Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Guest Linda Kage Reveals How Our Back Yards Tell A Lot About Us

Have you ever noticed you can tell a lot about the people inside a house by checking out their backyard?

Let's do a little snooping and I'll show you what I mean.

In this backyard, you can decipher so many conclusions. With the police car parked there as if it belongs, you can safetly say a cop lives in residence. The swing set tells you a family mostly likely resides in this house. From the baby seat on the swing, you can guess this family has a young child, probably in the toddler years. The lack of flowers can pretty much mean no one inside that house has a green thumb.

But not only can this backyard reveal the people, it can tell you a little of when and where these people lived as well.

The tornado shelter probably means they live in Midwest USA, while the field surrounding the yard says country folk (unless you've seen a lot of haybales in some big city recently!!). Since the corn in the field surrounding this yard has been cut, that means the time of year is probably later than August. But the trees still have green on them, so it's most likely before December. The style of the police car means present day, contemporary times.

Are you catching onto my theme yet?

Just like a backyard can show you about the people inside a house, the back cover of a book can tell you about the characters inside. Is the story present day, or historical, or futuristic? Is it a sci fi, romance, or suspense? What do the main players do for a living, what kind of problem are they facing, what is the hook that makes you want to open the cover and take a glimpse inside their lives?

I had quite a time trying to come up with a back cover blurb for my story The Right to Remain Mine (which releases February 6th, by the way!!!). I needed it to spell out romance with some sizzle, yet sprinkle in a dash of suspense. I wanted possible readers to know it was present day about a man and a women who fought themselves into bed with just about every argument they started. And I wanted to give enough of the story away to fully cover what happens, but still leave enough mystery that a person might actually want to crack the cover and peek inside.

I pretty much wanted to accomplish what EVERY author wants to accomplish when writing her book blurb.

Well, for the backyard of The Right to Remain Mine, this is what I came up with:

You have the right to remain cherished. Anything you read or scream out in ecstasy can and will be used against you in the bedroom of Willow DeVane. You have the right to enjoy a big, sexy cop. If you can’t find your own, one by the name of Raith Malloy will be provided for you to enjoy and explore thoroughly within these pages.

Tempers flare from the first moment divorce lawyer Willow DeVane crosses paths with sheriff deputy Raith Malloy. Both too stubborn and controlling for their own good, Willow and Raith butt heads until anger turns to passion, and they begin an affair despite their brewing hostilities. But more than one force works against them when they learn Willow’s being targeted by a dangerous stalker.


7 comments:

Jannine Gallant said...

The oh so important blurb! The title and cover may draw a reader's attention, but the blurb is the make it or break it point for me. Yours has definite style! Wishing you great sales with your new release!

Colleen Connally said...

Loved the blog. Great example of characterzation. Good luck with your new release! Looking forward to you hosting Novel Works next week! Should be a fun week!

Brenda Whiteside said...

Great blog and love your back cover blurb! Will you write my next one?

Linda Kage said...

Hi Jannine, Jerri, and Brenda! Thanks for letting me visit today! I'll take all the luck I can get on sales! I always get nevous around release time.

And I read your blurbs, Brenda; they sound perfectly great to me!

Alison Henderson said...

I love your blurb, Linda! It works off the premise of the title perfectly. I hope this book is a huge hit.

I also love the backyard analogy and the photo. After living in Kansas for 35 years, it takes me back.

Vonnie Davis ~ Romance Author said...

Very informative post. Loved the blurb...hmmm, when is the release again? Pardon me while I write a note to self.

My editor just sent back my blurb this morning for a romantic suspense. I had to remove 16 words since it was over the 150 word limit. My blurb was in the form of an email from the heroine to her sister, telling her about foiling a terrorist's bombing attempt in Paris and being put under the protective custody of a younger gov't agent.

I'm not as creative with blurbs as you. Simply loved it...especially since it was drawn quite effectively from the title. Yay you!

Margaret Tanner said...

Hi Linda,
Great blurb, it certainly got me interested.Apart from the cover, I think the blurb is your most important selling point.

Regards

margaret