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Shadow in the Sea

Readers will return to Windwaithe Island once again. When sixteen-year-old Sadelyn Hanson washes up on the shores of Windwaithe Island, her beauty and the strange marks on her wrist make superstitious locals suspect she is a mermaid. Feigning amnesia, Sade hides a far worse secret: she was sailing to her own murder trial when she was thrown overboard by the real killer, the cunning and cruel Captain Westwood.

Sade's quiet effort to rebuild her life on the island is threatened when she meets an actual young merman. Unable to speak his language, Sade still longs for the warm companionship he offers, despite the locals' dire legends about merfolk and their dark magic. But her confused feelings for the impossible boy become the least of her problems when Captain Westwood's ship docks at Windwaithe. With nowhere to escape, Sade must trust in the one person who doesn't fear the merfolk. A woman who had dealings with them herself—years ago

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Cover Artist

My editor has asked me to view two more artists they are concidering for the cover art. One of them I REALLY liked. She told me my favorite artist was the one they are leaning toward. I should know which one they chose soon. This is me, biting my nails, because the cover is everything. I'll report as soon as I know anything for certain.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Round Three of Revisions

This is the writing that never ends. At least it feels that way. I have more revisions to write in very little time and find my mind is consumed with mermaids and underwater worlds every waking moment (and even some while I'm asleep). But each time I polish up the manuscript it becomes better and more as I always imagined it should be. My publisher asked me to write my dedication and acknowledgments and send them to her. Something about writing a dedication makes the publishing of my book seem so much more real. They still haven't settled on an artist for the cover, but the portfolios they have sent me to look at are all incredible--so it should be a great cover!

Maybe.

Hopefully.

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Would You Look at That

I just noticed that I actually have two followers for this website. Bless your hearts Emily and Teresa! Sorry I haven't had time to write a lot about my book, but that's because I'm too busy WRITING the book at the moment. Remember those awful 50 page long term papers they always made us write back in college? Well this is a 261 page long term paper--and it's almost complete. Yippee!

Friday, March 27, 2009

You Will NOT Believe This

They've changed the title of my book again. I'm hoping this is the last time--but know it may not be. As of this moment my book is called Forbidden Sea. I actually like it a little better than Dark Sea so no complaints here. I also got some more exciting news! They want to move my release date up to January 1, 2010. Less than a year away! The book will be offered by Scholastic Book Fairs exclusively until May when they will have the main stream release. (Sorry guys. Unless you have kids with order forms you'll have to wait until May to get a copy.) The only way this can happen is if I can get the manuscript revised like--yesterday. Guess I won't be getting much sleep in the future. Wish me luck!

Thursday, March 12, 2009

First Draft of Revisions Done

When I started revisions my manuscript was 218 pages long. It is now 260 pages long. This number is sure to change again as I polish up the new chapters I've written. Hopefully it won't get too much longer. Even though the first draft is complete there is still so much editing to do in the coming weeks. I feel the changes have greatly improved the story and am excited to show them to my editor. Wish I'd thought of the improvements the first time around, but I guess that is what professional editors are for. No word on a title yet. *sigh*

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Murphy's Law Strikes Again

Having finally received my editorial letter full of revisions for my book, I decided to take a week off of work and do nothing but write. So what happens? I get a raging cold. Talk about ironic. I've spent all week feeling feverish,hacking, coughing, dripping, aching--AND writing. I would stay in bed all day trying to multitask between writing and getting better. I've been typing and sucking down fruit juice at an alarming rate. Despite the cold, I still got a lot of writing done, especially when the coughing kept me awake at night. I'm really pleased with the changes I've made to the story. I hope my editor feels the same. Here's hoping!

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

A Picture Says It All

My editor had me visit the website of an artist they are considering for the cover of my book. Their artwork is GORGEOUS! I don't want to jinx it so I won't write the name of the illustrator until it's a sure thing. I'm really getting excited now. My editor also told me that as of this moment the release date for my book is May 1, 2010. It could change but it should be around that time. They still haven't decided on a title yet. *sigh*

(c) 2010 Sheila A. Nielson

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The ideas and views expressed in this blog reflect only those of Sheila A. Nielson and no other persons, companies, or business entities.