The Book Cover Reveal for AFTER THE FIRE!

It’s only been four years, but it seems like it’s been a decade since I started this project. From the burning desire to write this story, to my interview process, and developing my characters, it’s all been a labor of love. The long days and nights of editing, the re-editing, (my least favorite part, but it helped me grow as a writer), and the fantastic people I met along the way all helped to teach me about the publishing industry. HERE IT IS!

I have this wonderful book cover, designed by Chrissy at Damonza, that I am totally in love with. She was patient and kind as I sent back several other options for covers. She never let me down when I became specific about the models. After much back and forth, we chose this one to be the cover for my debut novel, After the Fire.

People ask me how I found my book cover designer and I have to tell the truth. I have followed a very inspirational person for a few years named Kristen Martin. She is a best selling author and creative entrepreneur who helps new authors to navigate the self publishing world. She is the one who suggested Damonza and when someone as successful as she is recommended this company, I thought it was worth looking into. It was a great idea and I am very happy I did.

If you are a writer or interested in starting a business that requires you become more disciplined with your time management, she’s your gal. It’s been hard on me trying to find the time to write my book while working a full time job. Even harder still, when I decided to self-publish my book. But I’m not sorry I made that choice now. It’s been very educational and I love the work.

So what’s next? MARKETING! I have the wonderfully daunting task of going out and about to find indie bookstores that will want to carry my book. I have to organize some kind of press release, and talk y’all into promoting the heck out of this beautiful love story that came out of The Valley Fire, here in Lake County.

If you want to help, you can share this post. Share, share, share! Share my blog posts, share my social media posts, and use the hashtag #AFTERTHEFIRE. Start a new craze using #AFTERTHEFIRE! For any of you who don’t understand how my book could be about the Valley Fire and be a love story, please click here to read how this all came to be.

I want to thank you all for your continued support. I am very excited to say that now with both my books formatting done and book covers complete, I can upload my book to Amazon this weekend and order my Advance Reader Copies, (ARC’s) to proof the paperback in print, and also get some reviews. As soon as I see that everything prints fine and there are not errors, within days my book will be available for purchase. YAY!

Stay tuned readers! This has been a wild ride.

*Photo of Kristen Martin, by Kristen Martin