Wednesday, March 30, 2011

A Few Weeks Ago...

A few weeks ago, I wrote a page long dissertation about the fear of haters hating, but I humbly stand corrected because the bottom line is, I have to develop a thicker skin.  Taste in “literature” is as diverse as the cultures on earth, and everyone has an opinion be it critical or praise. 

And also, a few weeks ago, I got the two thumbs up on my proof with corrections, so I approved what I hope are the final of the final edits and am again awaiting my proof.  The anticipation is nerve-racking yet glorious.  I’m enjoying every moment.  I just published my website: www.jenniferlightburn.com.  Next, I’m going to get business cards made, and I may even get the nerve to actually pass them out!!!  I was thinking about getting a t-shirt made with my book cover on the front and my website on the back.  Maybe even a bumper sticker!  It may be tacky, but I might as well promote as much as my modest budget can afford. 

Know what I mean.

Just feeling like writing something personal – March 30, 2011

My son is pretty smart, but he’s always bringing notes home from school for talking.  So he gets another note from his teacher.  She wrote that my son was being the class clown.  So I scolded him this morning when I signed the note that he had to return to school.  I told him that he’d better keep his mouth shut or else.  (I didn’t say what the “or else” would be, but I had that you're-going-to-get-it attitude in my voice.) 
Then my ten-year-old says to me all serious, “Now mommy, you know that isn’t right.”
I said, “What?”
“You’re telling me to do something that you know is impossible.  You know I can’t keep my mouth shut because I like to talk,” he said, looking at me like I was stupid.
It took everything in me not to bust out laughing, and I replied to him just as serious, “Just do it.”
So, he calls me from his cell phone on his way home from school and says, “I got some good news and bad news.”
I said, “What’s up?”
“I got an A on my history test; I got twenty stars today, but I got a note for talking.”
I shook my head, but I had to consider the A, and I know that twenty stars is considered excellent effort… raising hands and participating.  What could I say but, “Good job man, but tomorrow try not to talk.”
He said he was sorry for talking and he’d do his best. 
What more could I ask for?
But he still had to take his shower at eight instead of nine, so he missed American Idol… the “or else” for talking.  J

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

I got my proof from Create Space

I give credit when credit is due. Create Space did a fabulous job! I gave my proof to one of good friends to read, and so far so good. Two hundred pages read and one hundred to go, so I'm hoping that she'll give me two thumbs up tomorrow.

So now that the book is written, what's next? I made a book trailer. I'm finishing up on my website. I need to read up on marketing because I don't have a clue. I honestly believe my book, if put in proper hands, will do very well. It's timely. It's the L Word meets Waiting to Exhale. What happens when you're the victim of domestic dispute and you leave your man and move in with your best friend who happens to be a lesbian? The answer... all hell breaks lose, and the drama unfolds.

I really enjoyed writing my book and I love my characters. There's Annette, the black, broke as hell mother of a six-year-old, trying to make it. There's Monica, her bad-ass best friend, who's white and a lesbian. There's Gabriella, Monica's Spanish ex-girlfriend, who's a lawyer and ends up befriending Annette. Annette's father is a racist, homophobe who says what he means and means what he says. Montel is Annette's ex-boyfriend, who'd rather put Annette through hell than to have her leave him. Anthony is Annette's son, the glue that keeps her together. And then there are the girls: Rosa, Lisa and Angie. The story is tight and the characters are down to earth.

So, again, the trick will be marketing... the topic is timely but taboo. It's not Brokeback Mountain (though, Brokeback Mountain did very well); still, there's a "lesbian theme". Speaking of, as I was on Linkedin, I had a conversation about really going for it... writing topics that people may not feel comfortable writing... taboo topics. I was telling a writer to just go for it. He said, "Wouldn't you be afraid of losing your job or your friends?" or something like that. My response was something like, you can't be afraid to write what's in your heart or you're robbing yourself... you only live once and you could always use a pen. I suppose I was trying to pep myself up. I truly care about what people think, and there are going to be some haters hating. But what do I do? Shy away and put my pretty little book on the shelf? No. I can see this novel selling well around the world. Got to have a dream right? Might as well dream big.

All this to say, I need some help. I'm not shy. Well, I'm am, but you don't know that. :-) Seriously. Any help, would be so much appreciated.

~ Jennifer

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Book Trailer

Let the count down begin.  I finally approved the final version!!  I truly could have edited my book forever, but I guess there comes a time when you have to set your baby free.  So, I started working on the book trailer, and my next project is creating a webpage.  There's so much work to do, but I'm loving every minute of it.  I had such a blast trying to find the right music for my trailer.  I went to several royalty free production sites.  I picked music that was a little edgy, with a hint of rock and soul because that's how I roll.  :-)  It took hours finding pictures of the main characters and even longer trying to figure out how to use Movie Maker.  I'm a pro now, but I hear Movie Maker is the easiest editing software out there.  Well, below is the link to my book trailer. 

Please tell me what you think.  Thanks so much!!