My Dream Writer’s Weekend

This past weekend was one of those times when life matched the starry-eyed expectations of being a writer. Since this doesn’t happen very often (usually I’m doing laundry on weekends!) I thought the moments to be blog-worthy.

On Friday morning I received an almost unbelievable phone call from RWAs Liaison for the RITA contest who told me my book, Whisper on the Wind, is a finalist in this year’s national contest. The RITA is like the Oscars of romantic fiction, one of the longest standing and most recognizable contests in the industry. Needless to say, it’s quite an honor! So Friday and much of Saturday morning were spent between Facebook and email, basking in friendly notes of congratulations.

On Saturday afternoon, I had a book signing at the Johnsen & Taylor Bookstore in Wheaton, IL. Pictured below are several of the reasons I love writing for Tyndale. From left to right, Babette Rea, my Marketing Manager; Beth Sparkman, my cover designer; me; and on the far right is Maggie Rowe, my Publicist.

Believe me, these are not just people with dream job titles in a writer’s life, these are dream people to work with! The event was like a party, all of us chatting and laughing. I did sign some books, but in between that Beth filled me in on many details I didn’t know regarding my covers. For example, I didn’t know the hat and brooch my heroine is wearing on the cover of Springtime of the Spirit actually belonged to my marketing manager’s grandmother! And the pin in the hair of my heroine on Whisper on the Wind (pictured in the photo that’s inside the front cover) belongs to my publicist. The books my heroine is holding in Look to the East, books representing ones she brings to the hero in hiding to help his days go faster, are old books from Beth’s personal collection. Who knew? It was such fun to get a little behind-the-scene glimpse of how the covers are put together under Beth’s creative direction. Of course, she extolled the talent of the Tyndale photographer (Stephen Vosloo) who did the shots and also took the background pictures in Europe. But it’s Beth direction that puts the entire look together—from the lettering to the images. To me, she’s a writer’s hero! (Heroine!)

Another heroine who visited on Saturday was my line editor, pictured here at another event. (We were too busy chatting to remember to take more pictures!) My acquiring editor was out of town or she would have been there as well, making it a true Tyndale family affair. And reminding me how blessed I am to be working with so many people who love their job as much as I do. Great editors like these can make an author’s work really shine – enough to final in the best contests!

This week is spring break, so that means limited uninterrupted time for me to work on my current novel. But with memories of a weekend like this, I think I’m inspired enough to get some work done anyway. My family already knows what it’s like to have a writer in the house . . .