#GuestPost S.M. Boyce, Author of Lichgates & Treason

I’m thrilled to have S.M. Boyce visiting with me today for her Treason Blog Tour. Be sure to click on the image above for a listing of other stops. Also, check out the banner at the end of the post for a chance to win some goodies! I know we all love goodies.  *wink*

Anyhoo. Without further ado, here she is. 

 Why Book Covers are So Important

First off, thanks for having me! I’m here on my Treasonous Blog Tour to share a dreadful mistake I made early in my writing career. Learn from me. Please.

Here’s the lesson: People judge books by their covers.

Yeah, that’s probably not really a surprise to you. But here’s something I didn’t know until a bit late in the game: the covers themselves sell books.

Sometimes, people will buy a book specifically because of the cover. There are entire Goodreads shelves and Listopia lists dedicated to beautiful covers. While I haven’t bought a book just for the cover, I will admit that it’s pretty tempting when eBooks are only a few dollars.

But even if someone doesn’t buy a book for only the cover, the cover image is the first line of defense when it comes to sales. When a reader skims through dozens or even hundreds of books, only the most attractive will catch their eye. You don’t need science for that one. Eye-grabbing covers can trump even the most well-written back cover copy.

The bottom line is: authors must have great covers that both represent the book’s genre and catch potential readers’ eyes. It’s a hard mix.

When I first released my debut, Lichgates, I modeled the cover after a book of magic featured in the book called the Grimoire. The idea was people would finish the novel and then realize they were holding the Grimoire the whole time. Nifty, right? I thought so.

Problem is, the Grimoire itself wasn’t all that pretty. It’s a brown leather book with a four-leaf clover symbol engraved on the front. So while the idea was a neat one, I wasn’t thinking in terms of marketing or sales. A cover is meant to draw readers in, not spark a neat thought after they finish the book.

So I sat down with my husband and reworked the covers for the entire series. After some intense discussions, we’d redesigned them such that they were visually appealing and sparked a certain level of curiosity in those to whom we showed the designs. Check out the before and after below.

Before

After

  

So what do you think? Do you like the old one better, or the new? Neither? It’s okay. I can take it.

While we’re at it, what are some of the most beautiful covers you’ve ever seen? Have you ever bought a book just for the cover?

About Boyce

S.M. Boyce is a fantasy and paranormal fiction novelist who also dabbles in contemporary fiction and comedy. Her B.A. in Creative Writing qualifies her to serve you french fries, and she updates her blog a few times each week to keep you entertained.

Connect with Boyce

Website | Blog | Advice for Writers

Facebook | Twitter | Google + | Pinterest | Youtube

Goodreads Page | Amazon Page

Boyce’s Books

Lichgates

Amazon: USA | UK | Germany |  France | Spain | Italy

Buy the Paperback

Treason

Amazon: USA | UK | Germany |  France | Spain | Italy

Barnes & Noble | Smashwords 

Buy the Paperback

Want Goodies? Click the button !

#CoverReveal : Lichgates (Grimoire Trilogy #1) by @thesmboyce

S. M. Boyce wrote Lichgates a year ago. Now, she’s formally re-releasing the novel with a bunch of bonus features and a gorgeous new cover. Check it out!

Lichgates  New Features 

The Lichgates re-release is going to be snazzy. I’m so excited. Here’s what you’ll get with the new edition:

·         New cover.

·         Re-polished narrative.

·         New Prelude chapter. This is an entirely new short that gives insight into Kara’s life before she found Ourea.

The re-release date is currently set for some time in September. Be sure to sign up for the Grimoire Trilogy VIP list to be the first to know when the date’s set!

What’s cooler is that its sequel, Treason, will come out just a month or so later. You can sign up for the VIP list to learn more about that the second news becomes available or apply for an Advanced Review Copy (ARC).

Whatever you do, make sure you add the full Grimoire Trilogy to your Goodreads TBR list!

Lichgates  Reviews 

“This would make a great movie. A great TV show. Great everything. I mean, Boyce sells it at the concept, but she doesn’t stop there. She delivers.” —Rebecca Hamilton, author of The Forever Girl series

“Boyce’s storytelling is so rich and deftly executed that I found myself bouncing between pure amazement, unadulterated enjoyment, and absolute, perverse envy. She is that good.” H—Tom Winship, author of the Vaempires series

“This is fantasy at its best!” —The Story Seekers Reviews

“The writing is flawless. The kingdoms and surrounding landscapes breathtaking. The Grimoire is a piece of imaginative genius that bedazzles from the moment Kara falls into the land of Ourea.” —Nikki Jefford, author of the Spellbound Trilogy

…and those are only a few reviews. Check out Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Goodreads to hear what has people grabbing copies and salivating for the sequel.

The Lichgates  Blurb 

The Grimoire turns its own pages and can answer any question asked of it...and Kara Magari is its next target.

Kara has no idea what she's getting herself into when she stumbles across the old book while hiking along a hidden trail. Once she opens it, she's thrown into Ourea: a beautiful world full of terrifying beings that all want the Grimoire's secrets. Everyone in this new world is trying to find her, but most just want to control the new-found power the Grimoire bestows upon her.

Braeden Drakonin grew up in Ourea, and all he’s ever known in life is lying. The Grimoire is his one chance at redemption, and it lands in his lap when Kara Magari comes into his life. He has one question to ask the book—one question that can fix everything in his broken world—and he’s not letting Kara out of his sight until he gets an answer.

Kara cannot escape her new life in Ourea. There’s no going back now.

The Lichgates  Prelude 

Boyce is going to provide the prelude free online for anyone who has already bought the previous version. Sign up for the VIP list to learn when she posts it!

Lichgates  Links 

Impatient? You can still grab the old edition and read while you wait.

Grab Your Copy

Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK) | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Learn More

Read the 1^st Chapter FREE

Watch the Trailer | Visit the Online Encyclopedia

Teaser: Treason (Grimoire Trilogy #2)

Available October 27, 2012 

Kara Magari ignited a war when she stumbled into the dark and stunning world of Ourea, and all because of that stupid Grimoire she found. The armies have amassed. The traitors are exposed, and Kara is alone.

The war has started.

VIP List | Goodreads | Get an ARC

The Author 

S.M. Boyce is a fantasy and paranormal fiction novelist who also dabbles in contemporary fiction and comedy. She’s a sarcastic twit, but her friends seem to like her anyway. She updates her blog a few times each week so that you have something to wake you up in the morning?).

Also, her B.A. in Creative Writing qualifies her to serve you french fries.

Blog | Website | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | YouTube

Goodreads Author Page | Amazon Author Page