“It wasn’t that she didn’t have a satisfying life–an exciting life, even. It’s just that at thirty-six years old, she’d hoped for . . . more.” Kendall Haynes in Catch a Falling Star
There are many stages to writing a book.
The initial spark of an idea. The fast-draft. The rewrite — and all the edits after that, leading up to the galley, or final edit. That’s where I am with Catch a Falling Star, my second novel with Howard Books, which releases May 2013.
Along the way, as I’m writing and editing, the art department develops the cover to represent the story that unfolds between the front of the book and the back cover copy. Today, I’m celebrating the wonderful talent at Howard Books that so beautifully captured the essence of Catch a Falling Star.
Yes, Kendall Haynes, the heroine of the contemporary romance, is a Jeep gal. And I love how it looks just like she’s gazing out over the night lights of Colorado Springs, the setting for the story (and where I live).
In Catch a Falling Star, you’ll watch Kendall, a successful family physician, struggle with the question: What do you do when life doesn’t go according to plan? At thirty-six, some of her dreams have come true. But are Kendall’s dreams of having it all — a career, a husband, children — nothing more than a childhood fantasy? God says He knows the plans He has for her –why can’t Kendall figure them out and be content with her life?
You’ll also meet Griffin Walker, a guy who prefers flying solo — both as an Air Force pilot and in his personal life. But a wrong choice and health problems pulled him out of the cockpit. His attempts to get out of “flying a desk” are complicated by his parents’ death — making Griffin the reluctant guardian of his sixteen-year-old brother, Ian. How did his life get so off course? Can he get his life back on track … or has there been a divine plan all along?
Catch a Falling Star was prompted by a conversation I had with a good friend — and I learned a lot about myself, expectations, and God as I wrote this story.
In Your Words: What do you when life doesn’t go according to plan? Keep pushing for Plan A? Pull Plan B out of your back pocket? Or do you … just settle?
Comments 35
That’s one cool cover, Beth. And the story sounds great. I like the fact that your heroine is older. I’ll be interested to see what happens when she wrestles with her dreams and what she goes through in order to reach her HEA.
I had fun with this book, Keli — and the fact that Kendall is older. I knew that was going to be the case before I knew anything else about Kendall.
I love the cover. Congrats! I’m a plan B kind of girl.
I’m also a Plan C, D, E and F kind of girl …
Awesome cover, Beth! Instinctually, when life trips me, I right myself and keep moving forward. Spiritually, I’m learning to trust God in every thing in my life: huge, average whatevers, and the little buggers.
I do have to say I love my cover.
🙂
I used to be a “give me a minute and I’ll figure it out” kind of girl.
I do that a lot less know … I am better at waiting.
And praying.
Can’t wait to read the book, it looks great!
Never settle 🙂 Always keep plan A close to your heart, but be flexible to accept that God might have wanted to tweak it a little into a more beautiful plan B.
Never, ever settle.
It is a great cover & so neat that it’s in your home setting.
If Plan A fails, I definitely don’t settle. I usually try again maybe w/ some variation on the theme, but also have no problem trying Plan B, Plan C–you get the idea.
I love writing stories that are set in Colorado … planning on sticking with it for a while.
I love that cover, Beth, and I can hardly wait to read the book! 🙂 When life takes unexpected turns, after picking myself up, I am learning to seek Jesus out and see what direction I should head in from that point. Sometimes the barriers/trip-ups come to refine my character so that as I move forward in plan A I am more equipped to handle it. Sometimes, they are to show me that Plan B is the better option. I don’t like the idea of settling. 🙂
Ah yes, when plans go awry, I learn quite a bit about myself too, Jeanne.
Love the cover and the storyline, Beth. Our daughter’s a Jeep girl .. reminds me of the days in her Jeep Wrangler.
I’ve certainly helped my youngest want to become a Jeep girl, Kim.
Such a pretty cover, Beth!!
I used to push for Plan A, no question. Didn’t matter if it didn’t seem to be working out. But I’m realizing more and more that I just don’t have control over everything. And while that doesn’t necessarily mean settling, sometimes it does mean concocting a Plan B…or waiting on God.
Sometimes what we think of as Plan B is really God’s Plan A.
I’m so glad you got a beautiful cover–without all the hassle. 😉 Can’t wait to hold your second book in my hands!
🙂
My husband is a HUGE Jeep fan. He currently owns his third one – and it’s his second red one. When people ask him what his favorite color is, he always smiles and says: “Jeep Red.” 🙂 Plans? Hmm? Many of my plans have come to fruition, but many haven’t. For the ones that haven’t, I keep dreaming, or I accept that my plans are not always God’s – and that gives me a measure of peace.
My favorite color just may be “Jeep Red” too.
🙂
It’s always been green!
Love the cover Beth! Can’t wait to read this book.
Hmm….when live doesn’t go according to plan. Have you been looking over my shoulder? I know (now) when life doesn’t go according to MY plan that is because it wasn’t God’s plan. I have learned to submit to His will. He is plans are perfect, every time.
Yes, God’s plans are perfect — sometimes painfully so.
Beth, the character, Kendall, sound very relatable. Love the art and am looking forward to when your book is available. I’ll be sure to grab it!
Thanks, Holly, for those encouraging words.
Love your cover, Beth!!!! Absolutely Gorgeous…now to wait for the book to come out.
Feel free to go pre-order it, Michelle. (Sorry, shameless self-promotion among friends!)
😉
CONGRATS, Beth! Excited for this.
When things don’t go my way I honestly am the kind that’ll stop and listen to God.
🙂
Well, I’ll stick with you, Ganise. I like the way you operate.
Congratulations, Beth! I LOVE the cover and the premise of the book. You’ve asked one of life’s hardest questions. One I will continue to ponder : )
Agreed, Kathy — it is a hard question. And I got to wrestle with it from rough draft through final edits.
😉
Congrats! I love the cover…. can’t wait to read it!
Love the cover!
Can’t wait to read it!
Congrats, Beth!
I have to confess that I Stubborn! When plan A starts to fall apart, I just push forward anyway. Eventually, God hits me upside the head with a frying pan and I sit down to listen to Him. I’m working on the listening part…frying pans hurt!
See what Plan B has to offer and go from there.
But first, chow down on the chocolate in order to remain flexible!
Beth, I had no idea that our characters struggle with the same question! All three of mine wonder that….what now? Life isn’t what they expected. I think that’s a theme so many of us can relate to!