Manic Monday: iPad iBooks, Waiting on the Mailman, and Shiver Book Review…

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We Finally Meet iPhone’s Mama…

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Well, I guess I should say that no, I did not run out and buy one. I’m an author, and quite frankly, an iPad won’t do much good for me other than reading books (typing without real keys = not going to happen). At the rate I read books, though, the screen will hurt my eyes.

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I think it should have been named iTab…

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Anyways. So my books are making their way into the iBookstore, if they’re not on there already. I got a notification telling me Feather: Book One made it, and so far that makes me very happy. So all you iPad-dlers out there, look for me 😀

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Also look for me, coming soon to: Sony e-reader, Barnes and Noble Nook, and just about any other form, including in the Indonesian market, in your language! That’s right, we’re going global.

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Waiting on the Mailman…

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I’m awaiting my Author Review Copy of Knight Angels. Very Exciting!

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He never comes at the same time, and there’s no way of knowing if it will come today, or tomorrow. It’s killing me, and it’s so fun to finally get to see what it’s going to look like in person!

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*biting nails*

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Shiver Book Review…

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Ah, I love holidays.

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I read the whole book cover to cover yesterday, and I don’t think I could have done it any other way. I am a sucker for romantic stories of star-crossed lovers. I figured that was rather obvious because of my writing…

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I regret that I waited this long to read this book, and no, that does not mean I finished Beautiful Creatures. I’m still knawing my way through that one, not that it’s bad, it just wasn’t my taste. It’s like wine – personal taste.

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what made it better was the fact it was cold and windy yesterday, so I really got a sense of the story. Of course today it snowed again, like it did friday… Gotta love April.

Book Cover Dilema: Revision Number… One Million?

So, I keep going back and forth with this new cover…

I make a cover, and then a few weeks later I always start thinking – it could be better…

So, once again I am going to leave the choice up to you. In all actuality, the four new samples almost make a great coupling! I should use them all in the entire series!

For right now they’re going to have stock photo lines, so try to ignore that part. I don’t want to buy the photo if I won’t be using it.

Also ignore, if you can, the poor photo quality, again it’s ‘web’ so… But do give me your opinions and vote!

Current Cover

 

 

New Options

 

One

Two

Three

Four

 

So leave me your comments! I need to know what you think!

Tuesday Treats: Down the Rabbit Hole

“Alice was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank, and of having nothing to do: once or twice she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, `and what is the use of a book,’ thought Alice `without pictures or conversation?’

Alice in Wonderland

 

What better book is there, that should be made into a movie? Especially with Johnny Depp? I was at Macy’s the other day and there was Alice stuff everywhere. They’re certainly planning to see this movie go far, and I’m sure it will. This chilling classic, has a lot to give…

 

Awesome ‘Stuff’

 

So, after peroosing the Macy’s stuff, I decided to peroose whatelse was out there, and what better place than Etsy? I found a lot of neat things, but these were the neatest, in my opinion. The piece features a real image from the original book. You can’t get more authentic than that!

if you love this as much as I did, visit her Etsy shop:

Wonderland Dreams

 

$28.50

 

 

Alice on Film
 

So, this Friday, just where will you be?

What You’ve all Been Waiting For…

Guardian, Book Two in my series is now solidified for release in 10-14 days, (May 19-23) Though I can barely contain myself to release the Kindle version, it will not be released for another couple of days, COUPLE OF DAYS!!!!!! Exciting!!! I think the second book is great for the state of the world today, and speaks a lot not just in the story itself, but in life….

Count down!!!

From Writing Books, to Making Books…

 

 

            

 

 

 

 Writing Books to Making Books…

 

In college I used to hand sew my own books. I miss the assembly, but I think since then I’ve found something with the same satisfaction, and joy. Recently, I’ve been designing book covers for other writers and I love it. I’ve done a business book for an entrepreneur/CEO in California called Iron Ambition, an Art book for a very intriguing project where artists interview artists, based off the blog Thinking About Art by J.T… My own books, both Moonlight Manor and Feather Book Series, and then some sample covers for wall-street guru’s and real-estate tycoons…

By literally quitting my job, I have found a whole new avenue. After writing my first book, I knew that making and designing signs for the University in a tiny office with no windows, was not for me. Deciding to cut down on my hours at the University was a heavy decision, especially when I was on the cusp of getting a mortgage for our the house I had been remodeling for over two years. I lost the dream health coverage, and the security that the job brought, but what I’ve found is that in the two months since, I have built a career outside of that place, with little effort and all the talent I could give. 

I was wasting my talent at the University, literally flushing each great idea down the toilet, with no hope of advancement. When I first started there, I worked my tale off, but like most state jobs, you realize there is no point in being an over achiever beyond earning a lame slip of paper that says you are employee of the quarter (I was nominated twice and won once) After I won, I was a little bummed. Where did that get me? NOWHERE…

I feel that the freelance I am doing now is gratifying, self-fulfilling, and certainly more entertaining. I have my small office in the basement, it’s warm, cozy, my cat’s visit on a regular basis, and I can exercise, do laundry, bake bread, clean, and run errands while I send artwork to be approved and changed by my clients.

Freelance isn’t for everyone, I believe you really have to have the mind for it, and the talent. I work weekends, because I love to work, and the schedule is all mine. Being busy makes me feel alive, gets my blood pumping, and my mind out of the negative…

Needless to say, I love it, and I’m glad I made the leap, and took the chance.

And my mortgage got approved 😉

Abra

 

If you need or like any of the designs in this blog post, or are looking for layout of your own book, or design for business reasons, or other, feel free to contact me…

abra@featherbookseries.com

or find me on elance: HERE and review my portfolio

Coming Fall/Winter 2009…. The Moonlight Manor

Image Copywrite Abra Ebner

 

Copyright Abra Ebner

 

 

The Moonlight Manor

It’s not just your home anymore…

A house forgotten by time, but not forgotten for the creatures inside it. As we step into the world of our imagination, we will find a house of magic, and mystery, and a group of friends bound by the fate of their curse, and eternally tied to the place in which they live.

Come follow Jack, a young boy suddenly thrown into the midst of their world, where each thing has it’s place, and each creature their purpose. A house tricked into eternity, and locked in a curse so deep, it shakes it’s very bones.

Abra Ebner’s second journey into the worlds of her mind, and the mysteries she finds have plagued her all her life. What do you imagine when you take in the world around you? Come see what Abra sees as she works to illustrate it for you, creating a thick web of beauty, and characters that will leave you wondering for years to come…

I Finally Have an Office… and I’ve run off the Hippy ghosts…

 

remodeled kitchen

I finally have an office as of today, the extensive remodel on our bad 70’s home, turned contemporary, is finally becoming fruitful. The 3500 square foot, tear-out-all-the-wood-paneling-and-shag project has revealed many surprises, asbestos, mold, rot, leaky roof, etc etc. 

 

My office until today, had been the dining room table, which is never very exciting, or good, hardly the place to escape the television and write…

Along with an office I have a bedroom, no longer haunted by the swingers of it’s horrible past, and a closet large enough to fit all my husbands clothes… yes, my husbands.

I am still hoping for another snow storm to hit and tear off the deck, but considering there was already fifteen feet piled on it from the snow drifting off the roof, it now seems unlikely that I will score a new porch via insurance…bummer.

 

the kitchen before we tore down the wall and canned the avocado...

 

 

The record player, that once housed the ever delightful Neil Sedaka vinyl, is long since trashed, as well as the avocado bathroom, and mint green kitchen.

6 bedrooms are now 5, and the entire lower floor is a separate apartment all together. 

The Bomb shelter (yes BOMB shelter) under the garage is still just storage, but someday it will serve as the wine cellar, but thats still a long ways away, so the bottles continue to collect dust.

There is still a hole in the floor that looks down on the lower level and basement, but the cats rather enjoy collecting nails and dropping them down there, so I can’t yet bring myself to patch it.

All in all I’d say. Never do this, you’re crazy.

A Great Website for Freelance Designers, Illustrators, Web, and Photography. If your looking for Work, or looking for Freelancers, this is totally your site!

I came across this site recently, and I’ve joined the thread. Basically, you write up proposals for various client needs, right from home! For Freelance designers, it’s a dream come true. I know there are other sites out there but elance seems the most credible so far, and I love it. There are a lot of fun jobs, and you only have to apply for what suits you. The best part is that you can try it out for free! You get three proposals, but I do suggest making sure your profile is in top shape, before entering. People are probably a lot less likely to accept someone new, me for example…

Also, for all you out there looking for help with design, you can also place a request, and get logos, book covers, photography, website design, all sorts of things!!

check it out…

MORE snow…

I actually braved going to work today, through at least a foot and a half of fresh snow, but at that height, your car acts like a pin ball between drifts, so it’s no that bad. Someone from Australia bought an e-book from me and I was jealous. I mean, IT’S THE MIDDLE OF SUMMER THERE! I remember how that was, nice sandy beaches and warm water…

Ahhh… Maybe I’ll have to go back one day

I’m a little concerned my deck will fall off…

I hope everyone had a lovely night, I had fun, ordered Chinese, had champagne, ran the gamut of typical new years eve traditions, except I kicked ass playing Wii bowl…

Anyways, my point. My computer sits next to a window that looks out on my deck. I still have my tomato plants out there, what can I say…I’m lazy. BUT the deck has about 3 feet of snow on it, I wish I could show you, but I haven’t found my iphone yet today…

It’s also still snowing, and the wet heavy kind. But I suppose I was going to get the deck replaced ANYWAYS, so if it falls off, insurance  will pay for it. There’s also an old futon out there, now I really feel like a pack rat, but I actually keep a rather clean house, it’s just that I’m remodeling…

anyways, just thought I’d voice my concerns for my deck…