On my list this week: find out from publisher if it’s okay to post my new cover on the blog. But wait! It is already listed on Amazon! So I guess it’s okay! It’s always an exciting but strange moment to see it out there. I feel like I just finished writing the book. And now…ARCs in May, web site redesign, shipping in September, simultaneous audio release, a little tour in October, and boom it feels like 2009 is already over. Being in the world of publishing has totally changed my sense of time.
A sneak peek at the cover copy:
Samara Taylor used to believe in miracles. She used to believe in a lot of things. As a pastor’s kid, it’s hard not to buy in to the idea of the perfect family, a loving God, and amazing grace. But lately, Sam has a lot of reason to doubt. Her mother lands in rehab after a DUI and her father seems more interested in his congregation than his family. When a young girl in her small town is kidnapped, the local tragedy overlaps with Sam’s personal one, and the already-worn thread of faith holding her together begins to unravel.
In her third novel, acclaimed author Sara Zarr examines the coexistence of affliction and hope, and what happens when everything you thought you believed—about God, about your family, about yourself—is transformed.
I’m very excited about this book, and proud of it. I have no sense of how it will be received and interpreted, but that’s always part of the excitement, too. Once it’s out, it becomes this other, external thing that every single reader has a personal and specific interaction with. I can only hope I’ve managed to tell the story the best I could. That’s my job, and the rest…who knows!
41 comments for this post
YES! Can’t wait.
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Gorgeous, beautiful cover, Sara!
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Love it. And it sounds like a fascinating book, Sara. Can’t wait to read it. I’ve loved both of your others and suspect I will love this one too.
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Ok, this sounds fantastic. Am forwarding on to people I know will be excited!
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Thank you thank you, Dan, Jessica, Mary, Jackie! It’s exciting to share the excitement…
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Absolutely GORGEOUS cover!
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Beautiful! A great, poetic image.
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LOVE the cover. And the premise is fascinating. Can’t wait to read it.
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Terrific cover! It really makes me want to pick it up.
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Oh. Beautiful. I’m looking forward to it.
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Just plopped it right on the wish list. You have had the best cover art!
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I wanted to read the book before, but I want to read it EVEN MORE now. The cover and copy are doing their jobs.
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Yay! Love the cover, can’t wait to read it!
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I love the new book idea! Absolutely can’t wait! How do places get the ARC? Myself and some fellow librarians are chomping at the bit for this one. Patrons have already put in requests for Once Was Lost
Have an awesome day!
Meg B
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I have to pinch myself everytimeI see your books and know that I have a friend who is a famous author. Beautiful and fresh cover. We can’t wait for the book to hit the stands
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More thanks to everyone. Meg – I’m not sure. The usual channels I think are the conferences (it should be at BEA in May), then my publisher has a list that includes booksellers and librarians and reviewers and such folks and I’m not sure how that list is determined…
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Oh, gosh, what a gorgeous cover. For what sounds like another gorgeous book.
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I was doodling a flower with one of the petals falling off in my math notebook this morning, and I come home to find that to be the cover of your new book! Freaky stuff.. I can’t wait to read it!
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Amazing cover. I would love to have an ARC… my students read books and review them for Barnes and Noble. We would be honored to review Once Was Lost for you!
Looking forward to your reply!
Beth Duncan
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So fabulous to see the cover, Sara. I’m excited for this boo.
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I meant book. My “K” key is crap.
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Can’t wait for the next book signing!
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Oh my God! I cannot wait for this book to come out!
I’m probably gonna have to order it off the internet, or catch it at the next Bologna book fair…
I fell in love with the first two. I love the way you write, it’s amazing. You somehow capture the reader’s mind. Seriously, I could not part with both books until it was very very late in the night…
So, yay! I’ve been waiting for this
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Exciting, Sara! I echo everyone else’s comments, except that I wasn’t doodling yesterday.
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Woo hoo!!
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I’m so excited for this book!
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ur covers are always clever. idk if u like “okay them” or w/e or if u hav some1 do it for u.. but whoever deserves a pat on the back for a job wel dun =P
~CS
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Thanks so much, everyone, again!
C – my publisher has a design department, and a woman named Alison did both Sweethearts and Once Was Lost. She is awesome! I do get some input, but basically I leave it up to the experts…
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I just Google-calendared that release date so as not to forget!!
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I just found out about this book, but its definitely on my to-read list already!
Can’t wait for it!
(it’s actually my ‘waiting on wednesday’ for this week)
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Thanks Emily Ruth & Kathy – glad you are excited!
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Just finished (literally) reading a copy of Once Was Lost from Little, Brown (I review and recommend books for teen choice awards). Oh my goodness, what a wonderful book! The emotional pitch is dead-on and fabric of faith is woven just right. As a Christian, a librarian, and a reader of nothing but YA lit, I don’t think I could ask for a better book. Also, I must admit that I actually squealed when I read the OTR quote from the first page. They have been one of my family’s favorite bands for years! I will be recommending this book to everyone I meet.
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Sara Reply:
August 31st, 2009 at 9:20 pm
@Jasmine Rockwell, Jasmine, THANK YOU so much for leaving this comment! It comes at exactly the right time… I’m so glad the book resonated with you. That’s all I can hope for!
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I just finished reading Once Was Lost. It’s one of the best YA novels I’ve ever read. Plot and subplots mesh beautifully, the suspense is measured, character development superb, and the ending is not at all predictable. I write YA novels (close to being published, not there yet). All I can say is I’d be super proud and happy if I’d written this book.
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Sara Reply:
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:22 pm
@Judy Nill, Thank you SO MUCH, Judy!
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luv ur book…luv it so much gunna do a report on it..:)
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Sara Reply:
January 14th, 2010 at 5:12 pm
@charity, yay, thank you!
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I saw this book advertised in a teen magazine I read and the beautiful cover totally grabbed me. The story did not disappoint either! I was intrigued with every aspect of this book, from the loss of faith to the mystery and romance – never once was I bored. Thank you very much for the good read, Sara!
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Sara Reply:
February 15th, 2010 at 10:48 am
@Katie, Thank you! So glad you liked it, and glad to hear advertising sometimes works.
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Thank you so much, Sara, for writing a book that I have no reservations about recommending to my teens whatsoever! You can’t imagine how increasingly difficult it is to find clean books that my moral standards say, “Yep, this one clears. Pass it on with enthusiasm!” You raise tough topics without obscenity, and I’ll be ordering more copies for my library because of it. Thanks for helping make my job a bit easier on my conscience. I can’t wait for the next one!
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Sara Reply:
March 7th, 2010 at 10:36 am
@Amber (Teen Librarian), Amber, thank you. I’m glad to have written at least one book that fits into that category. My next one…well, not quite so clean.
Each story and character dictates how it will be told. Once Was Lost happens to be written through the eyes of a girl without the kind of life experience that characters in some of my other books have…
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