Blush: A Mennonite Girl Meets a Glittering World

Your invitation to the Cover Reveal

One of the most important decisions that publishers and authors make about a book is its title and its cover. This decision has been made for my memoir. I used Rosy Cheeks: A Mennonite Childhood as a working title when I proposed the book to Herald Press. But the title has changed.

I want to thank the wonderful friends on my Facebook Writer’s Page who offered wonderful feedback to me on the language of the title, helping me to think about each pro and con. If you have not yet “liked” that page, please do so.

Those same friends also said they wanted an event rather than just seeing the picture of the cover.

So, event it will be.

Friday December 28 at 2 p.m. a few friends will come over to my house. A poster of the cover will be unveiled from under Grandma Hess’ shawl.

We’d love to have you join us! But I know a trip to Virginia is impossible for some, so we will be live streaming the party.

Just submit your email in the box below and you will receive a special email invitation from me on the day of the event. (As a bonus, you will also receive my e-book, “How to Write a Memoir.”)

If you are already on my email list, you will receive an invitation as well.

Sign Up to join my virtual cover reveal party!

I’m excited to share what artist Merrill Miller of Herald Press came up with and to get your reactions.

And if you are too busy with holiday activities to join us live, you can also check in on Youtube afterward. I’ll put a link in the comments section after it’s posted.

See you then!

Shirley

P.S. I shared  my most embarrassing photo today. You don’t have any photos like this, do you?

Shirley Showalter

12 Comments

  1. Kathleen Pooler on December 17, 2012 at 5:12 pm

    This is so exciting, Shirley! I’ve put the date on my calender. What a creative way to host a virtual party! Your cover is stunning and draws me in immediately,both the image and the message. Thank you for sharing your journey and offering so much. I am taking many lessons from you 🙂

    Blessings,

    Kathy

    • shirleyhs on December 18, 2012 at 8:59 am

      Thanks, Kathy. We are all helping each other learn in this digital age. Thanks for signing up! And Merry Christmas.

  2. Karin Krisetya on December 17, 2012 at 8:11 pm

    Ah Shirley, this looks like such a fun event and I wish that I could be there. To see the cover, yes, but also to see your eyes twinkle just *before* you pull Grandma Hess’s shawl off the image! I may just have to get up early (3am my time) and join in via web link.

    • shirleyhs on December 18, 2012 at 9:04 am

      Dear Karin, I just drafted next week’s post and stuck a reference to Manilla and a few other cities around the world in there in hopes of having some international participation. However, I think 3 a.m. is well beyond any reasonable expectation. You are sweet to even think of it!

  3. Richard Aguirre on December 18, 2012 at 8:53 am

    I wish I could be there, but I’ll follow along online. Best wishes for reaching this significant milestone. I can’t wait to read your memoir!

    • shirleyhs on December 18, 2012 at 9:09 am

      Thanks, Richard. I know this time comes in the very center of sacred time with family and friends. We picked it because our tech-savvy kids will be with us then. Still lots of ways for this to go wrong for Grandma. I hope it will at least be entertaining. Thank you for saying you want to read the memoir. Good to know there will be at least one reader. 🙂

  4. Richard Gilbert on December 19, 2012 at 4:33 pm

    I love your new title, Shirley. When I was in publishing, we almost always changed the titles! I like how yours grew from your great working title. Of course, I have myself convinced, like all authors, that I have the perfect title already for my book! We’ll see. It’s my third.

    • shirleyhs on December 19, 2012 at 7:13 pm

      Richard, you’re making me curious. I hope you’ll soon be revealing your perfect title. I can hardly wait to read it. So glad you like the new title.

  5. Mary Ellen Mumma Harwood on December 27, 2012 at 12:14 pm

    Shirley,
    I am just a little confused by the red curtain. I know Gramdma Hess’s shawl would have been black.
    Mary Ellen

  6. Shirley on December 27, 2012 at 6:02 pm

    Mary Ellen, you get the sharp eye award! I had the poster under the black shawl at first, but my daughter Kate, who is helping me with the event, suggested the red table cloth from the dining room table for better coverage. And the Herald Press artist who designed both the cover and the invite is attracted to rose and red hues to match the title.

  7. Byron Rempel-Burkholder on December 28, 2012 at 2:02 pm

    So sorry to have to miss this! Have a great time.

  8. admin on December 29, 2012 at 9:22 am

    Thanks, Byron. I hope you have clicked on the link and watched the 20-minute video by the time you see this or soon thereafter. Amy Gingerich really did a great job explaining the choices that were made in designing the cover and choosing the title. MennoMedia has been a great partner in publishing. I look forward to working more with you as one of my editors in the next months.

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