If you’ve been following me for longer than a minute, chances are you know that I unapologetically judge books by their covers. Whether it’s the graphic designer in me or just some innate God-given sense of style (insert sarcastic snort here), I just can’t help myself.
Now that summer is upon us, here are several covers have me drooling over my iced tea.
Which of these catches your eye the most and makes you want to start reading right now? What other book covers have caught your attention recently? What books are on your summer reading list?
Well, friends, I have reached a super fun and also slightly nerve-wracking (ahhhh!!) phase of writing Suddenly Forever, the second book in the Laurel Cove Series that is coming out sometime this fall! I’m ready to put together a small team of beta readers to help me make the book the absolute best it can be! And YOU can now “apply” to join the team!
I’m not quite ready to give a synopsis of the book just yet. But Suddenly Forever takes readers back to Laurel Cove, North Carolina, the charming fictional mountain town where Someplace Familiar was set. The themes of the story are grief, healing, the challenges of moving on, and letting God restore life through love. Some familiar characters return from the first book, but the main characters are both new to the scene! Are you excited yet?
Before I share the application with you, let’s chat for a minute about what exactly a beta reader does and does not do.
WHAT A BETA READER DOES
Some authors use beta readers in different ways. For me, here’s what I ask of my beta readers:
Beta readers do carefully read a completed (but not yet ready for publication) manuscript of the book within about 2-4 weeks of receiving it.
Beta readers do watch for and note places in the book where details don’t match up, inconsistencies, places something is unclear/questionable, etc.
Beta readers are familiar with Microsoft Word and are comfortable using it. You are welcome to use the Comments tool to note feedback on particular lines/passages.
Beta readers thoughtfully completes a provided questionnaire and return by a specified deadline.
Beta readers agree to let me use your remarks, if chosen, in promotions.
Beta readers promise to not discuss the book or share any part of the book until I begin promoting it.
WHAT A BETA READER DOES NOT DO
Beta readers do not provide extensive editing. I am working with an editor and proofreader to help polish the book. But, if you catch an error or an inconsistency please feel free to note those!
Beta readers do not act as a formal endorser of the book. If you are an author or editor and are interested in providing a formal endorsement, please note that on your questionnaire.
Beta readers do not receive compensation for your help. I can’t be more grateful for the time and thoughtful energy beta readers put into this amazing task! While I do not pay beta readers, there may be some special fun treats for those who participate.
Beta readers do not talk about the book before I begin promoting it (same as last bullet point above; it’s important to note twice!!).
READY TO APPLY TO BE A BETA READER?
If this all sounds good to you, then I invite you to fill out the application by clicking the button below. It will be available until June 24. Applicants will receive an email letting them know if they’ve been chosen by July 1. To keep this process manageable;e for me, I’ll only be choosing 4-5 readers this time. If you are not chosen, don’t worry! You’ll be added to a list of possible beta readers for future projects.
Well, it’s hard to believe that today is June 1. Another month has come and gone. Thank you so much to all of you who partied with us to celebrate so many wonderful books turning THREE YEARS OLD! I think I can speak for all of my author guests of honor when I say that all of YOU readers make celebrating our book babies extra special.
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
In case you missed any of the books and authors featured during our Birthday Bash Open House, you can visit the posts by clicking on the author names below. (Any comments added today and into the future do not count for the giveaway.)
All you crazy party goers left more than 150 birthday wishes and happy comments for our guests of honor! You are AWESOME! Thanks again for being such a faithful and encouraging tribe. One of you will receive a copy of each book, a book tote and bookmark and sticker from E.A. Creative, and a bag of my absolute favorite treat: Birthday Cake Drizzled Popcorn from Safe + Fair. This is a true PARTY PACK!
AND THE WINNER IS…
The winner of the Birthday Bash Open House Giveaway is ATTENNOS39! To claim your winnings, please send me an email HERE with your name. I’ll follow up with more information so you can get your books and goodies soon. Congratulations! And thanks again to everyone who celebrated with us!
Winner was chosen at random using a Random Number Generator after entries were collected.
It worked out great, as the hostess, that my own book would be the last in our month-long Birthday Bash Open House! Someplace Familiar‘s 3rd book birthday is actually tomorrow, May 30, but I want to get the post out there before the weekend and give folks through the end of tomorrow to enter our big GIVEAWAY (see below).
Someplace Familiar is my debut novel. Of course, as book mamas we never play favorites, but there’s something about your first book baby. I thought I’d share some fun little-known facts about this sweet story with you.
I wrote the first draft in 30 days during National Novel Writer’s Month in November of 2014!
It took more than 2 years of big rewrites and edits, including an entirely new opening chapter, to finish it.
The original title was Good Graces, until an early editor asked “Aren’t all types of grace good?”
Livy’s grandmother’s cottage is greatly inspired by my great-grandmother’s charming bungalow home in West Palm Beach, though obviously the book is set in the mountains of North Carolina.
Jack’s last name (Bowdon) was my great-grandparents’ last name.
Laurel Cove is a fictional town inspired by Burnsville, NC, which is the hometown of my best friend. It became my home away from home during college and I fell in love!
Anything on this list surprise you? It’s so fun to revisit the book and the memories of writing it. I’ve been doing that a lot lately as I write Suddenly Forever, book two in the Laurel Cove Romance series, which should (God willing!) release this fall! The characters and their journeys have both haunted and inspired me. I can’t be more excited to share more about it with you in the coming months.
For now, I’m so excited to celebrate Someplace Familiar turning three among all the other fun three-year-old titles we’ve already partied over this month! Thanks SO MUCH for celebrating with us!
Artist Livy Johnson needs a fresh start. That’s what a broken heart and forgotten dreams can do to a person. On little more than a whim, she reclaims her grandmother’s old home in quaint Laurel Cove, North Carolina and vows to restore its original charm. When she literally collides with childhood friend, Jack Bowdon, Livy wonders if she’s back for an entirely different reason.
Jack can’t believe his childhood crush is back. As the owner of Bowdon’s Supplies, and once again the town’s most eligible bachelor, he offers to help Livy with repairs. Together they embark on the project—and an undeniable whirlwind romance.
But it’s not all smooth sailing. Can they survive the destructive pain of their pasts to discover God’s grace waiting to renovate their hearts?
About Me
I’m a wife, mama, and full-time communications professional who loves Jesus, coffee, and traveling whenever possible! While attending college in the mountains of North Carolina, I was taken by the beauty and peace of the landscape. The charming towns, friendly people, and southern hospitality have inspired her stories ever since. Now living in North Texas with my husband, daughter, and pup, North Carolina is never far from my heart or my writing.
TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY: On each Birthday Bash Open House post leave a comment. After leaving a comment on this post, check out the full list of posts HERE. One entry per person, per post. The winner will be drawn at random and announced on June 1 here on the blog.
*Sorry to international readers, but this giveaway is open to US residents only.
Next up as our guest of honor at our month-long Birthday Bash Open House is author Mikal Dawn! I don’t want to play favorites, but Mikal has a special place in my heart as one of my original critique partners. Years later, we’re still great friends and are writing together. She’s a blessing to me in so many ways. Her debut novel Count Me In published on May 16, 2017 and turns THREE YEARS OLD today! Help me wish Mikal and her book a happy birthday…
Allegra Spencer has been living a careful life. Her safe job as an accountant is bookended by going to church and the gym. Okay, sometimes the gym. Fine. She goes to church. And the coffee shop. She avoids risk at all cost, preferring to stay safe in her cozy condo. Until her accounting firm goes belly up and she’s out of a job.
Tyler Hawk had a glorious career as a star NFL tight end. He retired on a high note and now lives a second dream of owning his own business and leading others on extreme outdoor adventures. But he needs help with his books—and his heart. When Allegra takes the job, sparks fly.
It’s a case of safety zone versus danger zone, and in their minds, never the two shall meet.
About Mikal Dawn
Mikal Dawn is an inspirational romance author, wedding enthusiast, and proud military wife. By day, she works as an administrative assistant for an international ministry, serves in her church’s library, runs her kids to all their sports, and drinks lots of coffee. By night, she talks to figments of her imagination as she attempts to write while dinner is burning. And drinks lots of coffee. When she isn’t writing about faith, fun, and forever, she is obsessively scouring Pinterest (with coffee in hand, of course!) for wedding ideas for her characters.
Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Mikal now lives in Oklahoma with her husband, two of their three children, and one ferocious feline.
TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY: On each Birthday Bash Open House post leave a comment. One entry per person, per post. The winner will be drawn at random and announced on June 1 here on the blog.
*Sorry to international readers, but this giveaway is open to US residents only.
Teresa Tysinger, Author 