Thursday, February 16, 2017

Re-Release of No Such Thing as Luck by Nicole Clarkston

Good evening to the blogging world. I hope you are all doing good and have had a great week so far. My week has been good and like yours, I'm sure, busy! Where have these weeks gone? I can't believe we are already into the last half of February! It's flying by too fast!

I have the special privilege of sharing with you the re-release of Nicole Clarkston's first novel, No Such Thing as Luck! What makes this post even better is I had the honor, with my son, Jeff, of redesigning the front and back cover for Nicole's book. That is one of the things I have been busy doing and it was such fun!

If you remember back to last year, I gave this book the favorite North & South variation for 2015's More Agreeably Engaged awards. (To see my review of the book, click here.) I tried to reach Nicole to let her know about her book's award and offer her award seal. It took me some time to locate her. I finally found her through Goodreads. Little did I know that I was not only finding the author of a book that I dearly loved, but I was finding a treasure in a new and cherished friendship. The rest is history. I'll let Nicole tell you about it and I'll add more of my part at the end of the post. 

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When I published my first book, No Such Thing as Luck, in 2015, I had every intention of keeping to myself as a writer and “seeing what would happen.” What did happen was pure magic. While my second book, Rumours and Recklessness, was more popular, it was the first which sparked a friendship. Some months after it was published, Janet wrote to tell me that the book had ranked as the favorite N&S book of the year on her blog. What a surprise! The even greater gift was Janet herself, for coming to know her has been a pleasure, and I am richer for it.

I quickly discovered that not only is Janet one of the loveliest people I had ever encountered, she is also a breathtaking artist. When we first “met,” I was about three chapters into writing Northern Rain. I was quick to solicit her expertise for the cover, and shortly after that we were discussing The Courtship of Edward Gardiner. Both times she graced my humble efforts with a cover that perfectly captured everything the book could ever hope to convey. All this time, I had been looking back at the frumpy old cover for No Such Thing as Luck and disliking it more and more. I was not alone, either, for the single biggest complaint I have heard about that book is the cover!

With the previous two books, we had traded brainstorming images back and forth, talking about ideas for this or that, but with No Such Thing’s new cover, the inspiration was all Janet’s. She spent months on this cover, tweaking and refining until I had tears in my eyes and was hopping up and down like a little kid. I offer the following text stream as evidence of my glee.



Well, there you have it. Janet reduced me to a blubbering puddle of goo when she sent the final proof, and I am bursting with pride to put it on the front of the book that introduced us. I hope you love it as much as I do.

Available on Amazon



Audio Book Available at Audible

Well, folks, that's the story of an award winning novel, a good friendship and a new cover.  As much as I love a good book, as much as I love to design covers, best of all, I love finding a new and dear friend. That's what I have found with Nicole Clarkston. We have had many such 'chats' as the one above and lots make me laugh, just like that one. We visit often and even though we have never met in person, I feel I know this lovely young lady well, and her children, too. All of this because I found, read and thoroughly delighted in a book. Doesn't get much better than that, does it?

I'm thrilled that Nicole likes the new cover. I must say, she does know how to stroke a girl's ego, doesn't she! lol I can't take all the credit though. Jeff, my son, does the 3-D renders. He puts up with a lot to do a render for me. We talk and email back and forth with things such as...Can you move his hand up? How about turning his body a bit more? Have him look a bit to the front instead of at Margaret. I want to see his eyes better. Give him a little smile and some five o'clock shadow. Oooh, I like that, but could we add a pocket watch and have him holding it? I would like to change Margaret's dress.(Not once but twice!) Let's try a red cravat. Nope, don't like that. Can we go back to the black? These are just a few of the many things we went through getting the picture where it is now. I never realized how much he had to do to tweak one little thing until I sat and watched him one day. Then I felt bad...just a little! lol I think he did a fantastic job and he was patient with me! The later is the more admirable of the two. :)

Here's a tiny bit of history behind the two covers. Part of the book takes place in Cadiz, Spain. When I found this painting of a market in Cadiz, I knew it was perfect for the back cover. Nicole agreed. The easy part was done! As you can tell from the front cover, some of the book takes place on a ship! That always makes for some good quality time for our hero and heroine. After all, we do love that together time. If you haven't read the book, I do hope you will soon. It is an excellent N&S variation and the characters are true to Elizabeth Gaskell's original characters. I highly recommend it. 

The book is available on Amazon and at Audible. The Kindle version has the new cover and the paperback should be available any minute. The audiobook is available but the new cover is not displaying yet. All should be soon. Now in celebration of our friendship and the re-release of No Such Thing as Luck with its new cover, there will be a giveaway! Yay! We love those giveaways, don't we? There is one paperback and one eBook up for grabs. Leave us a comment and let us know what you think. If you have read the book, tell us something you loved about it. The giveaway will end on February 22nd at 11:59 PM. The giveaway is international and please leave me your contact info. Good luck to all.

By the way, Nicole Clarkston's first post at Austen Variations went live last night. For a little Jane and Lizzy pre-wedding nerves and some good advice from Aunt Gardiner, pop over and read her vignette. 

31 comments:

  1. I adore the new cover. This is he second book of Nicole's I have listened to and fell in love with John and Margaret through her. I love this couple as much as Darcy and Lizzie as they have so much to overcome as well, misunderstandings included.

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    1. I love them as much as Darcy and Lizzy too, Debbie. They are such an endearing couple and have lots to overcome to their happily ever after. John Thornton is quite swoon worthy himself, especially played by Richard Armitage.

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    2. Thank you so much for saying that, Deborah.

      They are just such a special book couple for me as well, and I think it's because they won't behave and stay in the book! They just leap off the page as real people, with real problems that will not be solved by a happy ending. There is so much more life for them to live after the last page is turned.

      Thank you so much for stopping by!

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  2. I love this cover, ladies. Thank you for sharing it with us. I think it's beautiful.

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    1. Thanks, Claudine. I'm so glad you like it. It was fun to create.

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    2. Thank you, Claudine! I tried SO hard to keep my mouth shut until it was completely finished, but as you already know, I wasn't perfectly behaved in all respects. ;-)

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  3. Thank you ladies. I'm happy you like it.

    The text screen is not showing up and I hate that. It's a fun part! It showed in the preview but then disappeared when I published. I'll redo as soon as I get back home. It won't let me do it on the phone. Hope you'll come back and read Nicole's text. Thanks for stopping by.

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    1. Haha! That's the best part! Well, I mean, besides the stunning artistry. I think I walked around on a fluffy cloud all day that day!

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    2. I know I was tickled and pleased to read your comments. They were fun. Glad they finally became visible! :)

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  4. I love this cover Janet. I haven't read this book as I tend to stick to Darcy and Elizabeth stories. However I had also not watched North and South until I read several comments from JAFF friends (mostly about the swoonworthy Richard!) so I bought the DVD and really enjoyed it. Sooo I possibly could be tempted into reading this book, especially as I really enjoyed The Courtship book.

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    1. Thank you, Glynis! I'm thrilled to hear you like the cover.

      I do so hope that you get a chance to read this book and N&S. (Definitely watch the movie) Elizabeth Gaskell's original has enough similarities to Darcy and Elizabeth that I think you would love it. Then Nicole's book is so true to character and her writing in the same tone as Gaskell's that I know you would love it too. Glad to hear that you enjoyed The courtship book.
      it was delightful, wasn't it? Thanks for popping in and good luck.

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  5. Wow! Your new cover is lovely. Great branding.

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  6. Like the cover, I haven't read the book but I did enjoy listening to the audio book

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    1. Glad you like the cover. Isn't the audio book awesome? I love it too.

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  7. That is so neat how you two ladies got together and gave the book a new cover. It's so eyecatching.

    Please don't enter me in the giveaway.

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    1. Isn't it neat? Thanks for visiting and telling us your thoughts.

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  8. Congratulation and well done on the new cover ladies. It looks amazing! It's also great to read how you two got to "know" each other.

    I'm well into the audiobook of Northern Rain on my commutes at the moment. Without giving away too much in the way of spoilers, can I say that "the kitchen scene" is just wonderful, Nicole? All the time I'm listening, I'm imagining Richard, Daniela, Brendan and the rest of the 2005 cast playing out the story in my mind's eye because your writing just seems to fit them all so perfectly.

    I've already got No Such Thing As Luck as an ebook and audiobook, so would it be possible just to be entered into the draw for the paperback?

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    1. It is definitely possible, Anji. I'll make sure you are entered for the paperback only. Thanks so much for stopping by and telling us your thoughts.

      I adored the kitchen scene in Northern Rain. Isn't it fabulous! 'sigh'I can see all the cast in my mind too.

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  9. The cover is spectacular! I especially like the back of it. I have read Nicole's other books but not this one and would love to win. You are so right that the friendship that the two of you have developed is the greatest gift of all. Thank you for the history of the cover's creation and for the giveaway. evamedmonds(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Hi Eva! I'm thrilled that you think so and that you like the back cover. I do hope you get to read this book soon.

      Thank you for stopping by and commenting. Glad you enjoyed the history!

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  10. I absolutely loved reading this post Janet, it was interesting, endearing and funny!

    I have to say I am a big fan of both of you ladies! I love your cover designs and drawings, and No Such Thing as Luck is just another example of how talented you are! I already have one copy of it (3 if we count paperback, ebook and audiobook), but I must have another paperback with this new cover! It is beautiful and perfect for this book! Congrats to Jeff as well, it must have been hard to change so many things.

    I also love Nicole Clarkston’s books and No Such Thing as Luck is clearly of of the best North and South variations I have read! Mr. Thornton is just perfect in it and I recommend it to anyone who loves a good romance novel!
    Thank you both for the wonderful post and congratulations on the re-release!

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    1. HI Rita! I'm happy to hear that you enjoyed the post. It was a fun one to do for so many reasons. I'm glad you stopped by and let us hear your thoughts.I appreciate your kind words about this cover and my others. You make me feel so good! :)

      Yes, I think you need this paperback too. I loved the actual cover. Things always show up so much better on the real book.

      I have to say, Jeff was a trooper. Some of the changes were not as difficult as others but I really felt bad when I asked for a change and then didn't like it as well as I did the previous way. UGH!

      Thanks again, and I look forward to visiting you soon! :)

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  11. Congratulations on the re-release, Nicole! I love this new cover and I look forward to reading this story!

    newyorkgirl82(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Maria. So happy to hear that you love the new cover.

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  12. Gorgeous cover for a gorgeous book, ladies! Huge congrats!!
    (Please don't enter me in the giveaway, Nicole was ever so kind to send me a copy and I think someone else should have the chance to win and read this wonderful story).

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    1. Thank you, Joana. Nicole did write a lovely story didn't she? I'm glad to have you pop in and comment.

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