Why I Love This Book Cover

Jul 16, 2015 by Jeanette Hanscome

Today my editor at Worthy Inspired e-mailed me something very exciting: my official cover for Suddenly Single Mom: 52 Messages of Hope, Grace, and Promise. As soon as I saw it I fell in love with it, and not only because my name appears so clearly at the bottom.

I love that it’s fun. Being a single mom is exhausting and hard, but my book also shares moments of laughter and joy that I experienced with my boys, so it pleases me that the cover reflects that. My original title was Stranded, which congers up images of a barren dirt road, maybe a crow sitting on the fence, a destitute mother surrounded by two sad children on a porch that desperately needs a paint job. I’m so glad I took advice to change the title to something more hopeful, because the book really is. I doubt I would have liked the cover for Stranded as much as I like this one.

I love the crumpled paper off to the right. It kind of screams, “Grrr! I’m so overwhelmed! I can’t keep up!” I felt that way often. I’m sure I threw my share of crumpled paper. And other things.

I love the pencil and the baseball. I don’t know if the artists realized this when they designed the cover, but one devotional includes a scene where Nathan is doing homework, and at least two mention that he was in Little League.

I love the cupcakes and the coffee. During the time represented in the book, I was known as a mom who baked her own bread, cookies, granola bars, and basically anything else I could find a recipe for. I’m a bit of a showoff and like to make life harder than it already is. Plus kneading bread doubles as a great stress release.

Anyone who hangs out with me knows how much coffee I consume.

I love the subtitle they chose. Hope. Grace. Promise. I needed all of those things while adjusting to single-mom status. I still need those things. Those words say exactly what I want to share through this book.

So today has been an exciting day. I am even more motivated to write courageously and openly for those who need a dose of hope as they rebuild their lives.

I am so thankful for the many friends who are praying for me and celebrating with me as I write Suddenly Single Mom.

Please say a prayer for the women who will read the book when it releases in March!