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Tough Talk

January 29, 2018

After presenting a workshop on how to have a difficult conversation at work, business consultants Andrea Hopke and Becky Dannenfelser of Clearwater Consulting Group knew they had a hot topic for a book.

Building on the response to a prep sheet they created for how to prepare for a difficult conversation at work, they identified a list of subjects that respondents and clients found most challenging as basis for their book

I was in early on brainstorming sessions and suggested adding a worksheet at the end of every chapter so that people could reflect and plan their own next steps based on insights from that particular topic. With statistics cited in the book, I created charts that were used both in the book and a companion Powerpoint presentation.

When we couldn’t find a stock photo that was exactly what we wanted, I art directed a custom photo shoot so we could get the perfect visual. I also formatted the interior pages and worked with the vendors for printing books, getting listed on Amazon, and writing a press release that was distributed to media outlets around the country.

cwc TTParty13 sm To celebrate their book’s launch, Andrea and Becky had a party! What a fun way to get the word out to clients and prospects.

Since their book published in 2014, I’ve worked extensively with Clearwater Consulting Group to give their brand a cohesive look and I’m proud to serve as the marketing arm of their team.

Contact me to discuss how I can help bring your book from concept to creation. Or, let’s talk about your marketing and graphic needs. Call me at 678-521-8820 or visit VanessaLowry.com to see more examples of my graphic design, writing, marketing, and art projects.

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Stop Doing That!

November 8, 2013

My friend Essie Escobedo owns a company called Office Angels. Her “angels” help small businesses with administrative support, marketing assistance, bookkeeping, event planning, follow-up, and more. With Office Angels taking care of these essential tasks, the owner and key staff members are able to concentrate on selling and delivering on what they do best.

When Essie and I met to discuss ideas for her book, I recalled an e-newsletter she had sent with the title “Stop Doing That!” Brilliant! The title had captured my attention and prompted me to read the full article. After deciding this was the perfect book title, the manuscript came together easily.

Essie gathered content she had written previously for newsletters, brochures, her website, and other marketing materials. Then, with the help of writing coach Dr. Tim Morrison, they developed the manuscript for Stop Doing That! 21 Activities Critical to Business Success That YOU Shouldn’t Do. I designed the cover and formatted the interior. The result is a pocket-sized 5.5″ x 5.5″ book that is easily read by even the busiest entrepreneur.

I’ve known Essie for many years, but I learned a few things I didn’t know through her author bio in the book—that she has a degree in physics and a black belt in karate. I already knew she was kick-a** smart. . . I just didn’t know how she got there!

It’s a treat when I have the opportunity to work with a friend and help them shine. This is what Essie said about working with me:

“My book would not exist had it not been for Vanessa. She is a marketing genius and a phenomenal graphic designer—a unique combo! Vanessa helped me understand the value of writing my book. She held my hand throughout the entire process, making it easy and ensuring that the end result would be the hugely successful marketing piece that it has proven to be. Anyone who is serious about growing their business needs to work with Vanessa.”

Dr. Tim and I had the pleasure of interviewing Essie for Write Here, Write Now radio. Essie tell how Stop Doing That! serves as an expanded business card to highlight activities critical to business success that Office Angels provides for clients. Listen to the archived show here.

Find out more about Essie, about Office Angels, and purchase her book at www.officeangels.us.

Contact me to discuss how I can help bring your book from concept to creation. Or, let’s talk about your marketing and graphic needs. Call me at 678-521-8820. Find out more about me by visiting my LinkedIn profile.

Tags:Essie Escobedo, Office Angels, Stop Doing That!, Tim Morrison, vanessa lowry
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Musings on Major and Minor Matters that May or May Not Matter

January 8, 2012

I have really fun clients. And one of the most fun is Myra McElhaney. The recent project we completed together is her book, Musings on Major and Minor Matters that May or May Not Matter by Myra McElhaney. The title makes me laugh out loud and her poetry caused me to run the gamut of emotions from laughter to tears.

Here is a description of this book:

Sometimes a poem seems to be the best way to capture the snapshot of a feeling. Whether it’s an observation of life, happiness, grief or simple silliness, author Myra McElhaney writes poetry to express her feelings. Many of the poems in this book were a result of a ‘poem du jour’ challenge with her mentor and friend Russell G. Hood. She found that writing poetry was a fun, creative outlet and later discovered that when her heart was breaking after the death of her husband Phil McElhaney, she could put the pain on the page. Myra’s hope is that you have a laugh, relate to a feeling or find an insight from these Musings By Myra.

Myra was my guest on Write Here, Write Now radio to talk about her book and how her network of contacts has helped her in gathering information and publishing her books. Myra also describes how how this book came into being.

Myra calls me her “Graphic Design Goddess Extraordinare.” Just one of many reasons I love working with her!

I’ve worked with Myra on several other projects included her book, Mama Always Says, and the McElhaney Pub t-shirt design. (The proceeds from t-shirt sales are donated in Phil’s memory to organizations for brain cancer research.)

Myra’s books are available on Amazon. Contact her to order McElhaney Pub t-shirts.

Let me know if I can help you bring your book from concept to creation! Or, let’s talk about your marketing and graphic needs. Contact me at 678-521-8820. Find out more about me by visiting my LinkedIn profile or watching my video profile.

Tags:brain cancer, Myra McElhaney, poetry, t shirt design, vanessa lowry
Posted in books, graphic design, inspiration, poetry, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Take Me To TEXAS

September 26, 2011

I’ve worked with Walter (aka TW) Lawrence on many projects and was thrilled he asked me to design his book cover for Take Me To TEXAS. It is an anthology of short stories… all with a Texas theme. Although, one story takes place in my current town of Roswell, GA.

Walter has a great marketing mind and is promoting his book in interesting ways. He launched the book over Labor Day weekend at the Decatur Book Festival in Atlanta, the largest independent book festival in the United States.

He posted this comment on his Facebook page after the festival: “Vanessa Lowry is the graphics designer for the book cover, front and back. She interpreted my vision for the artwork in a way that made it better and in the process made it FABULOUS. An independent bookseller told us it was ‘the best cover he’d seen in the entire festival.’ WOW.”

At the Decatur Book Festival, Walt was interviewed by Tim Morrison as part of the Write Here, Write Now radio remote. You can see how Walter took the audio and combined it with photos to make a YouTube video. Very smart!

Walter had posters printed of the front cover art as another item he can sell along with his book. He also had shirts embroidered with the headline type of Take Me to TEXAS to wear when he is out promoting the book. He has developed a 20 minute business presentation on the topic of the importance of creativity in business to share with business professionals at groups such as Rotary. He is an alumni of Emory University and they are listing his book in their newsletter with other published alumni. Walt’s joining groups in Atlanta that have Texas roots to network with others who love all things Texan.

The front of the card is just the book cover. This is the back of Walt's business card.

Walt was my first client to use a QR code on his business card. He tells me many stories of how that creates a conversation with the people he meets while networking.

He and two other fellow authors will have a booth at the Texas Book Festival in October 2011 representing the Atlanta Writers Club while each promoting their own newly published book.

Walter is using this book to build an audience for his upcoming novel, Texas Cool Million.

I guest host the radio show Write Here, Write Now once a month. Walt was my guest on August 9th when we talked about using the power of your network when writing, publishing and promoting a book. Walter’s interview starts at about 20 minutes into the show.

It is fun for me to work with creative clients like Walter. We learn new things together.

Posted in books, business, fiction, graphic design, marketing, self publishing, social media, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

Mama Always Says…

September 5, 2011

This books of quotes published by Myra McElhaney are straight out of MY childhood. And that is really the point. These quotes are familiar because MY Mama, YOUR Mama and MYRA’s Mama said them… or something very similar.

I love working with Myra. She always makes collaborating fun and we laugh often. Myra has also started calling me her Gifted Graphic Design Goddess. I’m taking it a step further and adding the letters GGDG after my name. Vanessa Lowry, GGDG!

In the past year, I’ve helped Myra publish Mama Always Says as well as her newest book, Musings on Major and Minor Matters that May or May Not Matter.

This is what Myra says about working with me: “I love working with Vanessa! She’s a gifted graphic designer who delivers inspired designs with professionalism. She’s also marketing savvy and shares many ideas on how to build my brand and expand the impact of my projects. Plus she’s fun to work with! That’s why I call her the Graphic Design Goddess Extraordinaire! Vanessa not only designs my business cards, marketing materials and books; she helps me take my ideas to a higher level.”

You can purchase your own copy of Mama Always Says from Amazon.

Myra and I also created a t-shirt commemorating McElhaney’s Pub. Myra’s husband, Phil McElhaney, died a few years ago as a result of a brain tumor. Proceeds from the sale of these t-shirts go to brain cancer research. You can contact Myra through her website and find out more about purchasing the t-shirts.

Tags:Mama Always Says, McElhaney Pub, Myra McElhaney, Phil McElhaney, vanessa lowry
Posted in graphic design, inspiration, marketing, Uncategorized, writing | 1 Comment »

I Love Books

October 26, 2010

I love books. I love the ideas I get, the things I learn and the adventures upon which I embark just by reading a good book.

My love affair with books started very young. I remember being thrilled when I could read a book by myself. I have many fond memories of carrying an armload of books home on the days the book mobile stopped at the top of our street during summer vacation.

My husband loves to read and we often share ideas or read passages to one another from one of the several books we are each currently reading.

I’ve taken my passion for books a step further. I now help authors transfer their knowledge, expertise and imagination onto the printed page and create their own book. I have nearly 30 years of experience as a graphic designer and marketing professional. In addition to my own expertise, I’ve accumulated many contacts who assist authors every step of the way, including writing coaches, editors, print-on-demand vendors, video production companies, PR firms, web designers, virtual assistants and more.

I’ve co-written a book called 30 Days of Gratitude and was the designer for both the e-book and the printed version. Download a copy of the free e-book at www.DaysofGratitude.com.

Improv to Improve Your Business is an example of another collaborative book project from idea through completion. I assembled nine authors, interviewed and ghost wrote the chapters, designed the cover and formatted the interior of the book. Through my connections, we had our first radio interview to promote the book a week after it launched. The book is now available on Amazon.

Contact me if you want to talk about your book. You can call me at 678-521-8820. I look forward to seeing how I can help you! You can find out more about me on my LinkedIn profile or check out my video profile.

Tags:30 Days of Gratitude, authors, books, graphic design, Improv to Improve Your Business, marketing, print on demand, self publishing, vanessa lowry
Posted in books, business, graphic design, inspiration, marketing, self publishing, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment »

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