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