Rick McGee: writer, illustrator, skunk promoter....

Advance sales have officially started for my poetry chapbook and the front cover image has been loaded on the site!  Here is a direct link to where you can preorder a copy that will ship in February:  https://www.finishinglinepress.com/product_info.php?cPath=4&products_id=1533&osCsid=8470o7bhvcpq0un3mn5vpbhnp5.  The number of preorders directly affects how large the total print run will be.  My goal is to have 105 preorders so the total print run can be 500.  Please spread the word!

www.ramonecologne.co

As I mentioned in my last post, I would like to honor some of the people who have supported me with this project.  First and foremost is my husband, Rick McGee.  For the two of us, it was a case of love at first word and 17 years later, the words are still flowing.  But enough about that....  Rick is a renaissance man who has many talents in addition to writing.  A few of these artistic talents are showcased in a comic book about an orphaned skunk named Ramone Cologne.  I've posted a picture of the front cover of the first issue:  A Skunk's Tale.  So far, two issues have been published and a third is currently in progress.  To find out more or order copies of the books, visit www.ramonecologne.com.

There are so many good things I could say about Rick that it is hard to narrow them down, but one of them is the discipline he shows in his work.  I have watched him spend countless hours drawing, painting, and writing.  He doesn't just talk about all the creative things he wants to do.  He does them!  And often he does so while I am sitting on the couch being lazy.  Somehow his dedication hasn't rubbed off on me yet, but occasionally, it motivates me into action.

Thank you Rick for supporting me and being my inspiration!

Publication Update and Preorder Info

Since my last post, life has been a whirlwind.  I know my blog has been pretty much silent for the last year.  Part of that time, I was in the dark room being developed, but several months ago, I emerged into a life that is colorful once again.  So many things have happened this year:  I ran a 5k, became a mother to two foster children, and of course, my long-time dream of publication is now coming true.

Amidst all the spinning plates, I somehow managed to meet my contract deadline and the publication of Fertility Rites is on track.  Advance sales officially start on Monday, October 22nd; however, the chapbook is already available for preorder at www.finishinglinepress.com.  Just click on "Preorder Forthcoming Titles" on the right-hand side of the page.  The books are listed alphabetically by title and Fertility Rites is listed on the second page.  Preordered copies of the book are supposed to ship on February 1st.  Unfortunately, they don't have a thumbnail image of the cover up yet, but hopefully, it will be on Monday.  I'm posting the image of the front cover here so you can see what it looks like.

The cover was designed by Tonya Leigh Morgan who also designed the Versions of Chai logo.  Once again, she has taken my wisp of a concept and turned into much more than I ever thought it would be.  She is a very talented artist and I am truly blessed to call her my friend.  In addition to Tonya, there are others whose help has been invaluable to me on this project.  First of all, none of this would be possible without the support and encouragement of my husband, writer and illustrator Rick McGee.  I know I can face anything with him by my side.  Over the next few days, my blog posts will honor Rick and some of the other writers who have supported me:  Julie Hensley, Lisa Karon Richardson, Katerina Stoykova-Klemer, and Eric Scott Sutherland.

To the few followers of my blog, you may wonder what has happened to some of my previous posts.  As you know, I had posted rough drafts of several of the chapbook poems along with commentary.  The poems themselves have been removed, but the commentary remains.  If you want to read the poems in their final versions, you will have to buy the book!