There is always that fear when I see my new book cover. A bad cover can be the kiss of death. At least that's the fear. The cover is what catches a reader's attention. Some covers just draw us. Others don't. So there is probably truth in the bad cover jinx.
Also, it's nice if the cover actually reflects what's inside. It's hard to explain to the art department the feelings you have for your characters and what they look like. Handsome, blue-eyed and tall doesn't really do it. Petite, determined and blond doesn't either.
So I was delighted to see that the cover for my April Whitehorse book is actually from a scene I wrote. It's from the rodeo dance. So that's all good.
Not only that, the hero looks like Shane Corbett, former Texas Ranger and all around good guy. I like how the artist did Maddie Cavanaugh, a reoccurring character in the Whitehorse, Montana series.
The only thing that might be a bit misleading is the book's title. Maddie isn't pregnant. The title came from a pact the five Corbett brothers made about getting married. Which readers will discover only when they actually get past the cover.
I've had some good covers over the years and some I wasn't wild about. I've had two heroes and the heroine on one cover and a lot of big-headed heroes on others. I have some favorites: Shotgun Surrender (I love the sunset), Premeditated Marriage (it has a nice creepy feel to it), Wanted Woman (the art department actually let me have my heroine bathing in the creek!) and of course, Crime Scene at Cardwell Ranch (is this guy the sexiest guy you've ever seen?)
There is little a writer has control over except her words. She seldom choses her own titles, doesn't write the back cover copy and can only make suggestions to the art department for the covers.
So it's nice when the book sees daylight and you can breathe a sigh of relief. Then it's back to holding your breath, hoping readers will get past the cover to the real story.
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