Whoo-Hoo! I'm a semi-finalists!

I participated in the 168 Project "Write of Passage" speed-screenwriting contest last week, and tonight I listened to the reading of the semi-finalists live-streaming from California. And they called my name!

Here's the list of semi-finalists: http://www.168project.com/news/259.cfm

Two other Act Oners are on the list: Lisa England was my roommate at Act One, and Mirachelle Canada is on staff.

Finallists announce November 9th.

And here's the kicker:  The story I wrote? It was inspired by a story in the Deliver Me book!

Third time's a charm? - Deliver Me cover photo

Well, it seems as though no one can see the photo (except me). Let's try this another way. This link should take you to my Lightbox at GettyImages.com where you will (hopefully) see two versions of the same photo. I'm using the farther away version:

Deliver Me cover Photo

Good luck!

Trying this again

Some people have told me they can't see the picture. Here's trying it again...

Would you like to see the book's cover photo?

This week I purchased the photo I will use for the cover of the book. Here it is. What do you think?



Vote for which title you like best for my book!

One drawback to self-publishing is not having a team of professionals to help you with important decisions. I've been undecided on the best subtitle for my book. I have two possibilities. Would you let me know which you like best by voting in the poll at the top right of this blog? Other input can go in the comment section below.

Here are the two possibilities:

Deliver Me: Hope, Help, and Options When You're Facing an Unplanned Pregnancy

Deliver Me: Hope, Help, and Healing through True Stories of Unplanned Pregnancy

(If you are receiving this by e-mail, you'll have to go to the actual blog to vote. Click on the link at the top of the e-mail and you'll be there. Dittos for leaving comments.)

I need to decide soon so we can start on the book's cover, so you only have ten days left to vote!

Thank you so much! I'll look forward to seeing what you think.

Cover Story

Yesterday I talked with my "cover lady." That is, the friend who will be doing the cover of the Deliver Me book.

Looks like we're going to get started on the book's cover next week.

How exciting is that?!

Uh oh. Suddenly I have a deadline!

Since I'm nearing the completion of my manuscript, I talked with my editor Friday to see what her schedule looked like. She has an opening when she could edit my book starting Monday, October 18th.

I have to have my manuscript completed and to her by October 18?! Suddenly I have a deadline. Why do I find that so frightening?!

When you self-publish a book, it's up to you when you get it done. I suppose some self-publishers might have deadlines if they need a book by a certain event or opportunity. But up until now, I haven't had to worry about meeting any actual deadlines. Once I decided to self-publish this book, it was just a matter of getting it done as soon as I could while doing the best job I'm capable of.

But now, suddenly, other people are involved and I need to work with their schedules and...I have a real deadline!

I'd better quit blogging and get back to work on finishing my manuscript!