Guest Post and Giveaway: The Artist’s Touch by E.J. Russell

Thank you to The Novel Approach for inviting me to stop by today! Hello, intrepid internet adventurers, and welcome to the blog tour for The Artist’s Touch, the first book in my Art Medium series. After the release of book two, Tested in Fire, in April, I’ll be giving away a $40 Riptide gift card, so please leave a comment for a chance to win.

Then and Now

The Artist’s Touch is the retitled, revised, and significantly expanded version of my first published book, Northern Light. It clocks in at just over 31K words now, but its first iteration, the one I submitted to a previous publisher, the version that was originally contracted, was less than 14K. (This was because it was submitted in response to a 2012 call for novellas between 10K and 15K.)

Since Northern Light was my first contracted book, I was completely clueless about how to interact with my editor, what the book production process would entail, and what was expected from me. I mean, somebody actually wanted to publish my story! I was afraid to ask questions in case they changed their minds!

When I got my first round of edits back, my first thought was, “If they hated it so much, why the heck did they contract it?” Then I sat down and tried to address my editor’s concerns. In the process, the word count grew to nearly 26K.

Gulp.

The novella line for which the book had been accepted had a soft upper limit of 15K, but the next novella line (which had a different submission call theme than the story I’d submitted) started at 20K. I tried to slash words, redo scenes, find some way to get it down below that 20K threshold.

Did I mention I had no idea how to interact with my editor and was afraid to ask questions?

When I finally tired of beating my head against the slash-and-burn brick wall at about 21K, I rustled up my courage and sent her an email, explaining my dilemma. Her response?

“No problem. We’ll just shift it to the other line.”

Cue the side-eye—at myself.

However, I learned a valuable lesson: Before you drive yourself crazy, don’t be afraid to ask the freaking question!

After the rights to Northern Light reverted to me, I was noodling around, thinking about self-publishing, however I knew I wanted to expand the story first. While I was waffling, I got an email from Sarah Lyons (the Editorial Director at my fabulous publisher, Riptide). She said they had a gap in their publishing schedule in February and wondered if I had anything short that might be ready to go quickly.

Well, I adore working with the Riptide team, but this was a reprint, so I wasn’t to sure they’d want it. However, I had a never-before-published sequel that was in first draft form. Remember my hard-earned lesson? Ask the freaking question. So I asked Sarah and Rachel Haimowitz (my awesome editor) if they’d be interested in the two “Art Medium” books and sent Rachel a copy of Northern Light, letting her know that I wanted to expand the story by about another 10K words.

Luckily for me, Rachel loved the story and was on board with publishing the series. Her input in developmental edits, as well as Carol-Anne Galloway’s work during line edits, was invaluable, and way less intimidating that my first editorial experience. My little 14K novella has more than doubled in size, and I couldn’t be happier with it, or more pleased that it’s found a new home with Riptide!

About the Book

Two men haunted by more than the past. 

Painter Stefan Cobbe was homeless and debt-ridden after the death of his wealthy partner, but the worst loss of all was his artistic inspiration. After two years of nothing, he’s offered patronage by an eccentric gallery owner and starts to produce again, canvas after canvas. The only problem? He can’t remember painting any of them—not one single brushstroke.

Luke Morganstern’s reputation as an art-fraud investigator is in tatters. He can’t afford to turn down any job, even a lousy one for an anonymous client who sends him after an unidentified forger in a remote cabin in Oregon. When the alleged forger turns out to be Stefan, the man he never stopped loving, Luke’s professional ethics are stretched beyond the breaking point.

As the two men take tentative steps toward reconciliation, evidence begins to mount that they’re not alone in the woods. Someone—or something—is watching. Something with sinister plans for them both. To escape, Luke must overcome his suspicions and Stefan must trust Luke with his deepest fears. Otherwise they could forfeit their relationship, their sanity—and their lives.

Publisher’s note: This is a heavily revised and significantly expanded reprint of Northern Light. The second book in the Art Medium series, Tested In Fire, is a first edition. Both are sold together in both ebook and print collections.

[zilla_button url=”http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/the-artists-touch” style=”blue” size=”large” type=”round” target=”_blank”] Available Now From Riptide Publishing [/zilla_button]

About the Art Medium Series

Artists use all manner of materials to express their vision, to interpret the world around them, to affect the hearts and minds of their audience.

But what if the artist himself were the medium? And what if artistic inspiration weren’t the only force at work?

If painter Stefan Cobbe and art investigator Luke Morganstern don’t answer those questions fast, they stand to lose their reputations, their relationship—and their lives.

Check out the Art Medium series now!

About the Author

E.J. Russell holds a BA and an MFA in theater, so naturally she’s spent the last three decades as a financial manager, database designer, and business-intelligence consultant. After her twin sons left for college and she no longer spent half her waking hours ferrying them to dance class, she returned to her childhood love of writing fiction. Now she wonders why she ever thought an empty nest meant leisure.

E.J. lives in rural Oregon with her curmudgeonly husband, the only man on the planet who cares less about sports than she does. She enjoys visits from her wonderful adult children, and indulges in good books, red wine, and the occasional hyperbole.

Connect with E.J.: Website || Blog || Facebook || Twitter || Pinterest

The Giveaway

To celebrate the release of both books in the Art Medium series, one lucky winner will receive a $40 Riptide credit! Winner will be pulled from entries to both blog tours. Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Contest closes at midnight, Eastern time, on April 7, 2017 and is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following The Artist’s Touch tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!