Blurb:
The Home Front: A Prairie Woman’s Story
The Problem
My great aunt wrote a book about her mother. When it was finished, she asked me to write the copy for the back. They say, ”don’t judge a book by its cover,” but most of us do. And more importantly, we judge it by the back. It’s the last barrier between a customer picking up the book and taking it to the register to buy it.
Writing that is a lot of pressure.
The Solution
The copy, since it’s too small to read:
“WHEN HER HUSBAND, ALEX, leaves to join the WWII effort, Eva Mitchell is suddenly facing a war of her own—and she’s doing it alone. Along with isolation, poverty, and illness, she contends with the stigma surrounding mental health and abortion, the lack of choice for women, and the added humiliation of the welfare system.
The Home Front: A Prairie Woman’s Story documents in vivid detail a period of twelve years in the life of this remarkable Prairie woman. After her husband’s departure in 1940 to join the Royal Canadian Air Force, Eva is left to raise her children on her own on a remote farm near Treherne, Manitoba. She is without telephone or car and horse and buggy are her only means of transportation. Twelve years later, in 1952, her life takes another tragic turn that ends her dream of being with the man she loves.
This creative, non-fiction account is based on the stories Eva shared over the years with her children. It is a heart-rending but magnificent memoir of a brave and spirited woman who lived through daunting challenges and then, through word and example, endowed three generations with a spirit of purpose, a strong sense of family and devotion, and a deeply entrenched work ethic.”
My first step was to actually read the book. Then consult the author (which was nice because the author happens to be a great cook who loves having me over).
Once I knew the story and the author’s goals, writing the blurb was a lot like writing a journalism article, or a book review, which I have plenty of experience in. The unfamiliar part was the back-and-forth with the client. I was getting different feedback from her and her publisher. It was tough and confusing and took a while, but ultimately led to a better product.
The Result
The book sold around 200 copies, which is right around the industry standard for this sort of novel. I helped promote launches and readings, and it feels good to have played a role in a project I care so much about. But nothing feels better than my own signed copy: “To Owen, with thanks for your love and your talent! Love, and respect, Lynne.”