From Viola Shipman, Author of The Charm Bracelet, The Hope Chest, The Recipe Box, The Summer Cottage, and now The Heirloom Garden

SPRING 2020 ISSUE

Happy Spring!

Dear Reader:

I’m so excited to share my latest novel with the world! For me, it’s always a difficult moment when one of my books releases; I feel like a parent sending his or her child off to live on their own. I hope the world loves my baby as much as I do. And speaking of “hope,” that’s the heart and soul of my new novel. I feel that more than ever these days, we need hope.

What’s The Heirloom Garden about, you ask? Well, it attempts to answer the questions “Why do we isolate ourselves from the world?” and “What offers us hope in the darkest of times?” As you know, these questions are even more powerful given our circumstances today. 

As the book's description says, "With delightful illustrations and fascinating detail, Viola Shipman’s heartwarming story will charm readers while resonating with issues that are so relevant today."

And yes, the novel includes BEAUTIFUL illustrations, which are such a lovely addition to the novel. Each chapter centers around an heirloom flower, and these illustrations bring those beautiful flowers to life! I hope they inspire you to appreciate flowers – and garden.

Early Reviews Are In! (And They're REALLY Good)

I’ve been happy – and humbled – to receive wonderful reviews from book reviewers at the big trade publications.

I received a literal rave from BookPage (an influential industry publication that goes to booksellers and libraries across the nation). The reviewer understood every single thing I wanted to accomplish with The Heirloom Garden, every nuance, every emotion, EVERYthing. It's also a stunning synopsis of the novel's soul. 

“A beautifully understated story about the loss and discovery of family and ourselves ... Shipman patiently and gently unearths the deeply flawed characters’ sorrows and reveals the delicate buds of happiness that eventually blossom ... At once heart-rending and hopeful, this story is a bouquet of sorrow and joy, perseverance and patience." —BookPage

And then there were these...

"The emotional scars left by war unite two women, generations apart, in Shipman’s sentimental family saga…Shipman’s tale successfully captures these women’s resilience and their hopeful desire for new beginnings.”—Publishers Weekly  

“The likable women and the engaging information on flowers will appeal to readers of Rhys Bowen's The Victory Garden (2019) and fans of Mary Alice Monroe and Lorna Landvik.” —Booklist 

Mostly, however, I’m thrilled with YOUR reviews. To date, on Goodreads, The Heirloom Garden has an overall rating of 4.6! If you are a member of Goodreads, I would love it if you’d leave a review of the book. It’s also beneficial to leave reviews on other sites, such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Readers look to other readers for what is resonating with them, and I hope The Heirloom Garden resonates deeply with you. Thank you!

The Perfect Mother's Day Gift

The main characters in The Heirloom Garden are Iris and Abby, two women a generation apart, who – on the surface – have little in common. Iris is in her 80s, and Abby is in her 30s. And yet both have husbands who served in the war, both are smart, driven women who have been successful in careers most often dominated by men (Iris is a botanist, Abby is a chemical engineer).

And both are mothers. The foundation of the novel is the love that mothers have for their children and the lengths they will go to protect them from harm. There is no greater gift than having a mother or grandmother who loves you unconditionally. The Heirloom Garden is the ideal gift for mothers and grandmothers of any age who love not only flowers, gardening and reading but – more than anything – their children and families.  

And The Heirloom Garden is a Barnes & Noble Mother's Day selection! 

Upcoming Virtual Events
Join Me From Home!

For the health and safety of all, the book tour for The Heirloom Garden was cancelled. Of course, it was the only decision to make, but it still is no less heartbreaking. My publisher and I had spent months and months planning these events, and I love nothing more than connecting with my readers in person, bringing my book to life, and hugging on each and every one of you.

Instead, I will be doing – like you – everything virtually from my home, until we can meet again!  

I have a lot of exciting things planned for the launch, including (drum roll please):

April 28 Publication Day Virtual Launch Party!

I am thrilled to announce that New York Times bestselling author Nancy Thayer will be joining me for a Facebook Live interview on Tuesday, April 28, at 6:30 p.m. ET (5:30 CT/4:30 MT/3:30 PT). Nancy is the author of 31 novels, and is truly the queen of the summer read. Moreover, Nancy has long been one of my favorite authors and humans. We will discuss writing, what inspires us, our latest novels, book settings and answer your questions. There will be giveaways and more!

Also on Launch Day 

Interview with A Mighty Blaze

All-Day Chat with Novels N Latte Book Club

PLUS: Reviews, Q&A and Book Discussion with 70+ Book Bloggers!! (Check out the Viola Shipman Facebook Fan Page for more on these)

Beyond Launch Day

I also will be hosting virtual live events at some of your favorite libraries and independent bookstores across the U.S. Check out my Appearances page to see the latest, and join us as I tour the country … from home!

Grand Garden Giveaway!

I will be holding a Grand Garden Giveaway for the next month!

You will have the chance to win the following prizes:

-A 9-piece gardening tool set
-Bamboo gardening/working gloves
-A too-cute vintage, striped birdhouse
-Packets of heirloom flower seeds
-Copies of The Heirloom Garden
-And more!

I will be hosting these giveaways on various locations, including my Viola Shipman Facebook Fan Page, Instagram Fan Page and during my Facebook Live chats that happen every Tuesday and Thursday at 7 p.m. EST/6 p.m. CST/4 p.m. PST.

Be sure to tune in and make sure to JOIN the Viola Shipman Facebook Fan Page and Instagram accounts to have a chance to win.

I can’t wait! Can you?

GOOD LUCK!

Support Your Local Bookstore...

My heart also goes out to the many small businesses and small business owners who are suffering right now from the economic hardship. Among those hardest hit are your local booksellers, which are the heart, mind and soul of our communities. They remain open, virtually, and are surviving via online sales and curbside pickup. Sales are down nationally among booksellers.

Now more than ever, books help us escape. And now, more than ever, I urge you to support your local booksellers. If possible, order my latest novel from them, and add one on for a friend or a Mother’s Day gift. If you don’t have a local independent bookseller in your town, please consider ordering The Heirloom Garden from Barnes & Noble online. B&N stores are integral parts of so many towns across the U.S. Most of the booksellers ship for free (or very, very little … often 99 cents), and they need you right now as much as you need them.

Signed Bookplates

I’m hoping that you will consider ordering the book NOW from your favorite bookseller or bookstore. IF YOU DO, I will send you a personalized, autographed bookplate for your book! (Just email your name, address and the person to whom you want the bookplate addressed to: gary@violashipman.com).

Order The Heirloom Garden
at the Following Retailers
or At Your Local Bookseller

Victory Gardens

The Heirloom Garden explores the history of Victory Gardens and their importance in America and World War II (2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II ). Thousands of gardens were started in cities, large and small, all across America – women leading the charge – and they helped feed their own families and communities as well as our troops and allies. These gardens also helped feed community’s souls during a time of tragedy and fear.

Ironically, in America’s battle against the coronavirus, there has been a resurgence of urban and community gardens that is a direct legacy of those Victory Gardens. We are not only again growing our own vegetables – which my grandparents did as they worried a depression or war could occur during their lifetimes – to ensure we have our own food and to keep from venturing to the store, but also a place of peace and safety in our own backyards.

The New York Times and "CBS This Morning" recently ran fascinating pieces about today’s Victory Garden resurgence, which dovetail into the research I did for the novel. During WWII, it’s estimated that home, school and community gardeners produced close to 40 percent of the country’s fresh vegetables, from about 20 million gardens. I hope you enjoy these pieces.

I have started my own window garden until the weather allows me to garden: I am growing carrots and onions from the tops of vegetables I have already used. And they are growing! I plan to expand my own veggie garden: Tomatoes (of all kinds), asparagus, strawberries, blueberries, spring onions and herbs of every variety will be harvested. I can’t wait.

A Closing Note

When my grandma was very ill, the entire family returned and gathered in her home to see her one last time.

“Why does it take a crisis for everyone to come together and remember what matters most?” she said to me when we were alone.

My grandma was a wise woman.

I’ve thought a lot about my grandparents and elders these last few weeks, those who survived depression, war, poverty, disease and managed to come through it all with strength, grace and resilience. I pray we will as well.

Ironically, I practiced self-isolation growing up. I spent summers with my grandparents at a log cabin in the Ozarks. We had few neighbors. We didn’t leave to go anywhere for months. We stocked up on food for the summer. At that old cabin, there was no phone, no TV, no access to the outside world. What did we do? We swam in the creek, we floated in innertubes, we read countless books, we cooked, we baked and – most importantly – we talked. I spent time with the grandma we all returned to see, the one who taught me all I had to do was sit and rock in a glider on a bluff overlooking the Ozarks, read a book, use my imagination, and I didn’t have to go anywhere to be everywhere.

We are at war against a virus, we are at war against our own fear. How do we continue? I wrote in my upcoming novel, The Heirloom Garden, about a little girl who presents an older neighbor – a woman who lost her husband in the war and daughter to polio – with a bouquet of dandelions that have gone to seed. “Close your eyes and make a wish,” the little girl says. As the puffs of white float toward heaven, the little girl asks the older woman, “What did you wish for?” “The only thing that matters,” she says. “Hope.”

That is how we continue. Hope.

Each day and night, the sun still rises and sets. Every day, I write a book. And every night, I read a book and then say a prayer before bed, a prayer of hope.

In times of crisis, we do – as my grandma taught me – finally remember what matters most: Each other.

My heart goes out to all of you whose lives have been impacted by this virus. To those whose children’s weddings have been postponed, to those who’ve lost loved ones and been unable to plan a funeral, to those who can’t visit those they love in hospitals or long-term care, please know I am thinking and praying for you, and that we will get through this. Together.

Take care of yourself and those you love, and if you need me, for anything – even a virtual hug of love and hope – know that I am here. We all are.