Strong Initial Reactions to The Delicate Nature of Love

 

 

 

 

I experience an unusual blend of anticipation and descending-rollercoaster-terror the days leading up to a book release. It feels a little like stripping down in the doctor’s office, waiting with trembling knees, nothing but a flimsy sheet covering me. Might as well say, “Hello world, I’m naked.” Well, at least my words are—my story is.

And I’ve fallen a little in love with this book streaking thing.

Why?

Because my stories are getting through. And I’m getting them out. And you’re taking them in. It all translates as little spikes of victory. I find myself continually grateful for taking the risk.

I’m also grateful for the following strong initial reactions to The Delicate Nature of Love (releasing mid-Feb.)…

 

Cheers to My Endorsers and Their Recent Releases

I seriously considered who I wanted to ask to potentially endorse my latest work. I was so grateful the four women I’m highlighting in this post today responded to The Flower Girls with such praise (read their reactions below).

Each of the authors who endorsed The Flower Girls has somewhat recently released a book of their own.

 

Today I wanted to shine the spotlight on them.

Susan Schoenberger ~ The Virtues of Oxygen

Susan’s first published novel, "A Watershed Year," won the 2006 gold medal for novel in the William Faulkner William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition. She’s agented by Jessica Regel with Foundry Literary + Media.

Her second novel, "The Virtues of Oxygen," released by Lake Union in July. Susan works as a communications director and teaches writing.

Michelle DeRusha ~ Spiritual Misfit

A Massachusetts native, Michelle DeRusha moved to Nebraska in 2001, where she discovered the Great Plains, grasshoppers the size of Cornish hens ... and God. She writes about finding and keeping faith in the everyday at http://michellederusha.com, as well as for the Lincoln Journal Star, Prodigal Magazine and The High Calling.

She's mom to two bug-loving boys, Noah and Rowan, and is married to Brad, an English professor who reads Moby Dick for fun.

 

Katie Ganshert ~ A Broken Kind of Beautiful

Christy Award finalist and Carol Award winner, Katie Ganshert, graduated from the University of Wisconsin in Madison with a degree in education, and worked as a fifth grade teacher for several years before staying home to write full-time. She was born and raised in the Midwest, where she lives with her husband, their young son, and their goofy black lab, Bubba. When she’s not busy writing or playing or reading or snuggling, she is obsessing over the paperwork and the waiting that comes with adoption.

 

Lisa Verge Higgins ~ Random Acts of Kindness

Lisa Verge Higgins is the RITA-nominated author of sixteen novels that have been published worldwide and translated into as many languages--quite a switch for this former PhD candidate in chemistry. Now this opera loving mother of three is creating heartwarming new stories revolving around women's lives and women's friendship. THE PROPER CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF FRIENDSHIP, her first foray into mainstream women's fiction, won the 2011 Golden Leaf Award for Best Single Title, and was chosen as one of the top twenty novels of the year by the Barnes & Noble General Fiction Book Club. Her second book, ONE GOOD FRIEND DESERVES ANOTHER, cracked the same list in 2012. Find out more about Lisa--and peruse the first few chapters of her books-- at www.lisavergehiggins.com. If you'd like to hear about her "life with three teenage daughters," she'd love for you to join her at www.facebook.com/lisavergehiggins.

Lisa currently lives in New Jersey with her husband and their three teenage daughters, who never fail to make life interesting.

Cheers Susan, Michelle, Katie,  & Lisa!

May you continue to find joy in writing, may your readership grow, and may characters and ideas meet you in your dreams until you make a home for them on the page.

 

Here’s what these talented authors had to say about my recent release, The Flower Girls:

“Alternating between identical twin narrators with tragic secrets between them, Wendy Paine Miller’s THE FLOWER GIRLS examines what it means to recognize -- or not recognize -- ourselves in others. It’s a moving contemporary tale of blame, jealousy, longing, and how old scars can finally mend.”

 

–Susan Schoenberger, award-winning author of A WATERSHED YEAR and THE VIRTUES OF OXYGEN 

“An expertly woven tale of drama, mystery, suspense and romance, THE FLOWER GIRLS is, at its core, a deeply moving story about the intricacies of sisterhood, the unshakable bonds of family loyalty and the power of forgiveness, healing and above all, love.  Thanks to Wendy Paine Miller’s unique gift for creating approachable, compelling, intriguing characters, you’ll find yourself pondering her two narrators – identical twins Daisy and Poppy – as well as your own familial relationships – long after you turn the last page of this riveting read.”

–Michelle DeRusha, author of SPIRITUAL MISFIT: A MEMOIR OF UNEASY FAITH

“Deftly told and beautifully written, THE FLOWER GIRLS is a story about the bonds of sisterhood, the power of forgiveness, and the pain and the freedom that comes with letting go. Add in some long-buried secrets, intriguing family lore, a splash of romance and readers are in for a real treat!”

 

–Katie Ganshert, award-winning author of A BROKEN KIND OF BEAUTIFUL

“Wendy Paine Miller writes with gentle wisdom about the complexities of family relationships burdened with blame, secrets and loss. A poignant, emotional story about guilt, love, family, and the indestructible ties of sisterhood. Fans of Kristin Hannah will love THE FLOWER GIRLS!”

 –Lisa Verge Higgins, author of RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS

 

 

 

Fun with Fictitious Endorsements

Know one thing I’m loving about the approaching release date for my novella? I’m receiving exciting

feedback from endorsers. And it’s beyond thrilling—to read their responses, to let it sink in how my words moved them. Ah, it feels awesome!

Today I’ve decided to have some fun. I’ve created a list of fictitious endorsements, because, hey, why not?

Without further ado…

THE DISAPPEARING KEY bent me all the right ways. – Gumby

The characters in this book made me want to rock down to Electric Avenue. – Eddy Grant

After reading THE DISAPPEARING KEY, I’ll never be hungry again. – Scarlett O’Hara

It made my day. – Clint Eastwood

I’d say this novella was the cat’s meow. It certainly wasn’t Odie-ous.” – Garfield

I liked it. I really liked it. – Sally Field

The prose made me want to love it and list it. – Hilary, Love it or List It, HGTV

You should read THE DISAPPEARING KEY. And when you do, make sure to say hello to my little friend. – Scarface

THE DISAPPEARING KEY made me feel like I’m king of the world. – Leonardo DiCaprio

This novella completed me. – Tom Cruise

If you plan a boating trip with all the people who are going to love this book, you’re going to need a bigger boat. – Roy Scheider

THE DISAPPEARING KEYS was peas. We go together. – Carrots

This novella was one to grow on. – 80s PSA commercial creator 

If you could have someone give one of your projects a fabricated endorsement, who would you choose and what would they say?

*Get ready for “Key Giveaways” in October to celebrate the release of THE DISAPPEARING KEY in ONE WEEK!

**photo by stock.XCHNG

***Note: No one really said any of the above during the making of this blog post. Hence the word fictitious. No one was hurt either.