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
To respond to this post, click here to leave a message in the comments box.
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!
Discover more from French Word-A-Day
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Walking by a table of new books in a bookstore, number 4 is the cover that would be the most likely to grab my attention.
I agree with your mom – the title says it all.
I really like cover #5 for the layout and type faces. The color of #1 is exquisite.
Number 7 looks so much like a blog screen with its narrow stripe.
No need for the subtitle, I agree. Any words like that should go on a page inside the book.
I like the title, and the photos that show old Provence style.
As to today’s update, it is just right to have faith and then see another doctor to ease the healing along.
Hi Kristin,
I like 1,2, and 7; 2 is my favorite. The green one is the worst. Love the new title, PERFECT. I like the tumbleweeds thing too. BON COURAGE with the penible forehead.
#4. #5, #6 and #7 are definitely out.
That subtitle does nothing but confuse me.
Already the “Blooming”, I would think, has a double meaning…that’s enough. If you want to appeal to larger numbers, those who do not know you, I think directness works better than suggestiveness and ‘cute’. That business about lavender will appeal to 1% of population. Many don’t know (or care, perhaps) what it is…and will back away from a book when the title/meaning is unclear. My opinion. Tough choice on the lovely book covers…
Hi Kristin,
I’ve read your blog on and off for ever now it seems 🙂 I love it. For your book cover my eyes jumped to 4 (I’d buy that book!) to #7 as well. All the best to you.
I prefer #4, followed by #2. #6 is too hard to read the title. #5 shows too little of the beautiful photo.
Blessings, Mary
I prefer #2 without the blue box.
Robin, I think your subtitle suggestions are just brilliant!
A journey of enlightment among the Lavender; or simply: enlightment among the Lavender?
Does anyone else like this as much as me?
4 is my choice..and the title stands on its own. good luck…i have been reading along…th ebook will be great!
Just a very quick first impression – the covers with the table and chairs made me think – haven’t I seen that before? I’m a big fan of the “I gave up my boring regular life and moved to …. France, Italy, Mexico, etc.” books, and have an entire collection. Have a look at On Rue Tatin – it has very much the same feel as some of your versions.
#6-love the contrasting colors and the photos. That is my vote!
Cynthia, I see your point, but I so love that chair. I took the photo while on a sugar-snatching adventure in Grignan!
http://french-word-a-day.typepad.com/motdujour/2011/05/choper.html
Hint: well be editing this story on Wednesday… I think! Even if it doesnt fit into guidelines (it was written recently)
Hi there, Kristin,
Last Monday my son did a face plant and cut his face in two spots as well as receiving a couple of rather large cement burns. Although this is not even close to what you’ve endured, I feel compelled to mention that I put a tincture (purchased from a local herbologist) of olive oil, calendula flowers and lavender essential oil on his wound and in 6 days is now almost completely healed. Am wondering if you’ve given any thought to the magic of herbs and natural remedies? I could send you a bottle if you weren’t able to find something similar in your corner of the woods. Let me know…
Love the covers. #6 would be my pick, but I’d scoot the image to the right a bit (enlarge image if necessary) so that the text could be centered between the door frame and the window. Also would bold up that text a wee bit so it stands out more. But very lovely options….
Bonne chance pour demain and with the marathon,
Angela
After reading some of the comments, I doubted my selection–no. 6–but then I thought no, weigh in for it. The borders are just a little too “cute” for my taste, but the banner speaks out. You might want to play with the browns, e.g., yellow ochre, burnt sienna, raw umber, in varying shades. And I agree with Jules, the title says it all (w/o subtitle). Plus enlarge the title print & your name, as well.
#4 is my choice; the words on the cover do not get in the way of the photo.
I feel the subtitle “Journey of Enlightenment Among the Lavendar” could actually be the title of your next book!
Hi Kristin, I love this post. Your humanity joins with all of us. Yes, it is frustrating to wait for healing–at times like this I look for the silver lining (there always is one). Your body needs to return to balance–nurture yourself, seek the quiet moments, and above all, come to know that every moment is perfect with its unique blessings. These are hard lessons (and I feel free to speak as I have lived and continue to live so many of them), but joy does come in the morning. Sending love, Mary
Hello Kristin,
Wow, you have a lot to consider re:book cover opinions. I don’t have an issue with the title at all. My cover configuration would go like this.
Cover #4 with the title in the script of #’s 1,2 and 3. Love the full photo. The border detracts, in my opinion.
As for finding comfort in something higher, my belief for years has been in Notre Dame de Laghet in Laghet, France by La Turbie. She has gotten me through so many difficult times and has NEVER let me down. Think I have told you about her before.
Your book is going to be a HIT. Just know it! The light at the end of this endeavor is coming into view. I admire your ability to take on such a HUGE task at this time.
Look forward to voting on Friday.
All the best,
Cheryl
I prefer book 4’s cover, but using the italic script of books 1 – 3. And no, I don’t think the subtitle adds to the book’s interest or sell-power. I like the clarity and ‘wide-open space’ of cover 4; it reminds me of Provence itself. All you lack is a “jar” to make the picture entirely provencal.
Good luck with the endeavour and the healing, Kristin!
i love #7. I agree with the commenter who suggested a flower of some kind would be an apt visual addition.
“Englightenment Among the Lavender” is compelling–but i fear it may suggest a different kind of book to a potential buyer. I love the ‘Vingnettes…..Language of Love’ subtitle–it seems simple, but is actually quite profound. And lets me know exactly what i am holding.
and i loooove that you are having a dinner party in the middle of this! sometimes it’s that distracted time in which the subconscious continues to churn things around and spark something amazing.
Dear Kristen
I really like #7 with its crisp clean look.
Number 4 for the covers! BUT with the writing of number 7. Clear, NO fiddly fuss!
Not everybody knows what a “tumbleweed” is… careful! It’s a very American reference, which we Aussies know from American TV Westerns we grew up with. LOL
I think of you more as a dandelion rather than a tumbleweed! 🙂
Oh! And I vote for 2! Thanks for letting all of us FWAD readers be a part of your newest venture! Bises!
My vote is for #4 but without the fancy box for title. Can you offset the title so it doesn’t run into the beautiful shutters? Also, I also vote to delete the subtitle as is–just seems to long and cumbersome. As several others have said–KIS–keep it simple. Thanks for sharing this editorial process with us. As you can see, we’re all experts!
My vote is for number 4 or 6. I enjoy your stories online; it is wonderful to take a few minute vacation to France in the midst of a workday. THANKS.
I’m excited to be editing–even at the last minute! On Conduire, Learning to Drive:
It’s a moving (appropriately) story that made me feel at your side during that tense experience. To keep it moving, I have one small suggestion: omit “his tirade” at the end of paragraph 3, going right to the inspecteur’s words in the next paragraph.
After 7 Art History classes at CSULB and all the art classes too…this is what I see: The photo in 1,2,and 3 is the right way to go, but in 1 there is too much blue, in 2 the color (in your name at the bottom)gets lost with the light background. And, with 3 you don’t have these two problems. As, for #5 the green is great, but I would still use the photo from 1,2,3. #4 would just get lost among all the other books on the shelf…my typography teacher from Boeing Aircraft said that type should stand on it’s own, you don’t need to bubble the area around the type to make it work, so if you do outline the type like in #4…it’s not a good design. #6 Looks like a cook book…nice but I don’t think that is what you were looking for. #7 Looks more like a present and you are cover too much of your lovely photo. So, I guess I like 3 the best with either the color it is or with green. I hope this helps. Good luck!! 🙂
Hello, Kristin,
Remember that [your] beauty is from within and there are good plastic surgeons everywhere. Not to fret!
I like number two without the box, or number four. Two because it jumps out, four because it is the most Provencal looking, probably because it shows more of the scene.
Have you asked yourself what would happen if you were a day late????? Don’t give yourself an ulcer over this. Been there, done that!
(Just for you: take a guess as to what my email address refers to, then look it up!)
Hi Kristin,
I like 1 and 3. They have the feel and colors of Provence. The blue is a lovely color and the brown stands out and catches your eye. The others are too busy and have too many mixed pictures and boxes. I agree with Mom regarding the subtitle. Both 1 and 3 draw me in immediately with memories and the ambiance of the area. Good luck!
Nancy
I love #4 and #7. There is a “cross” in #7 that grabs me and also a hint of modern graphics with old French architecture. I like the title set off in its own frame in both selections. Yes, the title stands on its own quite well.
dearest kristin,
your openness in sharing the feelings and thoughts about life as you live it earns you the friendship and love of all your reader-friends. I do believe that such love also promotes healing! And on a empirical note, scars like yours continue to heal and fade for 2 years at least. at one and 1-1/2 years after our 2 surgical scars each, my daughter and I were only mildly reassured when told that a year ago but are both finding it to be true.
yours is a spirit that abounds in healing energy — creative, loving, honest, loyal, generous, full of humor and life-affirmation.
I have a giant bottle of Lourdes water that is 20 years old! We lived in Toulouse in the early 90’s and I have hoarded it every since. Speaking as une infermiere, you might consider a specialist in infection, if it continues. Get well soon!
Hi Kristin,
My favorite is #2!!! It’s light, warm, sunrising, promissing and mood-up! It stands out! I immediately spotted it from the others.
I am glad to hear that you are going to see a good doctor.
Dear, believe and everything will be all right! And no mercury or other heavy metals anymore!
God Bless You,
Olga.
They all are great but I gravitate towards #4…it’s a simple cover, nothing too “busy”. Love it!
My eyes are immediately drawn to numbers 3, 5 and 6.
I’m so sorry that you are having trouble with your cicatrice. I had a tumour removed from my neck in June and wondered if it would ever look ok again. Well, it does. Finally, it flattened and faded enough. I am sure that you don’t need to worry and that your scar too will be a fading memory soon. Sandra
Hi, Kristin! I’m always amazed at how many comments there are before I ever post. Maybe it has to do with time zones. I vote for #2 cover–love the font, the color, and that you are already an established author. I’ll leave the editing to the pros in the crowd, but I do have an encouraging word about the Lourdes water. During my recent breast cancer treatment, a friend visited a Catholic grotto in Portland, Oregon and brought me some holy water for healing. I am Catholic, so it was not unusual to me, but I wondered if it had any extraordinary powers. I sprinkled it on myself every day before or after radiation treatments. All I can say is the radiation oncologist and nurses were astounded that I had not one iota of dermatitis the whole time…very unusual to come out unscathed. So I say, “Spray and Pray.” You never know from where or from which one of God’s instruments your healing comes. But it will come. And you may want to thank Him. Bonne guérison!
Number 4 would be my favorite as the large photo immediately puts me in Provence, however the placement of the title is smack in the middle and ruins the spaciness. Number 1 would also be a fave if you allow the photo to bleed on sides on top. I think your photo work deserves its own coffee table book. I also see calendar with them. Looking forward to buying the finished piece. Congratulations
Oh, I am enjoying every post of your whirlwind journey through the world of internet publishing. And I’m sure that as your book “blossoms” into fruition and success with the help of your beautiful mother and your fans, your scar will fade into oblivion with the help of a good dermatologist. PS – I am contributing an edit only to add my name to your list of credits … I find your style to be wonderful. 🙂
Oh boy, your heads must be spinning! All our picks simply show the diversity of tastes among your fandom: YOU may be the only thing we really have in common!
I, for example, can’t stand 7, as its stodgy font, tripartite compression and hectic design put me off mightily.
All the others are fine to my reader/artist eye, with quirky 5 being my special favourite and 6 being the most captivating of the others.
Hope the ultimate choice will be purely your own, Kristi, from “the gut” no matter how our tips add up!
One sure thing: this is gonna be one gorgeous tome, so BRAVO ALL!
2,1,3. 4,5,6 are too busy and/ or hard to read. The simplicity of 2,1,3 allow one to appreciate the photo and the provencal colors.
I think #2 is the best in all ways, colors, fonts, picture. I actually not only like a subtitle but I like the concept of the box or something to anchor the lower left corner a bit. Also think picking up the color of the shutter is good. While I agree with your Mother that the title is strong a good subtitle helps to wet one’s appetite for reading further, i.e. helps sell books!
Perhaps box in #2 could be resized or reshaped. I see how it is sans box in #4 but, of course that one has borders and bigger fonts. (Neither of those elements enhances the picture.) #2 allows space for the picture to be evocative and has an elegant title font without being overly flowery.
Bonne chance!
I believe tears are flowing to further your healing. Let them flow and they help us to let go. 🙂
Today’s story so beautifully captures what I love about you and your writing. The book covers are lovely!!! So hard to choose just one… Glad we have until Friday to decide! Wonderul work Kristi!
No 6, it grabs the eye
My favorite is 4 and my second favorite is 6. No offense the rest of the designs feel a bit dated circa late 90’s.
HI Kristin,
No. 2 looks the best – it’s the most atmospheric and least fussy in appearance. Go for that one!
Best of luck,
Veronica
Hi Kristin –
My favourite is #7 – it stands out from the other traditional covers but fits perfectly with the “feel” of your stories. “Blossing in Provence” does not seem to speak to me nor reflect the your writing style, so I would suggest working with “vignettes” a bit more as I think it suits the context more.
Good luck with the publishing!
Yes! I agree with your mom – the title stands on its own and gets “too busy” with more elaboration. I like cover 2 (and 5, kind of). 4 makes me think of Venice! At first glance it looks like the Bridge of Sighs. 🙂
Nr 4 looks fine.