Have you ever wondered what physician family life is really like? Is it all champagne and caviar, or more like 5-hour energy drink and Cup O' Noodles ramen? 

I'm demystifying it all in a new guest blog for The Flipside Life, an organization dedicated to the well-being of physician families (like mine). 

Read more about medical life glitz vs. grit in The Flipside Life blog, which features an excerpt from my book, "Memoirs of a Surgeon's Wife: I'm Throwing Your Damn Pager into the Ocean." 

Find all of my bylines and media mentions here. 

Raise a glass and get to reading!

It's ANNIVERSARY time! One year ago, my book on love and modern medicine, "Memoirs of a Surgeon's Wife", was published!

Can I get a woop woop? :) 

To celebrate and thank my readers, I'm launching a BIG BOOK ANNIVERSARY SALE, starting right NOW! 

Now is the perfect time to grab your copy, or one for a friend, since both the e-book and paperback are on sale on Amazon (US market ONLY).

SALE DATES: JULY 17-22, 2019 (HURRY!)

Here are all the details: 
 
E-book Sale: Was $8.99 USD, NOW: $2.99 USD ($6.00 savings!) Amazon US market only.
 
Paperback Sale: Was $14.95 USD, NOW $9.95 USD ($5.00 savings!). That’s the lowest Amazon will allow me to price the paperback and still cover printing costs. Amazon US market only.
 
These deals are available ONLY on Amazon's US market, until midnight Central Time on Monday, July 22nd.
 
Get your copy before the sale ends!
 
Where You Can Find “Memoirs of a Surgeon’s Wife”
Amazon Kindle version
Amazon Paperback version

Cheers, and happy reading!

Here’s what the book is all about:
 
Megan Sharma is a surgeon's wife. During her husband's seven years of post-medical school training, while he tackled the dirty work of putting broken faces back together and painstakingly peeling cancer from his patients' jugular veins, she became his sugar mama and helped pave his path to glory.
 
Using humor, reflection, keen observation, and journalistic research, "Memoirs of a Surgeon’s Wife: I’m Throwing Your Damn Pager into the Ocean" peels back the surgical mask to reveal the human being underneath. From the 10 commandments for pleasing superiors to the conundrum of the 80-hour workweek to wearing mismatched shoes to work, Sharma delves into the world of modern medicine as experienced by physician trainees and their loved ones.  
When medicine meets holy matrimony, anything can happen…

For links to ALL editions of "Memoirs of a Surgeon's Wife," click here.

Now is the perfect time to grab your copy, or one for a friend, since both the e-book and paperback are on sale on Amazon.
 
E-book Promotion: Was $9.99 USD, NOW: $3.99 USD ($6.00 savings!) All international Amazon markets also on sale.
 
Paperback Promotion: Was $14.95 USD, NOW $9.95 USD ($5.00 savings!). That’s the lowest Amazon will allow me to price the paperback and still cover printing costs. All international Amazon markets also on sale.
 
These deals are available ONLY on Amazon, until 8:00 pm Central Time on Thursday, September 6th (that’s my birthday, BTW).
 
Get your copy before the sale ends!
 
Here’s what the book is all about:
 
Megan Sharma is a surgeon's wife. During her husband's seven years of post-medical school training, while he tackled the dirty work of putting broken faces back together and painstakingly peeling cancer from his patients' jugular veins, she became his sugar mama and helped pave his path to glory.
 
Using humor, reflection, keen observation, and journalistic research, "Memoirs of a Surgeon’s Wife: I’m Throwing Your Damn Pager into the Ocean" peels back the surgical mask to reveal the human being underneath. From the 10 commandments for pleasing superiors to the conundrum of the 80-hour workweek to wearing mismatched shoes to work, Sharma delves into the world of modern medicine as experienced by physician trainees and their loved ones.  
When medicine meets holy matrimony, anything can happen…

For links to ALL editions of "Memoirs of a Surgeon's Wife," click here.

Hello, friends! Thank you for visiting my VIP Book Launch Team Application page for "Memoirs of a Surgeon's Wife: I'm Throwing Your Damn Pager into the Ocean", coming July 17, 2018.

This book has been nearly 5 years in the making, so I am beyond thrilled that it will be published this summer, and I want YOU to be part of the magic!

The VIP Book Launch Team will receive a FREE EARLY EDITION DIGITAL COPY OF THE BOOK and, in exchange, will help me make the book a smash hit by:

• Reading the book ahead of the launch date (July 17, 2018)
• Spreading the word on social media during launch week
• Downloading the book on the launch date
• Leaving an Amazon review on the launch date
• Sharing any special talents or connections

If you're on board, please complete the form below and we will let you know if you've been selected for the VIP Book Launch Team ASAP.

The application deadline is Monday, May 28, 2018. Don't miss your chance to read "Memoirs of a Surgeon's Wife" before everyone else does!

Applications received after May 28, 2018 will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Our readers need enough time to read the book before launch!

Feel free to reach out to [email protected] with any questions, or if you have any trouble with the form below (I'm happy to add people manually as needed). Cheers and a million thanks for your support!

PS - Feel free to share this with anyone who may be interested. Share the love!

​Best,

You may also like these blogs by Megan Sharma:
Book Release Date for "Memoirs of a Surgeon's Wife" by Megan Sharma: July 17, 2018
Writing Quiz: What Percent Writing Genius Are You?
BIG NEWS! I’m self-publishing my memoir in 2018. Here’s why…
Book cover design: How I developed a concept for my indie author book cover
It's Here! Get My Free E-Book: 100 of Your Toughest Business Emails: Solved on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks and more
150 social media post ideas to steal right now for your brand or business
Try this new, no-brainer social media tool to support an author: Thunderclap
Book preview for When Medicine Meets Holy Matrimony: A word to mothers who aspire to have a surgeon-in-law
Book preview for When Medicine Meets Holy Matrimony: No, I don’t want no scrubs
Book preview for When Medicine Meets Holy Matrimony: The other shoe
On The Write Life: 12 Traits Bad Writers and Toddlers Have in Common
On The Write Life: 18 Ways to Support an Author (Besides Buying Their Book)
On The Write Life: 17 Incredible Possibilities if Writers Ran The World
For writers: All your writing fears, squashed!
A real, imperfect day in the life of a writer: me

2018 is going to be an exciting year for this indie (independent) author. Think: acting a fool level of excitement.

I recently decided to self-publish my debut nonfiction book on love and modern medicine: Memoirs of a Surgeon’s Wife: I’m Throwing Your Damn Pager into the Ocean. And it’s going to happen in the next couple of months! Happy dance!
 
Although I have written and published a business writing advice book, available free on Amazon, this will be my first self-published full-length nonfiction book.
 
One of the coolest things about being an indie author is that you maintain creative control over the whole shebang, including the book title and the cover art.
 
I’m no professional artist or graphic designer, but I have taken art and photography classes and have a decent artistic eye [pats self on back]. 

Since this book is kinda my baby, aside from my actual baby (who is no longer a baby, as she frequently reminds me), it’s important for me to get it right.
 
I’ll be working with a friend who is a graphic designer on the book cover design, but I wanted to come to her with several ideas and concepts to get the ball rolling.
 
So, for any other indie authors, self-publishers or the curious among ye, I’m sharing my process for developing a book cover design concept. You can judge the final result when we have…ahem…the final result: the big book cover reveal!

Book cover design: How to develop a concept for your indie author book cover

Step 1: Shop around
 
To know what you like and what you are drawn to, you need to shop around. You can accomplish this this by browsing bookstores or browsing online.
 
If you choose to browse a bookstore, check out the bestsellers for all genres first. Make note of or discreetly photograph (for your own personal use only, of course) the covers you covet. Then make your way to your book genre’s section and see what grabs you.
 
I personally started my search online with good old Google. I googled “Best book covers of 2017” and found several curated lists. For me, this was a good starting point.

Step 2: Create your vision board
 
Since I chose to go the online route for my initial research, I created a Pinterest board called Book Cover Inspiration, and linked the book covers that had me swooning. I also made short notes on what elements of the book cover I liked (illustration style, colors, typography, etc.).
 
The board confirmed what types of book covers I’m drawn to and helped me narrow down my favorite styles.

Step 3: Consider the heart of your book
 
Now is the time to ask yourself some questions about your book.
 
What is the overall tone of the book? What is the message of the book? Why did you write the book? Who is the book’s primary audience? What category does the book belong in?
 
Since I initially pursued traditional publishing for my book, all these questions were answered in great detail in my nonfiction book proposal.
 
But I still took the time to think through them and write down succinct answers. This information will also come in handy during the final step. 

Step 4: Pretend you’re an artist
 
Once you’ve captured the key tone and message of your book, brainstorm some ideas, then grab a pen and some paper and get to drawing!
 
I hand-illustrated 12 concepts, hated most of them, and came up with one that I absolutely love.
 
The process is fun and helps you tap into your creative side.
 
You can also try a digital mock-up, if you’re so inclined, in Canva. Just pick a template for an e-book cover and get to work. 

Step 5: Hand it over to a professional
 
The importance of a professional-quality, striking book cover cannot be overstated. This is not a job to take on yourself, unless you are a graphic designer or a book cover designer.
 
Think about it: we all judge books by their covers. It’s not a vanity thing – it helps us determine which books are worth our time and money.
 
Thankfully in this digital age there are plentiful and affordable options for book cover designers – both for e-books and for print books.
 
Here are recommended designer resources from authors I trust:
Joanna Penn’s recommendations
Mark Coker’s Smashwords recommendations
 
I haven’t experienced it yet, but I also intend to give Fiverr’s freelance book designers a try. 

Take these extra steps to conceptualize your book before the professionals jump in. It will help you narrow your vision and improve the ultimate quality of your book.
 
What book design tips can you share with us? What are your favorite book covers? Leave a comment!

You may also like these blogs by Megan Sharma:
BIG NEWS! I’m self-publishing my memoir in 2018. Here’s why…
It's Here! Get My Free E-Book: 100 of Your Toughest Business Emails: Solved on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks and more
Book preview for When Medicine Meets Holy Matrimony: A word to mothers who aspire to have a surgeon-in-law
Book preview for When Medicine Meets Holy Matrimony: No, I don’t want no scrubs
Book preview for When Medicine Meets Holy Matrimony: For the love of Danskos
Book preview for When Medicine Meets Holy Matrimony: The other shoe
Writing tips: What I want to blog about vs. what I actually blog about
One year after my major career change from full-time mom to full-time writer: reflections and lessons learned
For writers: All your writing fears, squashed!
A real, imperfect day in the life of a writer: me
Your writing conference checklist: how to make it worth every minute and every penny (takeaways from the 2017 San Francisco Writers Conference)

New year, new byline, and new tips on how you can support your favorite authors!
 
The Write Life is a trusted source of information for writers of all genres.
 
This piece, published on The Write Life, focuses on how you can show love and support for authors – without spending a penny!
 
For new authors (present company included), it’s just as important, if not more so, to have help spreading the word than to make a few bucks on a book (although we don’t hate that! Go for it!).
 
Check out the article here, and feel free to add your feedback on creative and simple ways to share the love with the authors in your life and on your bookshelf. 

You can find all of my articles on The Write Life here.  

Cheers!   

You may also like these blogs by Megan Sharma:
On The Write Life: 17 Incredible Possibilities if Writers Ran The World
On The Write Life: Get Inspired! 20 Writers to Follow on Twitter
Article on The Write Life: Think Like a Journalist to Improve Your Writing (Trench Coat Optional!)
How to be the perfect friend: a guide for the ladies
Writing tips: What I want to blog about vs. what I actually blog about
One year after my major career change from full-time mom to full-time writer: reflections and lessons learned
For writers: All your writing fears, squashed!
A real, imperfect day in the life of a writer: me
Your writing conference checklist: how to make it worth every minute and every penny (takeaways from the 2017 San Francisco Writers Conference) 
The write stuff: An author’s favorite books and authors 
Writing tips: Cutting down on word fat and other newsletter best practices 
All about writing: writing 'til it hurts