Faith Reflections

Publishing a Novel - Part 3

Creating a Summary for My Novel

As I indicated the other day, I’ve been writing a 300 word summary of my novel.  This will be useful to the publisher in creating copy for the back cover of the book and for catalogue and publicity purposes.

I spent a great deal of time, probably three hours or so, writing, re-writing and re-writing again and again this short but important piece.

Listed below is what I’ve sent off to the publisher.  I hope it wets your appetite for the book!
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Victorian Manor is a beautiful old home populated with residents for whom the passage of time has crafted unique and colorful personalities: Margaret the puzzle lady, Ed the retired preacher who insists on being served gourmet coffee, Agnes who can’t stop talking about her world travels of twenty years ago, and Kathryn.  Kathryn enjoys her relationships with the other residents but struggles with finding meaning in her sunset years.  She believes life’s opportunities are gone forever and is resigned to living out her last days uneventfully as a resident of Victorian Manor.

A fountain in the cozy garden of Victorian Manor provides Kathryn a quiet place where she regularly goes to reflect.  Then one day something strangely wonderful happens during her time at the fountain, and she begins living an adventure beyond her wildest dreams.

Through what appears to be a series of miraculous events that begin at the fountain, Kathryn becomes involved in a plan to rescue a street child named Jasmine.  The amazing days that follow find Kathryn’s life spanning three generations as she enters the world of Jasmine, Sharon, a young social worker, and a bachelor detective named Ben.  A murder and a newly developing romantic relationship forces Kathryn to make the most difficult choice of her long life.  Love and sacrifice take on new meaning as she struggles to understand what she is called to do.  In bringing hope for a better life to those of other generations, Kathryn discovers new meaning and purpose for her own life.

The Fountain takes the reader on a journey which explores the distance and alienation often separating people of different generations.  The story celebrates the gifts that the generations can bring to each other.  The conclusion is a resounding affirmation that it’s never too late to make a difference!