Creating the right cover for a novel is more complicated than one might think. I always thought the cover needed to tell the story of the book — or at least hint at it. But I am told it needs to inspire a potential reader to click on the small image they see when scanning hundreds of books on a website. The inspiration, apparently, comes from the cover feeling like it is familiar to the genre the reader prefers to read. And then once they’ve clicked they need to find a blurb that inspires them to click the button to purchase — hence the blurb needs to be in the genre they were expecting when they clicked the small image of the cover. If there is a mismatch a book will get a lot of clicks but few purchases.
It’s frustrating as an author to find the right combination … a combination that inspires the largest number of readers possible to click on the image and then after reading the blurb decide the book is just what they are looking for. I’ve been told many times that my original cover doesn’t quite do that. So, with the help of our cousin, Lydia’s wonderful picture of a Bluebell Woods in her area of England, I set about creating a new cover.
I’m testing it out with a countdown deal on Amazon UK right now … so, if you haven’t read Promise of the Bluebell Woods please grab a copy before the price climbs back up. I’ve been a bit slow putting this message out so the second day of the lowest price deal is almost done, but the countdown will continue until 8 a.m. BST July 23rd. Take a look at the video I did about my inspiration for writing the book.
The new cover looks terrific, Marie. I love the girl looking into the woods. Magical.