Friday, May 28, 2021

BOOK: Cover Story - Blue Lake, A Time After Time Novel, by Carol Ann Kauffman


 


Dear Gentle Readers,

This is the cover of the first book I ever published, Blue Lake. It was published on January 12, 2012. It is the first book in the Time After Time series. Although it was my first book, this is not the original cover. This beautiful cover was designed by the talented Suzi Albracht of Wickedly Awesome Designs. Suzi also designed the covers for Belterra, Red Sarah, and The Captain and the Ambassador.  


This baby has had more facelifts than I care to think about. Ebooks were different way back then, and covers were simple and often plain. This is the first cover.  

 



Yeah, yeah, I know. A big,  blurry mess. But I was partial to this one because of the location. I took this photo of the serene and beautiful Lake Maggiore with a small, inexpensive digital camera while in a boat on the lake near the town of Stresa in the northern lake region. The blue water changes shade with the time of day and weather condition, anywhere from a deep cobalt blue to powder blue ripples. 


As ebook covers got a more sophisticated, Blue Lake needed a facelift. Another trip to Italy was out of the question. So after scouting locations, I found this spot on Girard Lake in Trumbull County, Ohio. 


This lovely spot was mere feet away from the road with no easy pull-off area around. To get a decent photo, I needed to get off the road and into the wet, boggy edge of the lake. With newer digital camera, I took as many views and angles as I could. I submitted the photos to a cover designer.



This cover looked better big, but the thumbnail was not clear enough to show the title, subtitle, and author name. Sales dropped significantly for this romantic action adventure story. I decided to try again. Same photos. New cover designer.  






I liked the title. I liked the photo of the lake. But all other pertinent information was either unreadable or missing. However, sales picked up again, so I let it ride. 


A few years later, it was time to reformat the inside of Blue Lake to update little things, like the elimination of the double space at the end of each sentence, and a few other minor issues. What better time to update the cover? 


This cover artist, CER Designs, used my photos but breathed new life into them. This was a customer favorite for many years.













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Thursday, May 27, 2021

ENTERTAINMENT: I Am Mother (Netflix)













References:

Netflix

Thrillist

Wikipedia







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Wednesday, May 26, 2021

INTERVIEW: Romantic Suspense Author Angel Sefer


Angel Sefer
Athens, Greece  


Good morning, Angel, and welcome to Vision and Verse, the site for Art and Authors and those who love them. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

I was born in Athens, Greece, and have studied and worked on both 

sides of the Atlantic. I hold a degree in Economics and divide my time between the corporate world and my real passion: writing mystery, thriller, and suspense romances where passion flares and danger lurks around every corner.

 

I live in Athens, Greece, with the two loves of my life—my little boy and my husband—and I’m a member of several writers groups.

 

The Greek Islands—alluring destinations that cast a spell on the visitor from the very first moment—are among my favorite settings. I have written a series of standalone mystery romance novels—The Greek Isles Series—each taking place on a different island.

 

In this series, dark mysteries mingle with sizzling romances, while the exquisite beauty of the enchanting Greek Islands will steal the reader’s heart away.

 

I have also written a collection of novellas full of passion, danger, and intrigue—The Alluring Love Collection.

 

Fascinated by the concepts of soul mates and reincarnation—the eternal cycles of the soul between this world and the Other Side—I have started a new paranormal romance collection, cloaked in mystery and suspense—The Flames of Destiny Collection.

 

Website: www.angelsefer.com

Blog: www.angelsefer.blogspot.com

Amazon Author’s Page: viewAuthor.at/AngelSefer

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Angel-Sefer-462538183807771/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AngelSefer

LinkedIn: http://bit.ly/1UQqdPx

Goodreads Profile: http://bit.ly/15ePyoE

Bookbub Profile: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/angel-sefer

E-mail: angelsefer@angelsefer.com





 

Okay, now let's get to know you: Favorite food.

My favorite food is traditional Greek cuisine and country cooking that I enjoyed while living in Atlanta, Georgia.

 

Tea or coffee?

I like both.

 

Pizza or ice cream?

Again, the answer is both.

 

Wine or beer?

I prefer wine.

 

Where would you like to visit?

I love the Greek Islands and enjoy visiting a different one every summer. But I also love Georgia, Florida, and the Carolinas. 

 

Favorite musical artist.  

I enjoy several different kinds of music, depending on my mood.

 

Do you listen to music when you write?

No, I don’t. When I write, I prefer complete silence.

 

 

What makes you laugh?

Children, puppies, and funny escapades.

 

 

Favorite work of art or sculpture.

I love nature paintings, ancient Greek art, and classical Greek architecture.

 

How old were you when you started writing?

I’ve been writing since a very young age. I was around thirteen years old when I wrote my first children’s story. At the same time, I devoured every single mystery or romance book I could get my hands on.

 

Favorite author.

My favorite author is Agatha Christie.

 


Do you plan out your book with outlines and notecards? Or just write?

The main idea develops in my head while sitting on the beach or hiking in the mountains. Sometimes, stories pop in my mind while sleeping. Then, I start writing, listening to an inner voice…

 

Describe your perfect evening.

During wintertime, I love quiet evenings with my loved ones, sitting by the fireplace. Summertime, I love sitting on the beach, enjoying the sunset.

 

Where do you get your inspiration?

I get inspiration from nature or observing people while on vacation.

 

What do you do when you get a writer's block?

So far, I haven’t experienced writer’s block. But if I ever do, I believe that everything happens for a reason. When the time is right, the inspiration will come back.

 


 

What would you do for a living if you weren’t a writer?

I hold a degree in Economics and have post-graduate studies and certifications in Internal Audit, Risk Management, and Insurance. During the last two decades, I’ve worked as an Internal Audit Manager and a Risk Manager in several Insurance Corporations.

 

Who is the one person who has influenced your personal life the most and why?

My parents, for their love, courage, determination, and support.


Tell us a little about your latest release. 

My latest release is Eternal Soul Mates.

 

Here is the blurb:

 

In Eternal Soul Mates, the past merges with the present in a haunting and captivating story of love, loss, and betrayal.

 

Joanna Williams is bewildered by her mother’s mysterious past and scorching dreams of an irresistible stranger. Trying to find some answers, she visits her mother’s birthplace—the Greek Island of Zakynthos.

 

Alexandros Kortesis—the owner of a luxury resort on Zakynthos—is drawn to Joanna like no other. But a dark secret threatens his family’s legacy, and unfortunately, Joanna is the one trying to uncover it.

 

Danger and passion collide as the two soul mates—unaware that they were lovers in a past life—confront each other while at the same time try to resist the compelling force that draws them together. Will their eternal love prevail? Or will the battle against the evil guarding the secret lead them to their graves?

 

Eternal Soul Mates is a reincarnation romance story, cloaked in mystery and suspense. The action unfolds on the Greek Island of Zakynthos—a paradise on earth, in the aquamarine waters of the Ionian Sea.

 

The novel is available as eBook and paperback on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple, Kobo, and other fine booksellers everywhere:

https://www.books2read.com/











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Tuesday, May 25, 2021

BOOK REVIEW: Ice and Secrets by Cherime MacFarlane









A melting glacier, a wild river, gold, and a killer on the prowl… again.


Lying on the tundra, the churning blades of the helicopter above her, Lane can’t believe her best friend wants her dead. She planned to share the gold. They think they have the proper coordinates… they don’t. She’s injured but not bleeding. Blood would bring bears. When she tries to rise and walk out, the wolves gallop toward her. No one is getting the gold. 



Micha saw them push the woman from the hovering chopper. Out hunting with his wolf-hybrids, this is an unexpected complication in his life. He stays as far from civilization as he can get. His dogs are illegal. If caught, the state will euthanize the dogs and he’ll be in trouble. Still, he can’t leave her here for bear bait.


This is not the first book I've read by this fantastic Alaskan author, 

nor will it be my last. MacFarlane has a way of pulling the reader right 

into the middle of the story, allowing one to experiencing all the danger and delight in her beautifully told Alaskan adventures.  
 

Amazon Buy Link:










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Sunday, May 23, 2021

SCHEDULE: May 24 - 28, 2021


 

Mon., May 24 - ART:

French Art Glass Master

Renè Lalique

Tues., May 25 - BOOK REVIEW:

Ice and Secrets

by Cherime MacFarlane

Wed., May 26 - INTERVIEW:

Romantic Suspense Author

Angel Sefer

Thurs., May 27 - ENTERTAINMENT:

I Am Mother

(Netflix)

Fri., May 28 - BOOK:

A Cover Story 

Blue Lake

A Time After Time Novel

by Carol Ann Kauffman








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Note:

Vision and Verse does not store any personal information like email addresses, home addresses, etc. We do not give any information to third parties. And cookies? We eat cookies.