One of the best parts of writing a novel is envisioning its cover.
This reward is different for every author. For example, if you are traditionally published—that is, if your novel was sold to a publishing house — you may not have much say as to how your cover looks. My first four novels went this route. Sadly, I actually burst into tears when I saw the cover for my first book, True Hollywood Lies. My second book's cover was just as bad.
When the rights reverted back to me, I re-named that first novel Hollywood Hunk. Needless to say, I was in integral part of its current cover design. Believe me, I like it so much more!
Covers play an integral part in selling books.
I'll be the first to admit that, even when working with a cover designer, I don't always get it right. This is why it's important for covers to be tested on the public. In fact, recently we tested for the Totlandia series.
The process is exacting. We research novels currently sold to the series' target audience: primarily (but not always) female readers, and between the ages of twenty-five to forty-nine. That's not to say that the Totlandia novels won't also appeal to, say, men, or to women even older or younger. In fact, most readers, myself included, pick up and read novels in a broad range of genres. Case in point: I'm just as likely to pick up a romcom as I am a historical novel. I love espionage thrillers and international intrigue. (I'll bet you could have guessed that.) but I'm not big on dystopian or horror thrillers. Contemporary humorous novels also hit my hot button.
Totlandia is an episodic series. As long as I've owned the rights, the first novel in the series has always been free.
