Notice any changes?
The new, gorgeous, trade paperback edition of Sweet Salt Air is now on sale! It’s the second generation, so to speak, which means it’s been improved upon. The changes are subtle. You may not notice them unless you study both editions side by side. I’m telling you about the changes here, so that you’ll know this: I listen when you speak.
When Sweet Salt Air came out in hardcover, some of you found typos. One or two of you were scathing – what kind of sloppy publishing is this? Please, believe me when I say that typos do not reflect sloppiness on my part or that of my publisher. They don’t occur from lack of reading or rereading these pages. Perhaps they happen because of that; often we have either read them so many times or are so familiar with the story that we just don’t see typos. And yes, we do have first-time, cold readers proof-reading the pages. Inevitably, though, a few typos get through. I like to joke that I’m simply keeping you all on your toes, like I deliberately plant those typos. Of course, I don’t. As you write me, though, I keep a list. The list goes to my editor in time for the paperback edition, so that this new trade paperback edition should be perfect. My thanks to those of you helped me with this!
More important to me are remarks about content. I received one note from a woman who said she loved Sweet Salt Air right up to the next-to-last page, when a character (I won’t say which one, trying to be vague enough to avoid a spoiler) remarked on how active her in utero baby was. There was a mention that if the baby was a boy, it might be a tap dancer, and, “Is that what you want for your son?” A reader took umbrage at this, saying that her son is a beautiful, very masculine ballet dancer, and that she wouldn’t have him any other way. She was absolutely right. Though I hadn’t meant any offense – I was thinking more along the line of society giving male dancers a hard time – my words could have been taken the wrong way. So I changed them. And I thank this reader for deepening my sensitivity here.
Finally, if you did buy the hardcover version of Sweet Salt Air and compare its cover with the new paperback one, you’ll see a difference at the very top, where turquoise water, beach, and a strip of sky have been added, along with a view of the house. These changes were requested by one of the major accounts ordering the book, and I heartily thank both that account and my publisher for making this change. I always loved the artwork on Sweet Salt Air, but this small alteration makes the cover brighter and even more perfect!
Oh. One more change between hardcover and paperback edition. Bonus pages. “Reading Group Gold,” my publisher calls it, and it consists of fifteen pages added at the end of the book offering (a) a conversation with me, (b) my thoughts on friendship and how they’re reflected in Sweet Salt Air, and (c) a Reading Group Guide. You don’t have to be in a reading group to use the last. I often check out reading group questions as a way of focusing my thoughts as I read a book.
When Sweet Salt Air came out in hardcover last June, it was my 21st novel to hit the New York Times list. And now, for those of you who waited patiently for the less expensive paperback edition, the wait is over. With the 2014 summer reading season starting, the timing couldn’t be better. Sweet Salt Air is the quintessential beach read. If you want a book set on a Maine island, with fabulous food, great sex, and a moral dilemma to challenge your mind just enough, this one’s for you.
And the trade paperback format? Very special. I like the feel of it in my hand; it’s nearly as solid as hardcover without quite the weight. I like the readability of the print, which is larger than that of the mass market edition. And I like that it costs nearly half what a hardcover book does.
There you go, my friends. Sweet Salt Air is now on sale in trade paperback. You’ll find a plot summary, my personal comments, sample chapters and more at www.barbaradelinsky.com. As always, I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to send me a note or post a comment (or read others’ comments) on Facebook.
A final thought. If you’ve already read Sweet Salt Air and are looking forward to my next book, it’s almost done. Once it is, I’ll start telling you about it, so please do check back. Right here.
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Around 2004 I happened to pass the book section at Walmart and I noticed the cover of one of your books. “Flirting with Pete” intrigued me and it was the very first book I ever read by you and I fell in love with it. I have since read probably 7 or more of your books and that’s a lot since I rarely read 🙂 but everytime I can’t put them down and have to finish them. When I got to Sweet Salt Air I fell in love all over again just like the first time!!! I’ve read it twice since last year and it’s so nice to escape to Quinnie. It feels so real!!! Rarely do authors capture the sense of smell and that’s one of the things I love about Sweet Salt Air; I can smell the lavender, feel the ocean breeze. It ties with “Pete” for my favorite book. You are a tremendously phenomenal author and there isn’t a book by you that I haven’t enjoyed on some level. Keep doing what you do. I can’t wait for your next book. I thought a new one came out every year?
Ashley, if you can find them, Three Wishes, Coast Road, and the Passions of Chelsea Kane are three of my all time faves by Barbara D. She is quite simply, my favorite author EVER. Hope you enjoy, and have a great summer!
I just finished Sweet Salt Air, and wish to ask why Julian never acknowledged the painful journey Charlotte endured ten years previously? Why didn’t he ask questions about their child, or thank her profusely about her life-saving gift to him?
Julian apologizes to Charlotte and does ask about their child at the end of Chapter 23. Nicole thanks Charlotte by saying “You’re the best,” at the end of Chapter 25, but at that point Julian himself is in a medical crisis and doesn’t know if he’ll survive. As I wrote this book, I tried to imagine the sheer panic he was feeling. He wouldn’t be Mr. Polite at that point. He’s shocked, and he’s angry at having been kept in the dark. I want to believe that his thank you, along with acknowledgement of Charlotte’s painful ten years, will come in the months following the closing of this book.
Just finished Sweet Salt Air, loved the story. I have read several of your books, but my all time favorite is The Vineyard. I am thinking it needs a sequel.
I have a Little Free Library in my front yard and a neighbor put in a paperback copy of Together Alone by Barbara D. I am an avid reader but this was the first book I had read by Barbara. I loved this book so much that I almost did not want to finish it – didn’t want it to be over!!! For sure I will be checking out every one of Barbara’s books from the Fargo Public Library! Thanks!
I had to write to say how much I LOVED Sweet Salt Air. I was torn not wanting it to end and needing to find out what happens. I too had the same reaction as one of your readers regarding the comment about a boy dancer. I’m wondering if I know the person who wrote because I too know an amazing professional male ballet dancer. I’d like to add that I like the new cover art for the paperback. I often wonder if the person who does the cover art for book (in general) has ever read the story. This cover is lovely and I love the addition of the house. I still have to say, Coast Road is my all time favorite book. ~ Thank you for all your hard work!