RED BUTTERFLY Cover Reveal!

I'm having a party!

*throws sparkles*

It's a cover reveal party for my debut middle grade verse novel, RED BUTTERFLY!

Here's a short synopsis so you'll know what the book's about:

Kara never met her birth mother. Abandoned as an infant, she was taken in by an elderly American woman living in China. Now eleven, Kara spends most of her time in their apartment, wondering why she and Mama cannot leave the city of Tianjin and go live with Daddy in Montana. Mama tells Kara to be content with what she has … but what if Kara secretly wants more? 

Told in lyrical, moving verse, Kara’s story is one of a girl learning to trust her own voice, discovering that love and family are limitless, and finding the wings she needs to reach new heights. 

And now that you're prepared ... are you curious? 

Is your interest piqued? 

Do you want to see the cover? 

Do you want to meet Kara? 

Here she is!

This piece of amazingness was designed by Laurent Linn (Twitter: @LaurentLinn) at Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. The art was done by the incomparable Amy June Bates. Her illustrations for the interior are absolutely gorgeous. Every time I look at her work I think that, if I could draw well, I would want to draw exactly like Amy June Bates. She captured Kara perfectly. I can't wait for you to see the book, to see what a piece of art the team at S&S BFYR made it!

If you're curious about the cover design process, please head over to my friend Krista Van Dolzer's blog (@KristaVanDolzer). She interviewed RED BUTTERFLY's designer, Laurent Linn, and it's an extremely interesting interview (if I don't say so myself). Plus, she's giving away an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of RED BUTTERFLY.

I have other friends helping me celebrate, too! Thank you, Janet Sumner Johnson (@MsVerbose), Melissa Sarno (@MelissaSarno), Myrna Foster (@MyrnaFoster), Vijaya Bodach, Julie Deguia (@JulieDeGuia) and Faith Elizabeth Hough for your enthusiasm and for showing off the cover with me! (I've heard rumors that Janet Johnson might be giving away a pre-order? You may want to scamper over there and check!)

It's a good day for thankfulness! I'm thankful to Kate Testerman (@DaphneUn), my amazing agent, for snatching RED BUTTERFLY out of the fire (I was on the verge of shelving her (the book, not the agent) forever ... but that's another story) and to Christian Trimmer (@MisterTrimmer), my editor, for loving Kara and overseeing this whole process so she could shine. 

Last, but not least, thank you to you. Thank you, thank you, thank you for stopping by to admire my little book's cover! I hope you get to read it and tell me what you think.

One more time, because I love her...

Follow this link to add Red Butterfly to your Goodreads list

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