In Search of the Perfect Cover Image Part II by Merrillee Whren

For my blog post last month, I talked about finding the perfect image for my latest book cover. I needed a picture of a front porch with two adult chairs and and a child's chair. I posted photos that I had taken on our trip to Florida where I found a front porch and added a child's chair. Here is one of those photos.

 

I wasn't satisfied with any of the photos that I took that day. There was something wrong with each one of them. None of them was perfect. Enter search number two.

We had the privilege of going to the Kentucky Derby this year. Prior to the Derby, we visited long-time friends who lived in Ohio. We were getting to see their new house for the first time. I was also hopeful that I would find another front porch to photograph during our trip to their small Ohio town. Imagine my delight when I saw their front porch. Here's one of the photos I took.

While we were still visiting them, I sent the photos to my cover designer. After a few tweaks, this is the new cover of the third book in my Front Porch Promises series. Books two and three will be released in the next few months.

 

Here's a reminder of what the covers for the first two books look like.

 I've lived in a lot of different houses. Some of them had front porches that were made for sitting like the ones on these covers. What kind of a front porch do you have?

Again I will be giving away a copy of the first book in the series, A Place to Call Home, to one person who leaves a comment. The winner's name will be drawn on May 15, 2016.

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Merrillee Whren is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award presented by Romance Writers of American. She is married to her own personal hero, her husband of  thirty-five plus years, and has two grown daughters. Connect with her on her Facebook page and sign up for her newsletter.

Birthdays and Parties and Weekends, Oh My ~ by Magdalena Scott

I love birthdays--mine or someone else's. I love cakes and candles and okay, I'll admit, even minimalist me enjoys a little bit of gift giving.

The flowers here were a birthday bouquet from a previous time, since I don't have anyone's permission to post a photo of them blowing out candles. Even though those are the most enjoyable birthday photos.

Sigh.

This weekend I was able to participate in two birthday events. One was for my son who is in his 20s. It was a delight to celebrate this wonderful young man who has made me more proud than I could ever have imagined. I found the perfect card that made me cry. (How do card writers do that?) We had a fun dinner with my son and his wife on Saturday night at a noisy eatery they hadn't tried before. The food and drink were yummy, and visiting with them always makes me grateful they have each other, and I can be a part of their lives.

Sunday afternoon was quite different--a party for a three-year-old girl. Her mother had moved the family into a new home and totally redecorated it in a short time. (Wow. To have such energy!) The gathering was fun for every age (60+ down to 18 months), and incredibly well organized. It was a treat to watch the interactions of this group of grandparents, parents and their darling kids. After gifts were opened, the kids all got to go play at the park. And they each had a bottle of bubbles! and a bucket and scoop to play in the dirt. Gotta love that!

Now that I write fulltime, I try to get as much work done as possible Monday through Friday, so I can give myself weekends off. It's not just party-party-party, of course. Goodness no.

Um...except this coming Saturday is a day-long Kentucky Derby Party. I hope there will be cake. And mint juleps.

What about you? Do you still enjoy birthday parties? Do you attend a Derby Party? (I have cousins on the west coast who attend one in their neighborhood each year, so it's not impossible.)

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USA Today Bestselling Author Magdalena Scott writes sweet romance with small town settings. Visit her website: www.magdalenascott.com.

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