This past Monday morning, April 1st, I turned in all the products my publisher asked for so they can start preparing the book for print, publication, and release on May 16.
Here are a couple of hints:
Dedication:
For the courage and willfulness of my grandparents, Isidore (a shoemaker) and Myrtle Tasky, who left a tiny shtetl in Poland in the early 1900s to come to America in pursuit of a better life for their family. I apologize for my audacity in greatly fictionalizing their story.
And for Bob, Ben, and Marissa – always my best support.
Three back cover blurbs:
“From an insightful storyteller, Papa’s Shoes, is a heartwarming story of courage and love. Author Madeline Sharples has created an epic journey with intriguing twists and surprises along the way. From days of old in Poland to cultural and economic realities in America, this is an awe-inspiring novel about families, generational history, and the incredible power of change. You truly won’t want to put it down!”
—D.A. Hickman, author of Ancients of the Earth: Poems of Time
“Author Madeline Sharples tells the intimate story of an American family, of immigration, tragedy, renewal, and love with grace and the delicate touch of a poet. There’s a raw kind of sweetness in this rich and epic saga.”
—David W. Berner, author of The Consequence of Stars and A Well-Respected Man
“An immigrant family’s braided history – its conflicts, losses, and secrets – come to life in Papa’s Shoes. With loving attention to detail,Madeline Sharples transports readers from a Polish shtetl to the Illinois town where Ira and Ruth settle, and shows us the intimate workings of their marriage. This family’s triumphant journey to the American Midwest will inspire you long after you’ve closed these pages.”
—Eleanor Vincent, author of Swimming with Maya: A Mother’s Story
A short synopsis also for the back cover:
Papa’s Shoes, a work of fiction about immigration with a feminist and historical bent. At 99,968 words, Papa’s Shoes is a stand-alone novel with series potential.
Ira Schuman is determined to move his family out of their Polish shtetl to the hope and opportunities he’s heard about in America. But along the way he faces the death of three of his four sons, a wife who does not have the same aspirations as his, and the birth of a daughter, Ava, conceived to make up for the loss of his boys. Ava grows up to be smart, beautiful, and very independent.
Besides having a feisty relationship with her overly-protective mother, Ava falls for the college man who directs her high school senior class play. With the news that she wants to marry a non-Jewish man, Ira realizes that his plan to assimilate in the new world has backfired. Should the young couple marry, he must decide whether to banish his daughter from his family or welcome them with open arms. Even though he won’t attend their wedding, he makes her a pair a wedding shoes. In his mind, the shoes are simply a gift, not a peace offering.
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I’d love to give you a hint of the cover, but the wonderful design created by my artist friend, Jen Dohner, is with the publisher’s designer who will integrate the art with the cover text. I can’t wait to see the finished product myself. I’m trying to be patient, but it’s really hard.
Congratulations, Madeline at achieving this major milestone. After so many years and so much work, you are so close to publication day. I’m excited for you and I’m looking forward to reading your story. ❤️
Thank you so much Kathy. I hope you’ll like it. ❤️