One way to draw readers to your story is an aesthetic collage. I've seen these presented in different ways: a reel, a collage on single Instagram square, a photo featuring several items (like toys) related to the story floating around the book, and more. I decided to try the square as you can see :) The goal of the aesthetic is to give your readers a taste of what they will find inside. Covers used to do this really well, but I guess what draws a majority of people to YA covers has changed over …

I've entered SONJI in the Clean Fiction Magazine's Cover Art Contest :)

Voting is free and anonymous AND can be done once every day until May 11th!

Also, THANK YOU to those who have voted so far - you're awesome!!

Those of you still thinking about it, the 11th is fast approaching! Please, vote!

Just visit cleanfictionmagazine.com, click on the VOTE tab, and go to the bottom of the Cover Art Contest voting page, click on CLICK HERE, and vote - if you're interested in partaking. AND thank you!

As I reflect on 2023, I marvel at everything I have been blessed to accomplish with the help of family, friends, strangers, and God. Sonji is in print. I have a newsletter and a website and a blog. I have a publisher - and they want to help Book 2 of Dryzzian Legends come to life. I have been blessed. And I look forward to seeing what blessings and adventures and accomplishments await me in the New Year. God bless you all. And thank you for journeying with me.

Hello everyone!

I know I usually release my blog posts on Friday, not Saturday, but I thought you would enjoy a report about this event just like you did with my book signing and Q & A at Maria's Bookshop. So here goes!

The shop is warm - like a good hug. The scent of apple cider and cookies weaves around me and the books littering my table. There isn't enough space for balloons, but that's okay. I have a raffle basket and my anthologies on display with my debut novel, SONJI. Sparkle hooves ...