Cover Story

There is BIG news to share!

As I worked on finishing my book, I received a lot of feedback, some solicited, some not. None the less, there were a lot of opinions and expectation flowing my way. If you don't learn how to properly process those opinions/expectations, it can be overwhelming and confusing. All of a sudden, you are living someone else's dream... not yours. Having so many "hands in the cookie jar" tend to make the journey a bit more conflicting. It literally takes the joy out of your accomplishments, desires, goals and dreams.

So, what did I do? I eliminated the voices speaking into my dream. My husband was my team manager and the one who made sure I used my voice and that it was heard during the process. I went back to the drawing board and asked myself 1 question:

"what do you want?"

Designing a book cover is not easy, especially when you have an idea in your head that people say won't sell... We had to get away from what everyone else believed would sell. What people say I should be doing has become less important to me than what God has already shown me to do. Don't give up on what's in your heart too quickly and don't be afraid to share it!

I got up before the sun one Monday morning to meet my photographer for a photo shoot. I told her my idea and she said "Absolutely! Yes! Let's do it!" See, I didn't have to convince her, or explain myself to her because her creative mind already saw the big picture. Nerves were highlighting my every move that day and I was out of my element but thankfully she was right in the middle of hers. It was beyond what I could accurately express to you, to have a photographer that not only got where I wanted to go but was invested in my project and appreciated the value of what my story could do for others.

When she got the pictures back to me, I experienced that raw wave of emotion. Seeing your dreams fulfilled is breathtaking, it's surreal, it's everything!

As my husband's creativity went to work, He immediately was drawn to one picture and said: "This is it! This is your cover!" I loved them all so, I didn't quite know instantly the way he did. Then we sent the pictures to the publisher and they had the same reaction.

However, to experience that connection between person and photograph was nothing through a digital file compared to holding that book in my hands. My body literally broke and everything from the past 15 years surfaced... I looked at the girl on the cover and said "You did it!" So, much hard work and vulnerability was put into this project and I hope the cover speaks to you the way it did to me. I pray you gain inspiration by looking past the picture.

As you look into this photo, you can see through to emotion. The eyes lead you into the mystery of what once was. Close your eyes and then open to see a warrior who despite all odds became something more than she was told she could be. See the painful storm brewing in her eyes as she reveals suffering that should defeat a person. Allow her hurt to captivate your attention as she brings hope to your personal circumstance. See the faint line at the corner of her lips as she struggles to keep her composure. Then see that though her mouth doesn't reveal a smile, her eyes ever so slightly convey that she has found happiness through her grief. The wind in her hair gave her the oxygen to breathe through a despairing moment that was meant to crumble her out of purpose. The light shines so bright behind her that any second it may burst through her broken body. She was made for more... "God is within her, she will not fail." -Psalm 46:5

So, today I am humbled to reveal the cover of "From Grief To Grace" to you! Are you ready?.... Stay tuned as I bring more updates in the coming days.

XO -Denisha

Official Cover Photo of From Grief To Grace by Denisha Karmè