Back it up...

Do not speak of rhinoceros if there is no tree nearby...Zulu proverb...

'Absolutely convinced when I woke up it was Thursday… what a bummer it’s only Wednesday…never mind…

I got the cover for Taking the Fall today. Its ménage romance ready to be released from Resplendence Publishing early October. As always, I believe the cover gods have smiled on me. What's it about? Well, in lieu of the blurb - I am still fiddling around with - it's about an angel and a demon who seek to manipulate a mortal to fall in line with what they want. Problem is they weren't planning on falling for her. Now, I just have to get that into a blurb - along with finish the follow up story…really, aren’t we all too busy to be at work?

Covers can be funny beasts. How so, you ask with wonder in your voice…okay, maybe you didn't but go along with me. Covers can turn a perfectly rational and reasonable author (not me, I'm neither) into either a screaming, foot stamping hellcat (guilty) or a crying wreck. Why? Well because what the author wants and what author gets is sometimes two different things. I have said many times on the blog I am flexible with covers and I am yet to be disappointed. I think its because I don’t have a hard and fast way the cover must be and I am open to interpretation - go wild and naked is usually what I put as a cover suggestion. Some authors are very fixed in what they want and they can be quite vocal in their dislike of a cover - and there is nothing wrong with that. It's their book, they have put blood, sweat, tears and many chocolate stains on the keyboard writing it. They should have a good cover. But what is a good cover to an author is not necessarily a good cover for the publisher so it can become a clash of the titans and only one is going to win. Guess who? Yes, the publisher and the author has to pull up her big girl panties and move on...as you do when things give you the irrits.

Other author’s comments on your covers can be interesting. I have had some that run the gamut from the vague 'oh isn’t that pretty' to 'well, your books always sell so your name is the most important thing people will look at' to 'well, it's okay for one of your books' to – and this is my all time favourite - 'that cover model's back has been featured on another cover and you should demand it be changed.' Hmm…yes, possibly it has but then I don’t analyze men's backs and turning a cover down because his back - gasp, shock -has been seen before is insane to me and not a justifiable reason to chuck a hissy fit. Who the heck would take that seriously? Yes, I think everyone should have high expectations but reality has a way of biting when you least expect it so why make life any harder for yourself over a man's back? Back off from the back I say or maybe don’t look back? A back by any name is still a back...

So multiple back or not….hmmm…there could be a story in that... yes I do believe covers are initially important but in my less than humble opinion, they are not the be all and end all. Sure they attract the eye but to keep the reader there and ready to buy is the blurb. We all know readers will only read genres they are interested in. That's not rocket science. If they turn the hot cover over or click on it and read that it's ménage and they wanted sweet romance or sci-fi romance, they are not going to buy it no matter how sexy the cover is. Alternatively, I have been utterly fascinated by some bloody strange/ugly/deceptively plain covers and been attracted to buy. I'm certain I'm not alone in that. So, I really don’t believe there is any hard and fast rule what cover will sell a book. And, to blame the cover for poor sales is, to me, a cop out.

So opinions? Anyone have back issues or pissed off with their cover? Come tell Auntie Amarinda.


I will be conducting contests in a different way and that will be on the newsletter. Anyone who joins will automatically go into a random draw for one person to win a prize any month I have a book release. At this stage that's every month – but November – up until January. So, if you are sick of answering questions or sending in emails to win stuff then join the Amarinda newsletter and you will automatically go into a monthly random draw for one winner each month to win random stuff - and stuff is always good don't you think? First random draw starts August with the release of Male Me. So good luck.To join…

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/AmarindaJonesNewsletter/

But for now…it's the last day of The Amarinda and Anny Contest.... thank you everyone for your entries so far

What could be better than kicking back with a good book? Winning two books - one from Amarinda Jones – Knock Three Times and one from Anny Cook – Kama Sutra Lovers. Fantastic. You want more? Be the envy of all with two hand made hair piks to adorn your locks. But wait – there’s even more! How about munching on a delicious care pack of Aussie treats? One lucky reader will win all of this.

How do you win this fantastic prize? Go to www.annycook.com and www.amarindajones.com and answer an easy question -If trapped on a deserted island what two things could Anny and Amarinda not live without? The answers can be found on the websites. As soon as you have them email amarinda_jones@yahoo.com.au with your answers – there will be 4 in all.

The contest starts 18th July and closes midnight 23rd July 2008 (USA EST). The first correct entry drawn at random will win the prize. Good luck.

www.amarindajones.com
Go ahead: Live with abandon. Be outrageous at any age. What are you saving your best self for?