Community Ties

This morning, I completed a whole novel critique for one of the members of a small writing/support group I belong to on Facebook (shoutout to the lovely ladies of the #SFWG!) and it occurred to me what a wonderful opportunity the internet has given me.

I'm currently part of several writing communities, some virtual, some physical, and all important to my development as a writer.

For many, many years, I was an active moderator at Wild Poetry Forum. I found WPF when I was the young mother of 2, working full time, and trying to write something--anything--in the margins of my life. I had no flexibility to look for a local writing group and having access to a community of poets from across the globe and a place to post work for review meant I could participate in the time I could carve from my crazy life.

When I started to work on novel-length fiction, I stumbled into Forward Motion for Writers and quickly found a critique group there. It lasted for several years and I am still in contact with many of the members of the group. In fact, the artist (Jade Zivanovic) who designed and created the cover for THE BETWEEN was originally a member of that writing group. She is from Australia. I live in the US. Without FMWriters, I would never have had the great good fortune to work with her.

Another one of my communities emerged from a local workshop I took about 6 years ago. The Ultimate Science Fiction Writing Workshop introduced me to a group of local writers and after the formal workshop was over, we've stayed in touch using a combination of real-life meetups and an internet message board. In fact, it is from that group that the PEN-ULTIMATE anthology emerged from.

The #SFWG is a small community of writers--most of whom write historical fiction, though they let me play in their sandbox. :) #SFWG (and what it stands for is a secret!) is as much a private space to gripe, a place to share sorrows and triumphs, as it is a critique group. The wonderful ladies who make up this group know how much I appreciate their support this past year.

Another kind of community is what I call my 'water cooler': Google Plus. Over the past 2 years, I have grown to really appreciate the ability to hang out and talk 'shop' with a community of writers and artists there. When you work from home, alone, but for the company of two shelter dogs, it becomes crucial to have other folks to talk to.

I feel extremely fortunate to very literally have the world at my fingertips. Writing can be a very lonely endeavor. My myriad communities make my life so much more vibrant.

Today's blogpost is part of FMWriter's Merry-Go-Round Blog tour. To see what dozens of other writers from one of my communities have to say about their communities, this month's topic, check out the blog tour hub. 

"Wow. That’s pretty . . . freaky. But in a good way."

Last month I submitted the cover Jade E. Zivanovic designed for THE BETWEEN to The Book Designer blog (an amazing recourse, btw) for their monthly indie book cover contest. * While Jade's cover did not win, I loved the comment Joel Friedlander left:

"Wow. That's pretty. . . freaky. But in a good way."

What that means to me is that the cover did its job.  It communicated the eerie otherness of Fae and the danger facing Lydia from Oberon and Titania. I've mentioned before that I didn't want the cover to be an illustration of any of the book's scenes, rather I wanted something that transmitted the tone and tenor of the story.  Well, Jade did just that with this beautiful cover.  

Thank you, Jade. 

* Entrants are posted in alphabetical order, so you have to scroll down to the "T"s to get to The Between.

A picture is worth 70,000 words

Ever since I saw the first concept sketches for what was to become my awesome cover for THE BETWEEN, I've been in awe of the talented Jade E. Zivanovic.

I was lucky to connect with her just at the time she was looking for new inspiration and I was looking for a cover artist. I first 'met' Jade maybe 6 years ago or so, when we both ended up in the same on line critique group via Forward Motion for Writers. At the time, she was both drawing and writing. The group dwindled and disbanded as many of those groups do and I lost track of Jade.  Last last year, we reconnected on Facebook and I discovered she was focusing on her art--and once I saw her work, I was blown away.

Because Jade refuses to toot her own horn, I have to do it for her.  So here is an interview with Jade, along with some of her artwork and her contact information at the bottom of the interview.

A study for Jade's oil painting 'Samson & Delilah'

LJ:   Were you one of those kids who always sketched on the margins of your schoolwork? Did you ever get in trouble for it?

Jade:  I sure was, but I didn't restrict myself to just the margins :)  I remember my Biology teacher being horrified and angry that I had spent most of my class time drawing all over my pages.  Then I had awesome teachers like Mr. Atthow in Geography class, who actually encouraged me!  History class was spent not drawing on paper, but drawing on some of my friends hands and arms. 

Funny thing is, I nearly failed Art class.

Despite being mostly ignored for the rest of my high school years by my Biology teacher, who never got over my 'disrespect' as she put it, I went onto university to study Biology (I was actually quite good at it!).  For my assignments at uni, I poured most of my time into my diagrams and technical drawings, even if the assignment didn't really call for it.

My Biochemistry teacher once said during our lab work, "Jade! What are you doing here?" Confused, I just shrugged my shoulders, to which he continued, "You should be a tattooist!" I forgot I had decorated my white lab coat with tattoo designs, tribal, dragon and the like. 

I always thought I would go through life unnoticed, but unintentionally, I kept sticking out, because of my art.  Naive, I guess.

"Now, only I survive." By Jade Zivanovic

LJ:  When you sit down to draw/paint, what is your process? Do you have a sense of what you want to produce (plotter), or do you let the work emerge (pantser)?

Jade:   I guess I have a couple of different processes. It's not something I spend a lot of time thinking about. Sometimes, it's like the picture is there, floating around in the air, waiting for someone like me to grab it and give it life.

Those ones can be the hardest ones to draw. They are often blurry, or sometimes moving, like a segment from a movie. With those ones, I usually have to feel the picture, and subconsciously I know how it will look in the end, but on a conscious level, as I'm drawing it, it's like it's unfolding itself in front of me in detail for the very first time.

Other times, I paint my dreams. I don't dream as much as I used to, and I'm thankful for that. But sometimes there will be a dream that keeps recurring until I paint or draw it. These can be hard too, because I am painting them because I need to, not just because I want to.

My favourite things to paint, are the pictures that stem from emotion. These are the paintings that have a character, a personality, a story within them.  Sometimes, it may be triggered by music and song, sometimes it is one of those pictures that are floating around in the air, sometimes it is an idea spurred by social or political stances.

When I am drawing or painting for someone else, be that commercial art or an oil painting, I can usually get a good visual from the person's words. Then it is just trying to match my visual correctly with their own vision - sometimes this is very hard to do - but it is always worth it in the end!

LJ:  How different is it to work digitally versus in more traditional media--oils, charcoal, etc? Are there things you can do digitally that you can't otherwise?

Jade:  I find digital media is closest to drawing or painting with acrylics. There are so many different ways to use digital media. You can treat it like painting, or you can just utilise all the digital effects, but in the end, like traditional media, digital is still hard work and digital paintings are still works of art. My favourite part about digital art, is there is no drying time, which is why it is a great medium for commercial work. It is also easier to adjust sketches and paintings to your clients tastes, cutting down on the hours of work needed.

That being said, there is still nothing like viewing an oil painting that has been painted in many layers. It has a certain life to it, a glow that only intensifies with the age of the painting.

LJ:  What is your process when you work on a cover image? How closely do you work with the writer? How do you feel when the writer doesn't share your vision?

Jade: My end result, is to have a happy writer! I feel so privileged when a writer gives me the honour of drawing or painting the cover for a story that they have put in so many hours, blood, sweat and tears into.

I encourage the writer to tell me what they visualise when they think of their cover. If they have specific colours or styles that they like, it is always beneficial to send me examples, that way we can think along the same lines from the start. From there, I start doing preliminary sketches and layouts. Sometimes they are approved straight away by the writer, sometimes we have to go through a few different designs. I won't lie, rejection always hurts, but the feeling is fleeting, because I always get excited about doing a new design, or trying something from a different angle.

Sometimes the author gives me complete artistic control. Sometimes this is more nerve wracking, but so far, they have all been successful :)

Oh, and I love to read, so if the writer can send me excerpts of their book to help me to visualise, that is a great advantage, plus a joy for me! Some books I have read in full, which is always exciting :)

LJ:  What elements do you look for in a book when you are planning your cover design? What do you need from the writer to support your work?

Jade: I think the most important thing, is that the cover doesn't reveal any of the plot that could spoil it! Then I guess it comes down to if the book is character or plot driven.  So should the characters be on the cover, or is a scene more relevant? Perhaps even an item or symbol.

Most times, the writer has an idea of what they would like to see on their cover.  From there, it's all about getting a nice layout that is easy on the eye but also reflects the atmosphere of the novel.  Font is important, and tag lines.  All these things must translate well for both a hard cover book and an e-book.  The cover needs to look good as a thumbnail, and this is something I take note of as I design it.

(n.b.: Not only did Jade capture the spirit of THE BETWEEN in her artwork, she also came up with its most excellent tag line!)

As an artist, I also want the cover to be noticed straight away by people browsing, so it must be creative and original, to set it apart from all the other books on the shelf or on the screen.  That is part of the artist's ego I guess.  That can only translate into positivity for the author!

LJ:  What is your name?  What is your quest? What is your favorite color? (Silly Monty Python reference. . . )

Jade: My name....is Jade of Tootgarook.  My Quest....is to find a self cleaning paint brush.  My favourite colour....is Green! Nooooooo Dark Green!!!! aarrrgghhh

LJ:  Is there anything I haven't asked you that you think is important for readers to know?

Jade:  You pretty much covered everything :)

What I want you to know about Jade, is that she is incredibly creative and responsive. She was an absolute dream to work with and I can't imagine anyone I'd rather have bring my words to life.  You can find Jade here, on her FB page (You don't need to have a FB account to see her page).  You can email her: jade_erica@hotmail.com 

(And because I've been pestering her about it, she now has a website:  http://artofjez.webs.com/)


Jade is currently running a special on covers, if you let her know you've found her through this blog.

The Between has a Cover!

Drawn by the lovely and talented Jade (Jez Art), this cover captures the heart of my YA novel, THE BETWEEN.

It is everything I could have hoped for, and more, thanks to Jade's hard work and artistic vision.  Stay tuned for news about THE BETWEEN's upcoming publication date!

Taking charge, taking chances: publishing my first novel

Sometime in early 2011, it became clear to me that despite my agent's best efforts and despite her getting my Fae novel in the hands of the big, coveted NY publishing houses, The Between wasn't going to be published.  It wasn't because the story wasn't compelling, or the characters flat, or the writing poor.  It was simply a market decision.  I am an unknown quantity as far as the publishing houses were concerned.  They would have to be certain of selling a certain number of books in order to make their profit.  They believed the market for a Fae changeling tale was limited and thus they passed on my story.

Yes, I was disappointed.  Yes, I was frustrated.  After licking my wounds for a day, I began to think about my options. 

Option 1:  trunk the story and work on another.  Well, I was already working on other novels.  In fact I had written 2 others in the time since writing The Between.  But trunk a novel that so many people believe is ready for prime time?  That seemed wrong, somehow.

Option 2: take a leap of faith and publish it on my own.  If you'd asked me 6 months ago, I wouldn't have considered self-publishing as an alternative.  I wasn't sure that I could or wanted to handle all the details and the promotion that would need to happen going it alone.  Nor was I sure I could find an audience in the crowded epub marketplace without resorting to the kind of hard sell pitch that makes me decidedly uncomfortable.

As the year wound on, I came to the conclusion that my path would be both options.  That is, to continue to work with my agent on pitching my novels to the big publishers for a traditional type release AND release The Between on my own.  But instead of throwing the ebook against the Amazon (etc) wall to see what stuck, I decided on a larger plan, a crazy plan,  a plan that included working on a sequel to a book that didn't sell. 

How Lisa Plans World Domination
(or a self-publication release plan)

 I decided to give away The Between, hoping that readers would enjoy it and want to see more.  (I promise, The Between functions as a stand alone.  No cliff hanger endings, but there is definitely more to the story.)  I hoped that readers would be excited to continue with my characters and world and want to read further. But I didn't want to write a sequel 'on spec.' 

Well, along the way, I encountered Kickstarter and decided that this could be a model to help me fund my time to write and release the sequel I want to write for The Between.


One flaw in this plan was the fact that I am committed to working with my agent.  I didn't want to abandon that publishing path for the world of independent publishing. I believe strongly that successful authors will be those who are flexible in getting story in the hands of readers.  When I thought through my free release/kickstarter plan, I realized that I needed to let my agent know what I was considering and see how the agency stood.

Fortunately, my agent and the agency she represents are both supportive of my plan for The Between, even though my success with it would not mean any income for them.  What it could mean, however, is buzz and  a loyal readership, both of which might make me a more attractive risk to the publishing houses. 

Over the past several months, I've been working with a cover artist (Jade's work is fabulous!) and a freelance editor (squee--she complimented my grammar!) to make sure The Between is polished to a high shine.   I will be releasing the novel in various ebook formats through various outlets in the next 4-6 weeks.  The novel will be free and drm-free, released under a creative commons license.

If you are interested in receiving a notice when The Between will be ready to read, please sign up for Blue Musings, my email list.  Since I don't believe in asking someone to buy a pig in a poke, you can also read some of my short fiction to get a sense of my writing, also available to subscribers of Blue Musings.

I am so excited about getting this story in the hands of readers!  I hope you will join me on this journey.

The Marriage of Image to Word

I am in the final stages of preparing to release an ebook version of my YA Fae novel, "The Between."  This is a story that I have worked hard to craft and revise over the course of the past several years.  It's a story I believe in and one that I want to see find its way into the hearts of readers.

To do that, it needs more than what this wordsmith can offer.  It also needs the right images to bring the book to life.

That's not my strength.  Hell, I think it's safe to say that even my stick figures suck.  I can draw a smiley face reliably well, but that's where it ends.

But lucky for me, there are amazing and talented artists out in the world.  Jade is one such artist.  (:waves to Jade!:)

I first 'met' her (met in quotes, as Jade lives in Australia and our group was online.  Someday, I hope to meet her in person!) as part of a writing crit group hosted at Forward Motion for Writers.  In those days, she focused on her writing and I always enjoyed her highly visual work.  That group disbanded, as many crit groups do, mostly due to time and other commitments.  I still chat/email/exchange work with some of the members now, even years after we stopped doing formal crit together.  I re-discovered Jade on Facebook and found that she'd essentially stopped writing to devote herself full-time to her visual art.  And that she was looking for subjects to paint. 

W00t!

I quickly emailed her, asking her if she'd be interested in doing the cover art for "The Between."

Double W00t because she was.

And here are her first character sketches from her conception of my characters Lydia and Aileen from "The Between."

Lydia Hawthorne	Aileen of the Shadow Court

I love the fact that Jade works in oils.  It brings a sense of capturing a portrait of a real person.  I love that, despite these not being exactly what I might imagine the characters looking like, they feel right in a deeper way.  I love that she is getting to know the characters through her brush the way I would through writing exercises.  I love that seeing these images bring my characters to an even fuller life; as if they were waiting for Jade to put brush to canvas.

I can't wait to see what she puts together for the cover image.