Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Pretty in Paperback

I took yet another break from blogging over the summer so I could focus on writing my new novel. Some people can do more than one thing at once. This is called multi-tasking, and I've heard that it's quite useful. Unfortunately, this skill doesn't come naturally to me. I am a one-track kind of woman. Oh, sure, life forces me to at least attempt the octopus approach on a daily basis (I did somehow help to raise four children) but it's never pretty. So if you ever see me with toothpaste on my eyelashes and mascara on my teeth, you'll understand.

And now that the kids are living out in the world and feeding themselves, when I'm deep into my work I become sort of useless. I avoid cooking, cleaning, shopping, and errands. (My husband might divulge that I avoid many of these things even when I'm not in the thick of writing, but this is my blog and I'm not giving him the password. He'd have to start his own blog, and that's not happening. The dear man is too busy shopping and cooking.)

So this summer, while much of the population took to the beach, lost in reading a juicy novel, I was trying my best to write one.

My new novel was relentless. It would not let me go. Every morning as I stretched, sipped my coffee, and pondered the possibility of say, planting flowers or heading out to the beach to enjoy the incredible weather, my novel would say, "Like hell you are. You're staying right here in Alaska, freezing your keester off with Kache and Aunt Snag and Nadia." And I obeyed. A writer never wants to tick off her novel-in-progress.

On particularly hot days, this had its benefits. I remember when it was over 100 degrees and I happened to be writing a snow scene and had actual goosebumps. See? I may not be able to multi-task, but there are times when a focused imagination comes in handy.

While I was trekking through Alaska in my head, the hardworking, multi-tasking folks at Plume transformed The Underside of Joy into this wonderful paperback edition, which hits stores November 27th and is now available for pre-order here.



I am in love with this cover. I love the vertical treatment of the horizontal photograph, the reflection of the sky and the little girl. And I'm extremely grateful for the stamp of approval from the talented Jennifer Weiner.

I may not have spent much time playing on the beach this summer, but whenever I look at this cover, I'm right there...with Annie and Zach and Ella. I missed them while I was gone.

24 comments:

  1. Sere,
    Love your new cover! It is so full of wonder. I also like the name of this blog. Change, change, change, it's always right around the corner. I have a Buddha in my backyard. He's wearing a little plastic Oakland A's cap that once served as a vessel for ice cream at the ball park. It's an homage to my father and the memories we created going to games together. I look forward to peeking in here for your wisdom and wit. I have just finished my first draft of The Grace of Kimchi. I am thrilled to have gotten this far but I do realize the next draft is probably going to be even harder to get through. Sorry to sound so cliche but it is such a labor of love and I am so grateful to have this opportunity to stay home and just write that I am trying to enjoy all of it, even those days when it's tough to get the words on the page.
    Look forward to learning more about Nadia, Kache and Aunt Snag. Even the names are intriguing.
    Cerrissa

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    1. Thanks, Cerrissa! So glad to hear you're making good progress on The Grace of Kimchi. Wait--your Buddha wears an A's cap? Not a Giant's? ;)

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    3. My father took me to lots of games during the A's pennant years of the 70s & 80's and I'm a loyal kind of gal. I'd get myself and the Buddha one of those split A's/Giants caps but out of deference to my hubby (who dislikes indecisiveness yet tolerates all my fence sitting with a smile and a gin martini, double olives) I won't be wearing one anytime soon.

      Sorry to have missed you in Petaluma last night. I would have liked to hear you speak specifically about your publishing journey but Shannon organized a girls trip to hear Barbara Kingsolver at WFC and that's where I was. Please keep posting your appearances on FB so I can catch you next time. I want to get you to sign a copy of your paperback so I can give it to my critique partner as a 40th B-day gift.

      p.s. the deleted comment is from me because I accidentally posted as anonymous, still working on this tech stuff!

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  2. OH MY GOODNESS!!!! November 27!?!? Really? :) Time goes by so fast, and I am so amazed this occasion is about to arrive as it seems like just yesterday the hardcover released and we got to meet in Austin! So proud of you for this and for writing your next book this summer! Can't wait to see you again. The new cover is so beautiful!

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    1. Thank you, Julie. Yes, it's gone by so fast. And before you know it, it will be February and YOUR debut novel, Calling Me Home will be out and I'll be going to YOUR reading! Can't wait.

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  3. (I *will* be breaking my no FB rule for November when this beauty arrives!)

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  4. What a great cover for a great book!

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  5. Oh yes, this cover is the best one. And thanks for the morning laugh. I, too, suck at the octopus thing.

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    1. Thank you, Chelo. Yes, we need 8 arms but sometimes I feel like I have 2 flippers.

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  6. Dear Seré - Plume done good! Or shall I say, It's just Plume beautiful? Seriously, such a joyous cover--for such a beautiful story. :)

    Hope all is going well with your frosty WIP (or however it's evolved since cocooning this summer)! It's good to see you here at WMMB. :)

    Warm hugs,

    Jayne

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    1. Hi Jayne! Thanks so much. It's always good to see you. I might have to steal that Plume beautiful line from you.

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  7. Hi Sere, I'm with you that multi-tasking doesn't come naturally especially if you're a writer trying to finish your second book on deadline. Love the way you describe your new novel as "being relentless."

    Gorgeous paperback cover!

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    1. Thank you, Pennie. Yes, it's nice when a book is relentless, isn't it? Better than when it's lackadaisical!

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  8. Oh how I loved this book! I just finished it but I have to know, is Elbow really Guerneville??????

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    1. How nice of you to stop by, Denise. So happy to hear you enjoyed the book. Thank you. You're close...Elbow is a morphing of Occidental and Villa Grande (which is tucked in next to Monte Rio) and my imagination.

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  9. Hi Seré!
    This is your Swedish translator Gabriella again! :) Beautiful paperback for a beautiful novel! I probably have to buy that one too!

    Yesterday I got my translation back from the editor so now I will try to make it as perfect in Swedish as I can. :) I hope the Swedes will love it just as much as I do, or else they are swedes. (I hope that came out as I intended - as a vegetable joke!!!)

    About multi-tasking ... If living in two different worlds at the same time (reality/novel) isn't multi-tasking, then what is? I hope to one day write my own novel (so far I have 5 chapters) but in the meantime I'm happy to translate such amazing books as yours!

    Lots of love and many hugs from Gabriella

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    1. So great to hear from you, sweet Gabriella! I am definitely using your defense of writers multi-tasking argument. But of course! :) Five chapters is a very good start. Keep going! Can't wait to hold the Swedish edition in my hands. Thank you again for all your hard work. xo

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  10. Hi there,

    I found your book through Amy Sue Nathan's site, Women Fiction Writers, and ordered it right away--I'm a mom and stepmom, and I can't find enough novels where I can relate to both. Your book was fantastic! I stayed up two nights reading it! So I'm thrilled to hear you're working on another one. Can't wait to read it! I wrote a review on Amazon for you. (Holly C)

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  11. Holly, thank you, thank you for your kind and generous feedback--and for posting a review on Amazon. I'm so happy to know that you enjoyed the book. That means a lot to me.

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  12. Sere, I'm in love with the cover on the paperback. Are you writing a second book? The MMBC readers keep asking me when we can talk with you again - you are delightful!

    I'm just finding your blog, have added it to my list :)

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  13. this cover is the best one. And thanks for the morning laugh. I, too, suck at the octopus thing.

    Presswire

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