We’re a little less than three weeks out from the launch of Cold Turkey, and—as you may imagine—I’m trying to plow my way through a fairly extensive to-do list. That’s right, Cold Turkey is launching September 8th! 🎉🎉🎉
Here’s the cover…
The to do list includes things like finalizing the interior design, triple-checking ISBN numbers, and uploading files to Amazon so there will actually BE a book to launch. It also includes finding a venue, googling “small plastic turkeys,” and consulting with my custom cooking-making friend for the launch party, September 8th. Are you in the Boise-ish area? Because you and all your book-lovin’ friends are invited!
This novel was a gift for me, mostly written during some of the most difficult months of our time in Turkey when my morale was at its lowest ebb. After nearly eight years of battling language, culture, governmental inaction, and exploding faucets (yes, plural), it was a real emotional boost to try to remember all the ludicrousity we’d lived through so as to slightly fictionalize some of it and comedically visit it upon my hapless heroine.
That’s right, after years of snarking in small doses, Cold Turkey is my first attempt at full-length comedy! Poor, sweet Amanda, a clueless American teacher with no idea what awaits her, moves to Istanbul to teach at an international school. She signs a contract for second grade, but is immediately thrown to the howling, hormonal wolves of middle school. Over the course of the school year, you’ll see her bounce and bump her way through the shocks of culture, meet every tradesman in the neighborhood, and try not to get mauled on public transportation—all while being surrounded by the chaotic and colorful crowds that pulse through Istanbul. There might even be a smidge of budding romance.
One of my colleagues called it my “love letter to Turkey” and I can’t wait to hear what you think of it!
If you would like to help get the word out, here’s a few things you can do:
If you’re in town, come to the party!
Order your copy(ies) on September 8th or the week following to help me get the attention of Amazon’s algorithm. Without a powerhouse publisher behind me or the marketing budget to buy a spot on Reese’s book club, trying to focus as many sales in the first week as possible is the best way we’ve found to make an impact.
Write a review wherever you look for reviews, and tell your friends.
Post about the book on social media. Include the hashtag #coldturkey if you like doing that kind of thing.
I’ll be sending out a newsletter closer to the 8th with details about the launch party and links to where you can find the book.
Finally, in case you didn’t see it come through on social media or my Sketching Faith poetry newsletter, the 10th anniversary edition of Thirst became available a couple weeks ago. Thirst is an allegory I wrote in the midst of a season of a tremendous amount of traveling for an international aid group committed to being the hands and feet of Jesus in some very difficult places.
This is what someone recently said about it:
“Thirst was a story that scared me, challenged me and forced me to take stock of the trajectory of my life and evaluate if I’m helping, numbing my own pain, or swimming just below the surface.”
I would love for you to buy it 😁 and if you’re nearby, I’ll even sign it! But more than that, I’d love to hear your thoughts after reading it!
Click here to see it on Amazon.
*By clicking this affiliate link, I will receive a small affiliate fee at no extra charge to you.
Love love love the cover. I can make cookies for the partay
Plannin' to come to the party!!