The Mysterious Musings Of A Precarious Heart - Cover Reveal And Interview

I’m sitting here with S.J. Dennery, a carefree seventeen-year-old with a vibrant imagination. She smiles and it chases any anxiety that I have about the interview. She gazes around the room filled with fervent chatter, takes a sip of her drink, and gives me her undivided attention. 

1. S. J. Dennery it’s a pleasure to interview you. My readers would love to get to know you. Tell us about you?

S.J.: When I was fifteen I began writing and before I turned sixteen I accomplished my goal of being an author. I’m a junior in high school and I enjoy singing, dancing and preparing meals for my best friend and my mom.

2. Writing a book at the age of fifteen is an impressive accomplishment. What motivated you to write this book?

S.J.: My English teachers, Mrs. Stickel and Mrs. Borchers  gave our class a writing assignment. We were given vocabulary words and each student had to write a story. We had to read what we wrote in front of the class. I received a lot of positive feedback from my peers. The story, Down by Chunky Bones was also included in Thin Skin Soul Pinned, your first paranormal mystery. I was also inspired to write  a book after working on a few projects with you, Mila. You helped me discover my love of writing stories.

Mila: I read 'Down by Chunky Bones' and I knew from that moment that you had a gift for storytelling. It was one of the reasons why I included it in Thin Skin Soul Pinned. I’m happy to hear that your classmates appreciated your talent as well.

3. What life experiences prepared you for writing this book?

S.J.: I think working as an intern with you, Mila for the past two years has expanded my imagination and respect for the art of writing. I observed your joy while you wrote your stories but I didn’t understand until I began to write my own. I especially enjoyed acting out scenes with you to get it right. It made me realize that if you can do it, I can do it too.

Mila: I’m amused that my enthusiasm has somehow fueled your desire to write. I hope that you’ll continue to find joy in writing stories.

4. What should we expect from you in the future?

S.J.: Upon graduating high school, I'll be studying towards a degree in the culinary arts. I don't have any immediate plans to write another book but the proceeds that I make from this book will go towards my college education.

Mila: Well, I hope to read more titles by you. As far as the proceeds going to your college education, that’s a great way to save towards your future endeavors. I’m sure that your parents are very proud of you.

5. If you had the benefit of a camera crew to create a commercial for your book what would you say?

S.J.: Love comes in strange packages, and life is a never-ending mystery waiting to be unraveled. The Mysterious Musings of a Precarious Heart will take you on a mysterious ride through a world that will leave you spellbound. Get your copy and begin the journey! 

Genre: YA Mystery

Release Date: July 8, 2013

Cover Artist: Mila A. Ballentine

My thoughts:

 Just when I thought that my imagination could not stretch any further, The Mysterious Musings Of A Precarious Heart came along. Co-authoring this book with S.J. Dennery allowed me to flex my creative muscles in an unexpected direction. It was an experience that I will treasure always. 

Here's the Book Trailer:

Here's the Blurb:

The Paine’s new home on Zephyr Street was a fresh start for the young family but the comfort of their new sanctuary quickly fades when a stranger invades their picturesque home and tarnishes everything that they hold dear. Their daughter Lilac’s life is forever changed and her troubles bring them more than their fair share of sorrow.

Postscript: The Mysterious Musings Of A Precarious Heart is my first and last  co-authored book. 

Thank you, S.J. Dennery for taking the time out of your busy schedule to chat with me. I wish you infinite success in your future endeavors.  

How To Create An Ebook Cover In Publisher

Tap into your...

1.      Open a new document in Publisher.

Please note: This tutorial was done in Publisher 2010. The navigation process may vary in other editions.

2.     Select  the Page design tab. Select  the size tab and scroll down and select the 5.827 X 8.268 page option.

3.      Select the insert tab. Select the picture tab or clip art. **For this exercise, use the clip art tab and select a picture. Re-size the picture to fill out the entire 5.827 X 8.268 page. 

Please Note: This tutorial uses one photo. If you want to use two or more photos you will have to use another program.

4.   Select the Wordart tab. Choose a style of lettering.

A dialog box will pop up. Choose the font and type the title of your book. Select okay.

Please note: All text should be in the 0.5 away from the margin area.

**The font I choose has a shadow effect. It can be removed by selecting the shadow effects tab. Select No shadow effect.

**Use the same method in step 4 to add the author’s name.

5. When you have finished the cover, select the background picture, hold down the control key and select the title and authors name. Then, save the file as a JPEG. Also, save a copy of the publisher file, you may need to make adjustments based on the online retail stores system. 

Please note: Any changes made to a picture will change the dpi. The finished cover should be 300 dpi. You will have to change it in a photo editor program.

Once you have mastered the navigation aspect of the task, you will be able to create a cover in less than 15 minutes.   

AUTHOR EVENT ETIQUETTE

If you’re serious about letting the public know about your book, you should consider attending events that will allow you to showcase your books. Attending author events can be a great way to interact with the public but it’s important to communicate in a manner that will increase the growth of your trade name.

Here are a few helpful tips to help you build a network while interacting with your peers.

Ø  Your interaction with potential customers should be equivalent to your interaction with other authors. They were readers before they became a writer. 

Ø  Always maintain a pleasant face and refrain from excessive staring it can alienate you from your audience.

 

Ø  When interacting at an author’s event, always find a way to engage the audience. You can read an excerpt from your book or simply tell them something interesting about your work.

Ø When you meet a fellow author, never say that you haven’t heard of them. It is considered a cunning way to insult them. This happens more often than you think.  It is important to remember that every encounter is an opportunity to learn something new about yourself. Refrain from bragging. Don’t get defensive be proactive. Remember everyone is a potential customer. Simply say, “Well you can learn more about me by going to my website or any other relevant source.” Both of you should leave the conversation learning something about the each other.

 

Ø You will meet many wonderful people at these types of events but some will grow on you.  They will exude positive energy, concentrate on what matters and behave in a professional supportive manner. Be sure to get their business cards and promote their works when the opportunity arises. 

Thou Shalt Not Smite Thee In The Name Of Success

For centuries, empires were built on the ruins of others. One might say, “It is the natural order of things.” Wars have casualties and they will continue to occur whether it is justified or not. The debris field that is left behind can be difficult to clean up. One has to repurpose what is left and begin again.   

As big as this world is, you would think it was big enough for everyone to feel safe to carve out his or her own destiny. Unfortunately, there are other disturbing trends. It is evident in the highly publicized feuds in the music industry, in workplaces and in reality competition shows like Big Brother.  It is disheartening when talented people try to malign others to get ahead.

I came across a quote by John B. Gough that highlights an important point.

"If you want to succeed in the world, you must make your own opportunities as you go on. The man who waits for some seventh wave to toss him on dry land will find that the seventh wave is a long time a-coming. You can commit no greater folly than to sit by the roadside until someone comes along and invites you to ride with him to wealth or influence."-- John B. Gough

The quote reinforces a value my parents instilled in me from a young age. It is important to build a career by providing the world with skillfully written stories that ignite dormant passions within the reader.  Therefore, I invest a considerable amount of my time writing in the hopes of perfecting my craft. Therefore, I shalt not malign the efforts of other. 

 

★★Valuable Writer Tips★★

★Use your time wisely by improving your writing.

★Research new marketing strategies to boost your readership. 

★Attend writer’s conferences. Some public libraries and colleges have FREE workshops.

★Connect with your core audience. For example, Facebook, create a fan page, street team, join book clubs, and Twitter.

★Find a critique partner who will tell you what you need to hear, not what you want to hear.  It will be unnerving at first but it will improve your writing.

 

A Look Inside,The Mind's Eye

There are so many things going on in the mind of an artistic person. Writers suffer from a constant stream of information. Authors and inventers have many things in common. Inventors create objects and authors create worlds. Inventors make our lives easier, authors provide an escape from the real world.

The journey to novel writing was an overnight impulse. During the joy of sleeping, I mentally thought of the beginning of a story. I woke up the following day and frantically searched for a paper and pen. I began to write. I wrote every day, on the way to school, during my lunch break, and while waiting in line at the bank. Every ounce of my free time was dedicated to writing. I finished writing three months later with a 40,000-word manuscript.

The writing process allows me to put my thoughts on paper, it's relaxing and it frees up  space in my head. I often wondered, was I the only one with all those thoughts running around in my head? Two years later, I enrolled in a writing course at the university and my question was answered. For the first time since my writing episode, I felt that I was somewhere where like minded people could be themselves. I learned many things, but the most valuable lesson was that I was not the only one with chapters in my head. Taking a writing intensive class freed my creativity. I felt complete.

My advice for anyone who desires to get into the business of creative writing:

·    Take a writing course at a community college. (It's cheaper than a writers workshop)

·    Improve your writing. (Quality sells)

·    Choose a genre you love ( Do not write a genre because it is in style)

·    Join a writers group or get a critique partner (It may take some time to find the right fit) Also, if you have a critique partner he/she should be someone who is supportive of your desire to write, but not afraid to tell you when something sucks!

·    Write every chance you get

·    Always take a writing pad and pen wherever you go. (Don't forget to put one next to your bed)

·    Network with other writers (Published and unpublished)

It is important to mention, there is no single method that guarantees success. Keep writing, continue on the endless pursuit of improving your craft and never give up on your dream of being published.