Martin Legacy Cover Reveal!

Why write an intro? I know you're all going to scroll past it to see the Martin Legacy cover. (But if you are reading this, check out the whole post for some neat info and opportunities!)

Cover

ARE

YOU

READY

?!?!

Isn't it gorgeous?! I am 101% in LOVE with it. Now, to be professional and give you the other info ...

Blurb

Gemma Ebworthy is a struggling single mother—but not for much longer. Engaged to a kind-hearted farmer boy, her turbulent life is looking more stable at last, but troubles are still on the horizon. It seems their efforts to build a legacy for their unique family are constantly under siege.

Farris cherishes the only life he’s ever known, even though he feels more called to the mission field than his adoptive father’s fields. Growing up among extended family and in the Christian faith, he’s always had a firm foundation.

Yet when the past Gemma is so ashamed of—the one Farris can’t even remember—comes calling again, the life they’ve built is put to the test. For it to remain standing, Gemma is going to have to silence her demons once and for all. But this time, she’s not alone.

Release Date

But when is it coming out, you ask?? 

Tuesday, November 12, 2019! (Thanks to Abbie Emmons for inspiring me to do a mid-week release for once.) At first I bemoaned picking a date that far away, but that's only six weeks away. *gasp*

Also, can we just admire that these two make quite the stunning duo. Just similar enough, but so unique.

Behind the Scenes

Okay, now for a peek at what went into this cover. You all know this book has been a little tricky for me to write and a long time coming. (Thank you for patience, by the way!)

As soon as my brilliant mother suggested the Martin Generations series be a duology instead of a trilogy, I knew exactly what I wanted on the cover. I tried several watercolor artists before landing on a newly acquired friend who does watercolor as a hobby. A huge shout out to Hannah Foster for tackling this daunting project and doing such a phenomenal job!

Like with Martin Hospitality, my uncle Michael Foley did the text, splicing, and sizing up (to meet Amazon's specs) for me. That's a huge part of what makes the cover match the first one so well in my opinion.

Of course, both those peeps have busy lives that don't revolve around finishing my cover. But they made time for it anyway, and I'm so grateful to be able to show off their talent! I couldn't be happier with the finished result.

Opportunities

Aaand this is where YOU come in! Here are some ways you can be awesome and join in on the fun:

1 ~ If you liked the cover, share it on social media! (Simply find me @abitheauthor, share, and tag me! The hashtag is #MartinLegacybook.)

2 ~ Sign up to be an early reviewer for an ARC! (You'll get a digital copy before everyone else.)

3 ~ If you're not up to committing to anything, simply add Martin Legacy on Goodreads as "want to read." 

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All right, time for the opinions! Do you love the cover as much as I do?! (Actually, I'm not sure that's possible.) Can't wait for you all to have this story in your hands. It's beginning to feel real! :)

Happy Father's Day // A Letter to Josiah

A while back I did a Mother's Day letter from Farris to Gemma set after Martin Hospitality. Since Father's Day is this weekend, I thought I would do the same thing ... except with a character named Kat (whom you'll meet in Martin Legacy) writing to her father, Josiah.

Kat is a unique character. While this letter is not actually in book 2, consider it a preview! Or a bonus. ;)

Dear Dad,

You know I don't like writing letters, but Mom said I had to do my own. 

I know I'm supposed to say you're the best dad ever, but I don't know whether you're the best dad in the world or not, because you're the only one I've ever had. We didn't even get to pick each other. Sounds like a recipe for disaster. 

I don't think I'm a disaster, though, and neither are you. That means things worked out just fine, I guess. God must have known what He was doing. 

Thanks for being my dad. And especially for making me do piano lessons when I was little and Mom was tired of making me. I love them now. I'll play your favorite song after supper for you.

Love you!

xo Kat

~~~~~

Any thoughts about Kat's personality? How do you celebrate Father's Day?

My Next Two Releases

I figured it was finally time to give you all a writing update since most of that's only been in my quarterly newsletter or street team newsletter recently. (See the sidebar if you want to sign up!) There are still a lot of unknowns, but here's what I do have.

To start at the beginning the first book I ever published was Martin Hospitality. It's a full-length contemporary novel and the first in a series. I also published Andora's Folly, a little retelling novella that's completely separate and a standalone. (Until my brain decides otherwise. I make no promises.)

While I've fiddled with other things, the book I will publish next is the sequel to Martin Hospitality. While it's been known as Martin Crossroads for a long time ... it's been renamed to Martin Legacy. This is because the series will now be a duology instead of a trilogy. (A good and necessary decision, trust me.)

I'm ironing out all the crazy details for Martin Legacy and it goes to beta readers next week. Provided I get my editing act together. It will be published this year. So December 31 if things go south between now and then. But I'm aiming more for fall. ;)

However!!! Martin Legacy is not actually going to be my next publication! Just my next book.

HAVOK is going to publish a flash fiction piece of mine called Misfire on June 7, 2019. Because it's an online publication, here's how this works!

• My story will be free to read on gohavok.com on Friday, June 7. Don't miss it, because after that, you have to be a paying member to read it!
• If you're a member, vote on it! As long as I receive at least one vote, I can be considered for an anthology later in the year. :)
• Regardless of membership, leave me a comment on the story! Comments have to be approved, so you may not see it pop up. But once it is on there, I'll be sure to reply to it.

Read, vote, comment. Simple, right? And please share it if you enjoy it!! I can't wait for the little bitty fantasy story to be out there for you all to enjoy. Mark your calendars! Perhaps it can appease you until Martin Legacy comes out later in the year.

Have you set an alarm so you don't forget to read Misfire? ;P I'm excited for you all to have these stories in your hands!