I’m sure you’ve heard people talk about that new car smell. And when I was a kid, I remember sniffing my new shoes for that nice new leathery smell. Why not a new book smell?
My dad used to accuse me of having my nose stuck in a book all the time, so I should know how a book smells since I’ve read so many. Of course it could be that I’m enjoying that new book smell because I just got my new book, These Healing Hills hot off the press yesterday. The book doesn’t release until September although it is available for pre-order wherever books are sold on-line. Check out more information here. Whether the book is available in August or September, I got to hold the first copy in my hands yesterday and take a big breath of that new book smell.
You might wonder what a new book smells like. Nice warm paper mostly with a hint of printers’ ink. The ink may just be my imagination, but that paper smell is rife with promise as words spill across the nearly white pages inviting readers into my story. The pages ruffle nicely with no turned down corners or crumpled edges. Your fingers almost tingle with the thought of turning all those pages. On the outside of the book, the cover seems to lack any kind of scent, but the colorful pictures and the great words telling about the story make up for that.
I had seen the front cover some time ago, but I hadn’t seen the back cover until I got the book yesterday. I was very pleased to see the horse, saddled and waiting for my nurse midwife to finish treating her patient and be ready to ride on to the next cabin. Horses were the only way of getting places in the mountains when the Frontier Nursing Service began in 1925. Later, after the war, the nurses began using a few jeeps, but in some areas, the horse was still the means of travel. Then again, sometime a nurse midwife went afoot. However they went, they were ready to do whatever was needed to help babies come into the world and be healthy.
Francine, my character, finds her way to her patients’ cabins by horseback. The nurse midwives were very careful to take care of their horses since the horses were such a vital part of their service. Young women called couriers would volunteer to come to the mountains and do whatever was needed to help the nurse midwives. Often that meant working with the horses, brushing them and medicating them and cleaning their hooves. Since Francine is at one of the outpost clinics she doesn’t have a courier to help her and has to care for her horse, Jasmine, herself. So she has Sarge the dog on the front cover and Jasmine the horse on the back cover. What more could any character want?
Thanks for reading. I’ll be sending out a newsletter soon with a new giveaway to celebrate the release of These Healing Hills. Guess I better think of something neat to give away. Lots of other fun things going on too with book signings coming up and interviews with other bloggers. Plus, a chance to win a copy of the book is happening on Goodreads. Just hop over there to enter before September 5th. Five winners will be picked. For other events check out my News & Events Page.
Thanks for reading. What do you like best about my new cover? Have you ever noticed that new book smell?
Comments 10
Sorry I messed up the the title! 🙄
Early morning and getting ready for church when I made the comment. Looking forward to reading Christmas at Harmony Hill. Thank you.
Author
No problem, Karen. But I have had people read another author’s book and think it’s mine. That’s not so bad when the other book is a really good one. 🙂 And I understand about early morning posting. I mess up on things all the time.
Love the cabin with the background of the colorful Fall leaves. We aren’t privileged here in South MS to see this part of God’s artistry.
Now, I must tell you that I just finished THE GIFT. I cannot begin to tell you how much I enjoyed this book! You kept me hanging until the VERY end! I’ll not say anymore as I do not want to spoil the book for those who have not read it. Thank you!
Author
I’m assuming you mean The Gifted, Karen. I did really enjoy telling Jessamine’s story in that book and letting Sister Sophrena write in her journal. I bring Sister Sophrena back in my Shaker Christmas book, Christmas at Harmony Hill. She was a really fun character and then when we went to the Springs Hotel, things got even more fun. Thank you so much for reading my book. I enjoy the changing of the seasons and the fall colors, but I’m sure Mississippi has beauty we don’t share up here in KY.
I love the look of the cover, everything appeals to me, this is one of my favorite types of reading. I’m a “sniffer” too, new books, new clothing. I remember loving the smell of the new “Sears & Roebuck Catalog when it came in the mail while I was growing up.
Author
I hadn’t thought of catalog smell, Connie, but as soon as I read what you said, I’m back loving that catalog when it came. I especially loved the Christmas catalog. We called it the wish book and I could wish for everything when I was searching through its pages.
One of my most enjoyed fragrances in the world is when I open a new book fresh from the hot mailbox (or even cold mailbox) and insert my face and draw in a deep breath. The cover of These Healing Hills, front and back, is one I want to wrap my hands around. Thank you, Ann, for giving us these gifts of wonderful stories.
Author
Ahh, that new book smell, Fran. I do how you will enjoy the scent of my story even more than that book smell. I probably put in plenty of mountain laurel and other blooms. If I didn’t, I should have.
I love new books! They always smell so good, and no one has bent the pages or spilled anything on them. I read them carefully because I hate it when the spine gets loose and the book gets that loose, stretched out look. This is why I refuse to loan out books. I may have issues. Lol
Author
“I read them carefully,” says someone who obviously loves books, Tammy. It is nice to have a pristine new book to read but I’ve read some tattered ones too. I just read a very long book in a mass market paperback that had been read many times by others before me. And you’re right. The reading experience would have been better if the book had been in better shape. While to me, I suppose the story inside is the most important but an easy to read, still in great shape book is the best.