Small Damages: The Cover Reveal

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

When you work on a book for close to a decade—when you refuse to give up, when you endlessly redefine the narrative's shape, when you push away and return and push back and realize you will ache until you return again—when you work like that, the book becomes a part of you.  The book tells you secrets about yourself, about what you are willing to believe in.  It becomes a marker in a questing life.

When the book finds itself at a most extraordinary home with a dear editor who shares your passion for foreign places and exotic foods, for history and gypsy song, who writes you the kind of notes that make you cry (for the right reasons), who takes the time to share your work with authors you can't quite believe you are actually being read by, who oversees the creation of a cover that takes your breath away, you are just plain lucky.  I—I know this—am lucky.

Today a box arrived at my home.  It contained the galleys for Small Damages, a book that will be published on my son's birthday next July.  It contained a note from the glorious Tamra Tuller, my editor at Philomel, whose stable of writers includes both Ruta Sepetys and Kathryn Erskine.

Tamra Tuller has been working with me on Small Damages for more than a year.  She has quietly demonstrated, to this sometimes impatient soul, the power of waiting, of right timing.  Michael Green, the president of Philomel, has sent notes all along the way—funny notes, endearing ones, words I will, when I'm even older than right now, always remember.

Can I share the cover?, I asked Tamra today.  She said that it was time.  She has done miraculous work, this Tamra Tuller, and I will be forever grateful.  Small Damages, then.

It’s senior year, and the future should be right within reach. But for Kenzie—bright, ambitious, in love with Yale-bound Kevin—the future has been rearranged. She’s pregnant, and she’s determined not to end her pregnancy. Her mother and Kevin refuse to understand. Sent off to an old cortijo in Spain, Kenzie must find a way to endure until her baby is safe in an adoptive couple’s hands. What will she make of the stubborn old cook who plagues Kenzie with demands? How will she ever understand the mysterious young man Esteban—his way with horses and birds, his way of watching her? And what can the eccentric gypsies teach Kenzie about love? There are choices to make. There are questions about home. Small Damages is Spain alive. It is hearts broken and healed. It is heat and color and soul.
Small Damages is a wrenching celebration of choice.  To read Kephart is to splendidly dream with both eyes open. — Rita Williams-Garcia, One Crazy Summer
As this delicate and luscious novel unfolds, the lines are blurred between love and loss, past and present, real and magical, and even life and death. — Kathryn Erskine, Mockingbird

Stunning.  Kephart's lyrical prose lingers with you long after the final page.  I simply didn't want it to end.  — Ruta Sepetys, Between Shades of Gray

18 comments:

Sarah Allen said...

July? Really? We have to wait that long?

Seriously though, I already can't wait. The cover and story are absolutely stunning. I am so excited for it and for you!

Sarah Allen
(my creative writing blog)

Wendy said...

OMG, Beth - I LOVE that cover...and the blurb? Gorgeous. I am with Sarah on this one - July!??!? NO! That is too long to wait!!!

You must be glowing today - a book is released, another arrives on your front doorstep. You have worked hard...and deserve all these warm fuzzies :)

Q said...

I LOVE the oranges. :)

Sarah Stevenson said...

That's a gorgeous cover! I love the oranges, too.

Julie P. said...

It looks wonderful -- both the cover and the description! CANNOT wait to read it!

Elizabeth Mosier said...

What a gorgeous cover! A pretty wrapper for the beautiful words inside!

Serena said...

Gorgeous cover, and I cannot wait until July to read it....crazy!

Beth Kephart said...

How extremely happy you are all making me this morning.

Melissa Sarno said...

I was watching this tennis match once and one of the top players hit a shot into the net and then it just tipped over, which was considered a 'lucky' shot. And the commentator said, "Funny how the BEST players always get 'lucky'" ;)

I'm thrilled for you!

Karen Mahoney said...

Beautiful! Wow... That is just... breathtaking.

Sending you big congratulations, dear Beth!

Karen
xx

KFP said...

You have quite a collection of beautiful covers.

Melissa Walker said...

I have been waiting for this book forever. "Oh. Spain." Indeed. x

Sarah Laurence said...

Your book sounds even better than that luscious cover!

Erin said...

Beth! It's gorgeous, the description is gorgeous, the blurbs are gorgeous. I am glowing for you.

Caroline Starr Rose said...

OH MY. This is the Spain I love. I CANNOT wait.

Becca said...

How did I miss this glorious revelation last week? I'm so glad to have found this bright beautiful cover on a cold fall morning, and to have the warm anticipation of this book for summer:)

Unknown said...

Oohhh, how did I miss this post?! What a beautiful cover and I can't wait to read it. This is my first Kephart novel that I won't be reading in ARC format - July seems so far off. :)

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