Because of the Rain

My second novel was published in 1998 with Bethany House Publishers under the title In the Still of Night. It was a title I really liked and one that I had suggested to the team at Bethany House. Traditionally published authors don’t always get to choose the title for their book, so I was pleased.

But when I got the rights back to the book years later, another book by the same title (actually In the Still of THE Night) had been released, also from Bethany House. So in order to avoid confusion for readers, I needed to come up with a new title before the book was reissued.

I was never a fan of this cover (but authors don’t always get a say in what their cover design looks like either) so I was thrilled with the new cover my husband designed. We tried out several different titles, asking author friends and others for their opinions. Here are just a few that we considered:

Ultimately, Because of the Rain was the favorite. It reminded me of a picture frame a friend gave me after our family had come through a really hard year. The edges of the frame said, “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.” That little adage always reminds me that so many of the times our family has grown closer to each other and to the Lord happened not despite the rain and trials in our lives, but because of them. The same was true for my characters in this novel, so it seemed fitting.

I’m honored that this novel has garnered more than 2000 5-star reviews. I’m especially pleased to let you know that today only, you can get the e-book version for free via BookBub. Click on the book cover below for the link.

I’m a fan of red umbrella covers. How about you?

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Deborah Raney

DEBORAH RANEY's first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title and launched Deb’s writing career. Forty books later, she's still creating stories that touch hearts and lives. Her novels have won RWA's RITA Award, the ACFW Carol Award, the National Readers Choice Award, and the HOLT Medallion. She is also a three-time Christy Award finalist. Deb is on faculty for several national writers’ conferences and served on the executive board of the 2,500-member American Christian Fiction Writers organization for 18 years before retiring in 2022. She is a recent transplant to Missouri, having moved with her husband, Ken Raney, from their native Kansas to be closer to kids and grandkids. They love road trips, e-biking, Friday garage sale dates, and breakfast on the screened porch overlooking their wooded backyard.

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