If you’re much of a reader, you know back cover copy is often what prompts a book purchase.
Do you know who writes that copy? The author does, or at least takes a crack at it, and it’s torture….
In 300 words or less, explain your 60,000 word manuscript. Exhibit all your marketing savvy but don’t be cheesy – be compelling, clever and original.
So here’s the shot I took in the proposal I’m sending out this week for Going to the Sea: A Sassy Liberal Wades in with Jesus. Since you’re my tribe, I want your opinion.
Would you pick it up? Comments welcomed and appreciated.
When outspoken, West Coast, liberal feminist Erin Kirk quit corporate America and moved to Texas to farm organic vegetables and beef cattle, she thought she had it all figured out.
But Texas ripped away her Whole Foods-hip exterior like an old house dress, revealing decades of loneliness, anxiety and fear. Desperate, Kirk looked for a remedy in the one place Liberals in America supposedly never look: The Bible.
Thus began a fiery, yearlong experiment.
Rather than shouting, “WHAT AM I DOING WITH MY LIFE” every day into dust devils of bone-colored sand, Kirk read The Bible – the whole thing – and attempted to do as it says.
Irate at the church but weary of freewheeling theology, Kirk excused everyone from the discussion and gave The Bible one year to convince her the transformative power of God is available to anyone who will seek it. She asks:
- Must I be a pious, well coiffed, sweetie pie to follow Jesus? Or can I just be myself?
- Am I short-changing my life, just to avoid obeying God?
- Why bother with Jesus in a culture that often doesn’t, or worse, pretends to?
- Is there value in…gulp…submitting to my husband?
- Can God tame my smart mouth and the angry voice in my head?
With rangy, open prose rooted in her wild and willful past, and a journalist’s eye for detail, Kirk drifts from Northern California, through the Colorado Rockies to conservative West Texas, landing firmly on both sides of America’s religious culture wars.
Speaking gently to those outside the church gates, and boldly to those within them, Kirk explains with kindness and heart why Jesus still matters.
Going to the Sea 
You did it! I love it! and I can’t wait to read it. It’s perfect and its you. xoxoxo-k
xoxox
I’d want to read it! Do you want edits, or just overall commentary?
Both! Thanks.
I think you’ve got a great book idea! Wow, go for it. My honest-to-pete reaction was that some parts of the summary made me want to grab the book right now (the part about a spiritual search and reading the Bible and how you changed) and others parts (the line about the transformative powers of Jesus) made me think the book might be a little dogmatic. Of course, I might not be the reader you’re targeting… but it helped me to picture my ideal reader, right down where she lives and what else she reads, and write a summary aimed directly at her. I think this is a fabulous book idea and am sure you’ll find a publisher for it, no matter what.
Thanks for your comment Peggy. Coming from you, it means a ton!
Awesome
xoxo. Miss you.
Hi, I read this twice and tried to find something to criticize or something to suggest as an improvement, but came up empty handed. I think it pretty much says it all.
Keep me posted! Good luck! xx
Date: Wed, 8 May 2013 15:17:25 +0000 To: matt_heinze@hotmail.com
Thanks Matty. xo
Erin…this sounds like a great book! My guess is that most (especially women) will relate to your depression, loneliness and anxiety. Other women (like myself) would like to read it because I don’t relate to the “wise and noble” of Southern belle charm…but relate to survivors and “wild women” and “sometimes outrageous women” …. could you include an anecdote about something Jesus did, specifically, that made you know He is real and loves you just as you are?
I’m your wild woman. Maybe I can add a bullet, something specific. Let me mull it over. Thanks Brook!
I can’t wait for this to sweep the nations!! It draws you in and makes you want to go on the journey. 🙂 job well done my friend!
Thanks girl. xo I want one of your t-shirts!
All I can say is….I would buy that book after reading the back. Great job!
Thank you.
Is your book available yet? It sounds interesting.
Shopping it right now. Will certainly let you know.
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