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Saturday, August 25, 2012

Cover Work (Again)

Greetings, Earthlings and Martians in disguise!

More cover work was this week's job. Marie sent over a bunch of cover designs. I'd post them, but I need to see if I need permission from Spencer Hill to do so since they are their designs. However, I will say the ideas they've sent over are awesome. They're all bits and pieces photoshopped together with weird figures representing certain parts, but they hold promise. There's some designs I really like, and I've found a font style I hope to use.

One thing I'm worried about is my own cover idea. I sent it to Marie, but she hasn't said anything about it. Probably should send her an email to see if she got it.

Now, Weekly (Dis)Likes! It's rather light again.

Like 1: I got a haircut this week, and the stylist told me she liked my hair. That's one compliment I'll never grow tired of hearing. I have thick, curly red hair that falls to my shoulder. Sometimes it's a hassle when it gets frizzy or messy, but it's my favorite physical feature about myself.

Like 2: My grandparents came over for dinner tonight. Grandma was looking well, and we actually had real food for once (my whole family minus me is on some diet). It's always great to have them over. I don't know how it happens, but everyone, including me, gets so animated; we always have the funniest conversations that make us laugh.

Dislike 1: Speaking of diet, the aforementioned one is driving me crazy. It's a vegan diet my family's on, which means all wheat, no cheese, no dairy, gluten-free, little to no meat, all in the name of losing weight. Yes, my mom specifically buys regular food for me to eat, but she doesn't cook the foods she usually cooks

Dislike 2: Yearly political campaign commercials. It's a miracle I've lasted this long. Usually I start hating them the first time I see one. They've only gotten annoying just now, but I wish they were gone from my TV screen!

This week's quote fits this blog well:

"Writing is like driving at night in the fog. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way." -E. L. Doctorow

Adios, amigos!
Colleen B

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Cover Work and Finishing Up First Look-Over

Told ya I'd be back this time!

First off, I'm almost done looking over Rich's edited version of TSA. I only have the epilogue to finish as of now, and soon I'll send it back to him so he can look at my changes. And this will continue until we're both happy with the draft.

Secondly, I got an email from one of my co-editors Marie, asking about the cover and if I had any ideas and saying she had a few ideas of her own. I sent a reply saying I'd email her a copy of my cover idea while asking for her ideas so we could maybe combine the two in a way. Doesn't sound big, but this is excellent progress! And when we do get some final images, I might post them here and all you readers can vote for your favorite. :)

Take it away, Weekly (Dis)Likes!

Likes 1: ParaNorman. I've wanted to see this since I first saw the previews. The stop-animation it uses looks absolutely AMAZING. I should know, considering I've watched all the 'Behind-the-Scenes' videos on YouTube. Storyline doesn't seem bad either. Yet the local newspaper only gave it two stars. Don't care. Still wanna see it. The paper was wrong about Coraline (which I also enjoyed); surely they're wrong about ParaNorman.

Likes 2: This week I learned about a new emerging genre in books and writing. It's called New Adult. Basically its books for college-aged readers and people in their twenties, sort of a bridge between teenaged Young Adult and regular Adult. Think of it as Young Adult, but grown up. I'm definitely going to be looking into this genre, because I myself have been stuck as to what to read: Young Adult seems too immature while Adult sounds too mature. This will be a nice compromise. And I already have ordered a couple of New Adult books. Can't wait to read them.

Finally, new section! Nothing grand, I'm just going to start posting a weekly quote here. So to begin, here's a personal favorite of mine.

"I will love the light, for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness, for it shows me the stars." --Og Mandino 

Until the banana splits,
Colleen


Saturday, August 11, 2012

Editing Time!

Yes, I know. "COLLEEN ELIZABETH BOYD, YOU DIDN'T UPDATE FOR TWO WEEKS!" I know, and I'm sorry. Week One I didn't have Internet access 'cause I was on vacation, and Week Two was busy (and maybe I was feeling lazy). But I'm back, and I got good news.

During 'The Week I Had No Internet', Rich emailed his edited, note-filled copy of TSA. Ever since I've been looking over a chapter a day, reading his suggestions and changing stuff. I'll most likely be done in another week or so. And then I'll send it to Rich for hm to look over.

That's really the exciting news. For "Angelina's Secret", I've had put that on a bit of a hold because of another book: Sebastian Barry's "A Long, Long Way". St. Andrews sent me a copy of the book because during orientation week, there's a book discussion for it AND the author is visiting the college. It's actually quite good so far, though I usually don't read war books; very lyrical and elegant.

No Weekly (Dis)Likes this time. It's a Bi-Weekly (Dis)Likes list!

Like 1: my sisters. I'm the oldest of three. I adore my younger sisters so much. One is only thirteen months younger, the other four years. The amazing thing about us is that we're all so distinct. I'm the writer and artist, the middle one is a sporty nature lover interested in saving the world, and the youngest is a singing social butterfly. Because of that we can learn from each other. I can't imagine being an only child.

Like 2: My vacation was a week at the family lake house. We've had it since I was born, and I love it down there. Sun, swimming, boat rides; it's a great place.

Like 3: While I was on vacation, my aunt and her family were there. I love them lots. My uncle is awesome, my aunt loves me lots (she's also my godmother), and my two cousins are so cute. Can't believe one is entering high school. I feel old.

Like 4: Kindle. I used my grandpa's down at the lake house to get one hour of Internet every day (that's how I got Rich's email and could start the editing). There's good, but when it comes down to it, I prefer traditional books. They got that great smell and you can substantially hold them and flip pages and it's just SO much rewarding to read like that.

Dislike 1: No Internet connection for a week. Granted, I did not gripe about it the whole time like Sister #2 did, but still. Need I say more?

Dislike 2: My grandma's been through a lot lately. Getting on a breathing machine, hip surgery, and now her shoulder's broken because she tripped over her own two feet. I'm so worried about her. I hope she's okay in the future.

I WILL be here next week.
Bye,
Colleen