Romancing The Cover

Choose a book to read.

This week I received the draft cover of Web of Lies which made me think about the technical aspects of what makes a good design for a book cover. Usually, the author’s traditional publisher designs and passes a draft to the author for comments prior to publication. If you are self-publishing, the responsibility lies with the author. Whether you are self-publishing or traditionally publishing, an author should have some idea about what makes a book cover appealing to their potential reader’s eye.

There are some basic principles to keep in mind before signing out on your cover:

1. The overall design will be attractive to the eye by making use of at least four to six colours, (usually six is recommended). Strong colour contrasts, shades of light and dark. A dark cover suggests a bias toward a darker story.
2. When choosing font size and colour for the title, tagline and blurb ensure it conveys the tone of the story.
3. The cover is a visual shorthand of the book’s content and must be a teaser capturing the readers interest so that they turn the book over, read the blurb and open the cover to read that first sentence of chapter one. The idea is to hook your reader before they know they’re caught to read the rest of the book.
4. Does the cover fit with your author branding? Check the font, the colour and the lines. Regular readers will notice these features as yours straightaway and expect your usual standard of work from the novel.
5. The spine can be overlooked when the cover is displayed flat on the screen. In your mind take the cover off the screen in book format and think about how it will look on a bookshelf. What will the potential buyer see? Is your name and title prominent? Is it a colour that catches the eye in that seemingly never ending line of books on the shelf. Consider what attracts your eye in a book store and use that as your guideline.
6. What do you like about the back cover? Check it’s not cluttered with too many images or a blurb that’s too long. Do you want your photo on the cover? Has your blurb captured the reader’s interest so that they can’t help opening the book.

When I choose a book from the bookshelf, my first contact is usually with the title. Does the title capture my interest? If it captures my interest, I take it from the shelf and look at the front cover, and ask myself if it’s appealing. If yes, I look at the tagline, and if I’m still interested I turn the book over and read the blurb. If my interest is piqued further, I open the book and read the first paragraph. This is the clincher. If I want to keep reading, the sale is made regardless of price. For any of these stages, if I lose interest I put the book back on the shelf. The cover is the most important decision for me in buying a book.

How do you choose your novel? Is it the colour, the font, the author's name, tagline, the blurb or first chapter that pulls you in to spend your hard-earned cash on a book? I'd love to hear your preferences, please leave a comment.

Taming the Boogieman

This is boogieman territory.

This morning I woke up at 2.10 with the feeling someone was in my bedroom with my husband and me. I could only think it had to be the boogieman!

Until then, I was warm and snug in bed and the night was quiet, too quiet. I climbed out of bed and went into the kitchen where the refrigerator hummed its happy tune telling the world it was contented because it had a full belly. In the lounge room the street light intruded into our home, thankfully. I didn't have to turn the light on and destroy my night vision. I stood in the dappled silver light and peered through the lacey curtains. No boogieman out there.

By now I'm wide awake, so I peer out all the windows and am pleased to see the world still out there with no alien critters creeping around. So what do I do now that I'm wide awake? I spy the ironing in a corner waiting patiently for attention. Ironing is something I didn't miss on our travels around Australia. However, my husband is now back at work, and I like to support him as main bread winner, so I take the ironing board out, and turn on the iron. Meanwhile, I still feel the boogieman is somewhere close to me.

I switch on the light but there's no boogieman standing next to me. If he is, I'm sure I would have let out a scream that would wake half the sleeping world. Perhaps, he didn't like ironing either.

I take a shirt from the pile of freshly laundered clothes and spread it across the ironing board. I lift the iron and I give the task of ironing this shirt my full attention. It's fluro orange with a reflective stripe around the middle. My husband's job is Environmental Health and Safety Office for a large company that supports the mines in Mackay. The heat and steam come from the iron under my hands and it moves effortlessly over the fabric. With each push of the iron the wrinkles disappear.

I often play games in my mind about putting myself in the minds of inanimate objects in this world. I pretend I'm the orange shirt. What does it feel like to be ironed in the dark, scarey, early hours of the morning?

Hot! Even though it's winter. The best thing about being ironed is that my wrinkles disappear leaving me smooth and radiant. I feel young and new again, although I am a little faded from sunbaking after a swim in the washing machine. I don't like hanging around in the dark cupboard with the boogieman, ruins my reputation. My colour though means I glow in the dark, to keep the you-know-who man away. The best thing I like about being me is when the cupboard door is opened I'm shining and ready to hug my wearer. There's nothing nicer than being wanted, able to protect and just be a brightness in this chaotic world.

After I iron the shirt, I hang it on the door knob and I feel safe for the first time since getting out of bed. That colour and the reflective strip is a beacon to the boogieman to beware, here lurks danger. I complete the ironing and climb back into bed. Perhaps ironing has its uses afterall - to keep the boogieman away.

Checking in...

Walk the unknown path and be prepared for where it will take you.

Way back in January, I talked about setting goals. We are half way through the year and I'm wondering how everyone is going. I have to admit I'm behind with my program and I haven't kept up with my desire to blog every week. (I'm planning on changing this.)

I had hoped to have my second book to the publisher by end of March, but it only happened early this month. Since moving into our new home, I've had technological challenges, been in hospital, and generally had a life to live. I've decided not to fret about being behind though because being stressed doesn't achieve anything, in fact, I think it makes me less productive.

Despite this, my second novel is now with the publisher and my third novel is well under way and should be finished for pitching to the visiting editor at the Romance Writers of Australia Conference in August.

Sometimes I underestimate the time a project takes. It's common for me to believe I can achieve much more than I'd thought. I see days ahead of me with lots of hours available, but I forget about the thinking time, and the revision time, not to mention the creative time required to see a project through. Throughout these six months I found I became so absorbed in my work, I forgot about my weekly blog. However, after reviewing my goals and making a new plan, I hope to achieve that weekly blog.

So let me know how you're going on your journey to achieving your goals. What's holding you back: life or the big 'P' word, procrastination. See you soon!

Mothers

For you, Mum.

Mothers are special. They comfort us from the moment we're born until they are no longer with us. How often do we take them for granted? Many of us do, so I'm glad we have Mother's Day to remember all the sacrifices they make for us.

My mother died when I was young, and after having twelve children, she certainly understood what sacrifice meant. Even my older sister who raised me sacrificed much by including me in her family. I am eternally grateful for her love, comfort and support. If it wasn't for her kind heart and generosity, who knows where I might be today.

Many women have taken on orphans, or children who couldn't be raised by their biological mother. You are special; you have given a child the wonderful gift of love in a real and practical way. I hope this Sunday you will receive a special thank you from those who love you, and you will take all the love that comes your way. You continue to give, give and give some more. There is no end to the love in your heart

Are you at a loss what to get Mum this Sunday? Four shopping days to go to buy books by Australian authors at Koorong. If you don't know Koorong, click on this link to find what they offer: http://koorong.com/ When you buy, your name will go into the draw to win a weekend away at Daydream Island Resort and Spa. Find out more: http://www.daydreamisland.com/ Giving books, what better way to encourage Mum to put her feet up and have some time out.

I wish all Mothers, a very happy and special Mother's Day. Never under-estimate the important contribution you make to our community and to future generations. Thank you all!

Daydreaming at Daydream Island Resort and Spa

Do you ever have a day when you feel like you're climbing Mt Everest? When your head feels as though it has a tight band around it crushing your brain? Your insides are so tight they feel like they will implode? You're not alone. These symptoms can mean you're stressed and need time out.

Daydream Island...where dreams begin.

A while ago, I took time out at Daydream Island Resort and Spa, in the Whitsunday Islands and it was the best decision I'd made in a long time. From the moment I spotted the island, pictured here, the stress begain to drain from my shoulders; my insides began to unwind; and I realised I was in for a treat. I spent a week of swimming in the sparkling pool, relaxing at the bar by the pool with a cool drink, walking the island to a lookout where I felt I was the only person in the world; and then I unwound still further at the Rejuvenation Spa. No mobile phone, no computer, no domestic duties. Bliss! As the stress decreased my creative well began to fill. This was the tonic I needed. There was plenty of food, more than I could eat, and each night I fell into a deep slumber like I hadn't experienced in a long time.

Would you like to sample this experience? You could be the lucky Mother's Day winner just for shopping at Koorong bookstore. Australian authors are being featured for the next couple of weeks leading up to Mother's day. If you buy any of the Australian authors's books you can go in the draw to win a weekend for two at Daydream Island Resort and Spa. What a treat! Who wouldn't want to be spoilt at this luxury resort.

To find out more about Daydream Island Resort and Spa click here www.daydreamisland.com

Click on the link to Koorong here: http://www.koorong.com.au/ Scroll to the bottom of the web page and click on the link 'New from Australian Author Rose Dee" on the left hand side. Good luck!