It's intriguing to explore the new world of publishing through ebooks. My cookbooks, Creative Cooking for Colitis and Creative Cooking for Simple Elegance, are ebooks. So it's fun to connect with other ebook authors as we dive into the future of publishing.
Angie's Take: I'm enjoying Yesterday's Promise and actually like the ebook format. I can make it any size I want for my own visual comfort too. I don't have an ereader yet, maybe one day, but the pdf version is easily downloaded and viewed on my computer screen. Delia Latham's description of Kip drew me into the story. He reminds me of my grandpa (born in 1883) who was a very straight forward and wise man. The heroine, Hannah, deals with the disappointing loss of her dream. How many women have dealt with that? Um, all of us? I am enjoying watching Hannah's choices as she regroups and makes new choices. I think Delia Latham has written a book that has a little of every woman in it and a bit of the wonder of a past love. Please enjoy the interview below with Delia about the challenges of writing, the changes in the writing business, and how to get the story to the reader.~Angie
About Yesterday's Promise:
- A missing bridegroom. A broken heart. Life will never be the same for Hannah Johns. With God’s help, she can make it on her own, but can she ever trust love again? Brock is drawn to the beautiful lounge singer, but his shadowy past won’t set him free. Can these two troubled hearts possibly find a future together?
- Your novel, Yesterday’s Promise is a re-release of a book that is now out of print. Tell us about that.
- In 2006, as a new author and completely green about industry standards, I signed a contract with a publisher whose name I won’t mention. Let me be very clear: This company delivered exactly what they promised in their contract. Unfortunately, that wasn’t much in the way of promotion—I just didn’t understand enough at the time to realize that. Like most new authors, I was simply thrilled and excited to be offered a contract.
- I learned a lot about marketing my own book during that time, because the lion’s share of those efforts were my own. However, I was given a gorgeous cover and the book was available all over the internet. I “met” a lot of authors and other industry professionals. The experience was a building block in my writing career, and I’m grateful for it. It was through that title (Almost Like a Song) that I built up a bit of name recognition and launched myself into the publishing realm. I chose to request my rights back after about two years, and the publisher graciously granted me that request.
- So then I had a book that was no longer available in print, and cover art that belonged to my former publisher. So I went searching for a new one, and discovered how hard it is to sell a reprint! (But that’s a whole other subject.) I’m thrilled, grateful, and excited that White Rose Publishing was willing to take it on. I gave it a new title, they designed yet another gorgeous cover, and Yesterday’s Promise released March 12, 2010. It is available in electronic format only.
- Why the new title?
- A couple of reasons. My interviews and marketing efforts for Almost Like a Song are still all over the web. I didn’t want any confusion…with people mistaking one publisher for another, or trying to order a print book that is no longer available (except for the few unbelievably overpriced copies through a few over-ambitious booksellers).
- Plus, some of the text has changed. In the original version, the first chapter played heavily on Ronnie Milsaps country ballad, “It was Almost Like a Song.” With that reference gone, as well as all the little pieces of the lyrics I had used in the original version, the title was no longer relevant. Yesterday’s Promise really sums up the essence of the storyline.
- How do you feel about electronic books?
- It’s a new playing field, so obviously I had initial reservations about having a book released solely in e-format. But after researching the subject, I believe e-publishing is absolutely the trend of the future. More and more people are buying —and loving—electronic readers. I’m proud to have Yesterday’s Promise available in that format. As to how that will reflect itself in sales…well, I guess that remains to be seen.
- Available formats are Adobe (pdf, which can be read on your computer screen), Epub, MS Reader, Web (html), and Kindle.
- Tell us how you came to write this book.
- I was working on another story (Goldeneyes, which released in 2008), and struggling through major writer’s block. Somehow I found out about National Novel Writer’s Month, aka Nanowrimo. This annual event encourages writers to churn out a minimum of 50,000 words during the month of November. It caught my attention, so I laid Goldeneyes aside and started writing. I had no plan, no outline, no idea where the story was going—other than that it would be set in Yosemite National Park, and would be an inspirational romance. Thirty days later, I had the bare bones skeleton of Yesterday’s Promise. During that time, I was so intensely focused on this storyline that my hero and heroine, Hannah and Brock, became a distinct part of me. When I finished the book, I felt completely adrift without the two of them bouncing around in my head.
- All of that said, please understand…that thirty-day period was basic, initial writing only. I still had months of re-writing and edits to do before I felt comfortable submitting the book to a publisher. But I had a book—a good book, a marketable product. And…that little respite from my other manuscript (and a tremendous amount of prayer) broke down the wall I’d been banging my head against. When I returned to Goldeneyes, I was able to write, and the remainder of the book flowed beautifully. God must have had a reason for pulling me off of one to write the other. Maybe someone needed the message of faith and trust that Yesterday’s Promise delivered. I hope so.
- What is Yesterday’s Promise about?
- I can best answer that with the back cover text. (Is that description even valid anymore, since there’s no actual cover? Hmmm…) Here ya go:
- A whirlwind romance amidst the natural splendor of Yosemite National Park. A spur-of-the-moment wedding. A young bride who awakens the morning after to find her new husband gone with the mountain wind.
- Songbird Hannah Johns supports the child born of that ill-fated union by singing in a dinner lounge. Her dream of someday owning the elite establishment and turning it into a venue more suited to her Christian values is shattered when an unexpected transaction places it in the hands of Brock Ellis, the handsome biker who abandoned her in their honeymoon suite.
- Ensuing sparks fly high, revealing buried secrets and forgotten pasts. Seeking to find peace with her painful past, Hannah returns to Yosemite, only to have Brock show up hard on her heels. Back where it all began, she finds herself in danger of losing her heart yet again to the man who shattered it the first time around.
- What do you do when you’re not writing?
- I’m always writing! J No, that’s not true, but to be honest, I’m usually doing something at least somewhat writing related. I design marketing products for other authors—most specifically bookmarks (see my work at www.deliadesigns.webs.com), but I also design business cards, post cards, posters and ads, and write press releases.
- I have a full-time job, as well, but when I’m actually away from my computer and just enjoying myself, I like to do that with my children—and theirs.
- Q. What’s next?
- A. Surprisingly enough, next is a children’s book! Adam’s Wings will release in December 2010 through Vintage Romance Publishing. I’m also trying to place a series of books based around a Christian dating agency. The first book in the series is finished, and I’m well into the second. I’d appreciate all of your prayers, as I’d love to get these novels out there and available sooner rather than later. J
- Where can we find Yesterday’s Promise?
- A. It’s available on Amazon.com as well as through my publisher, White Rose Publishing.
Delia Latham is a born-and-bred California gal, recently transplanted to Oklahoma where she lives with her husband Johnny. She’s a Christian wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend—but above all, she treasures her role as child of the King and heir to the throne of God. She enjoys big, loud, happy family gatherings. When she’s not writing, she loves to play piano and sing, read, enjoy nature’s beauty, and design marketing products for authors. Her inspirational novel, Goldeneyes, was released in March 2008; Yesterday’s Promise in March 2010. A children’s book, Adam’s Wings, will release in December 2010.
Learn more about this author:
Website: www.delialatham.net
Blog: http://themelodywithin.
Reviews & Interviews: http://my-book-bag.blogspot.
Newsletter: http://bookshelfnewsletter.
5 comments:
Angela, thank you so much for inviting me to stop by your blog! I look forward to chatting with your readers.
Readers, your comments and/or questions are welcome. Be sure to leave an e-mail addy if you want to be entered in the drawing. :)
Great interview Delia! I saw your post on FB and thought I would come here, I didn't realize all you went thru to get your book published, very interesting. I hope the e-book format works for this book.
Margaret Diggs
Thanks for stopping by, Margaret! Yes, it was an ordeal, but well worth it all. :)
This is such a great blog tour, Delia. I'm so glad you invited me to take part!
reading_frenzy at yahoo dot com
I'm glad you're enjoying it, LuAnn - I certainly am! Thank you for following along...it's nice to see those familiar faces! :D
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