Titles and covers: Editor's choice

It was good to see my short story, "Remember Me," come out this week in the Aug. 24th issue of Woman's World. The editor even used my title, which is rare with my books.

I'm terrible at titles. Every once in a while my editor will like one I suggest.

Nor do I have any control over my book covers. I fill out a form suggesting what I'd like to see on the cover. Once in a while they take my suggestions. Apparently the covers with one large head of the hero sell the best. That explains why you see so many of those.

I don't really like them except for the hero on the cover of Crime Scene at Cardwell Ranch. There is something in his eyes... That was definitely a good one.

My favorite covers aren't the ones with the half-naked hero on the front either. I still like the ones with both hero and heroine. My first book, Odd Man Out, had my heroine and two possible heroes on the cover showing only their backs so you didn't know who was who. I've never seen another Intrigue cover like it. Readers apparently want to know who the hero is right away, I'm told.

My favorite covers are the ones that are different. I loved my Wanted Woman cover because it fit the feel of the stories, kinda creepy, kinda sexy. It is the only time I've had a naked heroine on the cover. I also loved the cover of Premeditated Marriage. It had that same kind of ominous feel.

I even like the covers with the head-less hero, like in Montana Royalty. In fact, I think I prefer those. As a reader, I like to picture the characters myself. Often I don't agree with what they look like on the cover.

For my September book, Smokin' Six-Shooter, I got a large-headed hero. He's handsome and tough looking so I don't mind that much. But I love my cover for my October book, One Hot Forty-Five. It's of the hero and heroine in a blizzard. I think of that book as my "Fargo" book since it takes place in the middle of the winter and I wrote it last winter, during one of our worst winters in this part of Montana. The only thing hot in the book is the heroine and hero. :)

I'm in a business where the only control I have is over what I write. And I think it is probably best that I don't have any control over the titles or the covers. I'm not good at those things and I know it. The editors and publishers know what sells best and this is a business.

I'm just glad that readers are smart enough to realize that the cover and the title and even the back cover copy aren't my doing -- and still want to the story inside no matter the cover or the title or what is written on the back. I thank you. :)