I realize I haven’t done any writing posts in a while. It’s because I’ve been swamped with editing. I’ve spent almost all of May editing. Just when I think it’s ready and send the manuscript out to my fellow author friends, I get more feedback and it feels incomplete. Also, the first two quarters of the year didn’t go as planned. Never Forget and Bowled are the only books that got released and so I have a backlog of books that will likely be pushed into next year. In Other Words, is the first in the Boothbay Harbor series.

In Other Words

My book cover designer Najla Qamber from Bahrain has done such a fantastic job on this one. She also designed by Wish Upon A Bollywood Star cover. Set in Maine, this book is a contemporary, sweet romance.

Trish Holt is a pianist, living in picturesque Boothbay Harbor, Maine. She is stunned and blindsided by the most bitter kind of betrayal: her boyfriend of three years has left her. His new lover is her manager. Her bitterness is compounded by the fact that Trish has made bad choices when it comes to past relationships. Much of it stemming from her own issues as an adopted child from Korea.

When she moves out to a new home, she encounters Michael Quentin. Not only is he her neighbor but also a local chef on the island, who romances her and helps her get over the betrayal.  As Michael and Trish fall in love, their childhood issues resurface. Can Trish stop herself from loving Michael whose own family’s dark past is holding him back? Can she ignore his love for tradition and roots? All she knows is she will not chase him. She’ll take what he’ll give her and then walk away.

Questions about loving someone with no roots, the need for a family, mistakes in choosing lovers and new beginnings are explored as Trish learns that even broken people can be mended. 

Parts of the Cover

I was an absolute nightmare to work with on the cover. I’m not sure why but I was consumed with how we’d position this in the market. Similar books of my genre had a theme. This was a series so we had to look at the cover potential on a long term basis, instead of a one-time event. Finding the right house, the right background, the trees, etc. Every element on the cover has been put together piece by piece. 😵

My Starting Over books features couples on the cover and my paranormal romance focuses on the female protagonist. STARTING had never been planned as a series so I’d never envisioned a series cover. Starting Over is FREE ON MOST websites.

In Other Words had to be different. I wanted to convey the homeyness and family dynamic. So we settled on the home. But what kind of home and where?

Since it’s Maine and Trish lives on a home by the river we went with a Maine style home and the riverfront. The musical notes up top are all because she’s a pianist and it features heavily in the story.

Even though, this is a series. I doubt I’ll write more than one book a year, given all the series and single books I’m currently contracted to write. Najla played around with the sky and the colors. There was sky blue, rust red and this one. I finally went with this.

Release Month

October! Fingers crossed, everything will be done and ready by October. I’m hoping we release then. I’m releasing the cover super early just so that readers know there’s a romance coming this fall! Sign up for my newsletter if you’re keen on getting your hands on a free copy!

I’m so grateful to Najla for putting up with me on this book cover. I was a hot mess and frazzled while we worked together. Despite everything she was patient and willing to consider my suggestions. THANK YOU NAJLA!

I can’t wait for the book release. What do you think about the cover? Based on the cover alone, would you consider reading IN OTHER WORDS?