Silver Awakening Paperback Available at Amazon

Silver Awakening paperback is available now on Amazon for $16.99 with free shipping for Amazon Prime members! Also, if you purchase the paperback from Amazon, you can download the Kindle Edition for free.

If you don't have Amazon Prime then it might be cheaper for you to purchase the book direct from my eStore using this limited-time offer promo code, RMELLRB5, which reduces the list price to $13.00. I believe the shipping runs about $3.00. So, just see which distributor can give you the best deal.

Don't forget to post a review on your favorite sites! Thanks!

–JNP

Positive First Reviews for Silver Awakening

First Amazon Review

First Goodreads Review (my hubby)

Friend feedback via email

More friend feedback via iMessage

Apology

If anyone received the email newsletter about the release of Silver Awakening on paperback saying that they received it because they are subscribed to the newsletter and you know that you are not subscribed, please disregard the message. Please accept my deepest apologies. This was a result of an error with the Wix.com Shout Out feature...a feature I will never use again. (I may need to switch to a different service provider.) I'm so sorry if you feel spammed right now. It shouldn't happen again.

Sincerely,

Jessica Prado

Don't forget about the reason for this blog: Sins, Hims, and Whims of a Single Mother, a novella.

Amid all my blogging about Silver Awakening...I want to remind everyone that there is another piece of fiction I've been working on for the past three years. It's a chick-lit novella that shares the title of my blog, Sins, Hims, and Whims of a Single Mother. I'm only about halfway through the writing process on it, though, and since I work about 55 hours per week at a pay-the-bills job, you'll have to be patient with me.

Please visit my blog's page for SHWSM, the novella, to read excerpts. Some of you who have been reading my blog for years will recall when these excerpts were blog posts.

I hope this story interests you. Stay tuned, or subscribe to my mailing list and never miss an update on my projects and promotional deals.


Thanks!



–JNP

SILVER AWAKENING PAPERBACK ON SALE NOW!

The paperback edition of Silver Awakening is available now at my eStore. It will be available on Amazon in a couple of days. For a limited time, if you shop at Amazon you will be able to download the Kindle edition for FREE with the purchase of a paperback.

Also, for a limited time, you can use this Promo Code ‬H97PNNDD to get $2.00 off the paperback edition if purchased HERE. 

If you have already purchased the eBook, please send me a proof of purchase. You may comment or message me here at my blog or go to my Facebook Fan Page and send via Messenger. I have a different promo code that I'd like to share with you, which will give you an additional discount on the paperback.

I'd also like to share the additional discount promo code with you for subscribing to my newsletter. 

PLEASE POST REVIEWS everywhere you can, on all your favorite sites. Please share with other readers and bloggers. Thank you for your support. I hope you enjoy this book.


–JNP

New Proof of Silver Awakening – Hoping Paperback Will Launch Soon – And Special Single Mother Dedication

I received what I hope will be the final print proof of my novel, Silver Awakening. 

The interior is looking so polished and professional now without all of the orphans and widows, and with a redesign of chapter headers, page numbers, and page headers...redesigned using the custom font that matches the book cover. Thank you, Erin for that font!

Also, since CreateSpace lacks color management profiles, I basically had to digitally proof the book cover off of my monitor using an Adobe Creative Suite print proof mode that most closely resembled a copy of a physical proof I had previously received from CreateSpace. Considering the circumstance, this was the best method. Relying wholly on my visual perception, I adjusted my book cover file on-screen, boosting saturation, adding or reducing contrast, lightening or darkening according to what I judged would be the likely outcome per the physical proof in hand. I also converted all linked PSD files to the CMYK color space that my ending ID File would be using. What a pain. But I got it nearly spot on after only one revision and now it looks incredible! (This is where my bachelor's degree in photography came in handy. I'm a color correcting pro.) I really do like the matte finish more now that the colors are popping out and looking as intended. I actually like it a lot more than the glossy finish that I was debating over in my previous blog posts. (1st post, 2nd post, 3rd post.)

If you would like to see all of the photos of my way better new print proof, go to my Facebook Fan Page. I've posted some quickie snapshots there.

Once I'm finished proofing this new physical print proof––hopefully it looks perfect and there's nothing else wrong with it––then I will be able to schedule the launch date for the release of the paperback edition of Silver Awakening. So excited! Fingers crossed.

Conclusion:

The paperback edition of Silver Awakening is looking so much better. I think maybe all of the printing issues were a blessing in disguise. I've prayed long and hard for help with this book. Truly, my prayers were answered by way of kind people who offered to help me and also through preparatory learning that was long ago inspired by the Lord––I was prompted to move from Arizona to Utah back when I was a SINGLE MOTHER with a lil kindergartner. I was scared, but I felt impressed to go to USU and learn skills that I haven't been sure I even need. My higher education hasn't helped pay my bills at all...it actually created the heaviest debts I own. But what I learned in school has helped me with this book. And I know Heavenly Father inspired this book. Just like Noah Steffen (a character in my novel), I also know how to tell the difference between thoughts that are my own and thoughts that aren't.

I started writing Silver Awakening when I was experiencing all of my Sins, Hims, and Whims as a Single Mother. I finished Silver Awakening as a newly married woman who is incredibly blessed.

To all the SINGLE LADIES: I know life is so hard right now, but never stop learning or working toward your goals. You will reach them. I'm still trying to reach mine. Inch by inch I will make it. You will make it too.

I dedicate this message and this post to a longtime single mother friend. (We were single moms together years ago.) She was fortunate to remarry and add to her family. Her joy lasted for a season, but she is now preparing for a brutal divorce. She will be a single mother again, only instead of one child to raise, she now has three. Lets all pray for her and her children tonight.

Nicholle, today this is for you: My heart aches. My eyes are wet. I know it's a heavy burden, but I believe that the darkest sorrows overcome will bring the brightest joys. I love you, girl! You've got this!  ;-)

Love Always,

JNP

Unfamiliar Terms Decisions

This is sort of a disclaimer: I've received conflicting information from a total of three different editors regarding whether or not to italicize an unfamiliar term in Silver Awakening. First Editing, the company I hired to do all the spelling, grammar, and punctuation, their editor italicized objects only––not titles or names or vague English descriptions of an unnamed object or idea, etc. They missed a few, but I went back and followed that format. Since then I've had two other editors/proofreaders tell me that it's not necessary to do this in a scifi/fantasy, but whichever way I go just be consistent, which is what I thought initially and why I never bothered to italicize anything when I first wrote it. So here's the thing––I do have a record of the terms I used and how they're used––I call it my Kai Language Decoder. Basically, as the publisher/author I'm making the executive decision to leave the italics on specific made up terms that are supposed to be part of the Kai'ling language, and only the Kai words that refer to an object or device, but no italics on any ideas, names, or titles, etc. I'll also italicize a Middle English term that is supposed to be a shared word, a part of the Kai language and a real word on Earth that is no longer used (I might build on the idea of shared words if I do a sequel). So, I won't italicize when it's a word that is part of Earth's languages if it is not part of the Kai'ling canon. For example, Caelestis Meditari I'm leaving alone because it is not a part of the Kai'ling language and at some point, if I write a sequel, I want to give this a name in the Kai'ling language. Caelestis Meditari is just Latin words being used to express an idea for a Kai'ling word that is difficult to translate according to a character in the story. That's it. That's the extent of my italicizing. Honestly, I thought about going back and un-italicizing what First Editing did to my manuscript, mostly because I think it would be easier to not worry about this, plus this is a scifi/fantasy novel, but the idea of trying to go back and undo it in both the eBooks and then re-uploading yet another print file is too daunting. I've made two updates to the eBooks already, one for punctuation and another to keep consistent with design editing for the print edition––updating the eBooks is quite a hassle. And every time I make a change to the print file I have to go through the entire approval process again. Besides, the terms that are currently italicized are kind of the important ones for a reader to get familiar with since they are part of the Kai language and are things that the reader needs to know. So, I think the way I have it now is good for the paperback edition.

However, considering the many strong opinions editors and publishers in the professional world have about things like this: I apologize to anyone who might scrutinize this and call it an amateur decision. I'm an indie author...I do what I want.

To my readers: I have considered sharing my Kai Language Decoder as I believe it might be a fun and helpful tool for those who are reading Silver Awakening. The only thing stopping me is that it would be kind of a spoiler if I shared it since it contains some of my thoughts and plans for possible subsequent stories. I'm debating this...hmmm....any thoughts?



–JNP





P.S. Here's a glimpse of my Kai Language Decoder and some terms that will be part of the Kai canon that I'd like the reader to get acquainted with:

Update: Silver Awakening eBooks and Paperback Editions

FYI

eBook updates...

I've proofed the interior for the paperback. In the process I made some decisions:

1. Added and deleted words for the sake of the design (spacing issue). 
2. Changed some internal dialogue to spoken dialogue in Chapter 8. 
3. Chapter 32, most significant updates:
1. Revised a sentence about time relativity between Earth and Venus based on new sources. (I had used a source from years ago that I'm questioning now, so I revised based on another source. I figured it is best to update now before it goes to print.)
2. Revised a sentence about zirkite to address a fact I didn't know until now...it is an Earth term...it is a nickname for a process applied to zirconium...so I had to clarify that the element is different in the story than Earth's nickname for the certain type of zirconium.

These updates have been made to both the Nook and Kindle releases. Please download the update. But remember to note your place as you will lose bookmarks/notes when you get the update. Sorry for any inconvenience. Just trying to be consistent with the print release and keep fellow scifi geeks from going crazy about it.


JNP



Instructions for turning on Automatic Book Updates on your Kindle:

1) Log into Amazon and in “Your Account” drop down go to "Manage Your Content and Devices”.

2) Click the “Settings” tab.

3) Scroll down to “Automatic Book Update”. Change button to “ON”. Make sure your devices and reading Apps have “Annotation Back Up” setting turned on.

Silver Awakening Print Edition - Digitally Proofing

Update on Print Edition of Silver Awakening:

I just submitted my revised interior and cover for approval. Once approved I can digitally proof and then if that all looks good I can order a paperback proof...and if THAT all looks good I can release the print edition! Fingers crossed because I've been having a heck of a time with colors not printing well and fonts doing weird things...I'm hoping this is fixed now.

Thanks to all of YOUR feedback, I'm going with the Matte finish on the cover. The saturation will be affected as you can see in the screenshots I've uploaded...Do you see how the blacks are faded in the proof mode screenshot compared to the original full-color digital shot? But in the glossy finish proof I received the saturation had remained intact. However, that soft matte finish does feel quite nice, so I agree with you all that it is worth losing a little bit of poppy saturation in exchange for comfy handling.

Thanks, everyone! I'll continue to keep you posted on the print edition progress and my indie author journey.  ;-)


–JNP

Minor Optional Update Available on Silver Awakening eBooks

FYI: If you've purchased the Silver Awakening eBook from Nook or Kindle I have updated some wording to preferred punctuation and spelling per my paperback proofreader's notes. You can obtain the update to your Kindle by going to the "Manage Your Kindle" page. If you obtain the update it will erase any personal notes or bookmarks, though, so you decide if it's worth getting the update. (It is mostly deleting or adding hyphens based on MW or CMS, nothing significant. And on the Copyright Page a credit was changed from "Design Editing" to Design Consulting" per request.) Hope this hasn't inconvenienced anyone. Thanks for buying!

P.S. Paperback is almost finished undergoing final edits. Its release is around the corner!

–JNP

Silver Awakening eBook ON SALE now!

Don't miss out! Buy Silver Awakening now while it is marked down from it's original eBook price of $7.99 to only $3.99... Go to the Amazon Kindle Store.

Silver Awakening eBook Published and Awaiting ON SALE Status

For you EST and CST peeps...eBooks are under review now...should be on sale on Kindle in 12 hours. And I'm not sure how long it will take on Nook, but they say it can be up to 72 hours although I hear it doesn't usually take that long...I guess we shall see. So, just check the Kindle and Nook stores tomorrow. Search the title Silver Awakening, or search my author name, Jessica Prado. As soon as I see them on sale I will post the links for you. FYI: I'm launching them at a discounted price of $3.99 (MSRP $7.99).

Silver Awakening eBook Release Countdown

Hey, all!

Please join me tonight as I countdown to midnight-ish and launch my debut novel, Silver Awakening, on Kindle and Nook.

If you're not a night owl, no worries, just check out the Kindle and Nook Stores in the morning.


FYI's:

• Right now, I'm looking into the possibility of expanding distribution to iBooks and Kobo. I might be able to do iBooks pretty quickly since I have an account set up for it already, but those platforms are still to be determined. (I'm trying not to overwhelm myself with too much to manage. Every platform has its own contract and process. It's a lot!) If you have a platform you prefer, please let me know!
• The print edition is undergoing design editing at this time. And then it will go to another print proof to verify that printing issues are resolved. I'll keep you posted on its status and announce a release date as soon as I know it.

I hope you'll purchase a copy tonight and then submit reviews ASAP. If you're on Goodreads, please post a review there too.

Thanks, Friends!



Love,

JNP

Update on Silver Awakening Print Release

This ‪#‎indieauthor‬ experience is challenging. ‪#‎Design‬ ‪#‎editing‬ is underway. I need to settle once and for all the glossy vs. matte debate. So far I've had the most votes for matte because it "feels more expensive...higher quality." The photographer in me prefers glossy blacks, though...Tell me, how do you vote? Touch or sight? Soft matte or glossy black?

Also, trying to tackle all of the "widows and orphans," polishing up chapter headers with a custom font, changing fonts that aren't working, addressing spacing, and most importantly getting this weird ‪#‎CreateSpace‬ printing issue resolved. Two print proofs with the same issue owed to what they claim is a lack of font outlining. Who knew all this stuff would take so long and be so hard?!

Special thanks are owed to my designer friend Erin for volunteering her expert insight and providing editing direction. (Thanks for being a supporter of Indies, Erin!)

This sets back the timeline for releasing the paperback. But I hope you will all hang in here with me and continue looking forward to the print edition release which is TBD.

Don't forget the ‪#‎ebook‬ for ‪#‎SilverAwakening‬ is complete and will release on ‪#‎Kindle‬ and ‪#‎Nook‬ Sept. 10th.

FYI After consulting with some marketing professionals the MSRP might be going up on ebook and print, but I'll run some promos to bring it back down. (I made last minute revisions to the acknowledgments and credits last night...had to add some deserving close peeps I missed...but the ebook is ready for release.)

Thanks, friends!

-JNP

‪#‎books‬ ‪#‎debut‬ ‪#‎author‬ ‪#‎novel‬ ‪#‎paranormal‬ ‪#‎fantasy‬ ‪#‎romance‬ ‪#‎scifi‬

Print Proof Number Two On Its Way

I lied. I guess I'm more indecisive than I realized. The great debate between matte and glossary finish seems open-ended.

I brought my matte finish print proof to work on Wednesday. A lot of people liked the matte, how it felt so "soft" and "powdery." Others thought, same as me, that it might be better in glossy.

"I think glossy would make the blacks deeper and the whites pop more," I said. "And maybe boost the saturation on the blues...I want it to be truer to the digital file." So goes the debate.

There was a lady who suggested embossing the letters on the cover. I had thought the exact same thing when I laid eyes on my first print proof. Unfortunately, this cool effect is not an option with cheap on-demand printing. Honestly, the quality of the print proof was mediocre. I wish I could afford a boutique printer or an overseas mass production run that I could import.

I noticed a crooked margin, which tells me that the pages are not cut straight. It wasn't even me that noticed. One of my colleagues spotted it. I hope it's not like this in production. This bothers me and I think I need to take it up with the printer...

Another thing that I noticed when I was digital proofing was the way the typesetting in a couple places contained only part of one line or one word carried over to a page by itself (end of a chapter). I had debated fixing this, but I wasn't sure it was worth bothering the formatter again over it. Although, in the end I think my critics know best. There was only one person out of about 30 people who scanned the print proof who wasn't bothered by a "widow." Everyone else expressed very strong feelings about the annoyance of lone lines and widowed words. So, I did contact the formatter for a revision on the typesetting...and I did feel like a nuisance. But from what I've digitally proofed, it was the right move. It looks much cleaner...

So, here I am, ordering print proof number two. I paid for expedited shipping because I want to release Silver Awakening, both the e-book and the paperback, on September 10th. Originally I had wanted to release at the end of August, but I ran into so many technical issues, and then of course the design process took much longer than I had anticipated. But I think it is better to delay and feel like I have a product that I'm confident in rather than hurry to meet a self-imposed deadline. Well, sort of self-imposed...I have plans to hold a book signing while in California, where I'll be heading to attend a big family/friends event in mid-September, which is why I made the Drop-dead deadline  September 10th. I don't want to miss an opportunity to help spark any potential word of mouth buzz. I mean, I'm an indie author who no one knows or cares about, right? Don't I need all the help I can get?

This has been a long and slightly difficult process. I think as I write my next novel (I'm working on Sins, Hims, and Whims of a Single Mother, but I also just started compiling all my notes for a Silver Awakening sequel, so we'll see which one I finish first.) I need to keep in mind the struggles. During this process I figured out how to make slight revisions to my e-book and I realized that while it is time-consuming, with my art education and background, it wasn't as impossible as I thought it might be. I'd like to try it myself next time...at least for my little Sins, Hims, and Whims novella. Also, I might either lay it out in In-design myself or hire one of my many friends who are designers--even if they are busy and I have to wait awhile. I learned that it is easiest working with friends who are invested in YOU...a lot less back and forth, a lot less feeling guilty for asking to change something you're not totally satisfied with, no debate about obtaining original files--originals offered up stress and worry free. The people who know you and love you just tend to appreciate you more as a person instead of treating you like a nuisance.

Nevertheless, this being said, I also feel the need to brace myself. One thing I'm certain of is that those who love you and support you are typically not as hard on you and your work as faceless strangers and armchair bloggers. This is why I've felt the need to make my very first self-published novel the best it can be.

This journey began in 2008. It's finally coming into fruition. To be determined...




- JNP

Silver Awakening Print Proof

9/30/15 Update to this Post: I actually DID CHANGE MY MIND about this after I saw all the widows and orphans in the original interior layout as well as a horrible printing issue where the letter D would print as a big dot (CreateSpace issue not a formatting issue). Eventually, I was able to regain control of the working interior file...I'm grateful to my formatter for being willing to release the file to me so that I could get the printing issues and layout troubles fixed. She was super sweet to work with me and another designer as a team, so that I could get to a more polished and professional look without increasing my budget. (My formatter didn't charge much at all. She basically laid it all out the way I had instructed but then wasn't able to clean up widows and orphans or headers without going over the allotted design hours, so we had to improvise.) Once I had the working file, I then coordinated with another designer who has a lot of experience with book interiors (she's designed for larger publishers than lil old me). She offered consulting services that I so appreciate. Both designers have received credit in my book for their work. (Please note: I did the interior design editing/revisions myself, though, so if anyone takes issue with it this is all on me!...I feel good about it, though. Really good. I have a BFA from USU and as part of my art program I had design training...introductory but sufficient...thank goodness for it too. It came in handy.) Aside from the interior, the cover looks even more awesome now that colors are printing as intended. See snapshots of the new, and hopefully, final print proof here.

Original Post:

I received the print proof of my debut novel, Silver Awakening! This is so exciting! I love it. 

I've debated over page inserts...not sure it matters anymore… I think saving trees and money was the best choice.

I've changed my mind a million times about the cover, whether glossy or matte finish...I like the matte finish. It looks very mature.

So, here is a sneak peek of my book, which if after I read through it and proof this hardcopy it's deemed good to go, then I plan to release it on September 3rd. It'll be releasing on Amazon, Kindle, and Nook. FYI The e-books will not have the graphics or same pretty interior that the print edition has.

Stay tuned for more updates.

- JNP

Oops. My bad... Thanks lil bro!

I'm currently experiencing that dreadful nightmare of a moment when I'm past the point of no return, but I really want to turn around and go back and redo something...

I should've SPECIFICALLY named my brother AARON MICHAEL PRADO in my acknowledgments. I did thank my family and friends generally, but I completely forgot about a special contribution that he made to my book. So, I gave him an Instagram shout out tonight...

...I know it's not the same, but I hope you'll forgive me. I love you little brother.

Glossy or Matte: The great debate.

I was having trouble deciding if I want a glossy cover or a matte cover on my soon-to-be-released novel, Silver Awakening. I hold a BFA with a photography emphasis, and when it comes to photo prints I know that I prefer the mature look of a lustre finish, which is semi gloss, a balance between matte and glossy. Then, as I looked at some of my favorite book covers, I noticed they were all matte finishes. So, I ordered my print proof in matte. I'm second guessing myself tonight though, which is normal for me. I keep thinking, "Wouldn't glossy make the title pop off the image and enhance the glow effect more than matte?" 

I have debated a million times over the details of this book, like page inserts for example. "Do I add page inserts to make the chapters always start on the right side, or not? Don't I want to separate the copyright page from the dedication?" Page inserts drive up the cost though, which I think is already pretty high. I had to price my book a few dollars higher than I had intended just so I could maintain a decent profit margin across the various distribution channels. I guess it's kind of a long book compared to some others in the fantasy/paranormal category, but it doesn't seem that long reading it. It's not like Game of Thrones or the last four Harry Potters in length. Mine's only 328 pages total. My husband says I'm stressing about details that nine out of ten people would never even consider. "Okay. Fine. I'm obsessing. It's my baby. What can I say?"

In the end, frugality wins over most of my preferences, and I hope it's not a noticeable loss. But the pagination of the interior is all me, exactly how I envisioned, precisely as I had asked for from my formatter...which wasn't a cinch to get to, but it got there. I asked for drop cap. I got drop cap. I asked for the moon graphic on the chapter headers with the chapter number and title centered on it. That's what I got. It's beautiful, how I imagined it could be. Besides, if I wanted to change it now to add additional inserts, my formatter would have to go back and renumber pages, which at this point would be another additional cost to me. So, my penny-pinching self is settled on the interior. Now, if I could just come to terms with the cover...Matte?...Glossy?...Matte?...

I'm excited to see the print proof though! Looky...it's on it's way!!



JNP

First Indie Book Submitted

Final full cover is finished...My first indie novel, Silver Awakening, is submitted! Waiting on approval to proceed to print proof. So exciting!

Special thanks to Erin Hiatt for being exceptionally professional and making me feel so at ease...and especially for her streamline service! It's a beautiful cover, Erin! You are a pleasure to work with and I hope we can do it again sometime. Thank you!!

Getting closer to launching. Still hoping to hit a month end release, but if it moves into September, please know it is because I'm striving for perfection within my resources. Hope you'll all pick up a copy when available. Stay tuned.

Stage Proof of Silver Awakening Full Cover

Got a stage proof of full cover/spine. So close! Adding notes. Thinking should include author photo/blurb...will sleep on it. Opinions?

#firsttime #author #debutauthor #books #novel #fantasy #paranormal #indieauthor #SilverAwakening

August 5th 1989

August 5th, 1989 was a tragic day for me and my family. That morning I was driving a WaveRunner on the Colorado River in Laughlin, Nevada and a guy who was pulling a waterskier in his blue boat crashed into me. Apparently he was watching the waterskier instead of looking ahead. It was an accident, but it changed my life. 

I suffered two broken jaws that took many years and a lot of reconstructive surgeries to repair. I have a scar on my face that reminds me of how hard that whole experience was every time I look in the mirror. I took a hit, not just physically but also emotionally. My self-esteem suffered the most. I look back on that time, reading through the pages of my journals, pondering on my feelings about myself in those days, and I see how my scar was an outward reflection of an inward mark on my heart.

I worried a lot more than I should have about what people--the wrong people--thought of me. I recall children making fun of me in elementary school, and later in junior high, trying harder than ever to fit in. It was really stressful. Kids are kind of mean. 

By the time I was in high school, which is where I met my daughter's dad, I was aching for love and affection and because of that ache I dated a guy I knew I shouldn't--tried to break up with him a couple of times but I was too insecure. I believed him when he'd say that no one would love me like he did. I learned a valuable lesson: Never marry your high school sweetheart. In hindsight, high school sweethearts are not that sweet. And I'm glad no one loves me the way my ex-husband did...his kind of love was creepy and controlling...definitely not edifying or uplifting.

Anyway, my point in bringing all of this up is that August 5th came and went again. This year, as the sun was barely rising in the early morning hours way before it was time for me to wake up to my alarm clock, I couldn't help but think of how different my life is now. I'm thankful that my insecurities--those nasty stings that hurt, those chains that kept me bound for a couple of decades, those stumbling blocks that made the road so treacherous--are in many ways behind me now.

I think those insecurities, a lot of which resulted from my tragedy in 1989, paved the way to my single motherhood experience, and even made that experience last a lot longer than it probably could have. But I'm grateful for my trials. I see how they led me to a better place, to a good man. This poem came to my mind as my heart flooded with gratitude the other day. So, I jotted down the words...tapped my fingers so that they wouldn't escape me. Life is sweet.

Random silly single mom dedication

LOL! This song is dedicated to all single mothers...

http://youtu.be/L1zNwMrtWtA

😉  JNP

Catchphrase

Now that I've got my Author Page set up and linked to my Blog I need your help....


I feel like I need to add a catchphrase to put above the synopsis on my author page for Silver Awakening...possibly for the back of the book and Amazon too. This is extremely difficult for me! 

I've tried to focus on the main predicament for my protagonist. Here are the catchphrases I've come up with. Will you please provide feedback on which one "catches" your attention the most?


#1 - When you're the child of a prophecy is your fate optional or irrevocable?

#2 - Her future is literally set in stone...Can she change it?

#3 - Anything she can think she can also do, but can she change her destiny?


Which one should go on my author page with the synopsis? 1, 2, 3, or None (they all suck)?


Visit authorjessicaprado.com to see what I mean...




Thx,

JNP

AUTHOR PAGE

I've finally created an Author Page that focuses on providing information about my books! 

Silver Awakening, which is about to release this August and Sins, Hims, and Whims of a Single Mother, which I'm currently writing, are the only two novels mentioned thus far. But if all goes according to plan, I'd like to begin a sequel to Silver Awakening (only exists in outline form at this point), and I have lots of ideas bouncing around in my head that I'd love to commit to paper...or cyberspace, whichever.

Visit authorjessicaprado.com to learn more about my books. 

Your feedback is welcome. 

Thanks!



JNP

Silver Awakening Book Cover!

Check out this awesome book cover that Erin Hiatt did for me! 

I'm hoping to release my debut novel, Silver Awakening, this August. 

Please pick up a copy and review it for me. 


Thanks,

JNP

Mother's Day 2015

My Mother's Day in a nutshell.

Happy Mother's Day, Moms!

Love,

JNP

Motivated Mom / Author

I began a journey nearly eight years ago when an idea came to me. I had a vision of a girl in a long black gown running through cold dark woods. I wondered why she was running or who she was running from. I jotted down a few ideas and then got busy with my 18 credit hours of classes at USU.

Over the next five years, I jotted down a few more ideas and even wrote a couple of scenes. They didn't seem right, so I left it alone again. In 2011, I was up late one night--something a single mother is prone to do--watching television. I was watching The X-files on Hulu Plus. LOL! I love that show. It's quite inspirational apparently because as I watched Skully disprove yet another of Mulder's theories I wondered...suddenly I knew exactly why the girl in the black gown was running and who she was running from.

I paused my show and ran to my computer and began typing. I typed all night and well into the morning (my Blu-ray had long since shut itself off). I typed all weekend and only stopped to attend my Sunday services. I typed all night again and went into work feeling rather exhausted. Shortly thereafter, I was laid off from my job as a photo editor. I was scared for sure. A single mother with bills to pay and no job...yeah... But if there's one thing I've learned in life it is in Whom I put my trust, and there was nothing worth worrying about because I knew my needs would be met, and they were.

All day I'd search for employment until the late afternoon when my daughter would be home from school. All night I would write. I embarked on what I call my "Secret Readers Club" and received great feedback from friends who seemed to love my characters as much as I do. 

Here I am, three years later having a book cover designed by my super sweet friend and former colleague, Erin Hiatt while trying to secure a formatting specialist. And thanks to the highly motivating support of another dear friend and colleague whose name I'll not reveal here, today I submitted my manuscript to a professional editing service that I hope will help me achieve the error-free work a perfectionist like me much prefers.

I admit I'm new to the world of self-publishing, but we all have to start somewhere in order to realize our dreams. A talented author friend who my cousin Sara introduced me to has been so kind as to take a few moments out of her--what I'm sure are busy days for a working mother--to offer me advice as she has already been down this road. Thank you, Amy Harmon, for your guidance.

Today I feel grateful for wonderful friends and a loving family. My heart overflows...and my eyes are about to.

Thinking of Mother's Day, which is tomorrow, I want to dedicate this blog post to all the single mothers whose hearts are heavy laden and whose dreams are stuck in their heads, buried beneath the realities of their current situation. You ladies are important, and so are your dreams. I truly believe that where there is a will there is also a way. I know it sounds cliche, but I don't care what anyone says: truth is the truth. So, go out there and find that way! And Happy Mother's day, single lady moms!! I know the Lord of us all is watching over you and your little ones.

Sincerely,

Jessica Nichole Prado

Getting Closer

Three years ago I completed my first full-length manuscript. Today I submitted it for a final copy edit. This feels more real than ever. Wow! I'm looking forward to seeing my work of eight years in print. 

Initially, I thought I might put this project on hold and publish Sins, Hims, and Whims of a Single Mother first, but I'm finding it difficult to focus on Cena's story until I complete Silver's story--Silver Sanz is the name of my protagonist in my completed manuscript titled, Silver Awakening. 

Anyway, I know this a little backward from what I had said the last time I posted, but that's just me; I change my mind all the time and I tend to let my feelings lead me. I feel like the right thing for me to do is to finish Silver's story, get it printed, and maybe then I can conclude Cena's story.

Stay tuned for more updates to come.




P.S. My married name is Shipp.
P.P.S. Isn't my husband so cute? There is still hope, single mothers. I promise. 



;-)  JNP

Blog Revisions and New Endeavors

Some of you know that a few years ago I completed my first full-length novel. I've spent the past few years line reviewing and copy editing. It's been a difficult project, the bulk of which I completed as a single mother. I'm embarking on the book cover and layout stages now.

All the while I've been researching and comparing the self-publishing route verses the traditional. I can't say I'm a fan of the traditional method so far, especially since I work so much. I'm truly exhausted at the end of each day. Writing query letters and researching literary agents is not fun and it takes a lot of time away from my family, which I view as a major negative. So, I'm going to gamble on myself.

I think I'd regret it if I didn't at least see my work either in print or digital format. A project that I worked so hard on for so many years, during some of my most difficult trials as a single mother...I have to do this...I have to publish my work somehow, some way. If not, I fear I'll be eternally disappointed with myself.

I need to test the waters and learn the process of self-publishing. I need something to set sail with though. So, I've removed all my posts of Sins, Hims, and Whims of a Single Mother, my chick-lit novel.

I'll still continue to post my real life sins, hims, and whims stories, but as for my novel...if you want to re-read the early parts I had previously posted or if you want to see how things end up for Cena, then you'll have to stay tuned because I'm planning to self-publish Sins, Hims, and Whims of a Single Mother as a way for me to learn the ropes. I figure I ought to practice first with a shorter length novel that fits into a smaller niche, and #SHWSM is precisely that. Plus, it's a work of mine that I'm not afraid to make mistakes with. So, I'm now in the process of wrapping things up for Cena and her single mother clan. I just won't be doing it online like I had originally intended. Sorry.

When the time is right--when I'm finished with the conclusion of Cena's story--I'll be sure to make an announcement here on my blog so that you'll know where you can go to obtain a copy of Sins, Hims, and Whims of a Single Mother. I hope the few of you who've already enjoyed #SHWSM will support me when my lil baby chick-lit novel debuts out in the real world. Thanks for reading!




Love,

JNP

Super-wo-man

Took one of those quizzes you often see getting shared around Facebook.

Quiz: Which member of the #JusticeLeague

Results: #Superman

Correction: Super-wo-man

Aren't all single moms past, present, and future too much Superman--playing a dual role, filling two pairs of shoes, leading a household, bringing home the bacon and frying it up--to be a Supergirl? I know I am. The single mother days are behind me now, but they made me super strong.

The quiz results had me laughing at how precisely I'm described. I'm certain I "seem boring and uptight" to some people.

I suppose only my real friends know how I "value hard work" and want "to make the world a better, safer place".

And it's true that I sometimes feel as if I'm "sacrificing (my) personal needs and wants". I'm sure ALL single mothers and even mothers, in general, feel that way.

Single mothers...mothers...you are all SUPER!

#Instagrammetry #selfportrait #MyInstaLife in #snapshots

Love,

JNP