I had so many entries that I decided to give away 10 copies. Here are the names I drew out of the hat:

Labels: The Lightkeeper's Bride

First off, today is Kristin's birthday!!! Happy birthday, friend!

Labels: The Lightkeeper's Bride, Thomas Nelson

ADDIE FOR REAL
I have the best cover designers at Thomas Nelson, bar none! With The Lightkeeper's Bride, Kristen actually did a photo shoot which was pretty cool. Ami and Kristen got my input on the dress the model would wear and consulted me on the model as well. As soon as I saw the model for the cover, I knew she was Addie. I'd never dreamed to find a model who looked like the picture I had in my head. I just love the way the cover came out! Then last week I got an interesting email from the MOTHER of the model! Isn't that the coolest thing? Her mom told me Alycia is expecting a baby girl in April. She lives in Oregon, which is just perfect since the book is set in northern California! She's a photographer herself by trade. Here is her website: http://www.echophotography.smugmug.com/

I was just thrilled to "meet" her mom, and through her, Alycia! Yesterday I got to pick the dress for the new book, The Lightkeeper's Bride, and last week I picked the model. I can't wait to see what they do with the new one too! But it will be hard to outdo this one. I thought I'd show you how it ended up because I asked your input several months ago when I first got it. It was beautiful then but didn't hint of any suspense. Several of you suggested darkening the sky, and I passed that request along. Kristen did exactly what I asked and I think it turned out perfectly! I'll be drawing a name from my last post to win the free copies and will post the winners here later today.

When you read a book, do you picture the person on the cover or do you come up with someone in your head? What makes you grab up a book? Title, cover, back blurb?

Labels: cover design, The Lightkeeper's Bride, The Lightkeeper's Daughter

I MUST BE CRAZY
You know you've been too writing too much when you crave a new house project. I just started The LIghtkeeper's Bride a couple of weeks ago, but I've been eyeing the wallpaper in the living room and it's been all I can do not to tear into it. We have a Victorian house that we've restored (it was actually in last October's issue of Victorian Homes!) and we have period wallpaper in every room that really suits the house. However, most people hate wallpaper and I think if we ever want to sell it, we need to bite the bullet and paint instead.

I know I have to at least get this book to 15,000 words first. That's the magic number where it all starts falling into place so it's been a good motivator to keep butt in chair and not break out the ladder. LOL Plus our son is painting his house and we've been spending weekends there. But those walls keep nagging at me. And I think we're going to tear down the wall between the kitchen and dining rooms to open it up. But which project to start first? And just how far should we go? Many of the older homes I see in the shows have painted woodwork and it would be sacrilege to paint this beautiful oak woodwork so I've been studying up on what colors to use and it appears a warm undertone works better with the wood tones. So that should be all right if I find the right shades. We watch HGTV obsessively and I really like the updating some homeowners have done to old houses. Warm mochas on the walls, simple Craftsman style furniture.

i think I'm obsessing about this because my heroine for The Lightkeeper's Bride could have lived in this house when it was new. Isn't that a fun thought? Any of you have older homes with beautiful woodwork? Or have you seen some and could recommend what you like? I just have this feeling we're going to need to strip this paper and paint. I could be wrong. What's your opinion?

Labels: painting, remodel, The Lightkeeper's Bride, Victorian Home, wallpaper

NEED SOME BRAINSTORMING HELP
Meet Katie Sullivan. She's the heroine of The Lightkeeper's Bride. I learned some awesome stuff at a Michael Hauge seminar a couple of weeks ago. His proposes that true love happens in a novel when the hero and heroine connect on what he calls the "essence" level. He says a character's "identity" is the outward mask they project to cover over a wound they've had and the mask is their protection. And that when the hero sees past that identity to the inward person and loves THAT person, that makes for a more satisfying book.

Want to help me brainstorm? Katie is an operator for Central in 1907 northern California. She's known as the person in town who knows everyone and everything since she's the voice on the other end of the early telephones. She likes the control of KNOWING. I need to figure out what her wound is and what real person she is covering over with her need for control and knowledge. Maybe her real mother left her with her aunt to raise at the age of five and she thinks by knowing ahead of time what's happening, she can control the hurt. Maybe she missed a message from her little brother than he was going swimming and he drowned. See where I'm going with the wound thing?

So here's your chance to help me mold a novel. Any ideas? Any wounds you're carrying around you'd like to see in a book?

Labels: brainstorming, Michael Hauge, The Lightkeeper's Bride