GLORY ROAD, a giveaway, and other odds and ends

Friends! Hello!

It’s been tooooo long since I’ve updated this poor blog and I’m sorry! I have random bits of news, so I’ll start with the biggest (for me, anyway!)…

My next novel, GLORY ROAD, is coming sooooon! It releases March 19, 2019, and I’m so very excited to get it in all of your hands! Of course, it’s available for preorder now, wherever you like to buy books. And in case you haven’t seen it, here’s the cover in all it’s, well, glory 😉


Glory Road final cover.jpg

My editor Kim and I went back and forth and back and forth with the design team a whole lot, all of us trying to get just the right look and—most importantly—feel for the cover. I’m so thankful for a team that not only asks for my input, but is willing to go back to the drawing board when necessary. I think we all won on this one! It’s just so pretty.

Here’s a quick summary of GLORY ROAD…

At thirty-eight, garden shop owner Jessie McBride thinks her chances for romance are years behind her and, after her failed marriage, she’s fine with that. She lives contentedly with her fiery mother and her quiet, headstrong daughter. But the unexpected arrival of two men on Glory Road make her question if she’s really happy with the status quo. Handsome, wealthy Sumner Tate asks her to arrange flowers for his daughter’s wedding, and Jessie finds herself drawn to his continued attention. And Ben Bradley, her lingering what-could-have-been from high school days who’s known her better than anyone and whom she hasn’t seen in years, moves back to the red dirt road. Jessie finds her heart being pulled in directions she never expected.

Meanwhile, Jessie’s fourteen-year-old daughter, Evan, is approaching the start of high school and trying to navigate a new world of identity and emotions–particularly as they relate to the cute new guy who’s moved in just down the road. At the same time, Jessie’s mother, Gus, increasingly finds herself forgetful and faces a potentially frightening future.

As all three women navigate the uncertain paths of their hearts and futures, one summer promises to bring change–whether they’re ready for it or not.

I can’t wait for y’all to meet Gus, Jessie, and Evan. I really had a lot of fun creating and developing these three women.

WHAT I’M WRITING:

Next bit of news…I’m working on book 4! It’s so early in the process, it doesn’t have a title, and it’s still in a pretty fluid form, but I have a feeling about this one. This one takes us back to the water, in south south Alabama (yes, that’s two souths), and so far, there’s a charming older gentleman who goes by Coach and rides in a golf cart decorated with Hawaiian leis and fuzzy coconuts, a young mother in need of a do-over, and a hair salon. That’s all I’ll say for now, but I’ll keep you updated as the writing progresses.

WHAT I’M READING:

I’ve read some good books this fall. Here are just a couple I really enjoyed…


Loved this road trip of memories and music. I felt like I was learning a lot about Elvis, although the Author's Note in the back tells you exactly what she fictionalized and what came right from history. I loved the way she structured the novel, telling one story as a road trip from Beaufort to Memphis, and the other story the other way, from Memphis to Beaufort, but in reverse order. (It sounds confusing, but it's not. The two stories flow together beautifully.)

Loved this road trip of memories and music. I felt like I was learning a lot about Elvis, although the Author’s Note in the back tells you exactly what she fictionalized and what came right from history. I loved the way she structured the novel, telling one story as a road trip from Beaufort to Memphis, and the other story the other way, from Memphis to Beaufort, but in reverse order. (It sounds confusing, but it’s not. The two stories flow together beautifully.)


This book gets all the stars from me. It hooked me quite literally from page 1 (with that amazing phrase "the tinnitus of technology") and I looked forward all day to the time when I could pick it back up and read more. I loved Eunice and Bomber and Anthony and Laura and Sunshine and Freddy. I loved the touches of magic, which will appeal to fans of Sarah Addison Allen. Loved her use of alliteration! And her English wit! (The humor reminded me a little of Abbi Waxman's The Garden of Small Beginnings.) Utterly charming and original.

This book gets all the stars from me. It hooked me quite literally from page 1 (with that amazing phrase “the tinnitus of technology”) and I looked forward all day to the time when I could pick it back up and read more. I loved Eunice and Bomber and Anthony and Laura and Sunshine and Freddy. I loved the touches of magic, which will appeal to fans of Sarah Addison Allen. Loved her use of alliteration! And her English wit! (The humor reminded me a little of Abbi Waxman’s The Garden of Small Beginnings.) Utterly charming and original.

Right now, I’m reading two books—All the Pretty Horses, by Cormac McCarthy and the follow-up to Anne of Green Gables, Anne of Avonlea. When I need the silence and stark beauty of the wide-open southwest, I go with the horses. When I need something charming and light, I pick up Anne. 😉


horses.jpg


anne.jpg

GIVEAWAYS COMING!

Y’all keep your eyes on my blog around December 12—I’ll be posting a special blog entitled “My Favorite Christmas Disaster” as part of a blog tour I’m doing with eleven other authors. If you participate in the 12-day tour, (December 10-21) you’ll be entered to win TWELVE signed books! One from each of the authors (mine will be HURRICANE SEASON)! That’s a huge prize, friends. (Plus, it’s possible I may add a separate giveaway of my own, for an advance copy of GLORY ROAD!!)

I’ll pop back in here soon with details about the contest so everyone knows what to do. I’ll also mention it on Instagram and Facebook.
And speaking of Insta and Facebook, if you don’t follow me there, just know I post there much more frequently than here on the dear blog.

Find me on Insta here: https://www.instagram.com/laurenkdentonbooks/

And on Facebook here:
https://www.facebook.com/LaurenKDentonAuthor/

I’ll be back soon with contest details and maybe some info on a GLORY ROAD giveaway. Thank you all for reading and may all your Christmas trees stand proud and your to-do lists be short!

Love,
Lauren

2 Comments

  1. Joanne Schaefer on November 30, 2018 at 8:37 pm

    I am very excited for your new book!

  2. Patricia Buttrey on December 13, 2018 at 12:21 am

    Hi Lauren,
    I met you at your appearance at the Bailey Cove Library in Huntsville last spring. I have moved back to Illinois now and am trying to get somewhat settled in a new, smaller home. No Christmas decorations for me this year I’m sorry to say. I’m still not completely out of boxes (may never be truth be known). My last Christmas tree was in 2015 actually. My husband passed away on February 4, 2016 and was quite ill but I managed to get the tree up for his last Christmas. We had almost 40 Christmases together and they were all special. Somewhere in those first few years, he began giving me dated ornaments for our tree. That was my favorite Christmas tradition.
    I’m not sure if this is where I am supposed to be leaving the comments to register for the new book but here it is. In any case, I enjoy your blog and am looking forward to reading Glory Road when it comes out in the spring.
    I hope you have a Merry Christmas and no trees fall at your house!
    Pattie Buttrey
    pwbgardener@comcast.net

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