Bonne Année! Have a New Year's goal? Mine is to be more concise in my writing. I'll practice today by getting straight to the point (er… just after today's word and our sponsor's message!):
aller droit au but (ah-lay-dwat-oh-bewt)
: to get straight to the point
Audio File: listen to Jean-Marc: Download MP3 or Wav file
En écriture, comme en conversation, il faut aller droit au but.
In writing, as in conversation, one must go straight to the point.
A Day in a French Life… by Kristin Espinasse
Good news to start off the new year: A long-lost book project will soon see the light of day! After resurrecting an old manuscript, and dusting off the thick layer of doubt covering it, I spent last fall editing the volume.
I need your help now to choose a cover for this next collection of short stories titled "First French Essais." To guide you in picking the right cover, here's a brief description of the book:
As the title suggests, this memoir is made up of the "first" stories that appeared in this blog. And the French word "essais" in the title hints at "first attempts" at writing and at French life. This meaningful "writing/French life" combination is kicked up a notch in the subtitle, which reads: "Trying out Writing, Marriage, and France." (Not to be nonchalant about marriage! No, marriage is not something to try out! That's not at all what I mean to imply…)
As you can see I need your help! First things first: the book cover. Let's focus on that (we can work on the marriage later. (Whoops, there I go again! That's not what I meant to imply!)
* * *
Vote Here!
To vote on a book cover pictured at the top of this post, simply leave a message here in the comments box. There are 6 contestants–see their numbers to the bottom right of each photo. Let me know which is the most attractive! Click here to jot down your choice. Many thanks in advance!
Special thanks to the book angels over at TLC Graphics who designed this round of covers! Thanks Tamara Dever, for the covers, and thank you, Erin Stark, for creating another easy-on-the-eyes interior. I love your work! (Speaking of work, I've given you extra, Erin, as this book will be filled will full color photos and captions designed to grow the readers vocabulary even more!)
Once again, Bonne Année! May you continue to grow like this French beauty: branching out and unfurling, tickling the surface of the earth with your traveling feet.
New to this blog? Download the ebook or paperback and learn much more than French vocabulary–get to know the heart of this foreign culture. Click here.
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Hi Kristin, this is the first time I’ve commented but have enjoyed your blog for some months now.
I think of all the options I prefer number 1, it’s nice to have the writing up on a wall! but I think having the French word “Essais” in an English title is a bit strange. I think you should try to have Italic script for Essais so you can see at a glance that it’s not an English word. Otherwise number 4 is good since the word Essais stands out on its own. I think I would make the word FIRST a bit bigger though. It’s nice having the 3 different pics in cover 3, but the title doesn’t stand out very well. Maybe you could do a background block for the title (like no 5 but not the same typeface) that overlaps the 3 pics, so the title would stand out but you get the 3 pictures on the cover?
Bonne année!
Linda
Hi Kristin, this is the first time I’ve commented but have enjoyed your blog for some months now.
I think of all the options I prefer number 1, it’s nice to have the writing up on a wall! but I think having the French word “Essais” in an English title is a bit strange. I think you should try to have Italic script for Essais so you can see at a glance that it’s not an English word. Otherwise number 4 is good since the word Essais stands out on its own. I think I would make the word FIRST a bit bigger though. It’s nice having the 3 different pics in cover 3, but the title doesn’t stand out very well. Maybe you could do a background block for the title (like no 5 but not the same typeface) that overlaps the 3 pics, so the title would stand out but you get the 3 pictures on the cover?
Bonne année!
Linda
Hi Kristin! I’d go between either, the top one on the left, or the bottom middle one! All of them are so nice its hard to choose! 🙂
Hi Kristin! I’d go between either, the top one on the left, or the bottom middle one! All of them are so nice its hard to choose! 🙂
I LOVE #2 and I think it’s the most special. I’m very excited to read it once published!
I LOVE #2 and I think it’s the most special. I’m very excited to read it once published!
I like #2 the best, followed by #3.
You won’t go wrong with any of them, Kristin. Thanks for letting us vote.
Bonne chance et bonne journee!
Votre ami, Mark – London Ontario
I like #2 the best, followed by #3.
You won’t go wrong with any of them, Kristin. Thanks for letting us vote.
Bonne chance et bonne journee!
Votre ami, Mark – London Ontario
Top middle I’d say – I like the first one but the title isn’t obviously a title on first glance.
Top middle I’d say – I like the first one but the title isn’t obviously a title on first glance.
Bonne Année
Number 1 is my favorite.
Bonne Année
Number 1 is my favorite.
Je prefere #1
C’est le plus direct et le plus clair. Les autres sont un peu “busy”
Bon chance
Richard – Brighton (UK)
Je prefere #1
C’est le plus direct et le plus clair. Les autres sont un peu “busy”
Bon chance
Richard – Brighton (UK)
I vote for # 1
I vote for # 1
Hello Kristin.
My choices are 4 then 5 then 3. 1 hides your name, 3 is too busy, 6 is OK but I don’t like the lower right corner of the title overlapping the hill. On both 5 and 6, I’m not crazy about the type font used for the title – I like the type font in 4 better.
Bonne année!
Marc
Hello Kristin.
My choices are 4 then 5 then 3. 1 hides your name, 3 is too busy, 6 is OK but I don’t like the lower right corner of the title overlapping the hill. On both 5 and 6, I’m not crazy about the type font used for the title – I like the type font in 4 better.
Bonne année!
Marc
My choices are 2 followed by 4. Thank you for your blog,and Bonne Année
My choices are 2 followed by 4. Thank you for your blog,and Bonne Année
I like #1 Kristin .. subtle and well balanced. Congratulations for being on the verge of releasing another book!
I like #1 Kristin .. subtle and well balanced. Congratulations for being on the verge of releasing another book!
Either 1 or 2. They’re the clearest.
Either 1 or 2. They’re the clearest.
#1 or #3
Both give a flavour of rural France. Good luck with the book ! Look forward to seeing it in print.
A Very Happy & Successful New Year to you & your family
#1 or #3
Both give a flavour of rural France. Good luck with the book ! Look forward to seeing it in print.
A Very Happy & Successful New Year to you & your family
#4
I like either #1 or #2. They seem to be more indicative of what you write about. I like the basket on the bicycle in #1 better than #2, but I like the title better in #2.
#4
I like either #1 or #2. They seem to be more indicative of what you write about. I like the basket on the bicycle in #1 better than #2, but I like the title better in #2.
Kristin,
I think that either No 1 or No 2 depict the perfect image of France, although I think your name in No 1 needs to be clearer.
Thanks for the opportunity to comment and look forward to reading the book.
Happy New Year to you and your family.
Kristin,
I think that either No 1 or No 2 depict the perfect image of France, although I think your name in No 1 needs to be clearer.
Thanks for the opportunity to comment and look forward to reading the book.
Happy New Year to you and your family.
#2……the blue lettering will be an eye catcher and love the photo
#2……the blue lettering will be an eye catcher and love the photo
I vote for #1. I like the subject, colors and design.
Bonne Anne! (And many more!)
I vote for #1. I like the subject, colors and design.
Bonne Anne! (And many more!)
Number 2 is my favorite, followed by #1. Best of luck,
Number 2 is my favorite, followed by #1. Best of luck,
Hello Kristin !
I prefer N°1… or N°2 but I find N°2 a little bit too “French cliché”! Mon coeur balance !
Very best wishes for an unforgettable and successful year from cyclone hit Reunion!
Hello Kristin !
I prefer N°1… or N°2 but I find N°2 a little bit too “French cliché”! Mon coeur balance !
Very best wishes for an unforgettable and successful year from cyclone hit Reunion!
I prefer N° 1 and am looking forward to reading the book!
Love you, Kristin ♥
I prefer N° 1 and am looking forward to reading the book!
Love you, Kristin ♥
Dear Kristin, my vote goes to No. 2. Not too busy, your name has been given just the right degree of prominence in the layout, the colors are well-chosen, it is modern yet hints at tradition, it has no sheep or parchments to carry a message… Definitely Number TWO. Happy New Year!
Dear Kristin, my vote goes to No. 2. Not too busy, your name has been given just the right degree of prominence in the layout, the colors are well-chosen, it is modern yet hints at tradition, it has no sheep or parchments to carry a message… Definitely Number TWO. Happy New Year!
I like number 1 or 2 best
I like number 1 or 2 best
My vote is for number 2, it goes well with the cover of “Blossoming in Provence”. I do not like number one because there is a fence between you and us. 4, 5 and 5 could be Welsh!
My vote is for number 2, it goes well with the cover of “Blossoming in Provence”. I do not like number one because there is a fence between you and us. 4, 5 and 5 could be Welsh!
I think that #1 is the best, simple yet catches your eye, good composition.
I think that #1 is the best, simple yet catches your eye, good composition.