Promo Op, Surprise & Oh. My. Diva.

Two Paws Up!

Authors with pets: Looking for a noble cause and a good way to get some book exposure? Head over to book reviewer Jackie Burris and sign up for her blog hop, "Bloggers Help Paws with a Cause". This hop is sponsored by Danielle @ Romance Book Junkies and Laurie @ Bitten By Paranormal Romance.

Jackie is looking for posts spotlighting your pet(s). 

You better believe I'll be there, whether I have a book out in March or not. Hmm...I wonder if the Frugal Dog will be ready by then. You never know.

The hop runs from March 1st through 8th and benefits Paws With A Cause.

****

Maria Wins a (Sur)Prize

I have to share this news. A couple months ago, I won a contest from Harlequin author, Melissa McClone. (Put her blog on your Reader and comment often because she holds regular contests!) Anyway, this time she was giving a special prize of several books from her recent RWA trip. 

Poor Melissa came down with a plague of biblical proportions and the package sat unsent. I told her not to worry about it. Aside from getting well, she had her hands full with kids, pets, and shelter kitty, Miss Mousie. (Remember Miss Mousie? She's doing great now!)

Melissa never forgot me, and when she recovered, she sent my prize. 

I expected two or three books--tops. Instead, I got this GIANT box full of books from some of my favorite authors. Tessa Dare, Elizabeth Holt, Sherrilyn Kenyon, to name a few. It was like getting Christmas early. I was so thrilled. Thank you, Melissa!

****


It's true. I've been leading a double life. Ever since I revealed my first cover for The Devil To Pay, I started getting requests to design other covers. I resisted because I was worried about things like art licenses and copyright issues and what I had to do to protect myself and my clients.

But for the past few weeks I've been researching it and seeing how other designers manage their businesses. And I've decided to take a great big diva plunge.

I don't have much in my portfolio yet, but with any luck that'll change soon. Meanwhile, there's a web site and a few pages to wander about and read.

If you have friends needing cover art, send them to the Diva. Do stop by (and then come back) to let me know what you think of the web layout.

















Comments

Angela Brown saidā€¦
Three cheers on the early Christmas gift. Books are always a great thing for writers!

And I suppose I was just waiting to see how long it would be before you took this plunge. You are an artist and so this is no surprise but a pleasant find. Hoping this venture will be a good one for the Diva :-)
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Angela: I know. Never let it be said I make snap decisions when it comes to careers. LOL.
Jackie saidā€¦
Thanks for the shout out and here is to helping those needy pets out there, may some of your author friends find it in their hearts to share a post or two like you and Jim have promised to do already. :-0

Congratulations on the newest endeavor, may your Internet Gods stay shining on you so you can do your designs Maria! :-)

Maria those sound like some good authors if they are some of your faves, the only one I have read is Kenyon and she has been a fave of mine since before she even became widely known for her Dark Hunters series books and Acheron became one that many young women swooned over while laughing at the antics of Simi!
Unknown saidā€¦
The girl who is doing my paranormal series does good money. One of her covers ended up on NYT Bestseller list. :D I've bookmarked your new site. If my paranormal romance isn't picked up, I'll publish it myself and will need cover art. I wish you the best in this new venture!!!!
A box of books in the mail? What could be better. You sure keep yourself busy and now you're adding another job. You go!
Jenny Schwartz saidā€¦
Good luck, Jackie, that's a great cause.

Maria, finally! Wishing you every success, Book Cover Diva :)
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Jackie: Don't worry, we'll get you some bloggers.

And thank you for posting Book Cover Diva on Facebook. Very kind!
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Darke: How cool to design a cover for a novel that made it on the list.

Thanks for bookmarking me! :)
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Susan: It was a matter of logistics. I'm still thinking of full time employment, but the commute to Dallas is horrendous. It would have to be for an obscene amount of money for me to do that.
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Jenny: I know. That's what everyone is telling me. :-)

I just didn't want to jump the gun before I researched the business aspect.
Jennifer Shirk saidā€¦
You, Diva!! That's fantastic. And good to know about...

And the books! WOW! That is a like a Christmas gift!
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Jennifer: I was shocked when I saw the size of that box.
Amy Jarecki saidā€¦
Hi Maria - I'l have to check out Paws With Cause. I have a book entitled Chihuahua Momma coming out in July!
Gwen Gardner saidā€¦
The ultimate gift - a box full of books! Yay!

Book Cover Diva is an awesome company name. Are you going to have a grand opening with a Facebook event? Sign me up.

I'm going to take the plunge, too, and offer formatting and proofreading services - maybe next week. Just trying to figure out how to get the word out:)
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Amy: Oh, Jackie will LOVE you with a book title like that. By all means contact her.
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Gwen: I haven't decided on a grand opening. What with Christmas and New Years, I thought I'd wait until the commotion has died down.

Ref: getting the word out
Hmm...maybe we can put our heads together on that.
Anonymous saidā€¦
I still have Jackie's email (via Goodreads I think) sitting in my inbox. Definitely a good cause!

Happy reading!!

And I'm SO adding your new venture to my sidebar! Wishing you all the best with it. Go you!
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Raelyn: Thanks! I really appreciate it!

And do contact Jackie. I know she'd love to have you.
Mike Keyton saidā€¦
All the very best with this, Maria. Should I ever self publish you'll be my first port of call. (I still remember Fred the Black Rat, though you, mercifully have probably forgotten it) : )
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Mike: How I could forget Fred? It's the first time anyone ever commissioned me to draw a rat. :)
Jennifer Oberth saidā€¦
I'll check out Jackie's hop for sure!

Awesome book set you got. It's karma because you're just so sweet.

I'll be looking at your book diva site the next time I get stuck on my book covers! I do love your covers.
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Jennifer: Thanks!

Ref: books
I was so bowled over by the quantity and the generosity. I know how expensive it is to mail books.
Shelley Munro saidā€¦
Maria, I'm so glad you're doing the cover thing. You're very talented!

And yay on the books. That would be an awesome Christmas present.
Ellie Garratt saidā€¦
Wow. A box full of books. Every readers dream.

Congratulations on Book Cover Diva. I love your covers, so you're going to have some satisfied authors!
Maria Zannini saidā€¦
Shelley / Ellie:

Thanks for popping in, guys, and for the kind words.
Sarah Ahiers saidā€¦
One of my dreams is to one day be gifted with a giant box of books. True story.
And yay on the cover design! I think it's a genius idea. Your covers are excellent and high quality and i definitely think you can help some authors while making some extra money for yourself!