Today I need your help. My next book is almost ready to be published. I have written three descriptions and have to choose one for the back cover and to put up everywhere it’s needed. Because this novel, BLACKOUT, has two main characters and switches between their points of view, I wrote one from each viewpoint, and one that includes both.
COVER BY DEREK MURPHY
Please pick the one you like best and “vote” in the comments section of this blog. Cutoff is midnight Wednesday of next week. I will have a drawing for the winner, who will receive a copy of BLACKOUT as soon as it’s published. The winner can choose between a Kindle edition, a PDF file, or a trade paperback, signed copy. Check my blog next Friday to see if you’re the winner and get in touch with me privately about what version you would like and where to deliver it to.
Now for the descriptions:
1. Two VPs:
Who is Alice Strong? Even Alice doesn’t know the answer to that question. Her life seems to have begun as she walked along a dark, lonely road. She got lucky when a nice young man picked her up and delivered her to the home of a woman in Valleyview, California, who takes in lost souls. Alice knew enough to claim she’s eighteen, but for reasons unclear even to her, she won’t admit to anyone that she’s lost her memory.
Betty Cranston, director of nurses, reluctantly hires Alice to work at Merry Hills Nursing Center, only because she needs aides desperately. She’s surprised at how agitated Alice becomes when she finds a dead patient. After all, people die in nursing homes on a regular basis. But Betty doesn’t like the way the resident is posed with her hands folded on her chest, as if laid out for her funeral. When two more are discovered in the same manner, Betty is convinced someone is murdering her patients. She hates the fact she’s begun to suspect certain people, including Alice Strong. With her own mother a resident, Betty’s worries increase and a desperate measure is taken to catch the killer in action.
Bit by bit, Alice remembers pieces of her life before her blackout. As she does, the murderer makes a surprising move that puts Alice and Betty’s mother in jeopardy. When the final memories tear into her, feelings of helplessness and sorrow become overwhelming. Will Alice have the fortitude to save both Betty’s mother and her own life?
2. Betty’s VP
Betty Cranston, director of nurses at Merry Hills Nursing Center, is happy with her job. She does her best to make sure the residents, including her mother, are happy and well cared for. Everything’s going great until, one after another, residents turn up dead, all posed as if laid out for a funeral.
Everyone is a suspect. It could be the husband of one of the victims, the new girl, Alice, who’s suffering from amnesia, or one of the nurses turned “angel of mercy?” Betty’s unsure of what action to take–the police don’t believe there’s a threat and the nursing home wants to keep things quiet. Terrified for her mother and her own safety, Betty only knows she’s got to get to the bottom of this horror before somebody else dies, maybe even her own mother.
3. Alice’s VP
Who is Alice Strong? Even Alice doesn’t know the answer to that question. Her life seems to have begun as she walked along a dark, lonely road. She got lucky when a nice young man picked her up and delivered her to the home of a woman in Valleyview, California, who takes in lost souls. Alice knows enough to claim she’s eighteen, but for reasons unknown even to her, she won’t admit to anyone that she’s lost her memory. Reluctantly, she accepts a job at the local nursing home, and on the second day, discovers a dead woman. She knows she over-reacts, but can’t help herself. When yet another woman dies soon after, Alice becomes aware that the Director of Nurses, Betty Cranston, believes they are being murdered and that she suspects Alice. Alice begins to wonder if she might be the killer because she’s already lost her memory once. Could she be murdering patients without remembering?
Bit by bit, Alice puts together pieces of her life before her blackout and comes to understand her past. As she does, the murderer makes a surprising move that puts Alice and Betty’s paralyzed mother in jeopardy. When the final memories tear into her, feelings of helplessness and sorrow become overwhelming. Will Alice have the fortitude to save both Betty’s mother and herself?
Now, please vote for #1, 2 or 3! Thanks for your help with this.
Hi Jan,
I vote for number two, because it sounds like Betty is really the main character. Also, it’s a bit shorter, and I think that works better for a blurb. Love the cover, BTW! bobbi c.
# 3 piques my interest the most, and makes me want to read and find out what happens.
I vote for number 2. Shorter and gets to the point. In order of preference:
#2
#3
#1
My choice is the first one. It is a bit longer than the other two. However, since you are balancing point of view between the two characters, I think they should both be represented in the viewpoint description.
My first pick is number 1, followed by 3 then 2.
I vote for #3. That one focuses on Alice, who appears to be the protagonist. #2 focuses on Betty, who seems to be a secondary character or possibly an antagonist. And #1 seems too long. So, for me, it’s #3.
I go with number 1. Yes, it’s longer, but there are two major points of view . Also, it shows that there could be a potential conflict between the two.
No. 2 for me. It’s short and to the point. It draws the reader immediately into the story and poses the question of the next victim. Makes me want more, more. Nice cover.
I like #3, then #2. The third piques my interest a bit more.
I vote for number 2. It is shorter, to the point and tweeks my interest. I am not sure I would take the time to read the others because they are longer. When looking for a book to read I look at descriptions that are edgy and not wordy because usually that means the book will be a “catch my interest right away” and leave me not wanting to put the book down. Good luck, I look forward to reading it.
I like #1 best, but it could be shortened. Shorter is better on the cover, IMHO.
Hi Jan, I like #3 the best. To me, it piques the interest just enough without giving too much away.
I have to go with #2 because I tend to glaze over when the description is too long. This particular one tells just enough to make me want to know more and that means I’ll just have to read the book 😉
If both Betty and Alice are primary protagonists, then I would use # 3. I also like 2 for its brevity. Just enough to entice me to purchase the book. Good luck with the contest!
Cindy, just to clarify. Number 1 has both viewpoints–Number 3 only has the one but is the one you voted for. You said you liked the one with both, so I want to be sure your vote is for the one you really like the best.
Thanks so much to everyone who has voted so far. I appreciate it, and the comments about reasons, too. I see two trends–shorter is better for most of those commenting, and all three are getting about the same number of votes. Sorry, I haven’t answered each of you individually–it would get very repetitive if I did. I’m so glad I did this–everyone of you has been helpful.
Number 3 focusses on Alice. She is the protag from what I see.
I’ll vote for #2, Jan. It’s concise yet gives the pertinent information.
I like number 2 as it gives the highlights and to me is enough to want me to get this book. It sure has my attention.
I vote for #2. It was short enough to hold my interest, and interesting enough to pique my curiosity.