The Last Wagon Gets a Makeover!

I have been neglecting my first book that I wrote, "The Last Wagon," because I have been so busy writing a novel about the life of my 3x great grandfather, Richard Woolsey, in "His Greatest Regret." Now that my novel is complete, I'd like to remind everyone about my first book, and I plan to make some changes. Stay tuned for Monday's post to see the progress on that book. Oh darn, I think I just gave away the progress, well stay tuned anyway because I can promise you won't want to miss the revel on Monday. But back to the matter at hand. I have spent the last six months really learning about writing, publishing, and marketing my books, and I've learned that my cover may be a problem on The Last Wagon. After doing some market research, I can see why the only sales I made were those that knew me and loved me, and I love you all more for it. Truly, I feel blessed to have so many amazing supporters. But I also have a goal. I would like to be at a point in five years when my husband retires I can be writing only my books and not be dredging through the 9 to 5 crap. We plan to travel when he retires and think about it, it will give so much more great material. So here I go again rambling......... The point of all of this was to tell you that I have designed a new cover for the book. I'm putting some final touches on it, and then The Last Wagon will have a new look.

And here it is! What do you think? That beautiful Romani Vårdö silhouetted against the sunset makes my heart skip a beat every time I see it. For those who don't know (and don’t pretend you do, I see you Googling "Vårdö" right now), a Vårdö is a traditional Romani wagon home – and trust me, they were WAY more fascinating than the plain covered wagons you're thinking of from Oregon Trail computer games.

These Vårdö were works of art—colorful, intricately decorated, and as full of character as the people who called them home. That is exactly what I wanted to capture on this new cover. My Romani ancestors lived vibrant lives in every sense of the word, and their traveling homes reflected that spirit.

For those who haven't picked up a copy yet (no guilt trip here... okay, maybe a small guilt trip), "The Last Wagon" tells the true story of my Romani family's journey through America. It all started with a DNA test that had me picking my jaw up off the floor and spiraled into years of research that uncovered the lives of the Wards, Masons, and Roes – families who lived life on their own terms, traveling throughout the Midwest well into the mid-20th century.

Now, I could tell you all about how colorful and fascinating these people were – their traditions, their struggles, their triumphs – but then what would be the point of buying the book? Let's just say that whatever you're imagining, the reality was probably even more interesting. These weren't your "settled down with a mortgage" type of folks. They were horse traders, seasonal workers, and masters of adaptation in a society that wasn't always welcoming.

The new cover with its gorgeous Vårdö against that dramatic sky captures something essential about their spirit – proud, resilient, and unwilling to be confined by society's expectations. It's about a way of life that valued freedom and family above all else, something I think we could all learn a thing or two from.

I'll be relaunching this baby with its fancy new threads very soon, and yes, there might be a special discount for my loyal readers who've put up with my chronic inability to stick to one topic per blog post. Because nothing says "I appreciate you" like a discounted peek into the lives of people who would probably find our modern obsession with staying in one place completely baffling.

So mark your calendars, tell your friends, tell that history buff at work who thinks they know everything (spoiler alert: they don't), and get ready for The Last Wagon 2.0—the same incredible story of Romani resilience and adaptation, now with a cover that actually hints at how colorful these people truly were!

And now I'm going to be a bit shameless. Yes, I'm not above a little groveling. Will everyone who has bought my book be so kind as to leave a review? Please, pretty please, with a cherry on top! See, I told you I'm not above a little groveling. But seriously, help a struggling writer out already, will you?

Until Monday's big reveal (which I've already revealed but please gasp in surprise anyway – my ego requires constant validation)!

~ Amy