What a wonderful rainy morning this is! Our county has been in a severe drought since June, without any measurable rainfall, but now rain has been falling for two full days.
I stand at our windows and just watch it, feeling so blessed. Have you had severe or unusual weather this year where you live?
DEADLY NOEL will be released on October 18th, and is at a special pre-order price until then. Click on the title to check it out!
I've got a question for you about book covers.
I write Christian romantic suspense, and usually have a dog as an integral part of the story. That dog then appears on my covers. Part of my author brand is to have warm, emotional threads in my books, and I hope the dogs on my covers help convey that a bit. Or does it?
The cover artist for my current DEA Special Agents four-book series did include the pertinent dog on the first two covers of this new series, but didn't on the last two. So now I am debating about asking for replacement covers for them. Do you think it matters?
DEADLY BETRAYAL, is available for a special preorder price until its release day on November 14th.
But I can still request a cover change!
Leave a comment, and you'll be in a drawing for a free Kindle copy of any title in my previous Wyoming Courage series.
Wishing you a wonderful autumn,
Roxanne Rustand
Hmm. Deadly Betrayal’s cover is well done, but as a confirmed dog-aholic I gravitate to covers with dogs on them and immediately read the synopsis to see if the dog is integral to the story. Once invested in a series the lack of a dog on the cover won’t put me off, but a dog’s presence guarantees my first look. Regardless of your final choice, congratulations on the book babies. Becca12901 at yahoo dot com
ReplyDeleteThank you! I'd better start rethinking this cover.
DeleteAnd, start rethinking my book descriptions on Amazon, too. I almost never mention the dogs in book descriptions, because the space for description is so limited. If an author is too wordy, it can turn away readers at first glance. I really appreciate your feedback!
like cover as is
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
Thank you. I agree. I sort of fell in love with the cover too much at first glance, which made me forget about the dog!
DeleteI would put the dog on the cover. Without the dog on the cover, it just looks like a romance book cover. Also, basset dogs are really cute, so that would convey warmth and a hound dog conveys mystery or sniffing out a crime.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Lisa, for your observations. Since childhood, my life has always been filled with animals (down to just three horses, two dogs, and four cats, now), and I agree about conveying warmth with a dog. Especially a basset!
DeleteHmmm, that is a hard one. This already is a good cover. I do love dogs and yes it would convey more than just a romance. I haven’t seen a cover with a Bassett, on any book for that matter. So, that would be kind of neat and unique. Go for it! Barbara Diggs
ReplyDeleteEnglishathome01@gmail.com
Thanks! I've done a lot of dog covers, and I agree with you. You can see the covers if you put my name in the Amazon search bar, then select "search by publication date." I had a basset on The Last Christmas Puppy. :)
DeleteI would include the dog on the cover. This is a great cover but the dog would make it better.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Terri!
DeleteI like the cover as it is but to keep it consistent with the other covers then I would add the dog. Dogs are the best!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Laura. I agree!
DeleteI LOVE the one with the woman and dog. 👍 ❤️
ReplyDeleteMary Gessner
Thank you so much, Mary!
DeleteIf you have the time, I think adding the dog (especially since it's a basset!) would not only add warmth and appeal, but keep the books consistent.
ReplyDeletecarrottopfromtexas2@gmail.com
Thank you for your comment. You're right--I need to think about consistency, and thanks too for affirming my thought that a dog on a cover does add warmth and appeal. I'm glad to hear that I'm not only one who thinks it does!
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ReplyDeletePersonally, I would have the dog on the cover. It would be a tie in for the whole series. Plus having a pooch on the cover would draw my attention if not aware of the series. :)
ReplyDelete2clowns at arkansas dot net
I think I might prefer the dog on the cover. It would make the book feel more a part of the series. It would also add the warmth and cuteness factor too. I personally like book covers that are somewhat consistent throughout a series. And I have to admit that I often judge a book by its cover - I really appreciate eye-catching covers.
ReplyDeleteComment from Lexi (It listed me as anonymous for some reason)
DeleteSeveral folks have mentioned consistency throughout a series, and that's a really good point--one I need to remember. Thanks!
DeleteI really like the current cover, but since it is a series and a dog has been on the previous covers, it might be good to continue with that theme.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Alilson!
Deleteauthor cj petterson Sez: I think the dog on the cover matters if you want to make it part of your author brand. Your fans will come to expect to see one there if a dog is integral to all the stories you write.
ReplyDeleteI agree with those who have said that adding the dog on the cover would make it more emotionally warm and be in keeping with the other 2 books in the series.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I agree, that the book cover has more appeal including the dog. Thanks for the opportunity to enter a giveaway! Lual Krautter Email: krautter62520@outlook.com
ReplyDeleteI prefer the dog on the cover, as well.
ReplyDeleteI like the cover at the top, but I might be more partial Bcz she's a redhead like me. I like the second one as it is.
ReplyDeleteI love it! even without the dog.
ReplyDeletekykla99ATgmailDOTcom