In every writing class, students are taught to enrich their storytelling skills by using the 5 senses to draw readers into the scene. SIGHT SOUND TOUCH TASTE SMELL
Old hat? Hm, not when it’s done right.
Look what Lori Wilde, NY Times best selling author, has done with SMELL in one short paragraph in her latest book, The First Love Cookie Club from Avon. (Page 117)
“A blast of delicious aromas wrapped around Sarah, teased her nose, and drew her forward (into a bakery). . . .
The fragrance of yeast was the strongest scent. It rolled over her, thick and rich as homebrewed beer. A march of other smells trooped behind – the sharp slice of cinnamon cleaving through the yeasty envelope, the slick slap of butter, the friendly embrace of vanilla. And bringing up the rear, the subtle but undeniable whisper of almond.”
Look at those vivid action verbs: wrapped, teased, drew, rolled, march, trooped, cleaving, slap, embrace, whisper. There is only one ‘to be’ verb (was) in this entire section. And none in the paragraph that follows. Spectacular writing!
Notice the string of sibilant sounds she uses to emphasize the scents: yeast, strongest scent, smells, sharp slice of cinnamon, slick slap, embrace, subtle, whisper. Wow! Totally awesome. Read it aloud and feel those sibilant sounds slip between your teeth.
No wonder Lori’s book has been #25 on the NY Times list for three weeks! No wonder she also teaches writing.
This one paragraph ought to be in every How To Write book and her book ought to be required reading.
There’s a hard way and an easy way to embed a book cover image. I chose the hard way. Please bear with me as I explain that method, because I want you to know what not to do. Then I will give you an easier alternative.
As you know, I employed Kindlegen and the Kindle Previewer to perfect my text formatting. Remember, Amazon says, “Only Kindle files created using Kindlegen are guaranteed to be compatible with the current and future Kindle devices & applications.” I took that to mean I should also use Kindlegen to embed my book cover. But how?
Each time I ran my book through Kindlegen, it converted the html file into a mobi file (a format used for ebooks) but with a warning: “No cover specified.” The Amazon Kindle Publishing Guidelines state, “Covers are defined in the .OPF . . .” What’s an .OPF? From my son, I learned it’s an “open package format” file which tells Kindlegen where to find all parts of a book, including the cover. Since I had no idea how to create an .OPF, my computer savvy offspring did the job, using html coding that’s way beyond me.
(FYI, Mobipocket Creator and Mobipocket Reader are an easier way to create and read mobi files, per discussions on Amazon’s message boards. Both apps are available for free on the internet.)
Once my .OPF was in place, Kindlegen finally told me I had a complete mobi file. I contacted Kindle DTP Support, asking what steps to follow when uploading a mobi formatted book. They said mobi files work very well and I should go ahead and upload my book on the DTP. Great! But wait, when I started entering info on the Product Details page, I came to a window where I was asked to browse for my book cover and upload it. Huh? The cover was included in my mobi file, and Amazon’s guidelines say not to upload a cover twice, so I left that pesky window empty. Likewise, I did not enter anything in the book description window because that, too, was part of my mobi. (The description should be short and catchy, like a blurb on the back cover of a paperback.)
After completing my upload, I tried to publish, but received an error message. I had to go back and type in the book description, but the message didn’t complain about my blank book cover window, so I hit the publish button again. This time it worked. I waited nervously while my book went through “Review”. Hours later it reached “Publishing” status. My title, Darlin’ Druid, appeared in the Kindle Store but didn’t become buyable until it integrated on Amazon’s list of available titles. This took about 24 hours. Then it went “Live”. Can you imagine how excited I was?
Unfortunately, the product image (cover) did not appear next to my book title. However, it did show up in black & white with my book when I downloaded a free sample. I waited, thinking it might take longer for the product image to integrate on the web page. Becoming concerned the next day, I contacted Kindle support again. After an unhelpful response, I sent another message, again asking for help. Before they replied (it usually takes them a day or two) impatience won out. I uploaded my book cover in that annoying window on the Product Details page, and it appeared almost instantly next to my title in the Kindle Store. Later, my book description also showed up. (It takes 36-72 hours after a book goes live for the description to integrate.)
Now here’s the easier method. Use Kindlegen and the Kindle Previewer to perfect your text formatting. Then forget about Kindlegen and mobi files. Go to the DTP Support Home page and click Publish Your Content under the Getting Started Guide. Scroll down to “Official Publishing Guide – Video Tutorial”. Listen to the short video. It will give you a good idea of what to do. Next, go back to the Publish Your Content page and click “Step 1. Your Book: Entering Product Details,” where you’ll enter information about your book. Upload your book cover and content, and type in a description. Then click the Preview Book button and go through your book one more time, page by page, on the online previewer. Look for any formatting errors you may have missed. If you find some (I spotted one) you’ll need to correct the errors in your html file then upload again. Yes, it’s a pain, but you want your book to look good and read smoothly, right?
Once you’ve finished uploading and are satisfied with how your book looks, move on to the Rights and Pricing page. Furnish the required information, choose a price and royalty option. (Read carefully.) Then click the Save and Publish button. Assuming you don’t get an error message, your book will now be reviewed. If all is well, it will progress to “Publishing”. Check the status by clicking “Bookshelf” at the top of the DTP Support Home page. (Log in first.) This takes you to your bookshelf where your title(s) are displayed. Under “Status” you will see how your book is progressing. When it reads “Live” you are now the proud author of a Kindle book. Congratulations!
I invite you to sample my cross genre historical, Darlin’ Druid, at:
I’m frequently asked that question. The truth is, story ideas may sneak up on me from almost anywhere. It’s like they’re hanging out in the ether waiting for a chance to be told.
The process may start with either a character or a situation that intrigues me. Then I have to put my left brain to work in order to reveal how the story will evolve. (I’m definitely a plotter, not a write-by-the-seat-of-your-pantser.)
In the case of Montana Hearts, my December book from Love Inspired, the impetus for the story is easy to identify. A short article in the LA Times suggested that some people believe an organ recipient takes on the personality of organ donor.
That ‘belief’ led me to ask the ever popular, jump-starting question, what if . . .?
In fact, that question puts Sarah Barkley, the heroine of Montana Hearts, in quite a quandary when she falls in love with rancher Kurt Ryder and the feeling is mutual. Does Kurt love her for herself? Or because the heart of his late wife beats in her chest?
With that nub of a story, I began to write the story of Sarah and Kurt in search of their happily ever after ending.
I’m delighted Romantic Times gave Montana Hearts a 4-star review. “This is a heart-achingly poignant story that has many bright spots and lots of love.”
I hope readers will enjoy the story too.
Charlotte Carter
Books that leave you smiling
from Love Inspired
Montana Hearts, 12/1/2010 available for pre-order now
