Cover Design and Layout is complete!

The cover design and layout are both complete now! Everyone has done a wonderful job on the the artwork.  I think it is coming together in an awesome way.  Still have my fingers and toes crossed to have some books before Christmas!

Illustrations are Complete!

Friday I got the word from my illustrator that they drawings are compete!  They next step is layout and cover design.  I will not get to see the complete set of drawings until layout is done.  After layout and cover design, I will have 20 days to make any final changes and then we move to marketing! Finally, the end is in sight.  Hard to believe I signed the contract with the publisher in February.  It's a long process, but I have enjoyed it and can't wait to see the finished product!

Here's the Bandit!

 

Bandit, the hungry dog next door

Bandit is my family's dog so we were really excited to see his character illustration.  He only has a small part in the story, but maybe on the next book he'll have a bigger role.  Glori Alexander, the illustrator, has done a fabulous job so far and I cannot wait to see the final product!

First Illustrations for The Best Baker in the World

Finally, the illustrations are coming in.  I have been so excited about this part.  We did some minor changes, but the characters really do fit the story!  The cat is the primary character;  her name is Annabelle. The fox doesn't have a name, he is just the sly fox.  Illustrations are scheduled to be completed Oct. 1st.  After that, cover design and layout, final proofs and off to marketing!  I have fingers and toes crossed that I will have books available for Christmas.  It's hard to believe this whole process started in February.

Illustrations coming!

I just got my first sketches of the 2 main characters in "The Best Baker in the World".   After some minor revisions, they are moving on in the production process.  I will have them posted here in the next couple of days.  The book is really taking shape.  Fingers and toes are crossed that I can have them available for Christmas!

A Favorite Quote!

Illustrations begin!

Just met with my illustrator, Glori Alexander yesterday and discussed illustration options.  This is like the best part to me because it is really all coming together now.  I was surprised when she told me many authors have the text and no idea what they want the book to look like.  I showed up with pictures from the internet, photos I have taken and a whole bunch of ideas.  I can see pretty much the entire book in my head. If they'll just use my ideas and add their own professional improvements, it's going to be great!  I did learn a couple of things...the book will be 6X9 soft cover (portrait style not landscape) and will for sure not be in the stores before Christmas, but I possibly will have them available for personal sale in late November, early December.   I will be able to get hardcover copies for my own distribution, but stores will only have soft back available.  I really hoped for a bigger book, but was told by the publisher the smaller books sell better because of limited space in the bookstores, the cost is lower and they are easy for small hands to hold. That's why they are a publisher and I am not!  I can't wait until Tuesday when my first sketch of the main character will arrive for me to approve!

Editing is complete!

I finally have the word that the editing phase on my book is complete.  The next stage (and most exciting for me) is illustration which will begin in September.  I was disappointed when the publisher told me the book most likely will not be released until after Christmas, however it will be available exclusively from me.  Hopefully, the date for that will be toward the end of November or sometime in December. I will post more information as soon as possible.

Those darn Oklahoma scorpions!

My worst fear in the whole wide world is a scorpion!  So far, I've had 3 this year.  Every time I see one, first I yell for Tony to come and take care of business.  Second get the spray and spray around the inside of the house (doesn't matter if the bottle says it's good for 9 months!).  Third spray the outside of the house and a 20 foot perimeter of the yard.  Fourth watch every step and stress out for days until I finally forget about it. I am getting better though.  Now I can look at the scorpion or a picture of one.  For awhile, I couldn't do that and it would never fail...I'd get behind a pickup truck at a stop light and it would have a huge scorpion decal across the back window.  I'd try to look away and "sense" when the light changed, then pass him as soon as possible.  Here's my dilemma now.  I saw a flashlight at the hardware store that is used to hunt scorpions.  It seems scorpions glow in the dark if you shine a black light on them.  I want it, but I'm afraid of what I might see.  One lady said she got one and when she shined it in her back yard, it looks like stars in the sky. I think I would go into cardiac arrest. Also, I'd have to make Tony go out with me to kill the ones we see.  They say if you spray them with Raid, it only makes them mad, although they do make a spray now specifically for scorpions. That's on my shopping list today!

Conceptual editing!

The book is creeping along.  Just received the first stage conceptual edit from my editor.  Now I can really see it all  coming together.  This started in February and should be completed in the fall.  I can't wait! We've made some minor changes to the book, but that's about all I can say at this point. The Best Baker in the World...coming to a store near you.  Fall, 2011.  I just had to write that!