Tuesday, February 12, 2013

What Will I Give My Love? by Vonnie Davis

As we age and mature, valentine sentiments evolve. Remember those Valentines we exchanged as kids? First there were homemade cards and then store bought. Exchanging them was always a big "ta-do" in elementary school.


By high school, boys were giving girls chocolates in red or pink heart-shaped boxes. The bigger the box, the bigger his love. Or so we thought back then. Candy changed to necklaces and earrings. Roses. Wine and candlelight. Sexy lingerie.

But what did we give the guys in our lives? Their favorite meals? Tools? A private peep-show wearing that lingerie?

This year I'm giving Calvin a special gift of the heart. He has a manuscript he'd written years before we met. He sent a copy to me while we were dating long distance. By the time I'd finished reading this tale of a bi-racial love story set in the early sixties, I was in love with the author.

Last year, Calvin pulled out that manuscript, revamped it, preparing it for self-publication. Then he set it aside. He claimed he didn't know anyone to format it for Amazon. Enter The Wild Rose Press's new self-publishing branch--Wildflowers Publishing. And the birth of my idea: I would move the process forward to get Calvin's Love in Opposing Colors published. It would be a gift to share part of his creative soul.

I hired Ariel Burnz to create a book cover. I set things in motion with Wildflowers. This would be my gift of love to Calvin this year. Yesterday, Ariel sent us two covers from which to choose.  Here is the one Calvin picked...



 
            In the mid-sixties, civil rights protests dominated network news. Klan violence proliferated. In Washington, DC many senators were convinced a communist lurked under every grain of sand. Nationwide, Americans feared a Russian nuclear attack was imminent. And my problems? Me? Paul Harris? I was young, fresh out of college, book-wise, life-foolish, floundering, broke—and black. So, I didn’t need to add another hurdle to my long list of challenges—especially one blonde named Karen Ennslaw.

I met her the first day of my job at a large advertising agency. Karen was my exact opposite and my new boss. She was a beacon of contradictions, a magnet of silk over steel and the woman I would come to love more than my next breath. Yet, societies—hers and mine—were against us. Their hate and bigotry pushed us closer together, as close as any two people can be. Ours is a story that needs shared: Love in Opposing Colors.
 

33 comments:

Lilly Gayle said...

What a gripping cover! And a very powerful blurb.

Unknown said...

What a wonderful gift, Vonnie, for someone that sounds like a deserving husband, and for a blurb which sounds like it is an amazing book. Best of luck to both of you.

Liz Flaherty said...

What a great gift, and I agree with Lilly: compelling cover and blurb.

Calisa Rhose said...

You are an awesome woman, Vonnie. Calvin was a lucky man the day you met. What a thoughtful gift and that cover is truly beautiful.

Happy Valentines Day to you both. I can't wait to find out what he got you. Maybe some of that lingerie? :)

I'm still gathering details about my new book character! :lol:

Margo Hoornstra said...

Vonnie,

That blurb took my breath away. As a child of the sixties, I can so relate to what sounds like a wonderful book. Let us know when it's available. What a thoughtful gift.

AJ Nuest said...

I LOVE this cover. And am excited about reading this book. Yay that Calvin has another release coming!! Whoot! Great idea for a gift, Vonnie and you already know how I feel about Arial's work. :-)
XOXO

Brenda Gayle said...

What a lovely gift, Vonnie. The cover and blurb are terrific.

Sandra Dailey said...

Excellent! You have to tell us about his reaction.

Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Author said...

Thanks so much, Lilly. Calvin lived in DC during that era, doing graduate work at Howard University, so he has memories of how the city was during that era.

Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Author said...

Charlotte, Calvin and I met online--match dot com, can you dig it?--and have been married nearly ten years, so we're still in our honeymoon stage. He is so supportive of my writing. How can I not be supportive of his?

Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Author said...

Thanks, Liz. I love the cover Ariel created out from my description of the story. She's an awesome graphic artist. She did the header for my website, too, and my email sig banner.

Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Author said...

Lingerie, Calisa? Oh, he has a fashion for RED. Anytime I put on my Victoria Secrets Red stiletto mules with that band of fake fur, his engines start to rev...was that TMI??? LOL

Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Author said...

Thanks, Margo. I will certainly announce when his book is available. I was a teenager during this era, graduating high school in '66. Calvin is several years older than I, so he's saw this era with a little more concern and involvement than I did.

Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Author said...

AJ, we're both thrilled with this cover. As Calvin said, "She took my words and made them visual. The whole story is on the cover for readers to see."

Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Author said...

Thanks for your thoughts, Brenda. He's the most thoughtful of husbands. He unloads the dishwasher every morning and vacuums the carpets so I can keep writing. He's even taken over mopping the kitchen floor. How awesome is that??? He spoils me and I spoil him.

Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Author said...

He was so touched when I told him. He said, "This is so typically you. You're the mosst giving woman I know." Then when he saw the book covers Ariel created for him, he got teary-eyed. We writers are emotional souls, are we not? It's part of our creativity.

Joanne Stewart said...

What a fantastic, heartfelt gift, Vonnie. I adore the cover, it's very striking, and it sounds like a fantastic book! This one's going on my TBR pile!

Mackenzie Crowne said...

Okay, now I know why you write such amazing love stories, V. You're living an epic one!

Calvin he has excellent taste - in book covers AND women.

Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Author said...

Thanks, Joanne. I'll tell Calvin. He'll be thrilled.

Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Author said...

Mac, I am one lucky woman, that's for sure. But after a lot of painful years with an ex that shall not be mentioned and twelve years alone for my soul to heal, I was more than ready for my Black Knight, my gentle warrior for human justice, my soulmate.

Jannine Gallant said...

What a terrific and loving gift. That blurb is killer. Calvin should be writing them for the rest of us!

Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Author said...

Thanks, Jannine. Calvin taught high school English for 40 years. He was one of those teachers who would leap onto his desk and deliver a Shakespeare soliloquy. One of his students once told me there was no sleeping in his class for fear they'd miss out on something.

Anonymous said...

An absolutely wonderful story (both yours and the book!) Brought tears to my eyes... Thanks for telling us.

Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Author said...

Thanks Andrea, I love talking about my Calvin.

Arial Burnz said...

Vonnie Davis said...
He was so touched when I told him. He said, "This is so typically you. You're the most giving woman I know." Then when he saw the book covers Arial created for him, he got teary-eyed. We writers are emotional souls, are we not? It's part of our creativity.

This brought tears to my eyes!! I'm soooo glad you two like the cover. I'll be honest, I agonized over this for several hours because I wanted it to be just right. I'm so glad it paid off. :D

Sounds like you and I hit the mother lode with our hubbies! My husband sounds just like Calvin - so helpful around the house and 100% encouraging of my writing. I'm glad I'm not the only one. I was beginning to feel sorry for the rest of the world!!

Congratulations! Looking forward to reading Calvin's book!!

Hugs,
Arial ;)

Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Author said...

Calvin is the best. We are so alike and yet so different. But we have great respect for each other. As for your cover, it was perfect.

Cheryl Pierson said...

Vonnie, what a wonderful, wonderful gift! I KNOW you are going to have one of the best Valentine's Days ever--I'm sure that just seeing his reaction is something you will never forget. Hugs and Happy Valentine's Day to both of you!
Cheryl

Rolynn Anderson said...

I think you have Valentines Day 'covered,' my friend. What a delightful surprise for Calvin. Happy V-Day to you two lovebirds! Rolynn

Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Author said...

Thank you so much, Cheryl. Happy Valentine's Day to you, too.

Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Author said...

He's going to be thrilled, Rolynn. Just as I'm thrilled with all the sweet things he does for me. Valentine sweetness to you, too.

Nancy Jardine Author said...

What a busy lady you've been, and such a fantastic gift, Vonnie. I'd think he'll be lost for words.

Unknown said...

Oh that is so awesome, Vonnie! You two are an amazing couple!! I love it.

Darcy said...

You two were so meant to be together. Two wonderful people and writers. What a magnificent gift. It fits perfectly with the equally magnificent blurb and that great cover. Can't wait to read the book. Sounds like a winner. Vonnie and Calvin, the Happiest Valentine's Day imaginable to both of you.