Admit it: You judge books by their cover. And if you really, truly don't, you're a rare breed.
We pick up all sorts of cues about a book based on the art, the title font and the overall design. At a glance, we can probably guess the genre — maybe even the fine distinctions therein, like "fantasy in a modern setting with magic and an antagonist love interest."
I'm not here to bemoan cover-judging.
I'm hoping you can marshal those skills to help a book out.
The Opposite of Magic, my first novel, is a somewhat tongue-in-cheek love letter to everyone who wished as a kid that they could find a wizard, discover an extraordinary talent and have an adventure. Midwestern college instructor Emily Daggett was that kid, and now her wish is coming true in the most vexatious way possible. With a most provoking wizard.
Reader, I have no idea what kind of cover would give off those vibes. And I have looked at a lot of 'em.
This particular book's cover isn't communicating those vibes now, or possibly even "fantasy in a modern setting with magic (pay no attention to the title, there really is magic)":
This is not the cover designer's fault. The Opposite of Magic isn't a woman-with-glowy-hands-against-a-cityscape sort of story. A decade ago, we couldn't find comparable books for inspiration.
After that, I focused on the (more appropriately covered) Clandestine Magic series. But it's low-key bugging me. I'd like to get a fresh cover on that first book of mine. And probably because I will never read all the fantasy books, no matter how hard I try, I still haven't come across novels that are sort of like that one ... which means I have no covers I can hand to a designer and say, "THOSE vibes. Yep."
Without that, I'm feeling around in the dark, stubbing my toes on errant furniture.
But here's where your super powers come in: You might have read books sorta kinda like that. You might have seen covers that give you those feels.
Hit reply to send me your recommendations, pretty please! If your ideas inspire a new cover, I'll send you the ebook as a prize.
📚🌟📚🌟📚
More cool & bookish things
New book alert: The latest in Vela Roth's Blood Grace series — about forbidden love between a noble vampire and the daughter of a monstrous king — is out today.
If you like steamy romance paired with immersive worldbuilding, fated mates and a vampire society that is pure I-want-to-go-to-there, these are the reads for you. (I love this series.) Here's the blurb for book four:
When an ancient evil rises, can they save the peace talks and their love?
Lio and Cassia spend their nights in each other’s arms, but sit on opposite sides of the negotiation table. Their clandestine partnership has brought his immortal kin and her fellow humans close to a treaty after generations of violence. Lives hang in the balance. Failure means war. Peace would bring the future they hope for, when their love will no longer be forbidden.
Just when success is within reach, they realize their plan has played into the enemy’s hands. A threat lurks within the delegation, an old nemesis with magic unlike any they have ever faced. Together, are they strong enough to stop the destruction of everything they love?
Want more paranormal romance books? Find a bunch that are free to read in Kindle Unlimited right here, from a Romeo & Juliet werecougar and bear-shifter to a witch without magic who agrees to be a vampire's pretend girlfriend.
Want free-for-everyone fantasy romance books? Find a bunch here, from an assassin whose task is made infinitely harder by a mysterious light-elf to an Alice in Wonderland / Rumpelstiltskin crossover.
You made it to the end! You're awesome. (Of course.) And oh hey, here are my latest books.
If this bookish newsletter you signed up for is no longer your cup of tea, just hit unsubscribe below. ⬇️
0 comments