream in Color was published through The Wild Rose Press.  I've done a handful of book signings, something I never ever thought I'd do.  "Dream" has been a joy to market, to share, with friends old and new.  (There are some women in my church who have surprised me with their...enjoyment of a good old steamy romance!)

Since June of 2009, I've had the pleasure and privlidge of meeting several talented writers, published and unpublished.  The biggest moment in my writing career came the day I met J. A. Konrath at a conference.  I listened to him talk about publishing online and then I was blessed to sit next to him at a book signing.  My whole view of writing and publishing changed that day a year ago.

Since June of 2009, I've opened up my own website.  When I was a teen, starting my very first novel, I never imagined that someday I would be able to build my own website and broadcast myself to the globe. (The internet wasn't a thought back in 1982, at least not in central Wisconsin.)

Since June of 2009, I joined an amazing group of writers at Mad City Romance.  Having the support and learning from the collected knowledge of this very motivated group of men and women has made a big difference in how I write.  I am no longer alone in my basement putting words to paper that no one will hear.  I'm rubbing elbows with multi published authors who make a living doing what they love to do...tell stories.

Since June of 2009 I found a home for my first writing love..humor.  Writing on my humor blog gives me joy, and makes me laugh.  Since my hero, and the person I ached to emulate as a writer, Erma Bombeck, gave me so much joy as a kid, I'm delighted to have a platform where I can share my own crazy, funny, and totally normal life.  And, because you, my readers, have given me so much encouragement, I am going to move forward and actually publish a series of books full of my tales of fun, foolishness, and falling down.  I can't wait!

Since June of 2009, I've mentioned Rick Springfield in my posts 51 times.  My favorite number...my favorite singer.  Coincidence?

Finally, the biggest thing that's happened since 2009, is that I've gained enough confidence in myself, and my writing to e-publish my second novel this summer.  Coming June 4, Lies in Chance, a book that could not find a home with any agent or publisher, and yet was loved by my beta readers.  Thanks to everything I learned in the last two years, and every person I've had the priviledge to meet, I will be able to publish the book I loved best, a book I never thought would see the light of day.  I can't wait to share it with you!

My friends, don't think for a moment that in the last two years I've become some sort of Internet whiz and that's how I was able to do all of this.  Those of you who have been reading this blog from the start  (thank you!) will recall just how goofy and amature my early days were.  It's taken two years, a lot of questions, and a lot of fumbling around to reach the level I'm at now, and I have a ways to go.  What I'm saying, friends, is that if having a website or managing a blog is what's holding you back from realizing your dream of publication...don't be afraid.  Jump out the bay door, and fly!  Don't worry about crashing...your parachute will open and you'll be okay!

So, for my 200th post...I have something special for my readers!  As a way of saying "THANK YOU!"  I'd like to enter you all into a little bit of a contest.  Here's what you need to do:

Read this post.

Leave a comment, including an email where I can reach you.

You'll be entered into a drawing for a FREE print copy of Dream in Color!

This contest will run from this moment, on May 24, until tomorrow, May 25, at 8 AM central Standard time.  That means you have 24 hours to leave a comment and get in the drawing!

Ready....set....comment!