Happy Monday! It’s definitely pumpkin season. They are everywhere.

It’s been another busy week, but aren’t they all? However, my daughter and family are going to be taking a short trip for a few days as the girls are out of school on fall break. I will be staying here, so am hoping to get some things I’ve been ignoring caught up.
My oldest granddaughter got to experience her first homecoming celebration and she had so much fun. She is a Freshman, but in this photo, she is looking WAY too grown up. The boy who was her “date” lives across the street and is a super nice kid.

I went to a high school football game Friday night to see my grandson march in the band. I love going every chance I get. I know very little about football, so am constantly asking my youngest grandson what’s going on out on the field. 🙂 He laughs at me. But I love watching the bands at halftime, then I leave. And it makes me feel good when my grandson sees me there and smiles big. It means something to him that I make the effort.

The band is large! That’s my oldest daughter helping set up one of the props, and my youngest grandson pulling the wagon. My daughter is definitely a band mom!
We celebrated Joshua’s 16th birthday yesterday, and had the extra bonus of family we haven’t seen in a while visiting. Family is everything!

I spent a good deal of time working on new book covers for the White Rune Series books this week, and managed to get two done. Please feel free to give me your feedback. I always second-guess and doubt myself.


One more to go, then I’ll be ready to tackle the chore of getting them put back up. Anyone who thinks any process about writing and publishing books is easy, has never done it. Yet, we do it and love it. Anyway, I’d love to hear your thoughts on these two covers. And just for comparison, here are the two originals.


I also started pulling out short stories and getting ready to re-edit or re-write them to get ready to publish them as a collection. Here is my first draft of a cover for those. I’m not 100% sold on the title font yet, so it could possibly change, but I do love the abstract art.

I will be publishing this collection the first part of 2026. I do intend to include some song lyrics in the collection. It’s just one more way to keep sharing my late husband’s body of work.
If you missed my September book reviews, take a look HERE! I am loving all the new books that are hitting the shelves! I have such talented author friends!
I found this image on Facebook and had to steal it. I just love this. So simple and so true!

Here’s the tarot card for the week.

The keyword associated with this card is expansion. Adventures lie ahead of you, while at the same time, the figure on the card appears to be waiting. Timing is everything with any venture and waiting for the right moment requires patience and intuition. But during that time of waiting, you have the opportunity to expand your spiritual awareness and use your energy creatively. I can definitely relate to this card and hope someone else can as well.
That’s it for now. Have a great week ahead and let’s see what adventures await.
Your new covers are great! I especially like the new Saddled Hearts cover. Much improved. Have a super week!!
Thank you so much, Darlene!
Love the new covers, Jan! My youngest son was in band in high school and college, and I miss watching him. We did the same as you in high school – we left after the band performed at halftime. Happy birthday to your grandson, and your granddaughter is beautiful!
Thank you, Teri. I’m so glad you like the new covers. I worked hard on them. 🙂 I love the similarities. I think it’s probably the same for most all band parents. They are there for the kiddos! I’m happy you stopped by!
This is a lovely post, Jan. I like these chatty update posts very much. Nice photos of your grandchildren and their activities. I think your new covers place these stories firmly in the romance genre which is good. Romance is the most popular of all genres.
Oh, thank you so much for your lovely comment, Robbie. I enjoy sharing the Monday chats. I am so glad you enjoy them. I’m glad you like the covers and glad the covers reflect the genre. I worked hard on them. Have a great week!
I love the book covers! The only thing I’ll say is I did adore the rising sun in the background of the old Saddled Hearts. It spoke of hope for me.
That’s a great comment, Jacqui. Thank you for your comment. I will think about adding a sunrise. 🙂 I appreciate that feedback!
Amazing covers! Love the photos too. A very proud grandparent 🥰
Thank you so much, Esther! I am definitely a proud grandparent!
The covers look great, Jan. A lovely post..
Thanks so much, John!
That tarot card really speaks to me right now.
I’m glad to hear that, Craig! Thanks for leaving a comment.
Sister, I love your new covers. The couples on them make the covers so much better. And I know how hard you worked. Josh is really growing up and coming into his own. Love watching kids stretch their wings and fly. Love you.
Thank you, sister! You are right. I worked hard on them. 🙂 Thank you for all your feedback. Josh is definitely growing up and he has such a loving heart. The whole reason I live here is to be a part of the kids lives. If I didn’t live here, I’d mourn for them. Love you, too!
So many great family pictures, Jan 🙂 I’m watching my grands for the fall break, so lots of Halloween activities I’m sure. Love you kept the dream catcher in Jagged. Only thing I noticed that it was hard to read the subtitle and nice with keeping the horses too! Happy to hear about the new collection tonight, I agree about that background. You’ve been. Busy! Xo
Thank you, Denise! Have fun with the kids for fall break. Halloween is such a fun time. Yes, I had to keep the dreamcatcher. It’s part of the story. 🙂 Since I have created the logo, I’m not sure I even need a subtitle. I’ll look at it more. Nothing is set in stone.
It is a fun time and plenty to do to keep them busy 🙂 You’re doing great with your covers xo
Happy birthday to your grandson!
I think the new book covers are great except that if the dream catcher were smaller on Jagged Feathers (like behind the main title only), I think we could read the subtitle more easily. And I really love the proposed cover to your collection, abstract but eye-caching!
Thank you, Priscilla! I appreciate your feedback. I had the thought of making the dreamcatcher smaller so will play around with that some more. I appreciate your input!
It’s great that you get to see your grandsons and daughter at the game, Jan! To celebrate a grandson’s birthday is another blessing. Your new book covers look nice to me.
Thank you so much, Tim!
My pleasure, Jan. 😊
I read jagged feathers an excellent story.
Thank you SO much, Emma! I appreciate that!
Great post, Jan! I’m happy you had so many happy moments this week. My sister and I went up to visit my mom for her 77th birthday, and my son met us there. It was so good to see him. It’s been two months since his moved to his university, so I have missed him. I love your new covers. I love how the Jagged Feathers title looks 3D. I wonder if you faded the couple just a bit, like the dream weaver, if you’d get the same effect on the bottom. It’s great as it is, but I thought I’d put it out there. I like Jacqui’s idea of the sunrise as well. I LOVE the short story collection abstract art, but I also think the font doesn’t seem just right. I honestly love the other fonts you used on that cover. Just my two cents…
I also love the FB image and the reading. I’m in the waiting stage right now, but I know I have adventures coming my way in the future. 🙂
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
How wonderful that you got to see your mom AND your son, Yvette! I know that did your heart a world of good. Thank you so much for your comments on the book covers. None of it is set in stone yet and that is the beauty of self-publishing. 🙂 I’ll consider your suggestions. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment!
It’s fun to hear what your grandies are up to, Jan. They grow up so fast that it’s important to spend time with them, because then they’re off and about! Nice covers! It’s great to see your progress on taking the books back. And a new one in the works is a delight. I can’t believe all you have going on and still manage to get things done. Have a great week.
Lol, Diana. I wouldn’t know what to do if I wasn’t busy. Thank you so much for your comments. I’m happy you stopped by and super glad you like the covers. Hugs!
It’s fun to read about your family, Jan, and the marching band reminds me of my ‘drill team’ days in high school. I love all of your book covers, and it looks like I have more books of yours to read before the new ones are published. 🙂 The freedom image is wonderful too. Good luck with your books! xo
Thank you, Lauren. I’m so glad you enjoyed the post. And yes, the drill team has to work every bit as hard as the band. 🙂 The White Rune book covers are for the books that I’ve gotten the rights back from the publisher. They’ve been out for five years, but weren’t selling. Once I can get them back up, I’ll be promoting them, putting on sale and trying to breathe new life into them. That freedom image really spoke to me. Have a great week ahead!
You’re welcome, Jan, and thanks for clarifying. I misunderstood, but I’ll look forward to reading them when they’re out. Have a great rest of the week too! xo