Wednesday, August 25, 2021

Wednesday in Wyoming - August 25, 2021

 

Snowy Range with snow on mountains
The last two weeks' blog posts have shown you the brilliant colors of autumn in the Snowy Range. All too soon, they fade and snow arrives. 

The amount of the snow and the road's elevation (peaking at over 10,000 feet) result in the only road through the Snowies being closed for more than six months each winter. 

No cars are allowed, but that doesn't stop winter sports enthusiasts from coming. During the snowed-in months, the Snowy Range is a mecca for skiers and snowmobilers.

You'll find me at home, drinking cocoa and waiting for the snow to melt and the road to reopen.


Tuesday, August 24, 2021

Creating a Cover - Brides of the Old West

 Did you ever wonder how a book cover is created? Today I'm going to share the process talented author and designer L.A. Sartor followed when she designed the cover for Brides of the Old West.

It all started with this photograph. 

Original Photo - South Pass City

Even though the novellas are set in Cheyenne, I thought this picture from a trip my husband and I took to South Pass City exemplified the old West and wanted it for the cover. 

L.A. had some concerns, but she agreed to see if she could make it work. When she showed me her first design, she was afraid I'd hate it. I didn't. In fact, I LOVED it. Oh, there were things we both knew had to be changed, but the overall look was perfect.

First cover -- Brides of the Old West

We worked together to choose type fonts and colors, but because the original design was so good, that didn't take long. This was the cover that would appear on ebooks. 

Final Front Cover - Brides of the Old West

The next step was to create a cover for the print version. That involved designing the spine and the back cover.

Original Print Cover - Brides of the Old West

As you can see, there were some problems, the biggest of which is that I had written too much back cover copy. It was time for me to do some cutting.

Semi-Final Print Cover - Brides of the Old West

Besides cutting the number of words in the copy, we made a few changes along the way, including adding the sunflower spray. At this point, we both thought the cover was finished. But ... There's always a "but," isn't there?

When I received a proof copy of the book and saw the back cover by itself, I realized there was a minor problem.

First Back Cover - Brides of the Old West

It may not have bothered anyone else, but it looked too plain to me. Furthermore, there was nothing tying the sunflower spray to the rest of the cover. The solution was easy.

Final Back Cover - Brides of the Old West

By making the novella titles the same blue as the flowers in the spray, the back cover was more appealing. And so we had the final version of the print cover.


Final Print Cover - Brides of the Old West

Both L.A. and I are thrilled by the way it turned out. I hope you agree with us that it's a beautiful cover and one that will intrigue readers.

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Wednesday in Wyoming - August 18, 2021

 

Snowy Range autumn foliage
When you think of brilliant red autumn foliage, Wyoming may not be first on your list of places to see it. But fall brings glorious colors to parts of Wyoming, including the Snowy Range.

Wednesday, August 11, 2021

Wednesday in Wyoming - August 11, 2021

 

Snowy Range autumn tundra
Autumn brings brilliant colors to the Snowy Range. The aspen at lower elevations turn their signature gold, while the tundra becomes fiery red and rust. Cooler temperatures make hiking all the more appealing, as does the absence of crowds.

Have I convinced you to detour off I-80 to visit the Snowy Range the next time you're crossing Wyoming? I hope so, because it's a special place.

Wednesday, August 4, 2021

Wednesday in Wyoming - August 4, 2021

 

Snowy Range lake and mountains
This month I'm going to highlight the Snowy Range, a particularly scenic part of the Medicine Bow National Forest.

Dotted with small lakes, evergreens, and the white mountains that give the area its name, it's a wonderful place to camp, hike, or picnic. Best of all, at least for me, it's an easy drive from Cheyenne.

Tuesday, August 3, 2021

Brides of the Old West

 

Brides of the Old West cover
"I wish I didn't have to wait so long for your next book." If I had a dollar for every time I've heard that, I'd be wealthy. I know that a year between books seems like a long time, so I'm happy to tell you that I'm releasing my first-ever novella collection next month to give you something to read while we wait for March 2022 and The Spark of Love's debut.

It's true that I've participated in other collections, but this is the first time that there's one with only my stories. All four of my novellas set in nineteenth-century Cheyenne will be available in a single book.

You may have read one or more of the stories, since they were previously published, but for the first time they're together and at an affordable price. To say that I'm excited about Brides of the Old West is an understatement.

What's it about? Here's a hint:

Four unlikely couples.
Four unexpected chances at happiness.
Four unforgettable stories of love and faith in the Old West.


Brides of the Old West will be available in both ebook and print format exclusively on Amazon. The ebook is available for preorder now; print will be available on the official release date of September 14. Here's the link.

I hope you'll share my excitement about the book and what I consider to be a truly fabulous cover.