I Did A Thing

So, I did a thing. I cut off most of my hair. Why? Because I wanted to. I'd been talking it over with Deek for a little while, and when I went in for my trim, I asked my hairdresser to just hack it off.

I'm pretty excited about it for a variety of reasons, but one of them is COLOR!! I had purple hair back when we lived in the PNW, and I dyed it blonde before coming back to the South. Well, for the past year, I've been trying to get my hair healthy from all those dye jobs. And it's been boring brown. Ho-hum. With short hair, I can dye my hair a variety of colors, and we'll just cut away the damaged parts. Voila! So, I'm headed back in June to get this whole thing turned white-blonde. And then, I'll have purple added to my bangs (and possibly other areas--the temple pieces or top of the spikes) in prep for the Raleigh SuperCon, where I am a feature guest. All my promo pics show purple hair, so I gotta give the people what they expect! ;) 

I'll be honest, I was a little wary of chopping off all my hair. Our culture, and a lot of men I know, place value on long hair as a sign of femaleness or femininity. So, in this sense, I'm so thankful I went to live in the Pacific Northwest for a while. I grew up in the Bible Belt South, and I never felt comfortable expressing my artistic funky side. But when I went to the PNW, that sort of thing is embraced and celebrated. I learned just how big and diverse this country really is. And I learned it's okay to be me. It's okay not to fit the status quo.

I'm an artist. I'm expressive. I like to try new things. That's who I am. And that's more than okay. 

I'm also incredibly thankful to have a husband who not only accepts this part of my personality but embraces it. When I asked him what he thought about cutting my hair, he said, "Do it. One of the things I love about you is that you're bold and try new things. And changing your hair is one of the ways you do that. So, if you want to cut it, cut it."

When I texted him this picture yesterday, he replied back, "This is about as cute as humanly possible." He loves me just like I am, in all my variety of shapes, colors, and hairstyles. And I appreciate that about him so very much. I'm completely free to be me.

In other news, I recently found out that the cover artist for both BookFish Books and Tenacious Books Publishing is taking a summer vacation sabbatical. Why is that a big deal you ask? Well, she designs the final print covers for the books, and we have TWO releasing while she's away. That means all edits must be completed and all formatting done BEFORE she leaves! We had a schedule in place to complete said edits and formatting in June, but that deadline had to be seriously pushed up. So, I've been working with our authors and editors to get these books ready. Once they come to the formatter, they have to be done-done. No more major changes once a book enters formatting. We can make minor changes (a comma here, a word swap there), but the meat and bones have to be mostly done.

Releases June 27, 2017

Releases July 18, 2017

Releases July 25, 2017

So, big props to the editors and authors for getting everything done and to me for formatting. I'm happy to report that the formatting for ALL summer release books (except The Beacon, which releases after our cover artist's vacation) is DONE! <high fives to my editing team and authors>

And Chrissy Lessey is even offering a sneak peek of her prologue for The Coven, which not only highlights her amazing writing but my formatting as well!

Despite all the work and hectic deadlines, Deek and I managed to have some fun hiking and attending a local festival! 

The journey to who-knows-where

Hubba hubba

Gorgeous bridges

A treat for our hard work! ;) 

Representing BookFish!

Enjoying a local festival

This little presh guy turned one!

When we adopted him, the shelter thought he was about six months old, and that was six months ago!

Happy Birthday, Gussie!

We adore you!

Until next time--BE YOU!

The Importance of Quality Covers

Hello, everyone! So, since I've teamed up with the AMAZING Anya and Anita for the Rhewbix Cube project, I'd like to talk to you about quality edits and covers. Today, I'll start with covers.

As you know, I'm the author of The Fulfillment Series. When I imagined holding the books in my hands for the very first time, I had a very specific design for the covers, but I didn't know if anyone could actually bring it to life.

So, the cover artists (my old publisher used two different people) who originally worked on my series gave these two covers for the first two books.

*Please note: I'm not posting these to disparage the press or the cover artists but to provide a vivid visual difference.

Okay, I'll admit, when I saw the first cover for the first time, I cried. Not "OMG, my first cover" but "OMG, it's nothing like what I'd hoped." I texted my Dream Team and my critique partners (even my mom) a picture, and they all tried to make me feel better. But it wasn't even close to the vision I had. 

There is nothing quite as heart-wrenching and disappointing as trying to promote a book whose cover makes you cry ugly tears of disappointment. However, I soldiered on and did my due diligence, promoting the heck of that book anyway. But I will tell you, it hurt my heart to see it out there in world, representing the story I'd worked so hard on.

And then came the second book cover. It didn't match the first book at all. In fact, no one would know they were from the same series, even if they sat side-by-side on a bookshelf. And with the crown of thorns, it had distinctly a religious undertone that didn't fit the story. 

I'd been asked for input on these covers. I filled out super long questionnaires from the publisher, asking me about different aspects of my novel, but the covers didn't represent my book nor the information I had provided.

When the time came for me to decide what to do with the series, I considered both self-publishing and shopping for another small press. And soon, the opportunity for me to sign with another small press presented itself. At first, I was really reluctant, but then, I discovered that Anita Carroll designed their covers.

I went on her website and sat in awe of her indescribable talent:

I mean WOW!! Look at the mastery here. The emotion Anita's covers evoke is just beyond explanation. And she spends a lot of time blending to make sure the words look like they're a part of the image instead of just being placed on top of it. She once told me she spent seven (7!!) hours blending a cover to make it just right. That's quality and devotion to art right there!!

Since I knew my book cover would be in good hands with Anita, I signed with the small press. And I had the distinct pleasure of working with Anita one-on-one. She *read* my books so she'd be familiar with them, and only then did she start the cover design. We went back and forth on ideas until we came up with the perfect one.

The books are BREATHTAKING!! When I'm at ComicCons or author signing events, people come from across the room to see them. And once they get to my table, they seem compelled to pick my books up and read the back. That's what every author wants, right? That's what covers should do, right?

And they definitely look like they're part of the same series. Each book has the same underlying theme and tone, with subtle differences.

In addition, they adequately represent my book. Anyone who sees them will know they're fantasy novels, no question. That's another super important element of a cover...to accurately convey the theme of the book.

For example, one of my friends had a book cover that did not represent her book. She wrote a story about witches. In fact, her book has been compared to Practical Magic. 

Here is the cover of Practical Magic:

Obviously about witches, right? 

Well, here's the old cover my friend's publisher selected for her book:

Nothing about that cover says witches. In fact, she struggled to get the message of her book across to readers. People assumed it was a middle grade or young adult "coming of age" story due to the cartoonish nature of it and the young appearance of the people in the image.

So, if you're thinking of self-publishing your book, make sure you choose a cover artist who will a) work to understand your story and your vision b) keep your theme consistent throughout a series c) make sure your cover conveys the message, theme, and genre of your story  d) create covers people are drawn to. 

If you're going to sign with a small press, make sure they have quality cover artists. Peruse their current books and ask yourself if the covers intrigue or repel you. 

For those considering self-publication, I highly recommend Anita. In fact, she's so amazing, I asked her team up with me to offer a special package called the Rhewbix Cube, which includes a reduced rate for edits, a cover, and formatting. Check that out here: Rhewbix Cube Offer

Until next time...may beautiful covers decorate your life and bookshelves! ;) 

Erin Rhew Editing and Design

I've been pondering this option for a while, and I finally decided to take the leap! Woot! I'm pleased to announce you can now get line and copy editing and/or your eBook and print book design from ME! Yeppers! Me!

My nerdy look makes it all official!

Why me? Well, you can check out my credentials on my website, but I've got the creds you're looking for. ;) Yep, and I'm an uber nerd too. Bonus!

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And while that is a whole bunch of exciting, I've got even more thrilling news!! I've teamed up with two of the most awesome professionals in this business to bring you something new and different in the self-publishing world...the Rhewbix Cube.

What is the Rhewbix Cube? Dear reader, I'm glad you asked. It's a comprehensive program created to meet all of your self-publishing needs. You write the book, and we'll take care of all the editing, cover design, and book design. 

You'll get one of the top content editors, one of the best cover designers in the business, and me for your line/copy editing and book design needs. It's a three-in-one deal...hence, the cube part of Rhewbix Cube. I'll be revealing the identities of my partners very soon. But until then, check out my website for more details and GET EXCITED, PEOPLE! We're rhew-volutionizing the self-publishing process!!

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If you're in the market for editing or book design, feel free to send me an email to discuss your project. I look forward to working with you!

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As always, I've got to give props to the love of my life. I'm beyond thankful to always have his support, encouragement, and love any time I spread my wings. Yep, I'm going to go there because a) I'm rindok excited and b) I'm a cornball. Deek, you are the wind beneath my wings. In all seriousness, thank you for being you...THE most wonderful man to ever walk the planet. I adore you more than words could ever, ever express!!

Until next time, friends, WRITE ON! 

PS. I leave you with cute animal pictures...