tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post5415041499517386194..comments2023-11-02T02:40:48.410-07:00Comments on Crime Fiction Collective: Back cover blurbL.J. Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10213491074676394406noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-88536074092677198262013-05-22T19:51:04.734-07:002013-05-22T19:51:04.734-07:00Back Cover Blurb - or BCB - wait! Didn't they ...Back Cover Blurb - or BCB - wait! Didn't they ban that as bad for the ozone? Oh, that's CFC. That can't be right. That's you (us), and we're all about atmosphere. We're very good with atmosphere.<br /><br />OK, Jodie, JSB's book is on the list. <br /><br />Yes, BCB is an art. In old-fashioned publishing (OFB), someone in-house usually did it, not the author. (There's your false advertising, Gayle.) <br /><br />I look at BCB's but I don't think one has ever convinced me to buy a book I wouldn't have bought otherwise. If there's a recommendation from an author I like or respect, then maybe. For me, the BCB does give a sense of content (I guess that's emotion, intrigue, suspense - EIS).<br /><br />But how do we get a BCB on an e-book? I guess we can't really call it a blurb - maybe a Description. So if we get Amazon to agree, it would be an Amazon Back Cover Description for an Ebook or an ABCDE.<br /><br />(See what happens after a 5 mile walk?)<br /><br />Seriously, Jenny, thanks for raising the topic. It's important on many levels and one that does require art, craft, dedication and attention.David Y.B. Kaufmannhttp://www.davidybkaufmann.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-71344489095502378462013-05-22T15:36:42.625-07:002013-05-22T15:36:42.625-07:00It's great advice, isn't it!It's great advice, isn't it!Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-45154614089502959492013-05-22T15:34:44.413-07:002013-05-22T15:34:44.413-07:00Okay, Jodie. Just pulled it off my shelf. Thanks!Okay, Jodie. Just pulled it off my shelf. Thanks!Peg Brantleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04906858123466177508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-12807707363058210782013-05-22T12:30:54.022-07:002013-05-22T12:30:54.022-07:00Thanks for the tip, Jodie. I'm going to check ...Thanks for the tip, Jodie. I'm going to check out his book.Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10384070533603453713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-56732969930891523732013-05-22T12:23:36.314-07:002013-05-22T12:23:36.314-07:00Good post, Jenny. James Scott Bell has some stella...Good post, Jenny. James Scott Bell has some stellar advice for writing back cover copy in Appendix B of his excellent book, PLOT & STRUCTURE. I advise anyone who wants to learn to write more compelling back cover copy to read his step-by-step advice.Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-91646980807397819302013-05-22T12:11:24.519-07:002013-05-22T12:11:24.519-07:00Back cover blurb is hard work, Peg. When I find a ...Back cover blurb is hard work, Peg. When I find a gripping back cover blurb, I study it to see what the author did and which bit made me look inside or buy. I've noticed it's the strong words that create an image in my mind that convince me - if I feel the core of the conflict in the blurb.Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10384070533603453713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-73645929799224532612013-05-22T10:26:06.507-07:002013-05-22T10:26:06.507-07:00I'm lousy at writing back cover copy. Every on...I'm lousy at writing back cover copy. Every once in a while I find one that completely wows me and I try and figure out why. So far… not so good. But I like the idea of emotion, intrigue and suspense.Peg Brantleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04906858123466177508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-7611930804014093562013-05-22T09:33:50.452-07:002013-05-22T09:33:50.452-07:00Good comments, Gayle. I don't ask either. Some...Good comments, Gayle. I don't ask either. Sometimes, the book a reader has in their hand just isn't what they are looking for, no matter how good the blurb, but it's hard for authors to not question why the reader passed on it. What's great is that they picked it up to look at in the first place. I'll always remember the lady at out Murder We Wrote booth who gasped at every paragraph on the blurb - that's the reaction we want :-) Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10384070533603453713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-88697801844465920282013-05-22T09:05:13.753-07:002013-05-22T09:05:13.753-07:00As a writer, I long to ask the person who comes up...As a writer, I long to ask the person who comes up to my booth, reads my jacket blurbs and walks away, "What wasn't compelling enough to make you read more?" But I don't, mainly because people act like you've just requested one of their kidneys.<br /><br />As a reader, I have been sucked into bad books with good book cover design/blurbage. If they're a self-pubbed author, then I'm guessing there's a real reason for the disconnect. If they've got a publisher behind them (big or small), then I'm going to call it false advertising.Gayle Carlinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15783449240138097315noreply@blogger.com