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Check out The Witch On Twisted Oak.

I have a lot to show you today.

Susan is talking about her book covers and I have a sneak peek from inside her book.

Don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

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Enjoy this guest post by Susan Muller

I recently had the good fortune to attend a workshop by Mark Cocker, founder of Smashwords. While his talk was geared toward indie publishing, his advice applied to everyone.

His most important piece of advice was to write a fantastic book. Then do it again.

Next, he said that writing is a business and most writers don’t make much money, so be careful what you spend your money on. Professional editing and your book cover are not places to skimp. Your book cover is the first thing people see. Be sure it makes the right impression.

This was a subject I heard discussed over and over at RWA Nationals Atlanta.

Some of the advice I knew, but hearing it again made an impression. For instance: your cover should target your reader. If you have vampires on your cover, there better be vampires in the story. If your cover features a couple in a deep lip-lock, the story shouldn’t be a sweet romance. It’s the feel or impression the cover gives that’s important.

Your covers should bear some similarity to each other so that the reader can recognize your work. The picture can be different, but keep the same font and placement of the title and author name.

One piece of advice surprised me. Your name is more important than the title of the book. That should be the first thing the reader sees.

I didn’t know any of these things when my first book came out. I wish I had. The font for the title of that book is hard to read in the thumbnail version. When my second book came out, I realized this was a series and the two covers should resemble each other. I even made sure the title hinted at a connection.

When my publisher sent me the two page questionnaire for cover information, I filled it out in excruciating detail.

In my first book, The Secrets on Forest Bend, the cop is standing on the left, looking toward the right. In the next book, The Witch on Twisted Oak, the cop is standing on the right, looking toward the left. The image of a badge and gun are switched, also.

Both covers feature the silhouette of a woman walking away and a building in the background. On one cover, it’s a house, and on the other it’s a lake cabin, indicating where the story takes place. On the second cover, my name is featured inside a box, making it more prominent.

I got lucky on the cover of The Witch on Twisted Oak. My hero is a 6’8” Hispanic guy. Photos don’t show height, so I didn’t have to worry about that part. I was very specific about who I wanted on the cover, and I got him. I even found the exact photo that would fit, and my cover artist, Rae Monet, did just what I asked.

Last February I attended a workshop on marketing and branding. The speaker was cover model and founder of Romance Novel Covers (RNC,) Jimmy Thomas. I already knew he had a wide fan base. Books sold on the basis of his photo alone.

When I saw him, I realized I had found my Ruben Marquez.

Here are my two covers, my first book, The Secrets on Forest Bend, and my new release, The Witch on Twisted Oak. Tell me what you think. Did I manage to convey what I wanted?

The next book in the series, Voodoo on Bayou Lafonte, will be out in January. My cop is half Jewish and half Cajun with a touch of Native American thrown in. If you know a model who will fit that description, let me know. This might be a tough one.

**Here’s a short excerpt from The Witch on Twisted Oak.**

Ruben’s desk looked just as it had when he left on Friday. No little elves had come in and cleared it for him.

“Morning, partner. You look like shit.” Adam gazed at him over the rim of his coffee mug.

“Thanks. You look like sunshine yourself.” Actually, Adam did look pretty good. Smiling. Who smiled at 8:00 on Monday morning? Someone who’d had a better weekend than he had.

“Ready to go catch us a bad guy?”

“Couldn’t happen too soon for me. Someone broke into Tessa Reyna’s house on Saturday. I’ve had her stashed at my cabin all weekend.”

Adam’s eyebrows rose. “Was she hurt? Any idea who did it?”

“No, and no. Not unless I have a report hidden here somewhere about fingerprints.” Ruben shuffled through his in box. Nothing.

He glanced at Adam. “I’ll call Tessa and make sure she’s okay before we head out to question Jacinto.”

“She’s a witness, Ruben.” Adam sat his mug down and stared at him.

Wow, he must be serious. He let go of his coffee. He wouldn’t dare give me the same lecture I gave him about Jillian. Would he?

“I know exactly what she is and I don’t need a Romeo, even a reformed Romeo, to remind me.” I also know what she thinks she is; a witch with magical powers.

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Synopsis

A powerful psychic is brutally murdered.  Secrets are revealed.  An old enemy is out for revenge.

Detective Ruben Marquez is thrust back into his childhood memories when he investigates a gruesome murder that occurs only feet from his mother’s home.  Is the killer somehow connected to his own past?  Is the beautiful, mysterious daughter of the victim, someone he can trust?  Or is her revelation that she’s a witch a sign he should stay clear.  But how can he, when it appears she’s next on the murderer’s to-do list.

In the ultimate test of courage, he uses himself as bait to protect all he holds dear . . . his career, his family, and the Witch on Twisted Oak.

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Here’s a glimpse inside

Ruben stood beside her shattered back door, a huge mountain of a man in his bulletproof vest. A gun as large as he was hung from his side. His gold detective’s badge clipped to his belt looked out of place with his jeans and t-shirt.

“I’ve phoned this in, but you can’t stay here.”

What did he mean, not stay here? This was her home. The only place she’d ever felt truly safe. “It’ll be okay. I’ll get someone out to fix the door.”

He took her arm and placed her in front of the back door. “Look at that door. You had it locked, but one good kick and he was inside.” He turned her toward him and stared into her eyes. “You can’t stay here. It’s not safe until we catch him.”

He wasn’t going to keep her from her own house. She twisted out of his grip and ran inside. Her eyes darted from side to side, seeing the destruction but not taking it in fully.

She sank to the floor in the middle of her bedroom when he caught up with her.

“Who would do a thing like this?” She held up pieces of a broken orange and gold necklace. “I made this myself. And the shower curtain he ripped down in the bathroom? I hand painted that.”

He made a strange sound and she looked up. His face was flushed. Maybe he wasn’t as cold as she thought.

“You need to pack a small bag. Nothing much, just a few casual clothes. I’ll take you someplace safe.”

She glanced around the room. How could she pack? She’d never find two pieces that matched, or both of a pair of shoes. Her eyes fell on a pile of her underwear and bras, scattered across the floor and her breath caught.

Who did she mind the most seeing her underthings, a nameless, faceless intruder, or the man standing next to her?

Him. She knew him. He had no right to look at the contents of her drawers, her closets.

~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Susan C. Muller is a fourth generation Texan. She attended StephenF.AustinStateUniversity where she majored in Business Administration. She started her first novel at age eleven, but it wasn’t until after she had worked many years and raised a family that she returned to her first love, writing. She is a member of Northwest Houston RWA, Kiss of Death online RWA, and The Houston Writers Guild. Her novel, The Secrets on Forest Bend, has won several awards.

Susan and her husband, Sid, live in Spring, Texas with their rescue dog, Buster, a 120 pound black lab of advanced age. They have two children and four grandchildren. They love to travel and have been fortunate to see much of the world. Her favorite places include Kenya, New Zealand, and the Galapagos Islands. When not writing, she can be found doing volunteer work at a local hospital. She loves to read, travel, snorkel and take long walks.

Website:   http://susancmuller.com/

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Susan will be awarding a $20 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour, and a $20 Amazon gift card to a randomly drawn host.

So leave a comment. What do you think about the covers? Who would be a good model for Susan’s next book? Just leave some comment love!

Remember, the more you comment, the more chances to win!

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For all of my giveaways go HERE.

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