Greetings, friends!! Guess what? I’m not going to talk about the weather today. 🙂 Aren’t you glad I’m giving that a rest?
What I am going to talk about is writing THE END to Painting Christmas, my novella! Of course, I’m not actually finished, but at least it’s ready for editing, tweaking and all that other good stuff we do.
Then comes the hard part – writing the blurb. Author, Deborah Jay recently posted a great reference guide on Story Empire and it helps put it into perspective. You can see the post HERE.
She not only outlines what a blurb is and its purpose, but what it’s not. It’s so hard to switch hats and move from author to marketer. The blurb’s only purpose is to get someone’s attention and hopefully persuade them to buy the book. That being said, here’s my first draft. I’ll take all the feedback you want to give!
He came to escape a shattered past – Christmas had other ideas
Artist, Jacob Hawke had it all. A successful art gallery showing had promised a bright future for the young painter, until a single devastating moment brought it all crashing down.
Unable to face the memories or find a way to fix what is broken, he drifts through small towns in Kentucky, painting Christmas scenes on storefront windows. At least he can keep his hands busy, even if he can’t erase the haunting memories. Each brushstroke brings a bit of beauty to the world around him.
Then he arrives in Sutter’s Gap.
Darcy and Beth have inherited Briscoe’s Tavern from their grandfather. They hire Jacob to bring Christmas to their windows.
What begins as a tenuous friendship results in uncovering buried secrets, unexpected discoveries, and choices that can change all their lives.
Sometimes you have to paint over the past to see the future.
Thanks so much! Hopefully, I’ll have a cover to share before too long. At long last this book that I had thought wasn’t going to happen is almost crossing the finish line. It’s a lesson in perseverance.
I’ll be sharing my August book reviews soon. I wonder, do book reviews entice you to purchase a book? They certainly do for me. But I could add to that, the cover and blurb also play a part in my decision to give a book a try, especially if it’s an author unknown to me.
The grandkids are all settled for the moment. Sydney is in physical therapy and hopefully she’ll be working normally again. It’s been a long road to recovery for her.
Football season has started and I’ll be attending some of the games to see my grandson march in the band at halftime. I normally leave after the halftime show, but I love showing up to support him. I’m so proud of the young man he’s growing into. He’s working his first job, learning to balance school, work and band obligations. Here he is with his tuba.
I’m going to keep this post short and sweet this week. Not a lot going on for a change!
Here’s our inspiration for the week ahead. Boy, do I ever relate to this!
And the animal card for the week ahead:
In Native traditions, Buffalo is strongly associated with prayer. It is a reminder to recognize the sacredness of every walk of life, albeit it different from your own. Honoring another’s pathway, even if it brings you sadness, is a part of the message that Buffalo brings. This may be a time of reconnection to the meaning of life and the value of peace. This time will bring serenity amidst chaos if you pray in earnest for enlightenment and the power of calmness. Buffalo reminds us we achieve nothing without the aid of the Great Spirit, but we must be humble enough to ask for that assistance and then be grateful for what we receive.
Wow! This is such a powerful message in a time of great chaos.
I hope you enjoyed today’s post! Thank you for visiting.
Discover more from Jan Sikes
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Your blurb definitely has me wanting to read your book, Jan. I love Christmas stories, especially when they have Christmas Magic. You should be very proud of your grandson. Juggling all that isn’t easy. I hadn’t heard all that about the buffalo, so thanks for sharing it. Have a great week.
Thank you, Carla. I am so glad you like the blurb. I am excited to share this book. Yes, I am very proud of Joshua. He is growing into a responsible and loving young man. Thank you for visiting!
Writing a blurb is certainly important and I’ve noticed that some authors don’t spend enough time on getting that part right. I think you wrote a great blurb but I am going to let other more experienced people give you further advice.
I appreciate your comment, Thomas. So glad you enjoyed the blurb.
Thanks for the update, Jan, and I wish you good progress with the next steps of your book. Oh, the buffalo is the perfect card for me to see. I am leading meditations, and through one meditation, I was talking about a spirit animal. A buffalo came to me and conveyed serenity, power, security, and peace. That card reminded me of the wonderful, deep, and powerful feelings. Thanks for that and have a great week!
Oh, I love that, Erika. And I love it when the Universe gives us confirmations like this. I’m so glad you stopped by and that you enjoyed the post. Have a great week ahead as well!
I did, Jan, and always do. There’s always confirmation in your cards… even though they might touch everybody a bit differently, which is magical. Thank you, Jan 💖
Blurbs are the worst part of writing. Yours has me intrigued though! How fun to go watch your grandson march!
I completely agree, Denise! Blurbs are so very hard and this one is just the first draft, but I love getting feedback so I can make it better. And yes, it’s always a joy to get to watch the kids do their thing!
The blurb is fascinating, Jan! Your grandson looks great with his tuba, and it’s very nice that you get to see him in the band at halftime.
Thanks so much, Tim. I appreciate your comment about the blurb. And yes, I love getting to watch my grandson march. All of those kids work hard!
😍
I like your blurb, Jan. It does make one want to read the book. The tuba is an interesting choice for your grandson to make.
Thanks, John. I’m glad you liked the blurb. Yes, we were all surprised when Josh chose the Tuba. At the time, he was a super skinny kid in middle school and it was funny to watch him carry it. He’s still a skinny kid, but has built up muscles. 🙂 I appreciate you visiting!
I think your blurb is great. I especially like the last line. It’s an excellent idea to end with a punchy ending. As far as what makes me buy a book, the blurb and reviews are the top selling points. Covers aren’t as important to me because a flashy one doesn’t necessarily correlate with a good story. That said, I know covers matter. Elementary-aged children choose books all the time because of the cover. I’m sure it also influences some adults.
Thank you for your comment, Pete. I agree with you about covers. While it can play a part in my decision to try a book initially, it’s the blurb and reviews that sell it for me. Glad you liked my blurb. It’s still a work in progress, but at least it’s a start. Have a great week ahead!
Congratulations on the completion of your novella!! I know you’d been sweating it for quite a while. Yes, reviews entice me to buy a book. I like your blurb. The first paragraph and last sentence grabbed my attention. The middle may be a wee bit long for a blurb—but see what others think!
Thank you so much, Liz. I appreciate your feedback. It’s a first draft and I’m taking all comments into consideration as I know it’s not the final. Have a great week!
I think your tagline and blurb are great. Enough said–and unsaid–to make me pick up the book.
Thank you, Jacqui. It’s the first draft and I’m sure it will change some, but at least it’s a starting place. I appreciate your feedback! Have a great week!
I like the blurb, Jan, and I wish you all the best as you move forward. I hate writing blurbs, and I’m running out of time. I hope you have a great week.
I totally am right there with you, Dan, about blurbs. It’s much easier to write the book than the blurb. Good luck with yours! Here’s to a great week ahead!
How exciting to write “the end”! I hope the editing goes smoothly. I’m surprised your grandson is marching with a tuba and not a Sousaphone.
Feedback on the back cover copy (feel free to ignore anything I type here because it’s YOUR book):
I love the tagline!
There is no need for a comma after “Artist” because Jacob is an artist, not THE artist, and if you meant THE artist, there should be a comma after his name, too.
I like how you worked in “secrets” and “unexpected discoveries.” I’m intrigued.
Fantastic last line!
Thank you so much for that feedback, Priscilla! I’ve already fixed my copy. 🙂 I’m so glad you are intrigued by the blurb. It’s always so hard to write them. 🙂 And, yes, Joshua chose the biggest instrument in the band to play when he was in middle school and he’s good at it. I love watching the kids. They work so hard!
Delighted your Christmas novella is going well Jan and looking forward to reading. And how wonderful to get to watch your grandson as he shows his talent and determination. ♥♥
Thank you so much, Sally! I appreciate you stopping by and leaving a comment.