I’ve been playing around with the cover for Charming Gardeners, mostly because I don’t want to end up in the same boat when we get ready to do the print version as I did when we did the print of Whistling Woman and Moonfixer (text running into the edges of the cover). I admit, I’m a little slow sometimes but when I repeat the same mistake twice, I usually learn not to do it again. I’m pretty sure I’m okay with that part of the cover this time. Now if CreateSpace will only cooperate and give me the right options for the color on the spine and back cover. I can’t know that until I get on there and see what they offer but…fingers crossed!
Also, when I first posted the cover here on the blog, I realized it needed…somthing. More of a contrast between the picture/text and the background. The white background, while it looked clean and pretty, needed to be changed so it stood out a little more and so, thanks to the wonders of technology (I’m blanking on the name of the program I used right now), I came up with the cover you see to the left.
It’s still only a work in progress, but I think I’m getting closer. Still, I’m not completely satisfied with it and can’t figure out how to make it better so…
HELP! Please!
If you saw this in a bookstore or online would it catch your eye? Would you pick it up or click on it to check it out and see if the book interested you. And if not, what would you change? Maybe a brighter color for the background? Or a bolder, bigger font for the title and author name (keeping in mind that it has to fit within the edges of the print version, of course)? Or maybe I should just trash it and start all over?
Okay, go ahead, tear it to pieces and while you’re doing that, I’m going to go hide in a hole and try to get some writing done. Which reminds me, I had a long phone conversation with Daddy over the weekend and he told me at least two stories I hadn’t heard before and reminded me of another one we’ll be sure to include in Charming Gardeners. Yay!
CTHodges
christytilleryfrench
CC TILLERY 
20 comments
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April 7, 2014 at 2:47 pm
connie flynn
I am so hooked on the character, I would be looking for these pictures.
April 8, 2014 at 9:57 pm
CTHodges
Aw, thanks, Connie! We’re a little hooked on Aunt Bessie and Uncle Fletch, too!
April 7, 2014 at 2:48 pm
christytilleryfrench
I love it!
April 8, 2014 at 9:58 pm
CTHodges
So glad!
April 7, 2014 at 3:38 pm
grizzuto@comcast.net
Dear Miss Hodges, Being very honest, if the book had not said Appalachian Journey Book 3 I would not have picked up CHARMING GARDNERS. The title is not nearly as intriguing as WHISTLING WOMAN and MOONFIXER. Is there something else in the story that you can draw from to give the title a bit more mystery? (Bramble Tamer, or something, I don’t know) If the story is about the little girl pictured here, do you have another picture of just her? It’s probably just me, but I gravitate to darker colored books. That being said, I am looking forward to all the stories in this series. I love hearing about times of another age and how life was then. I loved Whistling Woman and Moonfixer. I hope I haven’t trashed the cover too much. The picture, I know is very special to you. Maybe a darker color for the over all book, a slim lighter line around the photo. What do I know???? I’m an excellent reader, not so much on design. Very much looking forward to your next book, Ginny Rizzuto
April 8, 2014 at 10:09 pm
CTHodges
Thanks for commenting, grizzuto, and for your honesty. This is exactly what we need to hear. Truthfully, neither one of us was completely happy with the title of this one and I can assure you we’ll be discussing the title a lot between now and the time the book is released. So glad you’re enjoying the series and hope you’ll keep reading. And thanks again for your comments!
April 7, 2014 at 6:08 pm
wakingofthebear
It’s hard to get a feel for the cover with such a small image, but I won’t care about the cover when I pounce on the new book to read. Hurry up!
April 8, 2014 at 10:02 pm
CTHodges
Yeah, wakingofthebear, for some reason WordPress wouldn’t take the larger picture. I promise, we’re hurrying. In fact, we’re meeting in Hot Springs on Friday to work on it together and to get our minds straight on a couple of things. Thanks for commenting!
April 7, 2014 at 6:46 pm
Linda Henderson
I like the cover, and would buy it. What is this book about?
~linda ~ Date: Mon, 7 Apr 2014 18:19:25 +0000 To: dolihen1@msn.com
April 8, 2014 at 10:04 pm
CTHodges
Thanks so much, Linda. This is the next chapter in our great-aunt Bessie’s life. It takes place on Stone Mountain during the years between 1910 and 1925–or thereabouts!
April 7, 2014 at 6:49 pm
Peggy Parker
I love the cover. It makes me want to learn about these people.
April 8, 2014 at 10:05 pm
CTHodges
Thanks for the wonderful comment, Peggy! We hope you’ll love the book, too!
April 15, 2014 at 10:42 pm
julie
Oh dam. You mean that the book hasn’t been finished yet? No wonder I can’t seem to find it in Amazon.
I don’t care what it looks like or called, I just want to continue reading it.
Can you please let me know when you have finished it. I love these continuing family stories. Really enjoying them
😊
April 16, 2014 at 10:28 pm
CTHodges
Sorry, Julie, it isn’t finished yet but we’re working to get it out as soon as possible…I promise! And of course, we’ll post here and on the FB page when it is. We’re so glad you like the series and hope you’ll continue to read and enjoy! Oh, and thanks for sending me to bed with a smile!
April 17, 2014 at 12:16 am
Chris Harmon
I have to “ditto” Julie’s comments. I too am hooked. Please hurry and finish writing Charming Gardeners so I can get my Aunt Bessie fix. Will Amazon be offering it?
April 27, 2014 at 7:58 pm
CTHodges
Hi Chris, smiling at “my Aunt Bessie fix.” Thanks so much. Yes, it will be available on Amazon and most likely only on Amazon for a while. We will, of course, post here and on our Facebook page as soon as it’s available! Thanks for your comment and for the smile!
June 8, 2014 at 11:06 pm
Eve
I agree with another comment … there MUST be another title just waiting to be used. Charming Gardens leads me to England to tell you the truth…. or a huge estate.
June 30, 2014 at 3:10 pm
CTHodges
Thanks for letting us know, Eve. Christy and I have finally come up with what we think will be a more fitting title and will be posting it soon!
September 5, 2014 at 11:00 pm
spillar
Please hurry and finish the book. I just finished reading the other 2 books in 3 days !!! Love it!! I’m telling everyone about the series.
October 13, 2014 at 3:20 pm
CTHodges
Thank you so much, spillar! Wow! 3 days? That’s lovely to hear, um, read. 🙂 We’re hoping to get Beloved Woman out before the end of the year–fingers crossed!