Revamping Covers...and Adding a Personal Touch ~ by Jannine Gallant

By now you probably all know Kensington is repackaging (their word) my BORN TO BE WILDE series. I'm still waiting for them to finish the final cover before all four will go live on retail sites. I posted here before about branding, and how they're ditching the couples on my covers to play up a more suspenseful background with a shadowy face. These books haven't sold nearly as well as my WHO'S WATCHING NOW series with their headless, hot men and rustic backgrounds. I have to wonder if the covers have anything to do with it. The books simply don't look like romantic suspense.

So, last week I conducted a poll on Facebook to ask whether readers/authors preferred scenery only to couples on romantic suspense books. One hundred percent of those who responded said they preferred scenery. Alrighty then... If Kensington could repackage one of my series, why couldn't I revamp my self-published suspense series, SECRETS OF RAVENSWOOD, to get rid of the couples? As the idea took hold, I found myself spending way too much time searching iStock Photos for likely cover contenders when I should have been writing.

Determined to jump into this new project and end the hours of fruitless searching, I contacted our very own Alison Henderson, who had created the original covers. She was game. Yippee! We threw ideas back and forth, trying to find three images that conveyed the essence of the stories, had a suspenseful vibe, and also looked right together. The cover image I'd chosen for SHE'LL NEVER REST was very cool on it's own, but didn't mesh with the other two. None of the other graveyard images (this book has a bit of a ghost story in it) thrilled me. However, I'd taken a picture of a tiny, deserted graveyard in my old hometown of Gasquet a couple years ago. Why not use it for my book? Holding my breath, I sent it to Alison. She thought it would work. Double yippee! She had to do some editing on the lighting to get the right effect, but we were both pleased with the finished product.

I can't tell you how fun it is to have a place I've hiked to a gazillion times, one that brings back great childhood memories of riding my bike through the woods, as a cover for one of my books. For those of you who have creative license when it comes to book covers, you might consider using something with a personal connection.

And now...drum roll...check out the results of my hours of photo browsing and Alison's editing genius. I can't thank her enough for turning my wishy-washy vision into stunning, professional covers! I love them all!

Three girls witness a murder and vow never to tell what they saw. But when the body turns up years later, the killer may silence them…for good. Buy it now on Amazon.

When a genealogist is hired to research the Nash family tree, will she find love with her employer's grandson...or will the past come back to haunt them? Buy it now on Amazon.

Will two people with tragedy and secrets in their pasts find happiness...or will a threat neither anticipated jeopardize everything they hold dear? Buy it now on Amazon.

FYI, I've lowered the price on the first book in the series, WE'LL NEVER TELL, to .99 cents. These are novella length, standalone stories featuring three childhood friends, the men they love, and a mountain town filled with secrets. Both the romance and the suspense should keep you turning those pages!

So, what do you think? Did Alison and I do a great job? Do these covers shout romantic suspense?

Things That Go Bump In The Night by Jannine Gallant

October is upon us. The month dedicated to witches and goblins and all things creepy. While slasher movies with lots of blood and gore do nothing for me, I enjoy subtle scary. The type of movie (or book) that keeps you glued to the screen or page as the heroine does something guaranteed to make you scream, "No, don't do it! Don't be an idiot!"

Now, I don't write paranormal, but ghost stories have always intrigued me. A couple of years ago, I just had to give writing one a try. The result was She'll Never Rest, Book Two of my Secrets of Ravenswood trilogy. All three books stand alone, so if October puts you in the mood for a ghostly thriller, give this one a try. Now, you tell me. Does the following excerpt creep you out just a little. Or am I too subtle?

Feather soft…Darby brushed at whatever whispered across her cheek and rolled to her side. Her nose pressed against warm fur. Blinking until her vision cleared, she raised up on an elbow. Green eyes inches from her face glowed back at her. Freaking cat. She dropped onto the pillow and gave Wilbur a shove. He growled low in his throat but didn’t move away. If anything, he pushed closer, edging onto her legs. As her eyes adjusted to the dim moonlight shining through the window, she identified the bulk of the wardrobe and the damp clothes hanging over the back of a chair where she’d spread them to dry. A glimmer of white in the corner drew her attention. The lace curtain? She frowned. No, the window was to the right…

Cold chilled her skin in a ripple of gooseflesh. The white, shapeless figure swayed closer. Heart pounding so hard she could barely breathe, she scrambled backward against the headboard, gaze riveted on the silvery white blur... Wilbur hissed and sank his nails into her thigh.

“Oww, damn it!”

A flash of orange leaped off the mattress and scurried under the bed. Darby blinked—and saw nothing out of the ordinary.

“I did not imagine that.” Flipping back the blanket, she slipped out of bed and padded across the floor toward where she’d seen the…ghost. She felt like an idiot just thinking the word. When the bedroom door flew open, she screamed.

So, are you a fan of shivery books and movies? What's your favorite?

Pick up an e-copy of She'll Never Rest on Amazon. Or check out all my books on my website. Happy October!

When All Else Fails, Take Action by Margo Hoornstra

We had a couch to get rid of. No, more of a big, bulky, heavy blue plaid hide a bed we inherited and couldn't use. Phone calls offering the beast to various charitable organizations resulted in no takers. "We have no one willing to pick up a hide a bed. They're too big, too bulky, too heavy." That's a sample of what we heard. Needless to say, their protests didn't Fall On Deaf Ears. Our sentiments exactly.

And so it went. For a while, we suspended our quest to find 'old blue' a home. First we set him against the wall in our family room, he was later relegated to the garage.

Then, well, Fall hit. Winter wouldn't be far behind. Once the temperature dropped dramatically, the couch could easily Fall Into Danger of being infested with all sorts of varmints seeking shelter from the storm.

Not one to let this particular item on his to do list Fall Through The Cracks, my husband took action. On his own (take that, no one willing to pick it up) he loaded the monstrosity into his truck.

"I'll be back after this is delivered." With that, he took off to make the same rounds in person he'd traveled by phone.

Admiring, though not sharing his optimism, I wished him well. Imagine my surprise when he was back within a half hour.

Who knew, the first place he stopped, a supervisor would Fall Head Over Heels. Okay, so it wasn't exactly love at first sight from what I understand, but she sure did like it when this donation was delivered, unloaded and wheeled into her showroom.

So there you have it. When all else fails, take action. Which is what I plan to do with one of my books starting tomorrow.

In keeping with our current season, the price for Saturday In Serendipity will Fall to 99 cents, from October 23-27, in fact.

Saturday In Serendipity contains three full length stories of love rediscovered.

Three Strikes Thursday - A baseball great seeks to win back the woman he loves.

Two On Tuesday - She wants to revisit her past, he wants to become her future.

One Fateful Friday - She buried her husband in the afternoon then slept with his best friend that night.

Oh, and that last One even celebrates Halloween...and Thanksgiving...and Christmas.

Oh, and Jannine Gallant's She'll Never Rest will also be on sale for under a dollar. Hers is a ghost story!

It may be too soon, but I'll say it anyway. Happy Holidays!

My days to blog here are the 11th and 23rd. For more about my writing, and me, please visit my website

Fall Into Fun! by Jannine Gallant

Me hiking. Don't know where the dog is--probably chasing a squirrel!

I was having a hard time coming up with a new fall topic...and put off writing my post until the last minute because I've been crazy busy. When it struck me that October is always a busy, but really fun, month for me. So, I thought I'd share.

Ginger down at the lake.

Hiking in the woods with my dog is a passion of mine. And October is pretty much the end for prime hiking. Come November, the snow starts, the temperatures drop, and I have to wear a coat and boots instead of a T-shirt and tennies. Horrors. Also, the woods are gorgeous with fall colors brightening up a backdrop of evergreens. I cherish each and every tromp through the forest this time of year.

Tara

Also, it's cross country season. Both my girls run, though my youngest, Kristen, has been plagued by injuries this season. My oldest, Tara, is a senior. She's been on a mission to win back her State Championship and has been tearing up the courses this season, winning 5 of her 6 races so far. The team has a lot of fun...and so do the parent drivers. I got to spend a lovely weekend down in Monterey with the girls...at the beach. Life's rough. LOL

My carload of girls for the race--Kristen is the tall redhead

Halloween rolls around to round out the month. My days of taking kids trick-or-treating are over, but it's still fun to watch the girls dress up.

Kristen (Thing 1) with her friend Kyla (Thing 2) a couple of years ago

In celebration of the season, I'll be putting my one and only ghost story, She'll Never Rest, on sale for 4 days Oct. 24-27. Grab a copy for 99 cents for a Halloween treat. In fact, if you're in the mood for fall books, check out my whole Secrets of Ravenswood series on my website. They're full of fall flavor and each have a shivery mystery.

So, are you a fall aficionado? What's keeping you busy this October? 

A Haunted House and an Old Murder - the Possibilities are Endless! by Jannine Gallant

Do you believe in ghosts? I've always loved reading about them - my interest in the past showing through, I suppose. When I planned my Secrets of Ravenswood series, book one was easy - solving an old murder. Book two gave me pause - until I decided to try my hand at writing a ghost story. I have to say, it was entertaining and challenging as I fought against dragging out all the old cliches. Okay, so the house is big and creaky and dripping in gingerbread trim, but the spirit haunting it has a unique story... Hopefully, I've piqued your curiosity. She'll Never Rest is available now on Amazon.

She’ll Never Rest

Darby Kincade is a genealogist—not a ghost hunter. But when she’s hired to research the Nash family tree, her job description blurs. Discovering the identity of the spirit who lingers in the ancestral home promises to be both challenging and fun—despite her client’s skeptical grandson.

Logan Nash doesn’t believe in ghosts, but Darby’s wit and tenacity intrigue him. Though his practical side objects, he’s drawn to both her and the old mystery. As their feelings for each other deepen, and they grow closer to uncovering the truth, someone is determined to keep long dead secrets buried.

Will Darby and Logan find love—or will the past come back to haunt them?

I hope you'll enjoy Darby and Logan's story, and if you missed the first book in the trilogy, We'll Never Tell, today is your lucky day. It's FREE on Amazon for a limited time. Can't beat that price!

We’ll Never Tell

Three young girls witness a murder—and make a pact never to tell what they saw. But when the woman’s body is uncovered seventeen years later, the killer’s faith in their promise is shaken. A few deadly reminders may be in order…

Samantha Beaumont knows it’s time to reveal the truth about what happened in the woods all those years ago—until the accidents begin. Fear that the killer will shut them up permanently leads Sam on a quest to protect her friends and expose the murderer’s identity. No one, certainly not the man she spent one memorable night with, will stop her.

Ethan Thorne has no reason to believe Sam is any more interested in a commitment now than when she ran from him five years before. Still, he can’t resist trying one more time… When he realizes her life is in danger, he’ll risk everything for a chance at love.

So, do you believe in ghosts? Or do you at least like reading about them?

Get We'll Never Tell for free here.

Buy She'll Never Rest here.

Visit me at my website and blog for information on all my books. Stay tuned - book three will be coming soon.