I have to be honest, this cover was my biggest obstacle to getting Nowhere Feels Like Home ready for publication. It took me 75% as much time to put it together as it did to write the entire book. There were moments of despair when I though the cover would never satisfy. I felt the same joy upon completion of this that I do when I finish either writing or editing a book. It is exhilirating.

Why was this particular book back such a struggle? Well, first of all, I don’t do short well. I’m afraid if I attempted flash fiction, it would be the only flash fiction piece in history that started off as 15 pages and then upon editing would grow to 20 pages. Every short story idea I have is gathering dust right now waiting for me to finish the Misfit McCabe series so I can write the novel (because I realized upon starting I was way over word count). So, ask me to write 75,000 words and I’m a happy clam. Ask me to write one paragraph and I’m in agony. Ultimately, and with the fantastic help and support of friends, I’ll get there, it just takes me a while.

Nowhere Feels Like Home is to be released by Shanlian WordLit Press.

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When I made the decision to re-release Misfit McCabe as a second edition along with the release of Nowhere Feels Like Home, one of the driving factors was to revise the covers. I realized I have talked extensively about the changes to the front cover, but re-did the back as well because the concept was completely different for the front and haven’t shown the changes to the back cover. Well, here it is. The background is a watermark of the front cover and overlayed with new verbiage for the back, and also giving a plug for Nowhere Feels Like Home. Fortunately, this back cover came together nicely and I had to do very few revisions. Every once in awhile I can actually put something together without too many revisions.

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When making the decision to re-release Misfit McCabe, I knew that a cover change was in order. Although I personally like the original cover, I’m not trying to market the book to myself, and I had received too many comments about the original cover which indicated a change might be necessary. Also, since I have realized that Misfit McCabe is the first book in a series, and I am getting ready to launch book 2 of the series, Nowhere Feels Like Home, I needed to make sure that I have a consistent look and feel to the books as a series, so another reason to change the cover.

So, I started searching for some images that I would be happy with and created some book covers to allow myself the opportunity to get some feedback from my target readership before making the final selection. What I found was that while the reaction to the new covers was definitely more positive within my target readership age group, there was no clear cut winner emerging. Just when I’d think that maybe one cover was getting more positive pull, then the next string of readers would select another. Which leaves the decision right back where it started, with me.

Funnily enough, there is no question about the cover for Nowhere Feels Like Home. I had that one picked out and designed first, and then started thinking about potential changes for the other. Eventually though, I had to make the decision, and the cover pictured above will be the one that will grace Misfit McCabe when it is re-released along side of Nowhere Feels Like Home. My reasons for selecting this particular shot is that I like the quirkiness of the girl popping in from the side and not being completely in the picture. Plus, she looks like a match age-wise for Katie McCabe, and has the spunk that matches Katie’s spunk from within the pages. Now all I have to do is get the back cover sorted out.

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LK Gardner-Griffie
To buy Misfit McCabe, visit my store at Lulu.com or purchase at Amazon.com
To track Misfit McCabe across the country, visit: Where in the World is Misfit McCabe?
Own a Kindle? Download Misfit McCabe in an instant.
For other e-book formats, visit Smashwords.com
To read book reviews by LK Gardner-Griffie, visit: The LL Book Review

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It is my pleasure to inform you that you are a runner-up for the 2009 Pearson Prize Medal for your title “Misfit McCabe”.
Congratulations. More than 20 teens choose your title as their number one selection from more
than 150 titles!

That Misfit McCabe should be a favorite for more than 20 students and to have been selected as one of the top 3 books out of more than 150 titles is beyond excellent.  I am very proud of the accomplishment and so glad that the book was enjoyed by so many.

To leave you with a quote from one of the student judges:

There is an interesting range or varied emotions from crying to laughing to simply secretly smiling to yourself because you can relate to every turn of events. You should definitely read this book.

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Addition to the post
Thanks to fellow author S. A. Hunter for pointing out that I didn’t have larger versions of the book covers so they could really be seen. The below should remedy that situation.  Click the cover of your choice for a larger view.

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Nowhere Feels Like Home

Nowhere Feels Like Home picks up from the exciting conclusion of Misfit McCabe and continues the saga of Katie McCabe and the McCabe family. Katie McCabe finds herself facing the demons of the past as she convalesces with a broken ankle. Everyone keeps trying to make her talk about what happened when she broke her ankle and all Katie wants to do is forget the whole thing happened. She becomes even more frustrated when Uncle Charley tells her she can’t talk about her experiences with anyone at school.

Nowhere Feels Like Home unveils some of the McCabe family secrets and brings Katie to a better understanding of the past she has never known.

Nowhere Feels Like Home is now available online!

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Misfit McCabe

The fire department quickly put out the flames and Katie was appalled by the destruction she had accidentally caused.

This had to be the worst day of her life.

Little did she know it was only the start.

The above picture is the old front cover, and to the right is the front cover for the second edition which is being published through Shanlian WordLit Press. The new verbiage for the book back is as follows:

As summer was coming to an end, accidentally burning down a shed became the least of 14 year old, Katie McCabe’s problems. Having lost her mother when she was just a baby, Katie was shattered to learn that her father was seriously ill. Hustled off to live with Uncle Charley while her father was hospitalized, Katie struggles with accepting her changing life. On her first day in town, she meets Harvey Jr., and they quickly become adversaries. As the warfare between Katie and Harvey escalates, involving trips to the vice principal’s office, cheating, lies, and vandalism, she battles homesickness and fear that her life could be changing forever.

And for the plug for Nowhere Feels Like Home?

What happens Next to Katie?

Nowhere Feels Like Home doesn’t miss a beat as it picks up from the exciting conclusion of Misfit McCabe. Stories from the past, old friends, and new threats all converge while Katie McCabe copes with a broken ankle and trying to fit in with her new family.

To preview the first two chapters of Misfit McCabe, click the Read Now button below.

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