The new edition of my first book is available…Isn’t it lovely?

The book was originally published in hardcover (the frog) and paperback (prom dress pink) by Hachette. And while many, many wonderful (brilliant, sophisticated, smarter than average) people purchased it, alas, it did not soar to bestseller status, and eventually the publisher let the book go out of print.

This would have been fine – it’s the fate of most books, actually – except that I felt like the story still had some encouragement to offer. I wanted it to be  available to anyone who needed a real-life reminder that sometimes life works out okay, even when we’ve screwed everything up.

And – this is awkward, but –  we need more well-written books about Christian faith. Thanks to my first editor, He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not clears that hurdle, and I hope it will encourage other writers that our stories don’t have to be formulaic or watered down. We can tell the truth about life with Jesus. He can handle it.

With all this in mind, I created a new edition. I had the help of Charlotte, my fantastic intern, who typed and proofread the manuscript, and I hired a graphic designer to create a new cover.  I made a few small changes to the text (acknowledging that on one particularly fraught day of my early faith, I was not so much worried that I’d “screw” things up, but expressed my fear in a word with a hard consonant) and added a chapter from a new project, a collection of thoughts about asking God for things and praying for a husband.

I cannot tell you how much I love this new edition.  In terms of things that make me happier, the little pile of green spines with the pink flower on my bookshelf gives me the sense that this book, like Goldilocks, has arrived: “This edition has too much lipstick…this edition doesn’t really match…but THIS edition is just right!” 

In this excitement and happiness, I have three favors to ask:

• If you read the book in a previous edition, would you write a review on Amazon? The reviews from previous editions didn’t transfer, and it would be great to have some feedback there letting new readers know what to expect.
• If you or someone you know buys the book, would you buy the new edition?  It’s available in paperback and kindle format (if you read on your phone or iPad, there’s a kindle app that lets you read the book there).
• And finally, if you like the book, would you tell somebody? Suggest it as a fun read, give it as a gift, leave copies around your city to see who picks it up? Authors depend on reader friends to help spread the word about our writing, and I feel really blessed by how many of you help me with this. THANK YOU!

I hope your weekend is filled with Happy Days :)