Dispirited
Tuesday, February 28, 2012 at 11:17AM 
I am thrilled to report that my novel Dispirited will be published April 6, 2012 by Zarahemla Books. (That deserves to be in boldface, yes?)
I've known about this for awhile, but had to keep it under wraps until the publishing schedule was more or less set.
Isn't the cover magnificent? The photograph is by Cali Gorevic, and it actually inspired the setting of the novel. I saw a print of it in my doctor's office years ago, and it perfectly complemented the mood of a story I'd been kicking around in my mind for a long time. I was delighted when Cali agreed to let me purchase the right to use it. The cover design is by Zarahemla's Jason L. Robinson, and he was terrific to work with. You may not know this, but it is extremely rare for authors to have ANY input at all on their book covers (unless they're self-publishing, of course). I am a lucky, lucky woman.
Longtime followers of this blog will remember me writing about a work in progress called The Holly Place, which later underwent a name change to The Desolate. Jana Winters Parkin, who named my cookbook Comfortably Yum, was the genius behind this latest name change. Dispirited is the perfect title!
My editor at Zarahemla was Stephen Carter, and he was a dream come true. The book is definitely stronger due to his input. Stephen is brilliant, kind, and funny--a trifecta of awesomeness. I'm grateful to both Stephen and Chris Bigelow, Zarahemla's owner/publisher, for taking a chance on this novel.
Since the print is so tiny in the above image, here are the quotes on the back cover:
Dispirited is a deliciously creepy read that will keep readers turning pages deep into the night...if they dare. With a brilliant dash of romance, Luisa Perkins has created something for everyone.”
—Elana Johnson, author of Possession
“Luisa Perkins spins an eerie web with her haunting tale of a displaced spirit told in tight, lyrical prose.”
—Melanie Jacobson, author of The List and Not My Type
“In Luisa Perkins’s new novel, Dispirited, a teenage girl discovers that a young boy’s spirit can shake loose from his body, and she sets out on a daring quest to restore everything to its proper place. Its storytelling is propulsive, taut—without a single unnecessary word—vivid, romantic, and fascinating.”
—Glen Nelson
Director, Mormon Artists Group
Pretty nice blurbs, right?
Dispirited will be available in print and as an e-book, either at Zarahemla's site or on Amazon and other online sites. It will also be found at Cold Spring's Country Goose and the Barnes & Noble stores in Cortlandt, Newburgh, and Poughkeepsie, New York (and hopefully other locations as well).
This book has been a long time in the making. I loved writing this story and can't wait to share it with you all.
ARE YOU AS EXCITED AS I AM?
Reader Comments (8)
Yes!!!!! I am excited for this and for you! The cover is phenominal and you are awesome. I cannot wait!
It's so lovely that your novel is coming out! You've worked so hard for this, and you really deserve it to be a success.
I'm so very, very happy for you! Congratulations! I love the cover and the blurbs are fantastic!
I'm so excited! Is this the same story you were working on way back in the cre8buzz days? I remember reading the first few chapters of something you were working on, and I have literally been waiting for years to finish reading it. I'm pretty positive that this is the same story.
Yay for you! And yay for me being able to finally find out what happens!
Such news!! I'm SO GLAD I stopped by. I think I heard your excitement calling in the middle of the night.
The cover photo and design are gorgeous. And I love Glen's blurb (propulsive! taut!). My Amazon account is at the ready.
Heartfelt congratulations, Luisa!
SO excited for you, Luisa. I love the cover and can't wait to read it!
I LOVE the look of the book! I really want to read it. Congrats.
I just wrote that each post announces a new publication and bam....there is another hit. woooohoo.
The cover looks magnificent...seeing that in a store or a library book shelf would definately seduce me to pick it up. Is it for sale online? It really looks exciting to read, you've made me so curious.
Ah, is The Desolate the book where I've delivered the one word Hulsthuys or so? Still proud that I've delivered a word in a publication :D