Please stick with me on this French word journey. The current theme, "publishing", will come to a close soon… and we'll be back with more colorful episodes "in a French life"!
croire (kwahr)
: to believe
I don't even know which day of the 21 Day Publishing Challenge today is (Day 11? Day 12?)! I think the deadline is one week from Wednesday, though I'm hoping that I've miscalculated and that the cutoff is really one week from Friday (but that couldn't be, for Friday we're having a big dinner party …and I would have never put that much pressure on things. No, not I)!
We won't talk too much about the Behind the Scenes of this farcical speed-publishing venture, one designed, in part, to take my mind off my forehead (7 weeks since the operation and my wound is still "healing". I had to stop using the super cool silicone patch when an infection broke out… then came the mad science: the daily dousing with betadine… then switching to mercurochrome (gaahh! mercury! what was I thinking?)… finally, I got desperate and broke out the LOURDES WATER! (I found a few kitchy souvenir bottles—little plastic containers in the form of the famous Saint Bernadette.)
Yesterday, as I lay back on my pillow, a soaking wet compress on my head, I felt so much frustration and desperation. I tried to relax as the "miracle" water trickled down the sides of my head, onto the pillow. I realized I had just put my faith into a 14-year-old saint!
Along with the curative water, tears flowed. For weeks, they had been bottled up, just like the souvenir "saint" water that friends had brought me from the famous grotto.
Then came the doubt. More than the water's medicinal effect, I began to question my own ability to tenir, or to hang in there. I didn't know whether to scream or to go on softly crying about the absurdity of my situation: in effect, I was counting on a purported apparition (of the Blessed Virgin, in the grotto) to help in the disappearance (of my bleeding wound). I felt as confused as ever.
And then I had an inspiration….
"Either you believe," I challenged myself, "or you don't believe!"
A minute passed in which I waited for I knew not what….
The make-up-your-mind-moment ended when my eyes squeezed shut as I raised my hand and tilted that bottle of holy water. There I received the downpouring of faith.
***
Update: tomorrow I will see a good dermatologist. I do believe she will be able to pick up where the saint left off. In the meantime, I'm going to keep my mind constructively occupied with the editing of the following stories! So please get out your red pens now and read the following stories, letting me know whether any typos need to be fixed. Thank you, mille fois merci!
Comments Box
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The following stories will go into the manuscript template by tomorrow (Tuesday night)! Please send any edits today, or tomorrow morning at the latest. Thanks!
PETITE AMIE: my future husband's ex shows up at our wedding!
LOUPER: I allow my son a "ditch day"
COQUILLE: When I am old…
CONDUIRE: Learning to drive in France
Meantime, here is a sneak peek at the book covers (Big thanks designer Tamara Dever at TLC Graphics & Narrow Gate Books!) . Get ready to vote on Friday (I hope…)
Click to view a larger image. Note: the subtitle you see will not appear (nor will the subtitle I made up this weekend: Blossoming in Provence: A Tumbleweed's enlightenment among the Lavender. Mom thinks the title will stand on its own. What do you think? Let me know here, in the comments box.
A special note to all editors (that might be you!): If you are helping to edit my forthcoming "memoirette", Blossoming in Provence, please click over to the Acknowledgment page, now, and enter your name in the comments box there!
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I think that Mom may know best on this one, I agree with her.
Dear Kristin,
No. 2 is my first choice, with No.3 a close second. The overall color of sand and ochre with hints of the blue (shutters) and dusty greens of the plants is what pops to mind when I close my eyes and imagine myself walking the streets of Provence.
Best of luck,
Gabrielle
Kristin, you are a real inspiration to women of all ages. The best to you, personally and professionally. I would have preferred #7, but between 1 and 2, definitely 1. The color is important for catching a potential reader’s eye. Bisous, Jeanette
No subtitle, cover #1 by far!!
Love #4 – it’s got a peaceful French look and that wonderful blue door makes me want to sneak back there to peek at what’s inside and find a place to sit and read your book! I like @ 2, but don’t like the blue box in #1-3, #5 looks moss-covered, #6 looks too much like a Romance novel cover, and #7 is too busy. Can’t wait to read it!
I LOVE cover #6, with #4 as a second.
D’accord, “Mom”! The title stands on its own quite well. My vote is for #1 because the blue border brings out the blue shutters and really makes them “pop”. Your previous book has a lot of pale yellow on the cover and the blue would be something different. Assuming you are still considering the other covers: the burgundy border and the olive green border overpower the scene. The other designs obscure the original photo & that would be a shame because it is so charming.
Fabulous title and the photo is gorgeous. It works great with the blue/lavender border. You might want to put your subtitle on the back. You don’t want to interfere with the picture. I am so impressed with what you have accomplished and can’t wait to buy the book.
OH I love them all 4, 2 and 1 but I really like 2. Good luck with it all so can’t wait to buy it.
No 1 or No 2. But you could have some done in each. I’ve seen that before, then people can pick the one they prefer.
Is it too late to vote? I like #2 – it is open and inviting, simple, uncluttered. And I agree with your mom about the title – it stands on its own.
Healing comes in its own time – stay optimistic and take care if yourself (inside and out!)
Kay
(I seem to post so late)-but love number 1; It solves the initial problem I had with reading your name clearly.
Your blurbs are also well-chosen…
Things are definitely getting done WELL..
Kristin, I am absolutely amazed at the responses to your work. I have been reading your blog and going to wine tastings for years. In selecting a cover, 1 or 2 would be my choice. Color is important. #1 is what I would grab off the shelf. I am with you heart and soul on this adventure for many reasons. Please don’t loose the Frenchness that you bring to it by translating the English too perfectly.
Patience T.