Titles, Covers and Blurbs, Oh My

By on April 28, 2014

As we’re waiting to see the cover for Alien Tryst, my May 7th SciFi Erotic Romance novella releasing from Ellora’s Cave (I can’t WAIT – I LOVE seeing covers), I thought we’d talk about titles, covers and blurbs.

Publishers are responsible for titles, covers and blurbs. Some publishers don’t involve writers AT ALL in these decisions. These writers see their final titles, covers and blurbs when readers do. That’s why many writers haunt Amazon. (We also haunt Amazon because we obsess over rankings and reviews.-Grins)

I’m very fortunate because my publishers consult with me on all three. I submit my manuscripts with a working title. If my publisher likes this title, we keep it. If they don’t like it, they’ll ask me for more possible titles. I usually send ten titles for them to choose from. If they don’t like these titles, I’ll send them more. This is why I never mention my manuscripts’ titles before I receive a contract.

When I submit a manuscript, I also include a possible blurb in the query email. My publishers usually use this blurb as a base for the final blurb. They’ll often send the blurb to me before they post it on Amazon, B&N, ARe, etc. I act as quality control (ensuring names are spelled right, etc).

For the cover, I’ll fill out a cover request form either formally or informally. I’ll share information such as what the characters look like, the tone of the story (it was a dark and stormy night – grins), previous covers in the series (so all of the covers have the same look), and anything that I feel is key to the story. For example: Camille, the heroine of Breaking All The Rules, has green hair so I wanted green on the cover. Pink factors heavily in Flashes Of Me, which is why that cover is pink.

Sometimes I’ll see the cover before it is posted publicly. Sometimes I don’t. This depends on how close the release date is. There’s no time to redo the cover for Alien Tryst if we wish the story to release on May 7th. Unless something goes terribly wrong, the first cover I see for Alien Tryst will be the cover we use.

This is why choosing a publisher isn’t a casual task. Writers trust publishers with their titles, their covers, their blurbs, the three things readers see first.

***

Nathan Lawford, Blaine Technologies’ chief financial officer, is known as the Iceman. He conducts his personal and business affairs without emotion, never allowing himself to become involved with anyone. When Nate sees something or someone he wants, he negotiates, paying a simple, set monetary price.

Now he wants Camille, the company’s green-haired intern.

Camille Joplin Trent never expected to be paid to pleasure the man of her dreams. She can’t quite figure out why this is a bad thing. Nate is intelligent, handsome, sophisticated, everything she’s ever wanted in a lover and never thought she could have. Their contract is for a month, thirty lust-filled days of making every sexual fantasy they’ve ever had come true. At the end of this month, the rules state their relationship will end.

Of course, Camille has never been good at following rules.

Buy Now At Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-All-Rules-Erotic-Novella-ebook/dp/B00F2I2GXY

Buy Now At Barnes And Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/breaking-all-the-rules-cynthia-sax/1117501082

Buy Now At ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-breakingalltherules-1453084-149.html

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