Wednesday, September 23, 2020

Cover Confessions of a Clueless Author

 I have to begin this post with a caveat. Harlequin's Art Department is exceptionally talented at what they do, and I trust their judgment completely.

The problem is all mine.

You see, I write for Love Inspired Suspense, but my cover dreams always lean more towards Love Inspired. I must be the bane of my editor and the art department's existence when I submit my art fact sheets.

Case in point - 

This was my debut, Christmas in Hiding.


See that dilapidated cabin?

That's where my hero and heroine were hiding out. If you look really really closely you can make out a Christmas tree, but in my mind, it looked totally different. This is what I submitted to the art department.



Are you laughing yet?

I mean it's a Christmas book, right? We want lights and decorations and snow, and....

No, Cate. It's SUSPENSE. We want danger, we want it to look scary.

Apparently I am not a quick study when it comes to cover design.  Fast forward to last spring when I had to complete the Art Fact Sheets for Texas Witness Threat.

This is what I sent.





Mindy is probably laughing right now because when I told her I wanted bluebonnets on my cover, she was terrified I was going to ruin beautiful fields of Texas wildflowers with some danger scene.

She needn't have worried.

I got a snake instead.

You saw what I submitted.


This is my cover.


Clearly I am CLUELESS when it comes to choosing cover art.


I dream of covers like these:





And I got a SNAKE!


So here's where you come in - and my roundabout way of reaching the point of this post - what would you do with the snake?

I need to come up with some clever marketing ploys so the snake doesn't scare readers off.

This is the back cover copy:

She saw something she shouldn’t have…

Assistant US Attorney Christine Davis is positive she witnessed a murder, but with no body, the police aren’t convinced. Now someone wants her dead, and Texas Ranger Blake Larsen is the only one who believes her. For Blake, protecting Christine must stay more important than their growing feelings for each other. But can he keep her safe from an unknown enemy who wants her silenced?

I came up with this slogan - "Go ahead. Pick it up. The snake won't bite, but danger lurks within!

I joked with friends about printing stickers to go over the snake. 

I'm trusting the art department and marketing that they know what readers want, but if I screamed when I saw the cover, what are readers going to do?

I am curious to know: would the snake make you notice the book and pick it up, or would it put you off? (Note: I have had readers tell me they will only buy eBooks so they don't really have to look at the cover!

So if you're dropping by today, please tell me how would you promo that snake book? (Fact: the snake takes up more room on the cover than it does in the actual story!)

Have any clever ideas?

I'm promising an IOU for one advance copy (whenever I get them) of Texas Witness Threat and an ebook of Christmas in Hiding. Please let me know in the comments which you prefer if you would like to be in the drawing.


49 comments:

  1. Mary Cate, for what it's worth, if I suggested a snake on one of my covers, I wouldn't get it. They'd tell me it was too much suspense. ;)

    My first suggestion is that you stop worrying. If people are 100% put off by the snake on the cover, then they're probably not suspense readers. Now, I know you have a strong aversion to snakes. You're the one who flips whenever I post a pic of one over at the Yankee-Belle and scolds me because I didn't warn you. But you're an exception, not the rule. Readers only care what the story is about.

    Second, perhaps you should consider writing straight romance. ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL Mindy. I do write sweet romance as well, just not for LI. I do like writing suspense. I just like to see a little romance with the danger.

      Delete
    2. LOL, Mindy! That's what I was going to advise! :)

      Delete
  2. Cate, I may have laughed at your versions of covers for your books and what LIS created. :) Just a little.

    I guess my suggestion would be to find a different aspect of your story to build promo off of. I'm guessing there's a snake in the book but maybe there's a different thing you can play off of?

    And yes, I'd still pick up the book, even wtih the snake on the cover. :) And yes, I'd like to be in the drawing for either of the books you're offering.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Jeanne. The snake literally takes up about 1/4 of a page in the book. I'd explain more, but it appears during the climax danger scene so I don't want to give too much away.

      I'll put you in the drawing for both,

      Delete
  3. Hi Cate:

    I think we think very much alike! Of the three LI covers you showed that you admire, two of them are among my favorite LI covers also. And I've been reading LI before they were LI -- back when they were Steeple Hill and I had a subscription to them.

    A while back when I saw the reveal of the snake cover, I was shocked. I thought it was the worse LIS cover I've ever seen. I did not comment then as there was nothing you could do about it and I did not want to make you feel bad. Now, however, you have made such a comment yourself, so I'll write what I think and hope that I am wrong and that the sales run higher than the other LIS releases this month.

    One: the book is a romance. That should be clear at once. People don't buy LIS just to get a suspense since dedicated suspense books sink or swim on the quality of their suspense alone and are thus usually far better in creating great suspense stories.

    Readers buy LIS to get suspense along with a romance. I would strongly suggest showing a heroine or hero in danger on the cover. Storm clouds also are a cliché of suspense and danger.

    The snake is very bad. It is about to strike the reader! Not the hero or heroine. Besides, if the snake is the 'threat' in the title, that's not all that interesting. There needs to be more threat than that. That snake does not even want to fight. It is just trying to scare you away from the book cover! It just wants to be left alone.

    Does a snake about to strike seem like a warm and fuzzy invitation to read the story? It's not exactly a baby in a basket floating down a river which may make the reader want to jump into the story to help the baby. However, with the snake, the reader just wants to get out of the striking distance and leave the snake (and perhaps the book) alone.

    Even more grievous: this is also an inspirational romance which is code for Christian and not of secular Positive Mental Attitude motivational inspiration. The snake is the symbol of the devil, paradise lost and the hardships of original sin in which the nuns always emphasized 'the pains of childbirth'.

    I just know what the thinking was with the marketing people. "This cover is so shocking and different, it will be the most noticed book on the bookshelves. (Assuming the books are facing outward which takes a 'space-costly'display.) This added attention is most likely true and could be proven by testing.

    The problem here is that it is not enough to get attention -- even the most attention of all. It must be favorable attention. Tests have shown over the years that ads that get the highest attention, but not favorable attention, sell less product to people who have seen the ads than people who have never seen the ads.

    I hope the LIS marketing people see this comment and respond with sales figures. It could turn out to be a big success for reasons I am not familiar with. Let's hope so. As for now, I need to read the story.

    The way to help sales now with that cover is for you and your personal marketing efforts to humanize the story. Bring out the peril of the hero and heroine. Also add something about love and romance in times of extreme danger. I'd even put a white box (mortise) over the snake with selling copy in it when showing the book on websites. I'm sure after I read the story I will be able to come up with some proven marketing approaches.

    In any event, pray that we are all wrong and that that snake proves to be an example of marketing genius.

    Vince

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Vince,

      Uh oh. Now you're scaring me. Here's to hoping the LIs readers have a different reaction.

      I do intend to play up the story, because I think it's an interesting one. What is not mentioned anywhere on the cover or in the blurb is that part of the suspense focuses on Amish who came to help out in Texas after Hurricane Ike. I was so intrigued by their story. I shall have to play that up.

      Delete
    2. Actually, Vince, the cover is very much in line with Love Inspired Suspense. I think it says exactly what it's supposed to - 'this is a suspense novel and there will be action packed from cover to cover'. We already know it's a romance if we're buying it from Harlequin as a publisher; we don't necessarily need the couple on the cover to tell us this :) I hate snakes but this cover makes me very intrigued by the story & a true suspense reader typically isn't scared off by a snake on a cover. In real life, oh heck yes. But not on a cover.

      Delete
    3. PS - I also don't see a snake on a cover and instantly think of the devil. I think that might be narrowing the focus a bit too much and overthinking what doesn't need to be over thought :)

      Delete
    4. I love the cover, and I am a big wimp when it comes to snakes! The cover depicts danger, suspense, the need for someone to save me from that rattler!

      The cover fits the LIS brand beautifully, being right on target and yet a bit different, so it will be memorable. And I'm sure the story under that book cover will be just as strong and unique!

      Delete
    5. They're not going for warm and fuzzy, Vince. LOL. They're pros at this. An author has to trust her publisher wants to sell books every bit as much as he/she does. They're on our side.

      Delete
    6. I hope all the comments above are correct and the snake cover sells well and it well could. There is a saying in advertising that what works gets repeated and copied until it stops working.

      I have never seen a snake cover in all my years. Maybe such covers could start a trend if it works well. We’ll see.

      Another important factor is that while many fans love books about Amish, many more do not want to read about the Amish. If the book is about Amish, it must show that on the cover…at least to the extent that it is a bonnet book.

      For an interesting cover, how about dark storm clouds, over a hurricane damaged neighborhood with rescue vehicles, and an Amish buggy in the picture. How’s that for interest?

      And Mary: that rattler does not want to fight or bite anyone. It has rattles to scare people way. You don’t have to be rescued. You just need to back up and walk away and leave the poor snake alone.

      Delete
    7. Vince, around our place snakes either get shot or decapitated with a shovel. Whichever is closer.

      Delete
    8. The Art Dept knows LIS readers. I provide cover suggestions that they either accept or reject. But I always know the covers will attract readers. Mr. Snake is unique! A first! I expect great sales, Mary/Cate! Wait and see!

      Delete
    9. Hi Debby: a first could be great and introduce a new trend. And the first should get the most benefit in sales while it is fresh and unique. That's why the test these new approaches. Good luck.

      Delete
    10. Hi Mindy: You come from good country. Louis L'Amour wrote that all the cowboys wore guns. The ones who were gun fighters got an extra ten dollars a month or forty dollars and the other cowboys wore guns to shoot snakes which horses hated and they got the regular thirty dollars a month.

      Delete
  4. Okay, I'll admit it - I actually thought that cover was brilliant. The snake is in a threatening pose, saying "don't come any closer!" which makes me want to open the book and see what is threatening the sweet story characters.

    But I don't have a phobia about snakes, and a rattler is an enemy I can conquer.

    I also agree with Mindy - the cover ideas you sent with your AFS scream sweet romance! Maybe you should try pitching one!

    But as far as marketing this book? I'd go with the angle of "What is this snake afraid of?" or "What did Christine see that has someone out to get her?"

    And now I'm really intrigued! I can't wait until your book releases in January!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The description that accompanied those sweet photos was for an abandoned buggy in that field of bluebonnet. Sort of dangerous looking. 🙄 It's from a scene where the hero find that the heroine was abducted in the buggy.

      Glad you're intrigued though.

      Delete
    2. "sort of dangerous looking" hahaha :)

      Delete
    3. See why I'm so bad at this, Carrie????

      Delete
    4. Cate, LOL a dangerous buggy strikes again!!!

      Delete
  5. Hi Cate! I live in West Texas out in the country and snakes are a part of life. Unlike Jan, I have an unhealthy fear of any snake with rattlers being at the top of the list. If I am looking to purchase a suspense book, that cover wouldn't stop me from picking it up to read the blurb. For me, it increases the suspense factor.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Pat, I'm so relieved to know that even with the phobia, it wouldn't put you off checking out the book. I hope the blurb interests you enough to make it past the snake. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Cate, I'm sorry you had to have such a shocking cover. I think your abandoned buggy idea would have worked well. But I still want to read the book. I'm sure it will still attract readers. Please put me in the drawing for the new book. I already have Christmas in Hiding.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sandy, I think it was something about opening an email and having that pop out at me! HISSSSSS!

      Thank you for being loyal and wanting to read.

      Delete
  8. I think the snake adds a fear factor. It screams danger. I would not be put off by it. I would trust the art department! (And I will buy the book.) :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do trust the art department, Missy. They certainly were right about Christmas in Hiding. I'm just looking for any suggestions for clever ways to use the snake in marketing.

      Delete
    2. Ummm...danger strikes at an innocent Amish woman in peril???

      Delete
  9. I may have laughed while reading this post. I would still read the book even with a snack on it. I would love to be put in the drawing for the new book

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Angeline. I'm glad I made you laugh. I guess it's a good thing I'm the writer instead of the art director. ;)

      Delete
  10. You make me glad I don't write suspense. :-)
    That being said, my first book had some suspense in it and instead of the cover with a couple at a wrought-iron table drinking smoothies, I got her aunt looking out a window at them in the driveway... and a new title. But no snake!
    My advice would be to not even mention it as you market.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. See, drinking smoothies sounds pretty.

      I actually love writing suspense. I just like pretty covers. :)

      I got a new title too. My working title was Plain Texas Justice (reference to the Amish), but that didn't make the cut.


      Interesting fact, Christmas in Hiding was my original title and I got to keep it.

      Delete
  11. I would have to put a post it over the snake to even hold it. It sounds good though and I would enjoy reading.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Lucy. Someone suggested putting a post-it over it which made me think I should make stickers of bluebonnets available. ;)

      Delete
  12. The cover looks suspenseful but I'd likely keep it face down or only spine exposed. Did I mean I hate snakes?????? It's funny what you picture as the cover and what the art department comes up with.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lee-Ann, maybe I should give away book covers. :)

      Delete
  13. The cover made me jump, then I got excited. It's a cool cover, Cate and just what LIS readers expect. Trust LIS to know their readers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do trust that LIS knows their readers. I wonder if they ever polled them on snakes. LOL

      Delete
  14. Hi, Cate. I also love the Harlequin art department. As far as the snake, add that this is the only snake you'll want to stay up for? The only snake that will keep you up at night in a good way? One thing, though - I'm sure the book is great!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tanya, they've given you great covers! Of course yours aren't suspense, so of course I would like them. LOL

      Delete
  15. I only wish the artists had put the snake in a field of bluebells!
    What about an ominous statement like, "A rattlesnake warns its victims. Christine Davis hasn't been offered that luxury."
    Please do put me in the drawing. I think the Christmas in Hiding piques my interest even more than a Texas Threat.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, Linda. I love that idea, but Mindy would have been VERY upset!

      Delete
    2. Mary Cate, one always has to watch for snakes in the Bluebonnets. Especially if you want to photograph a person (read small child) in the Bluebonnets.

      Delete
  16. I love this cover.

    It's suspense from stem to stern and it gives the visceral response that a suspense reader wants. A suspense reader isn't going for floral scenes... she's going for Edge, Edge and more Edge and a great H/H to make the story work.

    Now I'm also not afraid of snakes, so that might have something to do with my reaction.

    "Gripping" is clutch in suspense and this cover's got it.

    I think we should name the snake.

    :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gripping I will take.

      Name the snake! Now there's a clever marketing idea.

      Delete
    2. Ooo... Give him a name that makes him less terrifying. Like Fluffy or Skip. ;)

      Delete
  17. Mary/Cate, I love the cover. Unique! So suspenseful! I'm hooked and want to read this story. No, I don't like snakes, but I've added a few in my stories. Snakes up the stakes and make me (as reader) even more concerned about the hero and heroine!

    I think Mr. Snake will be a hit with readers! Really!!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. I saw the snake and it makes me want to read that book!

    ReplyDelete

If you have trouble leaving a comment, please "clear your internet cache" and try again. You can find this in your browser settings under "clear history."