HELP CHOOSE A BOOK COVER
I'm excited to share the cover designs for my upcoming book. Please take a close look and let me know which numbered cover you prefer: comment via this link. Thank you for your feedback and don't miss today's story, just below. (Cover designs by Monica at TLC Book Design)
Or go directly to the poll page, where you will see the book covers up close and you can vote.
TODAY'S WORD: GALÉRER
: to struggle, have trouble
"Les galères font le galérien." –Victor Hugo
(Difficult times create resilient people.)
A DAY IN A FRENCH LIFE by Kristi Espinasse
I have been trying to gather these stories you are reading into a book for years—ever since my last compilation was published a decade ago. You'd think it would be simple to pull together some blog entries, paste them into a manuscript, and—abracadabra—upload them to Amazon's Print On Demand. After all, there are so many tools and support systems available for indie publishers. But, after struggle upon struggle–après avoir bien galéré–I realized I couldn't do this alone.
Back in 2003, as a newly-minted blogger, I managed to put these early billets into a manuscript, create a cover, and send the files off to "Instant Publisher" in the States. They printed the books and shipped them, 500 at a time, to me in France. In turn, I shipped them one by one and sometimes three by three (many of you graciously bought all three volumes) to readers worldwide. These little awkward editions (one was missing part of the title on its spine, and all three lacked proper interior formatting) were selling like hotcakes, and I was finally making a living as a writer–or at least helping to supplement my husband's income. I was now a stay-at-home mom with a vocation! My publishing gig might have continued even today if it weren't for an unexpected email from a "Big Five" éditeur…
It was a dream come true when Simon & Schuster professionally edited my essays into a hardbound book: "Words in a French Life." While the memoir did well, selling over 50,000 copies, it wasn't enough for the publisher to want to pursue a Volume 2. When my editor suggested fiction, I froze, having only ever written short essays. Allowing all my insecurities to come out and feast, I let my contract with a New York agent run out and I returned to what was "easiest" or most familiar to me: blogging. I made a few half-hearted attempts at printing more books but had lost my self-publishing mojo.
Several years later, a reader reached out, and I had the chance to work with Tami and Erin at TLC Book Design. It was exciting to see two more books published in 2009 and 2014! But after our déménagement from the vineyard, I floundered for a while. Then, in the beginning of 2024, fueled by the positive comments on the blog, the dream was rekindled. I realized part of the difficulty in gathering the stories was the overwhelming scope of it all: there were 22 years of archives to sort through! Finally, the thought came: Begin where you are. Just do your best with your current stories and enter them into the manuscript, one by one.
This decision helped me focus on the story at hand and stick to a narrative. As I worked, the title for the book surfaced naturally:
"A YEAR IN A FRENCH LIFE"
Finally, this title sounded right, given the book is based on this column "A Day in a French Life." With these pieces of the puzzle in place, I was off and running! Well, until the formatting woes, cover conundrums, etc., drained me, and the doubts returned. A quoi bon? Why bother making a book when it's so much easier to just keep blogging? As long as I kept mumbling "A quoi bon?" I was stuck.
Last week, I was ready to give up altogether when my sister Heidi called. Within minutes, she assured me it would all come together. "Keep at it!"
Once again, the message is: cela aussi passera. This doubtful moment will pass. There will be others, but they will pass as well. The next day, I was back at my manuscript, and things were looking clearer. This overwhelming project felt faisable. Around this time, I received a series of book cover options from TLC Book Designs, who I'm pleased to be working with again. "A YEAR IN A FRENCH LIFE" will be published in 2025, and though I'm only halfway through the manuscript, I trust I'll make it to the finish, with the help of faith, friends, and family. While I may like to do things on my own, experience is showing me that life is better together.
I leave you with the second most beautiful verb in the world, according to peace activist and novelist Bertha von Suttner:
"Après le verbe 'aimer', 'aider' est le plus beau verbe du monde." "After the verb 'to love', 'to help' is the most beautiful verb in the world."
Post Note: As for the nagging question "A quoi bon? or Why bother" Here is one good reason: Because if we don't pursue our goals, they will bother us until we do! I suppose that is the reason I write.
LOOKING FOR BETA-READERS
I am looking for volunteers to read the first half of my manuscript and report any typos or mistakes. If you are comfortable reading 187 pages in Microsoft Word and good at spotting errors in French and English, thank you for contacting me at kristin.espinasse@gmail.com
Some of the first books I self-published. The yellow book is the Simon & Schuster edition. Three more books are not pictured, as this photo was taken before they were published.
COMMENTS
Your comments are enjoyed and your edits are appreciated. Click here to leave a message.
FRENCH VOCABULARY
Listen to Jean-Marc pronounce these French terms. Click here
galérer = to struggle, have trouble
Les galères font galérien = Difficult times create resilient people.
après avoir bien galéré = after struggle upon struggle
un billet = blog post
un éditeur = publisher
déménagement = move
A quoi bon? = Why bother?
cela aussi passera = this too shall pass
faisable = feasible
Après le verbe 'aimer', 'aider' est le plus beau verbe du monde. = After the verb 'to love', 'to help' is the most beautiful verb in the world.
REMERCIEMENTS
Sincere appreciation to the following readers who recently sent in a blog donation. Merci beaucoup! –Kristi
Lo S.
Ron C.
Joan S.
Tom D.
Fred G.
Lynn R.
John M.
Linda A.
Brenda P.
Kathryn H.
Rob and Pat W.
Kristi, your beautiful posts are a delight! Merci beaucoup! –Linda A.
Kristi, sending you tons of gratitude and well wishes! Retired and looking forward to visiting France in the next few years! –Ron
Mother-Daughter lunch In Cassis at Le Grand Large. Our girls, Jackie, left, and Josie, right really hit it off. I met Jennifer, center-right over 15 years ago, when we both were blogging about family life. Jennifer's blog, Diary of 1 is no longer on line, but if she ever starts another journal I will let you know.
Posing with artists from Capetown, South Africa and London, UK. Sisters Anna Morris (photographer) and Julia Godsiff (sculptor) came to visit La Ciotat after reading my journal and ended up in an Airbnb right next to my church. Over Perrier spiked with orange juice we talked about the creative life, entering into “the zone” and the need to set boundaries at home in order to be able to write or paint or sculpt. Julia, right, shared some words from Virginia Woolf: “You’ve got to kill the angel in the house.” I left our meetup inspired and with plans to set my noisy family straight. Indeed, No more Mrs. Nice Guy! Just kidding. The truth is Life is messy and it will always come kicking and screaming into your creative zone. Instead of killing the angel of the house, we need to let life trample all over us and be imprinted with its passionate passage. After all, what would there be to say, sculpt, or paint if life didn’t get in the way?
My Notes. Scrolling through a manuscript of 187 pages can be confusing. I finally grabbed an envelope and came up with a rough system to track things: had I included a photo with each chapter? were all French words italicized? Did the chapters have numbers? These are only a few considerations but they help in the initial run-through! Thank you for reading and don't forget to take the poll for the best book cover.
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Hello there Kristi,
I like cover number 6 best. Possibly number 5 but not with the orange color…
Best regards,
Susanne
Number 5 is my favourite.
Best wishes on your publication.
Linda
As a graphic designer, I recommend book cover # 1.
Best regards Christine
Hi Kristi,
Love no 1 and no 6…..but think I’m leaning towards no 6 …as much as I love the summery vibe of no 1, no 6 is an all year round photo.
Good luck!
Karen Rowlands
I like cover no. 1. In my opinion it gets my attention immediately because of its bold letters.
Hello Kristi,
My favourite is no 7.
I wish you the best.
Catherine Busby Allen
Number 1. Congratulations on the book!
Love cover #6 – it conveys all the information in a glance, and, well, looks “French”!
Love cover #9. Very elegantly displayed. I found it intriguing. As in I want to see more….what is this book about? The side columns looked cost worthy to invest in. Displayed with strength and to be taken seriously as a must read.
Hello, best wishes for success on your new book. I vote for #6 to be the cover.
Thanks for all your help in learning French
Bev B
I like cover #1. All of the title is highly visible and the picture of the water will draw eyes to the book.
Either #1 or #6
Pick anyone you want. None of them make you look fat. ;-). Dites bonjour à sa mère. Et bonne santé
No. 1 – it is simple, uncluttered and the sunny blue sky reminds me of your personality.
kristin,
this is your friend Jean from Edmonton, Canada.
i like #5 for the cover of your new book.
and please let me know when it is published.
i want a copy.
jean.
I like 6! Warm regards, Rina
Either 2 or 5
Number 1 says Cassis to me
Félicitations, Kristin! My wife and I strongly in favor of #6.
Covers 3 and 8 are my favorites!
Cover number one struck me the most as really representing where you live now and how the beauty of the a seaside town influences your life and your writing.
Bonne chance avec le livre !
Laurie du Canada
They’re all great but image #1 is my favourite – appealing and relatable; #2 resembles a travel guide; #3 too busy; #4 #5 + #6 seem to be about one village only; #7 looks like its just a novella or a cook book, but its my 2nd favourite; #8 too artistic
I like number 6 the best.
I like number 2 best particularly as it reminds me of our holiday in La Ciotat last September and sitting having a coffee, watching the world go by.
I love #5! Congratulations on your new book!
How wonderful that you are adding to your stable of published books!
I vote for Cover 1 or perhaps Cover 7 (the latter to my eye being sort of similar in style/colour to previous books so possibly a bit like your ‘brand’ style). The other covers remind me of either cookbooks, travel books or a French textbook (Cover 5)
#1 really catches the eye. It is the simplest design with such a beautiful color of the sea which always attracts !
Congratulations in advance on your project.
#5!!! Perhaps changing the orange for blue!
Perfect!
Goood luck!
#2–Inviting; makes me want to pick it up; and seems “real,” not strictly vacation-y or pie-in-the-sky. It makes me think I’m going to get a legitimate take on life in France. Having said that, all of the covers are lovely–and just having your name on it as the author is enough!
I vote for you and your writing. Do not get discouraged. You are a wonderful writer and I have been waiting for you to put out a book with a compilation of your stories. Can’t wait. There are many life lessons in your work. Didn’t think I would pick this one but when I looked at them closer – 3. Although 1 is more visually clear and thus maybe the best pick.
Hi Kristi, this is great news. I can’t wait to read it! I like cover #3 best followed closely by #8. I like how both of them give an intriguing glimpse into the stories inside. Bisous
I choose 1 or 3, Kristi.
Kristi, I would be happy to be a reader although I’d be better at spotting errors in English than in French. If that is a help to you, let me know.
I vote for cover #1…the water and the beach seem to be apart of your daily life.
Hello Kristi, I love #1 the best but I also like #5. They are all good covers, (#8 is my least favorite) but those 2 caught my eye the most.
Thanks for all your wonderful stories and best of luck to you!
Diana
Number 1, definitely. The text doesn’t obscure the photo, and I find the ones with multiple photos too cluttered.
Vote # 8
I like number 2……it the subtle charm the would attract as a frequent book buyer.
Bonjour Kristi,
I vote for #6. I like that it features one of your beautiful pictures of French street life, and I think the title font and colors work quite well.
Bonne chance!
Kerry
I prefer the cover of No. 1 with the title in the format of No. 2. Water is always refreshing and welcoming……..I do also like the cityscapes, but feel they are often over-used. Good Luck……..I see the responses are all over the place. Here’s wishing you great success!
I like cover #1! I think it’s the perfect color.
I like the openness of Cover #1, it is bright, graphic and reflects where you live now, near the sea.
My favorite cover is #1 and my second favorite is #8. They’re all beautiful though! 🌺
Congratulations, Kristi, on another book! I choose #3 because I’m attracted to geometric designs; they catch my eye. Plus, I love all the photos. I don’t think it’s “too busy” as some say. I agree with the person who said maybe 2024 would limit sales. Five months from now, if I were looking for a book about French life and the cover said 2024, I would pass it up without looking inside. Be assured, whatever the cover turns out to be, save a copy for me. Your writings are perennial!!
Congratulations! I like #6 best. 🙂
I prefer #6. It’s eye catching and not cluttered.
I’m so excited that you have a new book coming out !! I vote for #1 it catches ones eye. To me it is fresher, clean clear and not to busy. Can’t wait to read it.
All the best to you and your wonderful family
J’aime les numéros 3 et 6, mais c’est le 3 que je préfère.
I like #1 and #6. Focusing on one photo for the cover is really engaging. Best luck!
I am so excited you are publishing another book. Love #6 cover.
Hugs