It’s been a crazy couple of weeks in the developments of WEEK MINDED. My recent Sherpa session covered some cover design comps, chapter structure, and the first round of edits from my editor, Deb. I finished the reconciliations of all of the editor suggestions. At this point, there are 61 separate cited references of research or collaborative work that supports the life lessons that I espouse in the chapters. Part of my evaluations of the edits is to use Speechify, an app that reads you whatever you want, and using Gwyneth Paltrow’s AI voice. It is interesting having Gwyneth read it to you. It allows you to imagine what it sounds like to someone else. You can also hear errors that you missed in the “tracked changes” exercise.
We had the photo session for the author photos and some possible interior photos. I am not a handsome man and did not give the photographer much to work with, but she did a great job on this old man. She does photography for Beth Moore as well. Contact her at Whitney Hamilton at www.WhitneyHamiltonPhotography.com.
I’ve begun, rethinking the first cover design comps. We are getting closer to a concept – going simpler, with fewer illustrations and words to a cleaner look.
I got a sweet endorsement from one of my ARCs, Liz Townsend, Senor Partner at Allen Austin Consulting: “Rod’s stories and life lessons feel like sitting down with a trusted friend over a warm cup of coffee and a conversation that stays with you long after it ends. They transcend the pages and ground us in what truly matters as we navigate the changes, seasons, and complexities of life. Week-Minded will strengthen your spirit. This isn’t simply a collection of stories and wisdom — it is a guide to living with transparency, authenticity, and genuine care for others.” That’s exactly how I want people to feel.
Until next time.
