Friday, May 11, 2012

Book Giveaway!

Well, friends, I do believe it is WAY past time for a contest and I have just the book to giveaway!

I'd like you all to meet Kim Havens. She's from Texas and originally contacted me about three years ago because her daughter is one of my cousin's dearest friends. And, as it turned out, we just happened to be headed to Dallas for a conference, so we got the chance to meet in person!

Kim is just about one of the sweetest women I've ever met! She let me read the first few chapters in her novel and I loved them. And a couple of months ago, she sent me a copy of her book, Running Sideways, that she self-published.

I know there are SO MANY of you out there who have questions about self-publication, so I asked her a few questions and she gave me some great answers.  :)


Hi Kim! I'm so glad you could join us on here today!! :) What was the most surprising thing to you about self-publising?

I was surprised by how much input the I actually had in the process. From start to finish, I literally decided everything from font size to cover layout.

Would you mind describing the process you went through to get it published?
 
I knew there were a lot of self publishers out there, so I spent some time deciding who I actually wanted to use. Once I chose Westbow, it was simply a matter of going to their website and purchasing a publishing package. The next day, I got a call from them detailing how the process would work. I then submitted my manuscript via email. About a week later, they sent me an editorial review, and assigned me a design team. I chose the font, font size, and where on the page I wanted chapters to start, page numbers etc. With the manuscript finished, the next step was the cover design. They asked for my specific ideas (book covers I wanted to emulate). I was given access to a website where I could choose a professional photo for the cover, or use one of my own. I chose the colors, font, and how exactly I wanted the cover to look. Once that was finished, I waited (very impatiently) to actually hold the finished product in my hand!

Tell us about the awesome cover design.
 
I designed my cover after perusing book stores and finding book covers that drew my attention- made me want to pick them up. I decided to send in a photo of my own for the cover- a good friend was my photographer and the two people in the photo are my daughter and her new husband. After the photo shoot we sat in the photographer's kitchen and edited the photo using both black and white and color elements. It was a lot of fun!

Does self-publishing include editing?

Editing was something I was very unsure about, and would probably do differently. I chose to not use the editing service offered by Westbow for a couple of reasons: 1. It was expensive- $4500 for my manuscript. 2. The edit sample they sent me didn't make a lot of sense. It was also an service that required another 4-6 weeks, and I wanted my book out before Christmas. If I had it to do over, I would definitely find an outside editor.

What was your favorite part of the process? And your least favorite part?

My favorite part of the process was the creative side- choosing my own fonts, cover, etc. My least favorite, was the uncertainty- wondering if the book was going to be as professional as I hoped.

I'm so excited your book is out now!! Can you tell us a little about it?

In Running Sideways, Medical missionary Meredith Thorne has spent years trying to outrun the demons of her past; a past that involves Tate Matthews. Confirmed bachelor Tate Matthews is a West Texas rancher content with his role as protector of his seriously ill twin sister.
Until Meredith returns to Flat Rock, Texas and turns Tate's world upside down.
In facing their painful secrets, can Meredith and Tate put away their bitterness and find a way to forgive each other, and save the life of a child?

 
 ***

SO... to win an autographed copy of Kim's book, leave a comment below with your first name and email address. If you want to avoid spammers, I'd leave your email address like this: erynnmangumATgmail.com. ;) I'll draw the winner on Wednesday!

Good luck to all of you!! And thank you again, Kim!! :)

Photobucket

43 comments:

  1. OO! This book looks good! Kristen kboysen105ATgmail.com

    THANKS for the chance to win this book!!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. YAY sounds exciting :) I like the look of it :D
    Daniella - ella.qwent.angelATgmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Cute cover! :) karalynn1992ATgmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. This looks AND sounds like a really fun book. I'm looking forward to reading it!

    Randi - wpd_2(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  5. So exciting!
    mslechtaAThot.rr.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Love the cover.

    Carissa belovedgraceful(at)bellsouth(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  7. That's the book that I just recently saw and wanted, but didn't have the money!

    Jenneniah
    pure4christjesus(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  8. yay!! Gina gmviscuso(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  9. yay!! Gina gmviscuso(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow- what a cool interview-- and I love the cover!

    cbus.blogger at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Yay! Sarah metroandsarah(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Meghan

    TheycallhermeghanATgmailDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
  13. Jaleesa

    jaleesa_dramaAThotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Karri
    kapeterson24AtYahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. adriannegaliherATgmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Sounds like a great book!
    amyalley1001ATyahooDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
  17. This looks great!! I am interested in self-publishing my undergrad and master's theses - mostly just for family to read, so it was really fun to hear about her process!
    kierstenellaATgmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'd love to be entered! And I self published too :)

    fsatateditor(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Kristina

    kristinamv86ATgmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Aleda: aleda32ATyahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Does it count if you live in canada?

    megdyck@mymts.net

    ReplyDelete
  22. Fun!
    Libbi H.
    libbilogsATgmailDOTcom

    ReplyDelete
  23. I am always up for a good chick-lit read!
    kristyATprostream.net

    ReplyDelete
  24. Jessica - herenya.15ATgmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Ashlin


    ashlin.horneATgmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hannah
    hme2013ATyahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Rebecca
    beakah@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  28. The book sounds like a fun read :)

    Alyssa
    alyssa_quonAThotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. Hello!!!

    Jessica W.

    enchantedwriter23ATlive.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. Would love one!! Jeanette G. Jps374_28ATyahoo.com. Thanks!!! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  31. Shannon

    shortie3553ATyahoo.com

    Sounds like a fun read!!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Megan
    lavaholeinarizona.46ATgamil.com

    ReplyDelete
  33. nesbitraATgrace.edu

    Rachel

    ReplyDelete
  34. Ashley

    anicole9312ATaol.com

    ReplyDelete
  35. Nicole

    nmoon73ATgmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  36. Yay! For giveaways! Deemarie91ATgmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  37. Sounds like a good book!
    Mariah
    sadmacgff@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  38. Malory H
    malmalsthoughtsandsuchATgmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  39. Yay! I cant wait to read this!!
    Sarah
    sarahwoods007ATgmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  40. Looks precious!!
    Jentry
    Jnewth14@neo.tamu.edu

    ReplyDelete