Rain Dance – Again

Sometimes being an author is hard, but even then, there’s hope. Either that I’m a radical optimist, and I’m not sure that’s a bad thing.

Recently, my publisher took Rain Dance out of print and returned the book rights back to me. That happens to authors every day. As I read the letter, I felt a sting of sadness – we both had big dreams for this book. Then, I considered putting it in storage, but first I prayed. As I did, a gentle surge of hope started to twirl in my heart. I asked God, “Really? You want me to try this again?” I paced and prayed some more. After I said yes, a peace I could not understand settled in.

The next step I took was to contemplate my target market – again. Christian women who are pro-life, infertile, or have chosen abortion and regret it. I stepped back into the book and tried to visualize Jonica – again. She’s young. So is Stacie. When I saw them with the eye of my imagination, I was stunned by how  young. None of the covers this book has worn have represented that vital piece of them. The new one had to.

Determined, I started the search for the right cover graphic. I spent hours looking and almost chose another, before I found this one:

Rain Dance re-release date: April 15, 2012 – Kindle E-book only.

She made me smile, and she looked like I’d always (yes – always) thought Jonica looked.

The thought of her on the cover excited me. I tested that by printing this off and walking out of the room for an hour and then back for a second, third, and fourth look. I liked her better each time.

Here’s the catch: Rain Dance tells the stories of two hurting women – at times it’s sad as they battle their pain, hypocrisies, and more hurt before they both find the hope that heals. What do I want my readers to know before they start reading? There is no happily ever after for either of my girls, but there is a hope-filled and hard-won  victory for both.  Do I really want to give away the end? I’m not – until you read the book  you have no idea how.

The other reason she appealed to me is that she is that in this picture, she radiates confidence – in my mind that confidence is in the One she has placed her faith in,  her husband, her best friend, and herself.

I want my readers to see who she is when her circumstances don’t change, but her faith triumphs after a heart-wearying battle. Isn’t that what we all want from the novels we read?

So – here’s the 4th Rain Dance cover. Do you see why I thought it was time for the file cabinet and why I resisted God a little? I’m stubborn, but it would have been far easier to let the book go. Instead here I am admitting failure and announcing I’m going to try  – again.

Have you ever read The Traveler’s Gift by Andy Andrews? The 7th decision is, “I will persist without exception.”

This is my public declaration: I will persist without exception. I will release

Rain Dance – again.

Joy

Joy DeKok

Author, speaker, author coach, and social media manager.

 

Titles of my books: Rain Dance, Your Life, a Legacy, Poetry – Touch the World With Your Art & Soul, It Is Good, Room for Bandit, and Raccoon Tales.

My other websites:  www.booksbyjoy.com    www.authorinfusion.com   www.socialmediainfusion.net

 

 

Graphic purchased at fotolia.com © annette shaff – Fotolia.com