Publish Her, a female-founded and focused publisher dedicated to elevating the words, stories and writing of women, announces the launch of “Velvet,” a novel by author Heather Strommen, founder of the popular blog and Instagram account, Sweet Shady Lane. The book is available now.
About the Book
Velvet Underwood doesn’t know much about her father, Diamond Jim, other than Mama’s relentless bragging that every woman in town desired him, he smelled like hard work and pine, and she was conceived in the back of his Cadillac. She knows Mama’s heart and confidence were shattered when he disappeared in the middle of the night all those years ago. But Velvet was just a baby then. She’s 15 going on 16 now and wants to know what Mama’s not telling her.
Velvet is changed forever when she stumbles upon Mama’s secret journal. She learns more than she cared to about her mother’s sexual escapades with Diamond Jim and brawls with the town hussy. She discovers the heartache of betrayal as she trips over her parents’ painful past in search of clues to help Mama heal and bring Diamond Jim back home. Along the way, she leans on her best friend, Mercy, her grandma, Ditty, and the yard sale Virgin Mary who’s crumbling toes are planted firmly in the garden outside their double wide.
Velvet is an old soul whose coming-of-age story takes readers back to a time when phone calls happened in the kitchen, sunsets meant suppertime, Thursdays were for bingo, and Sundays were meant for church. Throughout her journey, Velvet navigates a heap of small-town gossip, quarrels at the local pie shop, and the disappearance of the local bowling legend. And she does so with wit, grit and grace.
Heather Strommen’s debut novel, “Velvet,” is a comfort call for anyone in need of a dose of hope and humor. It illustrates how the retelling of the stories we’ve long told ourselves can unravel the past and make way for the future. Ultimately, “Velvet” is a reminder of the power of love and forgiveness.
Praise
“‘Velvet’ is the story you might get if ‘The Secret Life of Bees’ cozied up with ‘Where the Crawdads Sing.’ Gorgeous writing and a gripping story you could stay up all night reading, Velvet is the kind of character you wish would come alive so you could be friends with her. What a wonderful read—I loved it!”
—Jennifer Louden, national best-selling author of “The Woman’s Comfort Book” and “Why Bother? Discover the Desire for What’s Next”
About the Author
Heather Strommen is a straight-from-the-heart storyteller with a passion for words, characters and storied design. Her debut coming-of-age novel, “Velvet,” began as a whisper, the characters dancing in and out of quiet moments, nudging at Heather to bring them to life. Her essays “Wake Up Call,” “Making Christmas Perfect” and “The Lies Anxiety Told” highlight the humor and heartbreak of family and were featured at acclaimed Listen to Your Mother live storytelling events. Also the founder of the popular blog and Instagram account, Sweet Shady Lane (@sweetshadylane), Heather is forever designing and refining the world around her and helping others build their own storied design.
Heather is married to her high school sweetheart and lives in Minnesota in a house they lovingly call Little Oak. She and her husband refer to their four adult children as “our best friends.”
Readers can connect with Heather on Instagram (@sweetshadylane and @heatherstrommenwrites). To learn more, go to sweetshadylane.com.
Book Specs
PUBLISHER: Publish Her
PUBLICATION DATE: August 2022
ISBN: 979-8-9850242-9-6 (Hardcover); 979-8-9865220-1-2 (Softcover)
FORMAT: Hardcover and Softcover
GENRE: Fiction
DISTRIBUTION: Amazon and Ingram
PRICE: $27.99 (Hardcover); $16.99 (Softcover)
For more information or to set up an interview or appearance by the author, please contact Chris Olsen at chris@publishherpress.com or 612-501-1724.
About Publish Her
Publish Her is a female-founded and focused publisher dedicated to elevating the words, writing and stories of women. We are passionate about amplifying the voices of women of color, women with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ+ community. We aim to make publishing an attainable, exciting and collaborative process for all. Publish Her specializes in print-on-demand books, workbooks, journals, magazines and more.
