November 29, 2012

All so scary...

       When I decided to pursue my dream and write a book, it seemed to be the perfect job for me. I get to stay home and work in my pajamas if I want. I get to work with my cousin. I was on my own schedule: no boss, no deadlines, no stress. How lucky am I? I think of myself as a bit of a recluse, so it all worked perfectly for me. Now, reality was setting in.
       My husband was leaving for work and I wanted to give a copy to his coworker, who was gracious enough to read our manuscript several years ago. I read you should sign books with an extra fine tip Sharpie and in a color other than black. Apparently, there are rules for signing books. I had a blue fine tip Sharpie so I decided to use that. How much difference could there be between a fine tip and an extra fine tip? My hand was actually trembling and my heart was racing. I was thinking this is crazy, I’m just signing a book, and who wants my signature anyway. Maybe I shouldn’t sign it—I should just give her an unsigned copy—but my husband talked me into it. I wrote out what I wanted to say on a separate piece of paper so I wouldn’t destroy a book with my scribble. I took a few deep breaths, and signed on the title page (another rule of signing). Well, I was using an older Sharpie and the tip was too thick so the ink showed through the page. Damn! And after I had finished, I thought of so many other things I wanted to say to her. My husband assured me that I was overthinking the whole thing and she would love it.
        He took the book with him to work.

                                                                                                                        Mona

November 20, 2012

FINALLY available for purchase...

       My cousin Dianne Vigorito and I are very excited to announce that our book is finally available for sale. Yeah! It has been seven years in the making and a year in production. It is a novel that begins in 1900 and follows the lives of a mother and her four small children as they escape from Italy into the streets of Hell’s Kitchen, New York. If you’re interested go to our website www.fortyyearsinaday.com and it will tell you more about our story and how to order.
 
       The RELEASE DATE is FEBRUARY 19th, but it is available for purchase now through our publisher’s website (allow 10 days for shipping), and after the release date, it will also be available at online retailers like Amazon and Barnes and Noble, in bookstores, and in libraries. It is available in soft cover or digital download. Yeah again! It is truly a Happy Thanksgiving!

August 14, 2012

Oh what a feeling, when we're dancing on the ceiling!

       I just received the proof copy of FORTY YEARS IN A DAY in the mail, and I can’t stop smiling or get the song lyrics (Oh what a feeling, when we're dancing on the ceiling!) out of my mind. It is an amazing feeling to see the last seven years bound together in a real book that I can touch and hold. I can feel my heart pumping, and everything, in this moment, is alright with the world. The first thing I did is call Dianne, then I went down the block and knocked on my friend's door to show someone, anyone, until my husband comes home. I think a glass of wine is in order.
Mona

June 14, 2012

Glossy vs. matte covers...

        There seems to be an ongoing debate about glossy or matte book covers and which one looks more professional. We are in the cover design stage of production for our novel, Forty Years In a Day, and glossy or matte is one of many decisions.
        There are advantages for the glossy cover. Glossy makes the colors more vibrant, and they are durable and water resistant. The negatives are that they show fingerprints and have a glare factor. Matte covers have a tendency to scuff and the colors appear muted.
        I have browsed the shelves of several bookstores in search of an answer. I discovered I am drawn to the combination of a matte cover with glossy lettering. It made the book look classier, but some of my favorite authors have used the glossy finish. I think the choice has to do with the graphics and the overall theme or tone of the book.
        I would appreciate any thoughts on the subject.
                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              Mona

January 18, 2012

COMING FALL 2012

       We are very excited to have signed with Tate Publishing. Forty Years in a Day is a historical novel and will be available in Fall 2012 in paperback and eBook download from your favorite online retailers and bookstores.

        Our story begins in Italy, 1900. After years of torment and neglect, Victoria and her four small children immigrate to Hell’s Kitchen to escape her alcoholic, abusive husband. On the day they leave, he tragically dies, but she does not learn of his death for several years—a secret that puts many lives on hold.
     

        Quickly, they realize America’s streets are not paved with gold, and the limits of human faith and stamina are tested time and time again. Poverty, illness, death, kidnapping, and the reign of organized crime are just some of the crosses they bear.
        Victoria’s eldest son, Vincenzo, is the sole surviving member of the family and shares a gut-wrenching account of their past with his daughter Clare during a visit to Ellis Island on his ninetieth birthday. He explains how the lives of he and his siblings have been secretly intertwined with an infamous mobster and ends his unsettling disclosure with a monumental request that leaves Clare speechless.

                                                             
                                                                                                Mona Rodriguez and Dianne Vigorito