Hi there! After much hurry-up-and-waiting, suddenly there’s just over six months and counting until my debut novel is out in the world! I know! Forgive me for my enthusiasm: I am a debut author at 52 years old. I will be launching this novel into the world in the same year that I launch my daughter off to college and become an empty nester. It’s a momentous time for me. And I’m glad you’ll be along for the ride.
Set against Nantucket’s Great Fire of 1846, this sweeping, emotional novel brings together three courageous women battling to save everything they hold dear.
And, with that, I’m so excited to share with you the cover design for DAUGHTERS OF NANTUCKET, coming from MIRA/HarperCollins on March 14, 2023!
DRUM-ROLL, PLEASE!
The gold! The whale! The three main characters poised on the whale’s tail! The water that appears to be ON FIRE! That little ship! A blurb from an author I admire! And the beautiful woodcut style! Plus, MY NAME!
Seriously. On and on. Let’s start a book club to discuss the many merits of this cover. From the rope detail to the fanciful font for “A novel” to the deep sea background texture evoking the feeling of damask wallpaper lining the walls of an old Nantucket home, this cover is EVERYTHING.
Don’t you want one? Or three?
Well, I have some good news about that: you can pre-order DAUGHTERS today!
Why pre-order the book now? Because pre-orders help signal to the publisher that a novel is getting attention and buzz. Buzz is very good for a book. It helps the publisher feel confident about the title’s potential to do well in a crowded marketplace. The more we can talk about this book and spread the word before its release, the better. It’s like clapping for Tinkerbell.
Because I want to promote independent bookstores, and because I love all things Nantucket, one terrific option is to order yours from the amazing Nantucket Book Partners, although you can also head to Amazon, Bookshop.org, your favorite local indie, or wherever books are sold. The novel is coming out as a trade paperback, so save your money and please buy the paperback format. (Why is it a paperback? It has something to do with what sells well in the market for commercial historical fiction.)
And, if you are looking for an awesome deal, perhaps wanting to buy several copies at once for your book club, your best friend who loves Nantucket, and/or your sister who loves historical fiction, from today, 9/7 until Friday, 9/9 Barnes & Noble is offering a 25% sale on all PRINT pre-orders. Use the code PREORDER25 at checkout. You’re welcome.
Secondly, if you are on Goodreads, please add DAUGHTERS to your Want to Read list. This signals something magically awesome to the publisher too.
Lastly, I want to thank you for taking the time to read this email today and to cheer me on. I will be sending out this newsletter about once a month and promise not to be too annoying. If you are reading this, you are already subscribed, but you can always opt-out. Also, consider following me on Facebook and Instagram, where I’ll be posting more book news and life news, plus a PART TWO of the cover reveal tomorrow. (Clue: it has something to do with the pub day of 3.14….aka Pi Day.)
In addition to sharing info about my book launch and tour dates/locations, the newsletter will include brief stories of my summers on Nantucket – I just found the best old photos! – plus some insider info about my favorite place on earth.
Me on Surfside beach, Nantucket, July 1979
Maybe you’ll even join me next spring on Nantucket. Wouldn’t THAT BE THE BEST? Stay tuned for details.
xo Julie