Category: My Thoughts

Book Production · My Books · My Thoughts · Writing

A Book Cover: Is it a Secret Weapon?

Larada Horner-MillerLeave a comment
Larada Horner-Miller's 4 newest book covers

Is a book cover a secret weapon to get books sold? Many people think so. What does research say? I know what I’ve done recently!

Research on the Importance of a Book Cover

“A high-quality book cover not only looks great, but also communicates its genre and attracts the “right” readers with relevant trends, color schemes, and more.”

https://reedsy.com/blog/guide/book-cover-design

“Studies show that 79% of people make a split-second decision about picking up a book based solely on its cover, according to design platform Wixel.”

https://mixam.com/blog/education/how-book-cover-design-drives-sales#:~:text=Introduction,according%20to%20design%20platform%20Wixel.

For my first three books, I designed the cover, not knowing any better, but since then I have had 100Covers.com do my covers. Why? Because I believed the research stated above.

I love what 100Covers.com have produced, and they are so easy to work with. We collaborate with resources I find and shared with them. Then they did the magic and created eye-appealing covers.

My First Book Covers

Somewhere I found a review I ignored about my first book, This Tumbleweed Land’s cover. On the original cover, I had a text box covering the tumbleweed in the picture. That’s the theme of this book, so what a revelation. I loved the photo I used with Mesa de Maya in the background (noted on some of the first maps every made of the southeastern part of Colorado). But that mesa wasn’t mentioned in my book, so I had 100Covers.com redo it and I released it last week.

Here’s the comparison:

What do you think?

My Newest Book Cover Is In a Contest

Time Measured Out! book cover

Time Measured Out!: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry is in a nonfiction book cover right now on AllAuthor.com. It has entered the final round and the winners (1st, 2nd and 3rd) will be announced March 31.

Right now my book cover is in 2nd place with 120 votes, but with another book, The Amazing Dinosaur Dictionary for Kids, hovers right behind me with 119 votes.

What do you think?

The Amazing Dinosaur Dictionary for Kids book cover
Time Measured Out!: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry book cover

The book cover in first place, Phoenix Rising, has 186 votes.

Here’s it’s cover:

Phoenix Rising book cover

So, I would appreciate your vote at https://allauthor.com/cover-of-the-month/20500/ to keep me in a solid 2nd place and maybe jump up and take over 1st place.

My 1st Place Winning Book Cover

Hair On Fire Wins 1st play in the AllAuthor.com nonfiction book cover contest, May 2024

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir received 1st place in the nonfiction book cover contest at AllAuthor.com in May, 2024. It was so exciting to communicate with my different social media sites and my email lists to encourage people to vote, and I received comments back that encouraged me. They came through repeatedly, and this award added prestigious to my book.

Finally,

I have heard repeatedly from my many mentors the importance of my book covers. I truly believe a book cover can be a secret weapon to get people to buy and read my books.

If you missed the importance of your vote, it could make the difference for my book’s winning stance or not. Put down your cup of coffee, your beer, your book or your knitting. It will only take a couple minutes. Grab your phone, iPad or computer and go to https://allauthor.com/cover-of-the-month/20500/

Larada Horner-Miller headshot
Vote like my book’s life depends on it because it does!

Professional Reader

My Newest Books

Time Measured Out!: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Book #2 e-book

ISBN – 9798989688654

$.99 for limited time

is my truth universal? book cover

Is My Truth Universal?: A Woman’s Poetic Odyssey e-book

ISBN – 979-8989688623

ALWAYS FREE

Was It a Dream? book cover

Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Book #1 – e-book

ISBN – 979-8989688630

 $3.99

Hair on Fire book cover

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir e-book

ISBN – 978-0996614498

$3.99

Buy My Audio Books:

This Tumbleweed Landed

This Tumbleweed Landed audiobook cover

Let Me Tell You a Story 

Let Me Tell You a Story audiobook cover

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Memoir Audiobook

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir audiobook cover

Women’s History Month: Honoring My Courage to Write!
My Thoughts · My Writing · Sexual Abuse

Women’s History Month: Honoring My Courage to Write!

Larada Horner-MillerLeave a comment
Women's History Month - courage

March is Women’s History Month, and for the last three years, I’ve written about women in my life to celebrate this month. Now, I’m moving forever with a new book I can’t be afraid to publish, so I’m honoring my courage to write.

My new book starts with this epigraph:

“Everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.”

— Sylvia Plath

Start - Courage

Relevant Topic I Must Write About

I wrote 50,000 words of my new book in November, 2016, during NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) Month. The genre is an AutoFiction (autobiography fiction) where I fictionalized my story of incest. I put it aside when another timely book project fell into my lap.

Last year, when the Epstein Files surfaced once again, it dawned on me I needed to return to this book. I didn’t just want to share my incest story but the healing I’ve experienced over the last thirty-seven years. So many incest survivors’ lives end too soon or the survivor chooses drugs or alcohol to medicate the pain. Or the survivor chooses to act out sexually and ends up a prostitute or a pole dancer in a strip joint. Or the choice is suicide.

Because I found recovery thirty-seven years ago, I am still alive and have found healing in a variety of ways.

The Courage to Heal

Learn from the past - courage

Recovery offered me deep healing that led me to other healing opportunities.

At first, I was angry at God and stayed away from my church for over twenty years, but I returned about fifteen years ago and love it still.

For years, I sought out healing through therapy. At first after my first marriage, I followed conventional lines and went to a psychiatrist. Sadly, I was still drinking so I didn’t receive much help, but I kept the door open.

In 1988, I went to Codependency Treatment. I had started attending CoDA meeting prior to that, and those meetings introduced me to recovery meetings. It was at this treatment center I realized I was an alcoholic. I had used alcohol to medicate my hidden pain.

In 1993, I went to Sexual Trauma Treatment because I had two childhood memory flashbacks bombarding me. At this place, they helped me to sort through the memories and reconcile what they were. Also, they introduced me to Sand Play Therapy there.

After that, I found a fantastic Sand Play therapist who I worked with for over twenty years.

A few years ago, I joined an International Meditation group which has contributed to my healing by slowing me down and taking time to listen.

All of these different avenues helped heal me.

The Courage Continues!

Last year, I did EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy because of the dog attack I had in 2024, but we had to go back in my history to some of those incest memories to deepen the healing. This therapist helped me brainstorm possible ways to become an advocate for survivors, and I remembered my book.

Finally,

In this new book, I plan to mix my story with a fictional landscape and other characters. I know that’s this topic is intimate and maybe a trigger for some, but I have summoned my deepest courage to continue with this project and finish it. I felt an urgency today to address the courage it takes to write about this.

Hopefully you will support me in this endeavor.

AllAuthor.com Nonfiction Book Cover Contest – Time Measured Out! has slipped to #7, so go and vote ASAP at https://allauthor.com/cover-of-the-month/20500/

Larada meme - courage
Join me on my journey!

Professional Reader

My Newest Books

Time Measured Out!: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Book #2 e-book

ISBN – 9798989688654

$.99 for limited time

is my truth universal? book cover

Is My Truth Universal?: A Woman’s Poetic Odyssey e-book

ISBN – 979-8989688623

ALWAYS FREE

Was It a Dream? book cover

Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Book #1 – e-book

ISBN – 979-8989688630

 $3.99

Hair on Fire book cover

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir e-book

ISBN – 978-0996614498

$3.99

Buy My Audio Books:

This Tumbleweed Landed

This Tumbleweed Landed audiobook cover

Let Me Tell You a Story 

Let Me Tell You a Story audiobook cover

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Memoir Audiobook

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir audiobook cover

Are Women Friends Important ?: Let’s Celebrate International Women’s Day!
Friends · Life Lessons · My Thoughts · Women

Are Women Friends Important ?: Let’s Celebrate International Women’s Day!

Larada Horner-MillerLeave a comment
International Women's Day

How important are women friends to you? That’s has been rolling around in my head all day as I get notifications on my phone that today is International Women’s Day! Here’s what I think!

My Role Model for Women Friends

My whole life my mom had women friends that she counted on. At first, there was Mokey McMillan, the wife of my dad’s best friend, Roy McMillan. Moving out to a small ranching community, Mokey welcomed her as a newlywed and helped her learn the ropes in a small tight-knit community.

Later, Helen Waldroup became one of the women Mom confided in—a best friend. They worked side-by-side at many events in Branson. They gave each other perms and spent hours together, just visiting. I watched this relationship and marveled.

As Mom grew older, Betty Clark and Rose Ward were women she depended on. Betty lived across the street, so they visited each other easily, sharing recipes and kitchen ingredients when needed. Rose sat on the porch with Mom, drinking beer or Tequila Rose and toasting people as they drove by. She kept up friendships to the end.

When her dear sister, Willa Urbanoski, moved closer to her, they became inseparable, enjoying trips to town to shop or times together laughing and reminiscing about their earlier lives.

Mom showed me her whole life the value of women friends.

Growing Up in a Small Community

As a child and young adult, I had girlfriends who hold special places in my memory. Kay McMillan and I were the two girls in our four-person class. We started kindergarten together and went on to share a room for the first semester of our freshman year at Trinidad State Junior College.

I would also add Kay’s sister, Mona, and Jill Clark to my list of girlfriends in my growing up years. But I also had other girlfriends: Janie Gilstrap, Audrey Green and Georgia Anne Doherty. And one of my original girlfriends was my first cousin Joanne Doherty who I spent many holidays and family gatherings with!

Beauty Salon Women Friends

When I moved to Loveland, Colorado in the mid-70s, these women beauticians welcomed me into the beauty salon world there: Barb Long and her daughter, Cindy. Cindy became my party-partner during a crazy time of my life, but she accepted me totally.

At the University at 28, I Needed A Girlfriend

When I went to the university at 28 years old, Eloise Keeney became a mainstay after a tumultuous divorce. We both were English majors and met in the computer lab for the English department where we worked. I laughed at our size difference: she was near six feet tall; me a short five foot three. Her hilarious humor kept me going through this major life change.

My Move to Albuquerque—Teacher Women Friends

Rhonda Sandoval, my teammate at Washington Middle School, has stayed one of the key women in my life since 1991. Also, Rebecca Betzen! We taught together and have been life-long friends! In fact, we had lunch last Thursday with Rhonda’s mother to keep in touch after my move.

Rhonda has gone through the loss of my parents with me; Rebecca, the loss of my mom. In fact, these two women appeared surprisingly at my mom’s funeral in Trinidad, Colorado —about 200 miles from Albuquerque. That’s the kind of women they are and the friendship we have.

My Wedding to Lin & My Women Friends

Our Wedding Party - women

When Lin and I married, our wedding was totally unconventional. He had two best men! I had eleven women stand up with me: Lynn Hafer, Nora Creed, Freddie Franks, Mary Jo Smith, Christy Ortega, Rhonda Sandoval, Rebecca Betzen, Sheri Pastian, Cecilia Pounds, Lorraine Hogan and Carolyn Schaeffer.

All of these women played an important role in my life over the years through traveling, square dancing, teaching and recovery.

I Met With Two More Women Last Week

My Raton students - women

Last week, I met with two of students from Raton Middle School who are now in their late 40s—I call them my “Raton Girls.” I taught them in the eighth grade, and we have stayed connected over the years. These two younger women bless me so! What beautiful women they have grown up to be—giving back to the community through their jobs and their lives!

Finally,

Today’s the day to celebrate the women in your life. What a delightful time I’ve had looking at my history of women friends. How rich and what a blessing they all have been! Take a moment to cherish those special relationships you have right now!

If you don’t have one woman you can call right now, make that a priority for this next year and check in with me!

Professional Reader

My Newest Books

Time Measured Out!: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Book #2 e-book

ISBN – 9798989688654

$3.99

is my truth universal? book cover

Is My Truth Universal?: A Woman’s Poetic Odyssey e-book

ISBN – 979-8989688623

ALWAYS FREE

Was It a Dream? book cover

Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Book #1 – e-book

ISBN – 979-8989688630

 $3.99

Hair on Fire book cover

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir e-book

ISBN – 978-0996614498

$3.99

Buy My Audio Books:

This Tumbleweed Landed

This Tumbleweed Landed audiobook cover

Let Me Tell You a Story 

Let Me Tell You a Story audiobook cover

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Memoir Audiobook

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir audiobook cover

Bird Watching in Panama
My Thoughts · Panama

Bird Watching in Panama

Larada Horner-Miller2 Comments
Jason's photos of a male quetzal bird

On Friday, February 27, Lin, my husband and I went on a bird watching trip with our landlord’s nephew, Jason Lara, to see quetzal birds. I have wanted to see one since I was in my twenties visiting Maya Indian ruins in Mexico. The Mayans revered the quetzal bird and used their feathers in their costumes.

Costa Rica—Looking for Birds, Especially the Quetzal

In 2020, we went on a bird watching tour in Costa Rica, but I was dealing with cataracts at the time and a camera that wasn’t working well, so I didn’t see one at all. Groups of people ran here and there as the guides sighted the birds flying from tree to tree. Our tour guide then took my iPhone and got a photo off of his telescope that was fantastic, but I never saw it with my own eyes, so it felt incomplete.

Quezal bird - Costa Rica
Male Quetzal in Costa Rica in 2020

Boquete, Panama Bird Watching

On Friday, we looked and waited patiently for 2-3 hours—patience is a virtue. I took a lot of nature pictures because the setting was gorgeous. But we gave up because the clouds rolled in and the evening approached, and we only saw a pair of quetzals fly overhead.

Jaon’s telescope
Lin looking for quetzal birds
Beautiful scenry!

Jason told us he would add us to his short list of people who didn’t see a quetzal—we were number 5!

As we wandered our way through the jungle back to the restaurant at TreeTrek, we saw a male quetzal—that’s the one with the bright turquoise color and long tail and plume, but once again my camera didn’t work. It focused on the leaves and branches between us and not on the quetzal. Jason’s pictures begin this post.

However, I did get some photos of a beautiful bird there—I think it’s a hummingbird. What do you think?

Hummingbird maybe? bird
Bird

Once Again—My Repeated Bird Watching Story

But once again, Jason, our tour guide saved the day and put pictures on my iPhone using his high-powered telescope. And once again, my desire to see a male quetzal in the wild ended sadly.

We moved to the patio of the TreeTrek’s restaurant. Jason set up his telescope to keep watching, turning it towards the tree where he and Lin saw the male quetzal. I turned and with the naked eye, I saw turquoise and Jason exclaimed, “There’s a female.”

I high-fived with Lin and set up my camera, but it had flown away before I could find it again. It was a long distance away, but I saw the turquoise and that felt good—I’ll take it anyway I can!

Afterwards, we shared a delicious tropical drink, chicken bits and French fries, visiting and enjoying the evening with Jason.

Finally,

I haven’t given up. I plan on going on another bird watching tour with Jason in the future, and I plan on seeing and photographing a quetzal—and you will see, I promise!

This is short this week, because I’m sitting in the Houston airport writing it. I’m on my way to Albuquerque today for few days and then on to our ranch in southeastern Colorado to see my brother.

Here’s a review quote about my new book, Time Measured Out!: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry:

“Each poem feels like a quiet pause—an invitation to slow down and consider the moments that shape us.”

Vote here for my book cover for AllAuthors.com’s March Cover Contest: https://allauthor.com/cover-of-the-month/20500/

Larada Horner-Miller picture - bird
I saw a female quetzal! Yahooooo! Now, I want to see a male!

Professional Reader

My Newest Books

Time Measured Out!: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Book #2 e-book

ISBN – 9798989688654

$.99 for limited time

is my truth universal? book cover

Is My Truth Universal?: A Woman’s Poetic Odyssey e-book

ISBN – 979-8989688623

ALWAYS FREE

Was It a Dream? book cover

Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Book #1 – e-book

ISBN – 979-8989688630

 $3.99

Hair on Fire book cover

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir e-book

ISBN – 978-0996614498

$3.99

Buy My Audio Books:

This Tumbleweed Landed

This Tumbleweed Landed audiobook cover

Let Me Tell You a Story 

Let Me Tell You a Story audiobook cover

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Memoir Audiobook

Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir audiobook cover