Last week, my editor forwarded me the above image, which she’d just received. It’s the cover art proof for the large print edition of Reunion, an edition that I didn’t know was in the works. She didn’t know it was in the works. My agent didn’t know it was in the works. How can that be? Well, my publisher owns these particular subrights, and apparently when they sold them to the Thorndike Press (who also has Souvenir’s large print rights and published a beautiful edition of that book as well), the news didn’t trickle down. It happens. So, if you’ve been looking for/waiting for/hoping for Reunion in large print, your wait will end on Oct. 2nd! And yes, you can pre-order now from the book retailer of your choice.
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A Brazilian (Portuguese) edition of Souvenir was published early this year, and I’ve been receiving lovely, heartfelt emails from readers there. The latest came from a sixteen-year-old, who I hope won’t mind being quoted here. She writes about her reaction to the story, and then:
Only one more thing: I want to be a writer. Until now, I only wrote a few stories, none as long as book. But I think it´s a start. And you made me feel like I’m actually going forward, because you inspired me. And I want to thank you, there is not a word to describe what I feel about you.
And I didn´t do half of want I wanted: Thank you´s and my believes are not enough.
Just know that you made someone cry, and smile, and feel alive.
When I get letters like this one, I am humbled and amazed. There is nothing more affirming in this crazy career that is novel-writing than hearing that I’ve made a difference in someone’s life.
What a fabulous e-mail, Therese. I’m so happy for you!
Congrats on the awesome email, Therese! It must be amazing to be an inspiration!
You know, you just write the story, never imagining that it will become anything more than a few hours’ diversion for someone…
Beyond lovely.
Janet, this is the sort of thing that makes me certain that all the struggle to get here has been worth it.
I remember Toni Morrison once said, “I wrote my first novel because I wanted to read it.” And if a reader wants to read it, too, then it’s a heart warmer. By the way, I love the French translation cover of SOUVENIR — the best of the bunch. I still wonder how the German translation of SOUVENIR came up with DER ENGEL AUF MEINER SCHULTER?
Hi Khanh, welcome, and thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Morrison’s approach is exactly right, and one I subscribe to myself. The stories I write are certainly not the only sorts of stories I want to read (I read very widely), but I think a writer will do his or her best work when writing first to please his or her reader-self.
SOUVENIR’s French cover is compelling, isn’t it? I wish I could take some of that credit, but no. The regular trade edition comes out there in November (the edition you see here is the one put out by France Loisirs, a book-buying club who bought rights to do a preview, or Avant-Premiere, edition), and I don’t know yet whether my French trade publisher is using the same cover–but I hope so.
And I’ve just noticed that one of my German covers isn’t here..I’ll work on that. But at any rate, their title originates in one of the book’s passages, a diary entry by the protagonist’s mother. Each publisher is free to change/choose a title that they feel best fits their marketplace. Sometimes they exercise that right, sometimes not. It’s all such an adventure. =]