Monday, January 7, 2013

In Praise of Beta Readers


Know what makes us better? FEEDBACK.

I've had and am getting some great help lately and I just want to express THANKS to some fabulous friends. They happen to all be women at the moment, but it can come from all kinds of people.

THANK YOU, Stacy and Leigh for developmental feedback on MEDIUM WRONG. It is about 40% through what will be final revisions for the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest which opens January 14, and I KNOW will be better for the help.

THANK YOU Helena, for beta reading the excerpt with a microscope! The contest is such that the pitch is read first, then the excerpt, then the whole book, so that excerpt really needs to be highly polished. I trust the STORY when someone is reading the whole book, but if they only get three chapters, then any mistakes will hit harder.

THANK YOU Erica and Johanna for feedback on my STUPID BLOODY SYNOPSIS for KAHLOTUS DISPOSAL SITE. I am querying and some agents want a synopsis... and synopses are HARD to write!

SO THANK YOU!!! (if you have time, you should go visit them all, they are AMAZING!)


And I have a little excitement to share... apparently my next book cover is up! I didn't get the okay to share it, but since Amazon took liberties, I figure I am okay... So here is The Begonia Bribe! To be released May 7, 2013 (one day before Hurray Hurray the 8th of May!)


It has got me guessing what color the third will be... Maybe light blue? I love the begonias inlaid into the yellow here, though. And this version of Elmwood Park in Roanoke is fantastic! If you wanted to go like it on Amazon, that would be really amazing. 

23 comments:

Charmaine Clancy said...

It is a gorgeous cover. Love the marmalade cat :)

Sean McLachlan said...

I'm lucky to have had a couple of good writers groups, one in Tucson and the other in Madrid. I've since moved to northern Spain, but I still can count on some of my fellow writers from them to beta read my stuff, and I return the favor!

S.A. Larsenッ said...

Beta readers are just some of the most amazing people! My writing life wouldn't be the same without them. So happy you've had such good fortune with yours.

Lovely cover!!

Creepy Query Girl said...

Oh very pretty! And yes, I don't know where I'd be without my awesome betas. This last revision I did was especially fruitful thanks to the input and feedback from some awesome people. And congrats on your book making it through the contest!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Congratulations, Hart!! Your second book - that is just awesome.
And critique partners are worth their weight in gold.

LTM said...

Your books have the BEST covers! I love these so much! Makes people want to get the print versions--very smart!

And MEDIUM WRONG is awesome! *hugs* :o) <3

L. Diane Wolfe said...

The cover is just too cute! I love how well they books match.

Connie J Jasperson said...

I love the new cover! It makes me want to sit down and curl up with a Cozy Mystery!

Laura Eno said...

Congrats and that's a great cover! I need to find some beta readers!

T. Powell Coltrin said...

Yes, I saw your cover earlier on FB. It's so pretty.

The book is coming, the book is coming.

T

Johanna Garth said...

Thanks for the love :) And your new cover is awesome!

Carol Kilgore said...

Love the cover. And the cat :)
Congrats!

Hart Johnson said...

Thanks so much gang! And Carol, I fell down on your reveal! It's coming tomorrow!

Sarah Ahiers said...

Love it!! I think i may like this one just a biiiiiit more than the first one. It's hard to judge, though.
And yes! CURSE YOU SYNOPSES!

erica and christy said...

Aww, thanks and I'm glad I could help, even if it was just a little bit.

How beautiful! Very spring like May flowers, good marketing idea. :)
erica

Helena said...

What a gorgeous cover by the "Author of the Azalea Assault" -- how exciting! And I know I'm going to love reading the Medium Wrong chapters.

Nick Wilford said...

I haven't got anything polished enough for betas yet, but my CPs have been a lifesaver. I'm so glad I met them!!

Congrats on the cover - pretty.

Tina said...

GREAT cover. You know that you're ruining my book buying budget with your covers...I have to have them and see them and my kindle is black and white...sigh.
Congrats on such great readers.
Tina @ Life is Good
http://kmdlifeisgood.blogspot.com/

Shaharizan Perez said...

Lovely cover and yes beta readers are awesome!!!! Congrats to all!

Patricia Stoltey said...

I love that cover too. The colors really draw the eye.

I agree that beta readers are worth their weight in gold...and I also have a wonderful critique group to help during the writing journey. These folks are awesome.

~Sia McKye~ said...

Oh how striking the cover is! It's catches the eye.

Beta readers are worth their weight in gold!

Wishing you the best in Breakout!

Hannah said...

I spoke of beta readers today as well!! About how I love beta reading. LOL. Flip sides of an awesome coin.

Misha Gerrick said...

Beaaaaaautiful cover. I adore it.

And yes, Beta readers really do make a huge difference to our writing quality.