Stretching, Dreams, and Good Fortune

Trials are inevitable. I know this. Still, I can't help but be surprised and overwhelmed by the big whirlwinds. I have so many aspirations and so little time and resources, it seems. Yet, I have heretofore learned that there is both a time and a season for all dreams to come true. 

For those of you who know me, you know that I'm quite superstitious and religious. I'm a former single-mother, still a mother, now a wife, a budding author, major provider, work-a-holic-type who tends to worry about the future. That's why when I received a good fortune inside of my fortune cookie this week I found it to be most encouraging, as encouraging as this quote I read the other day, which I feel inspired to share...

Elder Richard G. Scott of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints taught that adversity can help stimulate necessary growth in our lives:

“May I share some suggestions with you who face … the testing that a wise Heavenly Father determines is needed even when you are living a worthy, righteous life and are obedient to His commandments.

“Just when all seems to be going right, challenges often come in multiple doses applied simultaneously. When those trials are not consequences of your disobedience, they are evidence that the Lord feels you are prepared to grow more (see Proverbs 3:11–12). He therefore gives you experiences that stimulate growth, understanding, and compassion which polish you for your everlasting benefit. To get you from where you are to where He wants you to be requires a lot of stretching, and that generally entails discomfort and pain” (in Conference Report, Oct. 1995, 18; or Ensign, Nov. 1995, 16–17).

I've been thinking lately that times are tough, but then I recall the twelve plus years I spent as a single mother, working and going to school, and I realize that times have been tougher. I cannot allow myself to forget the lessons learned. I must thank God for my trials and ask Him, "Lord, what is it that Thou would have me learn from this?"

Single mothers, my heart is with you and your little ones. Remember that you are never truly fatherless, for you and your babies always have a Father in Heaven. Learn from your trials. Have faith that this whirlwind will pass, meanwhile, stay anchored, rooted in the Lord and His mercy. God will provide.

–– JNP

A New Horizon

Being the working mother of a 10-month-old and a teen has put some of my personal career goals on a major hiatus...but I wouldn't trade being a mother for the world.

Still, I struggle to find a way to make more time for my family and also for my personal pursuits. I want to raise my baby girl. I don't want to put her in daycare all day. But finding a job that is flexible and pays well is a challenge. And I love writing. I feel like I have stories to tell, but it is difficult to get into the mindset to write while chasing my baby around (she crawls super fast) and working a full-time job is also exhausting. Hence, my dilemma. I know it is not my burden alone but is shared by many a mother.

Now, this month something seemingly tragic happened. Although, I'm trying to look at this from a positive point of view, thinking of it as a blessing in disguise. See, I know that I often need a little push. (I guess I work better under pressure.) So, I've been pushed to the brink, teetering on the typifying point, looking out at all the paths that lay ahead and wondering where they might lead.

Here I go. Making choices. Hoping that these choices will bring me to the place where I should be.



--JNP

Silver Awakening Paperback Available at Amazon

Silver Awakening paperback is available now on Amazon for $16.99 with free shipping for Amazon Prime members! Also, if you purchase the paperback from Amazon, you can download the Kindle Edition for free.

If you don't have Amazon Prime then it might be cheaper for you to purchase the book direct from my eStore using this limited-time offer promo code, RMELLRB5, which reduces the list price to $13.00. I believe the shipping runs about $3.00. So, just see which distributor can give you the best deal.

Don't forget to post a review on your favorite sites! Thanks!

–JNP

Positive First Reviews for Silver Awakening

First Amazon Review

First Goodreads Review (my hubby)

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Apology

If anyone received the email newsletter about the release of Silver Awakening on paperback saying that they received it because they are subscribed to the newsletter and you know that you are not subscribed, please disregard the message. Please accept my deepest apologies. This was a result of an error with the Wix.com Shout Out feature...a feature I will never use again. (I may need to switch to a different service provider.) I'm so sorry if you feel spammed right now. It shouldn't happen again.

Sincerely,

Jessica Prado

Don't forget about the reason for this blog: Sins, Hims, and Whims of a Single Mother, a novella.

Amid all my blogging about Silver Awakening...I want to remind everyone that there is another piece of fiction I've been working on for the past three years. It's a chick-lit novella that shares the title of my blog, Sins, Hims, and Whims of a Single Mother. I'm only about halfway through the writing process on it, though, and since I work about 55 hours per week at a pay-the-bills job, you'll have to be patient with me.

Please visit my blog's page for SHWSM, the novella, to read excerpts. Some of you who have been reading my blog for years will recall when these excerpts were blog posts.

I hope this story interests you. Stay tuned, or subscribe to my mailing list and never miss an update on my projects and promotional deals.


Thanks!



–JNP

SILVER AWAKENING PAPERBACK ON SALE NOW!

The paperback edition of Silver Awakening is available now at my eStore. It will be available on Amazon in a couple of days. For a limited time, if you shop at Amazon you will be able to download the Kindle edition for FREE with the purchase of a paperback.

Also, for a limited time, you can use this Promo Code ‬H97PNNDD to get $2.00 off the paperback edition if purchased HERE. 

If you have already purchased the eBook, please send me a proof of purchase. You may comment or message me here at my blog or go to my Facebook Fan Page and send via Messenger. I have a different promo code that I'd like to share with you, which will give you an additional discount on the paperback.

I'd also like to share the additional discount promo code with you for subscribing to my newsletter. 

PLEASE POST REVIEWS everywhere you can, on all your favorite sites. Please share with other readers and bloggers. Thank you for your support. I hope you enjoy this book.


–JNP

New Proof of Silver Awakening – Hoping Paperback Will Launch Soon – And Special Single Mother Dedication

I received what I hope will be the final print proof of my novel, Silver Awakening. 

The interior is looking so polished and professional now without all of the orphans and widows, and with a redesign of chapter headers, page numbers, and page headers...redesigned using the custom font that matches the book cover. Thank you, Erin for that font!

Also, since CreateSpace lacks color management profiles, I basically had to digitally proof the book cover off of my monitor using an Adobe Creative Suite print proof mode that most closely resembled a copy of a physical proof I had previously received from CreateSpace. Considering the circumstance, this was the best method. Relying wholly on my visual perception, I adjusted my book cover file on-screen, boosting saturation, adding or reducing contrast, lightening or darkening according to what I judged would be the likely outcome per the physical proof in hand. I also converted all linked PSD files to the CMYK color space that my ending ID File would be using. What a pain. But I got it nearly spot on after only one revision and now it looks incredible! (This is where my bachelor's degree in photography came in handy. I'm a color correcting pro.) I really do like the matte finish more now that the colors are popping out and looking as intended. I actually like it a lot more than the glossy finish that I was debating over in my previous blog posts. (1st post, 2nd post, 3rd post.)

If you would like to see all of the photos of my way better new print proof, go to my Facebook Fan Page. I've posted some quickie snapshots there.

Once I'm finished proofing this new physical print proof––hopefully it looks perfect and there's nothing else wrong with it––then I will be able to schedule the launch date for the release of the paperback edition of Silver Awakening. So excited! Fingers crossed.

Conclusion:

The paperback edition of Silver Awakening is looking so much better. I think maybe all of the printing issues were a blessing in disguise. I've prayed long and hard for help with this book. Truly, my prayers were answered by way of kind people who offered to help me and also through preparatory learning that was long ago inspired by the Lord––I was prompted to move from Arizona to Utah back when I was a SINGLE MOTHER with a lil kindergartner. I was scared, but I felt impressed to go to USU and learn skills that I haven't been sure I even need. My higher education hasn't helped pay my bills at all...it actually created the heaviest debts I own. But what I learned in school has helped me with this book. And I know Heavenly Father inspired this book. Just like Noah Steffen (a character in my novel), I also know how to tell the difference between thoughts that are my own and thoughts that aren't.

I started writing Silver Awakening when I was experiencing all of my Sins, Hims, and Whims as a Single Mother. I finished Silver Awakening as a newly married woman who is incredibly blessed.

To all the SINGLE LADIES: I know life is so hard right now, but never stop learning or working toward your goals. You will reach them. I'm still trying to reach mine. Inch by inch I will make it. You will make it too.

I dedicate this message and this post to a longtime single mother friend. (We were single moms together years ago.) She was fortunate to remarry and add to her family. Her joy lasted for a season, but she is now preparing for a brutal divorce. She will be a single mother again, only instead of one child to raise, she now has three. Lets all pray for her and her children tonight.

Nicholle, today this is for you: My heart aches. My eyes are wet. I know it's a heavy burden, but I believe that the darkest sorrows overcome will bring the brightest joys. I love you, girl! You've got this!  ;-)

Love Always,

JNP

Unfamiliar Terms Decisions

This is sort of a disclaimer: I've received conflicting information from a total of three different editors regarding whether or not to italicize an unfamiliar term in Silver Awakening. First Editing, the company I hired to do all the spelling, grammar, and punctuation, their editor italicized objects only––not titles or names or vague English descriptions of an unnamed object or idea, etc. They missed a few, but I went back and followed that format. Since then I've had two other editors/proofreaders tell me that it's not necessary to do this in a scifi/fantasy, but whichever way I go just be consistent, which is what I thought initially and why I never bothered to italicize anything when I first wrote it. So here's the thing––I do have a record of the terms I used and how they're used––I call it my Kai Language Decoder. Basically, as the publisher/author I'm making the executive decision to leave the italics on specific made up terms that are supposed to be part of the Kai'ling language, and only the Kai words that refer to an object or device, but no italics on any ideas, names, or titles, etc. I'll also italicize a Middle English term that is supposed to be a shared word, a part of the Kai language and a real word on Earth that is no longer used (I might build on the idea of shared words if I do a sequel). So, I won't italicize when it's a word that is part of Earth's languages if it is not part of the Kai'ling canon. For example, Caelestis Meditari I'm leaving alone because it is not a part of the Kai'ling language and at some point, if I write a sequel, I want to give this a name in the Kai'ling language. Caelestis Meditari is just Latin words being used to express an idea for a Kai'ling word that is difficult to translate according to a character in the story. That's it. That's the extent of my italicizing. Honestly, I thought about going back and un-italicizing what First Editing did to my manuscript, mostly because I think it would be easier to not worry about this, plus this is a scifi/fantasy novel, but the idea of trying to go back and undo it in both the eBooks and then re-uploading yet another print file is too daunting. I've made two updates to the eBooks already, one for punctuation and another to keep consistent with design editing for the print edition––updating the eBooks is quite a hassle. And every time I make a change to the print file I have to go through the entire approval process again. Besides, the terms that are currently italicized are kind of the important ones for a reader to get familiar with since they are part of the Kai language and are things that the reader needs to know. So, I think the way I have it now is good for the paperback edition.

However, considering the many strong opinions editors and publishers in the professional world have about things like this: I apologize to anyone who might scrutinize this and call it an amateur decision. I'm an indie author...I do what I want.

To my readers: I have considered sharing my Kai Language Decoder as I believe it might be a fun and helpful tool for those who are reading Silver Awakening. The only thing stopping me is that it would be kind of a spoiler if I shared it since it contains some of my thoughts and plans for possible subsequent stories. I'm debating this...hmmm....any thoughts?



–JNP





P.S. Here's a glimpse of my Kai Language Decoder and some terms that will be part of the Kai canon that I'd like the reader to get acquainted with:

Update: Silver Awakening eBooks and Paperback Editions

FYI

eBook updates...

I've proofed the interior for the paperback. In the process I made some decisions:

1. Added and deleted words for the sake of the design (spacing issue). 
2. Changed some internal dialogue to spoken dialogue in Chapter 8. 
3. Chapter 32, most significant updates:
1. Revised a sentence about time relativity between Earth and Venus based on new sources. (I had used a source from years ago that I'm questioning now, so I revised based on another source. I figured it is best to update now before it goes to print.)
2. Revised a sentence about zirkite to address a fact I didn't know until now...it is an Earth term...it is a nickname for a process applied to zirconium...so I had to clarify that the element is different in the story than Earth's nickname for the certain type of zirconium.

These updates have been made to both the Nook and Kindle releases. Please download the update. But remember to note your place as you will lose bookmarks/notes when you get the update. Sorry for any inconvenience. Just trying to be consistent with the print release and keep fellow scifi geeks from going crazy about it.


JNP



Instructions for turning on Automatic Book Updates on your Kindle:

1) Log into Amazon and in “Your Account” drop down go to "Manage Your Content and Devices”.

2) Click the “Settings” tab.

3) Scroll down to “Automatic Book Update”. Change button to “ON”. Make sure your devices and reading Apps have “Annotation Back Up” setting turned on.