Jo-Anne Vandermeulen

I’m so excited to share the process of publication with you. “Conquer All Obstacles” is my second book. Basically, I wrote a chapter a day and completed the entire ms just shortly after 3 months.

After I completed “Conquer All Obstacles”, I sent queries out to near 50 agents. Quickly, I discovered the market for hitting the traditional publishing firms were tighter than ever. Rejections spit forth like spew splattering on my computer screen after a real good sneeze…lol.

So I sat on the novel and cranked my body into the next direction God had called me to turn. In November of 2008, I opened my first page on blog templates and sank into the new terminology of marketing and promoting. Seems I was thirsty. I drank the system dry as I couldn’t get enough. Like a mirage in a desert, a vision came forth—the exciting new idea to start my own promotional business for authors. Premium Promotional Services launched March 2, 2009.

Everyday I meet so many wonderful people. Online, the opportunities are endless. And just like my husband, Randy, this is how I met my working partner, Brian Knight. I met both remarkable men on the computer…okay, perhaps in a tad different network site…lol. Next, I met my editor/publisher, Nancy Williams, on a social networking site. She’s marvelous, currently squeezing my hand as I teeter into yet another new journey…publishing.

I’ve been so blessed. So many wonderful friends have entered my life and all from the billions of Internet users. The once thought huge world is suddenly shrinking—becoming more manageable.

This weekend, during my youngest daughter’s, Brenda's, grade 12 graduation, the photographer, Al Stupak was gracious enough to fit in a few extra snaps. It was about time I replaced my profile picture. Cannot stay 40 forever, right? So here’s the real 44 year old lady. All I can say is thank goodness for technology. Al did an amazing job smoothing out the ‘ol wrinkles and removing the usual frown lines I have earned from raising 2 beautiful daughters.

Last night on Facebook, I sent out 2 pictures. I have to choose one and was perplexed. What better way to make a decision than to include all my friends. Nearly 4,000 followers on Facebook, where they vocal? You bet. What a great help.

Now it’s your turn to help me decide. Which picture would you pick for the back jacket of “Conquer All Obstacles”? Would you choose: picture #1 (where I’m sitting) or picture #2 (where I’m standing behind the chair)?