I've seen the preliminary cover art for Violet Raines Almost Got Struck By Lightning! It's fantastic!
My editor emailed me, and upon opening the attachment, I felt my heart lift! The image captures the spirit of the book--outdoors, fun, exciting. It's thrilling to see how another artist can interpret your work and project it in a different format. The cover art is spot-on.
I always thought when my book got published, my name would stand out to me, but it was the title treatment I couldn't take my eyes off of. The typeface conveys the very essence of Violet, the story's main character. It's spunky and unusual, not afraid to be different. The font is loaded with personality.
The designer is making his finishing touches to the cover. I can't wait to show it to you!
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By: Danette Haworth,
on 2/13/2008
Blog: Summer Friend (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: cover art, Violet Raines Almost Got Struck By Lightning, Violet Raines Almost Got Struck By Lightning, Add a tag
By: Danette Haworth,
on 1/7/2008
Blog: Summer Friend (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: copyedit, snowman, Violet Raines Almost Got Struck By Lightning, lizards, lizards, Violet Raines Almost Got Struck By Lightning, copyedit, Add a tag
Back to your routine? I am. The snowman is in, the bells are down; no matter these things are standing in my living room, the neighbors can't see them, so they think I'm all packed up like they are.
I had a bit of a problem bringing the snowman in--I didn't know it, but a lizard had stowed away and clung to the snowman until we got into the house. He waited until I closed the door before he jumped off. Screaming comes naturally to me. Some reactions people verbalize only when others are around, such as laughing at a TV show, but for me, screaming works with or without an audience.
Part of getting back into the routine includes organizing and cleaning. I've done the easy part. I've bought stuff to organize and clean with. That counts, right?
I finished the copyedit for Violet Raines Almost Got Struck by Lightning, and FedEx is taking it up to New York today. This being my first novel, it was also my first copyedit. I knew it wouldn't involve the broad suggestions of the editorial letter or the turning of phrases in the line edit, but I wasn't really sure what to expect. Here's what the copyedit addressed: a few word changes, a few tense changes, mechanical issues (punctuation, italics/Roman, compound or hyphenated words), and some queries to confirm the material. The copyeditor did a great job; I learned a few things and I might have to pass my Danette-the-Dictionary crown (acquired in sixth grade) to her. She also left smiley faces on the manuscript here and there--you can't beat that!
By: Danette Haworth,
on 12/12/2007
Blog: Summer Friend (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Revisions, Violet Raines Almost Got Struck By Lightning, garage sale, Add a tag
The revisions on Violet Raines Almost Got Struck By Lightning have been accepted and the manuscript is now in copyediting! How exciting! Other bloggers have recently posted about seeing their cover art for the first time. I can't wait to see mine. It'll be interesting to view another person's interpretation, or what they feel best represents the book. Things are moving along!
In other news, my van would not start today. I feel well-versed in certain mechanical problems such as alternators, CV boots, and brake pads. I don't know how to fix them, but I know what they sound like, thanks to the cars I owned during my singlehood. When I called my husband and described the problem, he said alternator, which was exactly what I had diagnosed. Ha!
I plan to shop over the Internet today. I haven't started my shopping yet, can you believe it? Decorating, yes; shopping, no. Don't tell anyone, but I don't like going to the mall. Aack! There! I've said it! I hate shopping. And even over the Internet, it can take hours trying to review similar products and get customer reviews (since you aren't actually handling the item). But such is my assignment today.
The other big news is that my little mommy is in town! I have loaded up on one dollar bills and quarters so we can hit the garage sales this Friday. (She leaves Friday night.) No one beats my mom at a garage sale; click here to read about the master at work.
By: Danette Haworth,
on 10/18/2007
Blog: Summer Friend (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Nadia Cornier, Violet Raines Almost Got Struck By Lightning, Ted Malawer, Walker Books, Stacy Cantor, Add a tag
OMG! Yesterday, Firebrand agent, my Firebrand agent (wow!), Ted Malawer struck a deal with Stacy Cantor of Walker BFYR for my middle-grade novel, Violet Raines Almost Got Struck By Lightning. I'm ecstatic! Athrill, cool crazy, delirious, euphoric--I looked these up in the thesaurus and they all apply. (Cool and crazy had a comma between them, but I like cool crazy better.)
I had signed up for a critique at this summer's SCBWI workshop, and I received Stacy as my reviewer. Talk about a divine appointment! She immediately connected with the novel and suggested I submit it to her at Walker. I didn't send it to her right away because I had chapters out for paid critiques, but after a month passed and the critiques hadn't come back yet, I'm like, Forget it! I've got to send it to her!
I carefully prepared my submission package, suffering secretly from signature stress syndrome and mailed it from Florida to New York by regular mail. Two days later, Stacy emailed me. She wanted more! I still hadn't received those critiques--everything was moving so fast! I sent her the manuscript and queried a few, very select, agents. Then Ted Malawer popped into Verla Kay's website and described his likes and dislikes. I thought Hey, he might like my book! And he might like my other manuscript, too. I liked that he described himself as an editorial agent and that he liked books that made him laugh, but if a submission could make him cry, even better. I queried him immediately.
Meanwhile, Stacy and I traded emails. I couldn't believe how perfect her suggestions were and how they fit with my vision for the book. Before I knew it, VIOLET RAINES was going to acquisitions and then Stacy said We're interested! and I was like I've got to get a hold of Ted! So of course my phone went on the fritz, the second line went down, my cell phone ran out of minutes and Ted didn't get my emails. I COULD NOT SLEEP FOR DAYS until Nadia Cornier called and said Ted had been very sick and was actually getting blood work done right at that moment. She was funny and nice, not scary like how I thought an agent might be.
Not much later, my cell phone rang. It was Ted! I still can't believe he rose from his sickbed to call me! We talked for a long time. It was wonderful! In that conversation and the ones that have followed, he's given me a real education on how all of this works. Such a patient guy--my questions are so newbie!
I really feel my book is in the hands of people who love it.
Here's the blurb from PM:
18 October, 2007
Childrens: Middle grade
Danette Haworth's debut VIOLET RAINES ALMOST GOT STRUCK BY LIGHTNING, about a vivacious eleven-year-old whose life changes drastically when a new girl moves to her backwoods Florida town, to Stacy Cantor at Walker, on an exclusive submission, for publication in Fall 2008, by Ted Malawer at Firebrand Literary.
I'm happy and so grateful to Stacy and Ted for their vision and belief in VIOLET RAINES. I'm happy for my fellow writer, Courtney Summers, who recently sold her YA book. Courtney, I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to copy you and say THANK YOU in a loud voice! THANK YOU, LORD! And THANK YOU to my husband and sister for believing in my work and reading it twice, to my mom who loved it, and to my beautiful dad who, when he still walked this earth, read a little piece I wrote and said, "If I could write like this, I wouldn't do anything else."
In the words of Mary Katherine Gallagher, my feelings can best be expressed by a musical number:
So, so awesome!!! I really can't wait to read this!!!
:-)
Congratulations - Can't wait to see the cover.
I can't wait to see it!
!!!
It's happening so fast!!! And I am SO THRILLED FOR YOU!! And I can't WAIT to see the cover when you're able to post it! Oh wow!! This is such a big step!!!! !!!!!
!! Congratulations, Danette!!!!!
Thanks for commenting, everyone! I can't wait to see it either!
It is happening fast, Courtney!
Ooooh, ooooh! I can't wait to see it!
I'm so glad you're happy with it. How exciting!
Danette V.
Wow, I'm excited for you! Can't wait to see it!
Cool. Congrats. Often times covers aren't what we hope for. I'm glad you like yours.
Count me in too as a
"I can't wait to see it!"
How exciting!!!
gail
I'm so curious now! Can't wait to see the final cover. I can't imagine how exciting this must be for you. And congrats on getting a cover you like. From what I hear, lots of authors aren't so lucky.
How exciting!!! I can't wait to see the cover and read your story...
I can say, "I knew her when she was getting down and personal with a snake and all your other outdoor adventures."...grin...
CONGRATS!!!
That is such exciting news. I certainly hope it's catchy!