Periphery is Available!

My newest novel, The Battle for Periphery, is now available on Amazon! A hearty cheer for the
creator of my cover art, Erin Ruffino, and the cover designer, Aaron La Porta! They've done an amazing job at bringing Emerson's adventures to life!

Here is the description:

Emerson wears the cloak of an Amaranth, the garment of a much-revered warrior clan. Since he was a boy, he has been content wandering the realm, but now he is having second thoughts. The idea of settling down in a home of his own is growing on him, and he feels called to build a home in the forest. It's all working, until a princess points a loaded bow to his head.

This Amaranth has shown up just when she needs him the most: a war rages. The palace, the royal family, the very kingdom of Periphery is in danger, and she is determined to make him abide by his Amaranth creed. Their chance meeting leads Emerson on a quest to save a kingdom and a home, but it will also unveil secrets that will change everything he knows about his past and the futures of those he has grown to care for.

Powerful forces are in motion. A mystical tree calls to him, a prophecy plagues his dreams, and a shadowy figure has released a vital spark of light into the night sky.

What will the kingdom's deepest secrets reveal? And can Emerson face the secrets within himself?

I hope you enjoy it! Remember to leave a review! They really do help us Indie authors!

  

     

Happy New Year

 

2024 is here. Time to reflect on last year and set some goals for next year.

In my second year of retirement, it was challenging to carve out writing time, but scheduling writing days with writer-friend Laura has helped a lot. I finished the first draft of Periphery, got it out and back from beta readers, and I am making great progress with the final draft. The sneak peak of the cover art came in just before the new year, and that is so exciting! Kudos to Erin Ruffino, and now it gets handed off to Aaron La Porta for cover design while Erin works on the map for the inside.

I had three very successful author signings, two with the Dollars for Scholars event at Sweet Home High School and one with the Buffalo Historical Society.

I joined Buffalo Niagara Children's Writers and Illustrators and have attended most of their meetings. I am still meeting monthly with my writer's group. And I attended an inspirational writers' retreat in Rochester this summer.

So, overall, I call it a successful year. Although the initial plan was to have Periphery out in 2023, I think it will be a better read for the time spent crafting it.

So, what are the goals for 2024? First and foremost, get Periphery into the hands of readers. After that, a sequel to Periphery might take over, although I did start working on a ballet story for middle grades while my manuscript was with beta readers. I also have a short story in the works, which I think I might try to get entered into some contests. I would also like to add a couple more signings to the schedule this year. 

Here's to 2024 and staying focused!

Publishing Series: # 14 They Will Judge!

There is an old saying, "Don't judge a book by its cover." But they will. Your cover is your book's best advertisement.

At this point in the publishing process, thought should be given to your cover. There are many options. If you are using KDP or a similar independent venue to publish, you will have to figure out how to produce a cover. There is help on the KDP website to pull together a cover on your own, but you have to be realistic with yourself. Do you have the talent to produce a good cover? You can also search the web for people from whom you can purchase cover making talents. You can purchase art and do the layover of the type yourself.

Sometimes you know a talented friend. This was my luck. My first two covers were designed by Aaron La Porta, who is a professional graphic designer. He was knowledgeable about computer layout, so that he could help me produce a cover that fit into the dimensions required by the program.

For my latest project, Periphery, I am embarking on a new venture, which is truly exciting. I will be working with artist Erin Ruffino. This is a totally new experience for me. Erin will be producing the art for the cover and, hopefully, Aaron will once again be adding the graphic elements to produce the cover. Erin and I met virtually last week and began talks so that she could begin to see the characters and fantasy world I've spent two years creating. She is an amazing artist and I can't wait to see the results, but I expect it to be quite a process. I'll keep you posted!