Lyn Needs Feedback on Cover Art and Titles for Holiday Novella

Hi, need some input or feedback on cover art, images I will use for a novella I’m releasing in November. And also some title help. The image above is the one I plan on using on the back cover of the print edition (ebooks don’t have back covers.) As you can tell, the story is set in winter.

Here’s the BLURB:

Catching a freight train out of Chicago is no way to spend Christmas Day.

But Will Gustafson has run out of options. The Depression has cost him everything–his classy wife, executive job and high society life. Now he’s heading home to the northwoods of Wisconsin to face the “I told you so’s” he deserves. On the freight train a homeless little boy attaches himself to Will like a lost puppy. Who is the boy and why is he alone?

On the day after Christmas in her Model T, Cass Newton picks up Will and the boy and takes them home with her. Is she crazy? But a new widow, she needs a handyman to help her weather the winter in her isolated cabin. She’s concealed her “delicate” condition from everyone but can’t deceive Will.

A baby is coming and Will wonders how he’ll handle this–when his lady boss refuses to see a doctor. Why not for heaven’s sake? He fights his growing attraction to this good but stubborn woman–so unlike the wife who divorced him. The three of them become an unlikely “family.” Yet what will happen when the snow melts and all their secrets are revealed?

Sound interesting?

Recently on the Love Inspired Goodreads Group, I asked for title help.

I listed these titles to kick off the discussion of feedback and suggestions:

In the Heart of Winter
Deep in the Heart of Winter
Longing In Their Winter Hearts
Winter in their Hearts
Winter Homecoming

Suggestions I received there:

A Season of Change

Season of the Heart

Winter Hearts

Then Came Spring

Promise of Spring

Spring Always Comes

When the Snow Melts

Do you have a favorite or one to suggest? PLEASE DO!

Now on to front cover images.

The think the very most important thing about a cover is that it must EVOKE EMOTION and the emotion or mood which represents the story, its feeling.

Secondly I think that romance novels with women on the covers sell better than covers without women. So here are two images I like.

WHICH ONE EVOKES AN EMOTIONAL RESPONSE FROM YOU? DON’T THINK ABOUT IT–JUST REACT.

The Pensive Heroine

The Snowy Heroine

Do you have a favorite of these two? Which and why?

The ebook edition of my novella will debut in November in the latest Inspy Kisses EBOOK collection.

So please give me some feedback on the title and the cover images for the print edition!–Lyn

Comments

Lyn Needs Feedback on Cover Art and Titles for Holiday Novella — 15 Comments

Melanie Backus on September 18, 2015 at 21:56 said:

I like Back to the Northwoods. I know it is an incredible book!
Amanda Nixon on September 14, 2015 at 17:05 said:

I like the snowy girl for the heroine, but she does seem a bit young. She makes me curious and I want to know more about her story. I love the back cover photo and my favorite title is A Season Of Change =)
Candice Y. Johnson on September 11, 2015 at 08:39 said:

The blurb is awesome!

Honestly, I love the snowy girl – she makes me interested in her story.
I would like to suggest another title: The Secret of Winter

– or Winter’s Secret
Janet McKay on September 10, 2015 at 06:18 said:

That was fun. 100% Pensive Heroine. I also like Winter Homecoming. Good luck!
Sunnie on September 9, 2015 at 22:37 said:

I like the title Winter Homecoming. And I like The Snowy Herione pic. It sounds like a great book. But I am not excited for the snow to come in “real life”.
Carol Smiles on September 9, 2015 at 20:29 said:

Good and interesting story blurb. Catches a reader’s eye and imagination.
As a writer of Fiction myself, I understand the importance of that.
The snowy scene of winter-clad girl is my favorite of the two for a cover shot. She seems to have a need for comfort, and perhaps some secrets.
If I had participated in the title selection, mine would have been “Revealing Snow Thaw”.
Amy on September 9, 2015 at 20:24 said:

Hi Lyn,
I love the back cover art and am leaning toward the pensive heroine. For a title, I love When the Snow Melts. Can’t wait to find out what you decide.
June on September 9, 2015 at 16:19 said:

I like When the Snow Melts. (For a title and in real life!) 🙂 I like the snowy cover but the girl in it looks really young (like a teenager) for some reason. And the back cover is pretty. Can’t wait to read the book!
Diane Blaser on September 9, 2015 at 15:51 said:

I like the title Winter Hearts because the characters start out somewhat cold hearted because of their current circumstances. I know that will change while they’re forced indoors for the long winter. I like the image of the second woman more than the first though the nail polish has to go and she needs period clothing. The cover art is wonderful but I would love to see some bright red Cardinals in the trees. I think having some color will make the birds look red like a heart. The story sounds wonderful and I will look forward to reading it when it comes out.
Sylvia Bambola on September 9, 2015 at 15:43 said:

Lyn, I like the blurb, the winter photo and the second photo of girl. I think they all work well together. The titles I like best: 1) Winter Hearts 2) Winter Homecoming. Blessings!
Maureen Lang on September 9, 2015 at 13:53 said:

Ooops, forgot to mention the title I like! Winter Homecoming struck me first, because of the cold/warm contrast.
DeAnna Dodson on September 9, 2015 at 13:52 said:

I love the book description. Sounds like a fabulous story!

I do like the back cover picture, but it looks abandoned. Maybe a little smoke from the chimney as Melissa suggested?

I too get nothing from either woman’s picture. They don’t seem Depression Era to me at all. If I HAD to pick one, it would be the snowy one. She looks more intriguing.

“Winter Hearts” would be my choice from the title list above.
Maureen Lang on September 9, 2015 at 13:52 said:

I really like the blurb and the wintry scene, Lyn! Of the two faces, I prefer the second one although the hat does look a little Russian/European (except for the fingernail polish, which seems more modern). You might consider having the cover artist crop the face picture so only a portion of her face is showing (perhaps don’t include the fingernails?) with the remote scene in the background. Can’t wait to see what you decide!
Melissa L. on September 9, 2015 at 09:30 said:

I too was not drawn to either of the women’s pictures. I like her idea of a snowy background woodsy scene and a side view of the lady. I do like the back cover photo but it is missing something. Maybe the wisp of smoke over the hill. I also like the title In the Heart of Winter. Thank you.
Katrina Epperson on September 9, 2015 at 08:56 said:

Lyn, the blurb sounds wonderful. The title I liked best was When the Snow Melts. As far as covers go, they are what grab me. To be honest neither of the pictures really grabbed me. The snowy heroine reminds of a a very suspenseful story with a lot of nefarious undertones. The pensive heroine just didn’t do it either. I would choose a snowy background (a woodsy scene) with the heroine shown with a side view, not a complete face shot, looking towards a cabin. Okay, those are my thoughts. I hope it helps.
Blessings

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Lyn Needs Feedback on Cover Art and Titles for Holiday Novella

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Lyn Needs Feedback on Cover Art and Titles for Holiday Novella — 15 Comments

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