My next full-length novel, Mute Witness, should be out later this year from MLR Press. I have recently been working with the cover art to put a face on this very serious story (probably one of the most serious I've written to date) and we have finally decided on a concept.
Covers are one of the most trying and difficult parts of writing a book, even if you have no input into the design yourself. That old chestnut, "you can't judge a book by its cover" is probably one of the wrongest things I've ever heard. People can, and do, judge books by their covers...and people and other things too. We see with our eyes and this is how we form our first impressions. So if a book doesn't make that critical first impression on you, you will probably pass it by. And if a book has a simply dazzling cover, you may be more intrigued about the book than if it was fronted by a mediocre cover.
I hope the cover for Mute Witness makes a good first impression. I'd love it if you'd leave a comment below and let me know what you think.
Here's the back cover copy (which is also really cool, maybe even cooler than the front, since it's just the back of the boy's head). Read it and see if you think the cover does the storyline justice.
I hope you won't stay mute (groan!) on whether this cover would inspire you to check out the book inside.
Back cover copy:
Sean and Austin have the perfect life. Their new relationship is only made more joyous by weekend visits from Sean’s eight-year-old son, Jason.
And then their perfect world shatters.
Jason is missing.
When the boy turns up days later, he has been horribly abused and has lost the power to speak. Small town minds turn to the boy’s gay father and his lover as the likely culprits.
Sean and Austin struggle to maintain their relationship amid the innuendo and the very real threat that Sean will, at the very least, lose the son he loves. Meanwhile, the real villain is much closer to home, intent on ensuring the boy’s muteness is permanent.
Mute Witness should be out in late fall.
I like it. Is the title a Morrissey reference?
ReplyDeleteWow!!!! i look forward to reading this one
ReplyDeleteNo Dan, I wasn't even aware there was a Morrissey song with this title. I'll have to check it out.
ReplyDeleteOoo, the cover would make me read the back blurb, and the blurb would definitely inspire me to buy it. Can't wait 'til it's out!
ReplyDeleteGood one, Rick. Very intriguing storyline. On my to-buy list.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a good story, Rick. The upright and the uptight are always jumping to the wrong conclusion, and I love it when they're proven wrong, again.
ReplyDeleteChristiane
Very nice and very intriguing. I plan on buying it when it comes out, though I expect you may wring a few tears out of me while I read it..
ReplyDeleteI wrung a few tears out of MYSELF when I was writing it.
ReplyDeleteI really like it. The cover is well done and looks prefect for the title and type of story. Can't wait till it's out to read.
ReplyDeleteLike the cover a lot
ReplyDeleteThe expression on the little boy is perfect!
This sounds like the type of story that will make me go, "No, you stupid, bigoted cow! What, are you blind?"
:~D
And you will say that, especially, about the boy's maternal grandmother.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about judging a book by it's cover. I hate to admit that I do that. Unless it is a book by a favorite author whose books I will always read even if I haven't seen the cover!
ReplyDeleteThis cover fits the title and the back cover write up. I can't wait to read it!
I think the cover is really moving. The little boy's face is so sad, it compels you to want to know his story, which sounds very powerful. Looks like I have another title to put on my to-be-bought list :-)
ReplyDeletevery interesting concept. I like the originality of it
ReplyDeleteOkay, honesty right? The cover ummm until I read the blurbs. It's the combination that will have me buying this story. Great together, the blurb made me take another look at the cover.
ReplyDeleteThe original concept will get attention. It doesn't look like a lot of others on the shelf.
Lavada Dee
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThis story sounds very cool and very timely. Can't wait to read it. Sounds like it was a hard one to write, though.
ReplyDeleteI do like the cover, but in my case it's the back blurb that makes me want to buy the book, and I'd still want to even if the cover were blank. I agree with you, though, that an actively bad cover can certainly drive away readers.
ReplyDeleteAngie
I glanced at the cover without reading the cover blurb to give you my first impression. I see innocence with a hint of indecision in the boy's face. The title, Mute Witness, makes me want to know what he witnessed and how and 'if' he's going to divulge what he saw. I'd say your cover accomplishes its goal. I would buy this book based on the cover, okay and the author, alone. Excellent job! Good luck with your new venture, Rick.
ReplyDeleteCheri