Emma Stevens: A New Zealand author of an Alaskan love story
Romantic memoirs from New Zealand writer Emma Stevens
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A New Book... and cover

30/5/2015

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 "Nesting on the Nushagak" the sequel to Walking on Ice, is back from Jeanette Cook, my editor. So now  we ( The Copy Press and I) are finalising the cover design and gearing up for a 'proof run' ready for the proof readers. 

Ro Cambridge, my mentor/ general publishing hand-holder, along with yours truly,  came up with the cover design concept over coffee while perusing some Nushagak (Noo sha gack) River images one day early February.  Ro subsequently emailed me the image shown here   and I loved it! By the way, Ro also came up with the wonderful design of the cover for Walking on Ice.

Now however we need to get the cover printed, and so it has fallen  on the capable shoulders of my very skilled Copy Press designer, Suzanne,  who has  been bravely trying to fit the Nesting lettering into the 'nest' in a circular sort of a way. (I did a mockup to show her with cut out letters  that I daren't breathe on as they kept scattering all over the carpet).

To watch Suzanne  play around with computer drafting tools, circles and letters leaves me totally in awe of her skills.  When I mentioned a third book, she did however admit that "I dread doing another cover with ice on it as getting the colour right is a nightmare, Emma". I hadn't thought of that.

Suzanne has also been working on a map of Alaska to be inserted in the front of this book, an oversight in the first book, so I have added the place names from Walking on Ice to the map as well.

I keep thinking about all of this process as a self published author, and how much I love the 'hands on' ability to discuss and sit with my mentor and my designer and tweak what we have till I am happy with it.

Jeanette returned the manuscript with the following comment:-

"Nesting on the Nushagak is a great story - I found it even more fascinating than the first one (Walking on Ice), and I'm sure it will do well. I loved some of the lovely dry witty comments you made throughout.
"

We are aiming for release at the end of July.

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Tiki touring

14/5/2015

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Well we are now proud owners of a second hand Bailey caravan dragged back to Nelson from Kaitaia recently by our great friend and "Master of All Trades", Bill McKenzie.

The purchase of this piece of tiki touring equipment was through the online site Trade Me, where since our return from Alaska, I have logged on for everything we have needed. Cars to tablecloths, saunas to clothing have all been bought online.  It made me realise that those years of practice on Amazon.com. where I could access that comfortable world beyond my remote bush Alaska living had left an indelible mark on me, namely Trust of online purchases. Trust, that is, of the honesty of online pictures and descriptions, and my own ability to 'spot a bargain'.
I have also gained a huge added bonus Trust, that of meeting and dealing with fellow Kiwis,  it has all been such a positive experience, and the caravan purchase has once again proven that. "Come and stay with us whenever you're back up here."

Since his return from up North, Gary and Bill have been poring over our purchase, dragging out equipment from under the seats,  plugging things in here and there, all the while muttering in manly sentences, 'Yeah, she goes here', 'I reckon we could add that', 'piece of cake' etc.  As a result of all this unveiling we have decided to 'take her for a bit of a run', to 'try her out'  up to Tapawera and then on to Murchison, where I have planned to share some books and give a talk at Murchison Library this Wednesday afternoon.

So we are now about to embark on our first tiki tour south of here, followed by more one or two night stays, where I can share my stories, while Gary (and Carter) get to see more of our beautiful New Zealand countryside.

Of course the forecast is for rain.
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    About My Blog

    Resettled in New Zealand with my husband, I began writing about my experiences with him in Alaska. 

    I had no idea that I was embarking on a whole new adventure - as author, self-publisher and storyteller. 

    This blog is a journal of this new adventure.

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