I just released my seventh book and it was all due to teamwork. Yes, I wrote the book, but other people, services and programs helped to bring it to fruition.
Professional baseball teams consist of managers, coaches and players who mesh their skills, play positions and share the load to win the game. Weddings involve not only the couple and parents but the caterer, photographer, florist, venue coordinator, sometimes a seamstress to make the day memorable.
Writing Northwest to Love was the easiest part. My husband and I traveled to Alaska mid-August and I came back with many pictures and observations of our magnificent 49th state. The plot emerged while on the trip and Piper and Aaron’s story unfolded as I gave them personalities, goals, backstories and stumbling blocks.
The first draft evolved into the second and when I finally had the story done, I needed to fine-tune the manuscript with my editing program that analyzes the words and sentences for clarity.
I’m not an artist so each of my covers have been purchased online from a website that specializes in covers of all styles and genres. Typically, I choose the cover that fits my story, then buy it. Northwest to Love is the first of my Victory Hill Trilogy so I wanted to make the three covers consistent. I knew what I wanted the B&B to look like but no idea how to accomplish it. With the help of the President of the website and an artist that did two of my other covers, we came up with the faces for all three of the books.
Once I’ve fine-tuned the book, I share it with my beta readers who review it for clarity and consistency while proofing it for typos. Fortunately, they understand the time crunch and read it in a timely manner.
After release day, my website manager updates the website with the new title and assists with Facebook posts and promotion of book signings.
So, I might write the book, but it is the collaboration of many who make it a reality and I am indebted to all of them.