Book Talk

It’s been well over a month since I signed on with Vox Dei Publishing, so thought it might be time to give you an update on what’s happening with LGM, that’s Little Girl Mended for those non-acronym-minded people. LGM is a good place to start. That’s been my working title for quite some time, but I wasn’t sure if it would stick when the book made it to publishing. I’m happy to say it has. Little Girl Mended will be the title on a real cover on a real book! I’ve grown fond of that title over the time I’ve been writing. It feels a part of me, just like my story.

Speaking of real covers on real books, LGM’s cover is quite beautiful. It captures the essence of my story in so many ways. I can’t say too much about it now—don’t want to give anything away. Hang on, though, for there’s a “cover reveal” day coming!So, what’s it been like being a Vox Dei author? If I had to pick just one word, I’d choose phenomenal! Vox Dei, and the whole of Booktrope, is such a supportive community of book people. I’ve only been a Vox Dei’an (that’s a new term one of my book managers coined recently) for seven weeks and already it’s difficult for me to imagine bringing my book to print in any other way.

Here’s a bit about what’s been going on behind the scenes and why I love Vox Dei. LGM, just like every other book published by Vox Dei/Booktrope, has a Creative Team behind it. LGM’s Vox Dei team comprises a project manager, two book managers (marketing managers), an editor, a proofreader, a cover designer, and me, the author, of course. The team came together through my reaching out to people in each position, telling them a little bit about me and my book, and inquiring if they had an interest and availability to join the team. No one is assigned or forced to take on any book. It’s collaboration right from the start with every team member willingly signing on to a particular book.

At this moment, LGM is in editing. Having been an editor myself for fifteen years, it’s quite a different feeling being on the pointy end of the red pen. If you’ve been with me from the beginning, though, you know that LGM has been through one round of professional editing already, after which I did an extensive rewrite. So now it’s my rewriting that’s at the pointy end of the red pen. It’s not quite as painful this time. I’m not sure if that’s because I’ve grown some thicker skin or if my writing is better! Maybe a bit of both. So, after editing, which goes on for several more weeks, LGM will head to proofreading. I don’t want to get too far ahead of myself, so I’ll leave it there for now. There’ll be more book talk coming down the line.

And just what is phenomenal about Vox Dei? First and foremost is being surrounded (even if only through cyberspace) by love for the Lord. I’ve never before been in a work situation where the focus of every person involved is on God above all else. We all have different roles in the process, and there are many different types of books being published by Vox Dei, but each of us is focused on honoring and glorifying the Lord above all through what we do. I feel a part of a family—one that loves books and reading and words and grammar as much as I do. But, most importantly, this new family of mine loves Jesus. It. Is. Phenomenal.