Press Kit
Old Books and Faded Dreams by D. L. Norris
Old Books and Faded Dreams by D. L. Norris
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Title: | Old Books and Faded Dreams | |
| Author: | D. L. Norris | ||
| Format: | 5.5 x 8.5 paperback 5.5 x 8.5 hardback |
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| ISBN: | 9781977265685 paperback 9781977265692 hardback |
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| Cover Price: | $33.95 paperback $48.95 hardback |
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| Trade Discount: | 50% | ||
| Also Available: | eBook Edition, digital download (PDF) | ||
| Pages: | 501 | ||
| Category: | FICTION / Historical / General | ||
| Available at: | www.outskirtspress.com/oldbooksandfadeddreams | ||
| Distributed via: | Ingram | ||
| Published by: | Outskirts Press, Inc. | ||
| Receive up to 50% off at: | www.outskirtspress.com/bookstore | ||
| Publication Date: | Sep 14, 2025 | ||
Old Books and Faded Dreams is a heartfelt, small-town historical novel perfect for readers who crave nostalgia, family intrigue, and emotionally rich storytelling. Set in the quiet Nebraska town of Tilden, the book follows Maggie Davis — a resilient widow, devoted mother, and heir to a sprawling Victorian manor — whose life is upended by buried family secrets, a shocking death, and a scheme that threatens her ancestral land. With its warm community atmosphere, multigenerational relationships, and a mystery rooted in long-hidden truths, this novel will appeal to fans of Jan Karon’s Mitford series, Fannie Flagg’s Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café, and Kate Morton’s The Forgotten Garden. If you love stories filled with friendship, legacy, scandal, reconciliation, and the enduring power of unconditional love, Old Books and Faded Dreams will feel like coming home. |
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Longline: When a grieving widow and her young daughter open their Victorian home to new guests, a long-buried family secret — uncovered after a sudden, suspicious death — threatens to shatter their legacy and the fragile bonds that hold their small Nebraska community together. |
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Where to Find Old Books and Faded Dreams
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Author Bio
Short Bio: D. L. Norris is an accomplished novelist and motivational speaker known for her heartfelt storytelling and rich depiction of Scandinavian family heritage. Her works — including The Long Way Home, Where the Heart Is, and Old Books and Faded Dreams — blend emotional depth, humor, and cultural history drawn from real-life experiences. She has also authored numerous articles on health, emotional wellness, and family life. Norris resides in Hartford, Connecticut with her husband, Quincy.
Long Bio: D. L. Norris is a notable author and motivational speaker whose work celebrates the enduring bonds of family, the complexities of emotional healing, and the beauty of cultural heritage. With a background in writing short stories and articles on health, emotional wellness, family dynamics, and cultural history, Norris brings a compassionate, insightful voice to everything she creates.
Her novels — The Long Way Home, Where the Heart Is, and Old Books and Faded Dreams — are inspired by the actual events, traditions, and spirited personalities of her beloved Scandinavian family. Known for her colorful, often humorous storytelling style, Norris masterfully blends nostalgia with heartfelt themes of love, loss, resilience, and reconciliation. In Old Books and Faded Dreams, she invites readers into a richly drawn small-town world where buried secrets, shifting relationships, and unconditional love shape a family’s legacy — a hallmark of her emotionally resonant narrative voice.
Beyond her fiction, Norris is a sought-after motivational speaker who encourages others to embrace personal growth, emotional well-being, and meaningful connections. She and her husband, Quincy, make their home in beautiful Hartford, Connecticut, where she continues to draw inspiration from her family’s history and her own life experiences.
Other Books by D. L. Norris
Media Gallery
Step into the nostalgic, small-town world of Old Books and Faded Dreams with our comprehensive pitch deck — your gateway to the novel’s heart, themes, characters, and visual atmosphere. Whether you’re a reviewer, blogger, book club coordinator, or media professional, this curated overview offers everything you need to discover what makes D. L. Norris’s newest work so emotionally rich and irresistibly engaging. Explore the story, meet the author, and experience the charm that readers are already falling in love with.
Download the one-sheet to uncover the heart, mystery, and unforgettable characters behind Old Books and Faded Dreams.
Synopsis and Taglines
50-Word Synopsis:
When widow Maggie Davis inherits her family’s Victorian manor, she hopes for a quiet life with her young daughter. Instead, a shocking death, buried family secrets, and a scheme to steal her land threaten everything she holds dear. In this heartfelt small-town tale, friendship, legacy, and unconditional love rise above hardship.
100-Word Synopsis:
In the quiet Nebraska town of Tilden, widow Maggie Davis runs her inherited Victorian manor as a modest bed-and-breakfast while raising her spirited daughter, Jenna. Their peaceful routines unravel when a sudden death exposes long-buried secrets — and a deceitful plot within the family to steal Maggie’s land. As friendships are tested and past sins emerge from an attic trunk, Maggie must confront grief, betrayal, and generational wounds that threaten her legacy. Old Books and Faded Dreams is a warm, nostalgic work of historical fiction about love, loss, reconciliation, and the enduring strength found in community and family.
250-Word Synopsis:
Maggie Davis, a resilient widow and devoted mother, has spent her life caring for the grand Victorian manor she inherited — a cherished landmark in the small Nebraska town of Tilden. With her daughter Jenna by her side and a rotating cast of colorful bed-and-breakfast guests, Maggie’s days are filled with the comfort of routine, lively kitchen-table conversations, and the deep roots of family tradition.
But when a sudden, heartbreaking death rocks her close-knit community, long-buried secrets begin slipping out of the shadows. A shocking discovery in an old attic trunk threatens to expose a hidden chapter of family history — one capable of destroying the reputation of relatives long admired. At the same time, Maggie becomes the unsuspecting target of a calculated scheme to swindle her out of her inherited land, with betrayal brewing dangerously close to home.
As Maggie grapples with grief, deception, and the weight of generational legacy, she is buoyed by her outspoken neighbor Lee, her trusted friends, and the unwavering love of her daughter. Together, they navigate the intertwined trials of truth, forgiveness, and resilience.
Old Books and Faded Dreams is a nostalgic, heartwarming tale woven with family history, small-town charm, humor, and emotional depth. It explores the delicate balance between honoring the past and forging ahead — and reminds readers that even in seasons of loss, love and community can illuminate the way forward.
Taglines:
- “Every family has secrets — hers could cost her everything.”
- “A legacy in jeopardy. A truth buried deep. A love that endures.”
- “In a small town, even faded dreams can bloom again.”
- “When the past resurfaces, only love can light the way forward.”
- “A manor full of memories. A trunk full of secrets. A heart full of hope.”
- “One widow. One town. One secret that changes everything.”
- “In Tilden, the truth doesn’t stay buried for long.”
Praise for Old Books and Faded Dreams
“Old Books and Faded Dreams is a beautifully crafted small-town story that captures the relationships and the fragile threads that hold the life of a heroine together. It is the story of Maggie Davis’s journey through grief, love, and family secrets that is both heartfelt and compelling. She runs a bed-and-breakfast business in the city, together with her bubbly nine-year-old daughter, and her place becomes a hub where people from all walks of life pass through and engage in gossip. Her peaceful life is threatened when she learns of plans to steal her inheritance, and things get worse when family secrets are discovered in an attic chest. Can she pull her life together, or will she continue to fall apart? This character-driven narrative is cleverly plotted and suspenseful. I enjoyed the complex characters, the robust conflict, and the exquisite writing.”—The Serial Reader (Amazon)
Advance Review Copies Available on Booksprout: Reviewers are invited to request a complimentary digital copy of Old Books and Faded Dreams through Booksprout. If you enjoy immersive, atmospheric stories that blend lyrical prose with emotional depth, family legacy, and slow-burning suspense, Old Books and Faded Dreams will speak to your heart. Request your review copy and leave your honest feedback at Booksprout
Book Awards
Nominated for the 2026 CIPA EVVY Awards
Contact Information
For media inquiries, event booking, rights and review copies, contact D. L. Norris at deb1254@hotmail.com
Uncover the inspirations, secrets, and storytelling craft behind Old Books and Faded Dreams — download the press release and interview questions here.
- Download a curated list of interview questions — perfect for book clubs, podcast hosts and media outlets.
- Download the Old Books and Faded Dreams press release.
Connect with D. L. Norris on Social Media
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