IN THIS MONTH'S ISSUE: May is the Month Book Cover Reveal Radio Show The Countdown Continues Zahra's Fun Fact My Personal Gossip |
|
|
It all began August 2018 when I awoke at 4 a.m. with an idea. I drifted groggily into the living room, sat in the rocking chair, and scratched out the original opening scene to SOCIETY OF THE SENTINELIA in pencil on a scrap piece of notebook paper. Nearly four years later, my first middle grade novel is set to release at the end of this month. It's been an incredible journey of growth. That scene went through a metamorphosis and is now reflected in chapter 2. I'm over the moon excited. I'm also anxious, nervous, and exhausted. Whoever said publishing a book is like giving birth to a child, I'd like to point out it only takes 9 months from conception to birth of a child and the labor and delivery only lasts about 12-24 hours. This book, from inception to ARC, took 3 years and 8 months. The "labor and deliver" (ARC to release) is more than a month of a whirlwind of hectivity. I can't wait to hold SOCIETY OF THE SENTINELIA in my arms! This baby's due date is May 27. |
|
|
In celebration of Earth Day last month, I orchestrated a curtain opening themed reveal for the cover of SOCIETY OF THE SENTINELIA. In case you missed it on social media, here it is: |
|
|
RhinoLeap Productions, based in Asheboro, NC, recorded the first four episodes of their new yet-to-be-named radio show on May 2. They invited eight artists (musicians, poets, storytellers, writers) to perform in front of a live audience at Four Saints Brewing Company in downtown Asheboro. They invited me to read from SOCIETY OF THE SENTINELIA. The episode that will include my reading will air on WKXR in late June. The recording will include all of chapter 1 and a portion of chapter 2. With a little help, I recorded my "performance." I'll be sharing clips on TikTok and as reels on Facebook and Instagram as part of my launch campaign. I also uploaded the section of the video that includes all of chapter 1. You can view it here: |
|
|
I learned a new word. Liminal. It's a great word. It sounds melodic. It also captures the limbo authors endure between the release of the ARC and the release of the book in all its final formats. May is my liminal month. With all my releases in this series slated for May through 2026, that liminal feeling is going to become embedded in my soul and triggered along with allergies when the Earth blooms. In the fog of liminal May, I'm engaging with reviewers, reading the galley for typos, setting up author events, designing and ordering launch swag, creating buzz on social media, and waiting with palpable anticipation for release day. |
|
|
Zahra used to share Earth-friendly tips. She's now switching it up to monthly fun facts. This one comes from the NC Zoo's bee exhibit. Did you know that bees are needed to grow many of the foods we love? |
|
|
My middle son and his fiancé recently moved to Western North Carolina. It's a bit of a drive from our house to theirs, but I knew the moment I arrived the day I helped them move that they made a great choice. The view from their back deck, living room, bedroom, and guest room is an expanse of the Appalachian Mountains that includes Celo Knob, the second tallest mountain on the East Coast. |
|
|
On my first weekend visit after they settled in, I worked on galley edits with this amazing view above the rim of my glasses. It's difficult when the kids grow up and move away. Then again, when they move to places like this, there's no room to complain. The thought of future grandchildren growing up in the Appalachian Mountains like I did (even if their piece of Appalachia is well south of the piece where I grew up) fills my heart with joy. I loved growing up on a mountain in the "woods" as my city cousins teased. The environment that surrounded me as a child, a lifelong love of hiking, and simply being outdoors are, after all, what inspired my current middle grade series. |
|
|
|
|
