Jeff Miller's Blog, page 7

I thought it might be interesting to readers to see how a book...

In June 2012, Thomas & Mercer sent two initial cover designs for my thoughts. This is one of them. It looked like a lot of thriller covers, and I wanted something different.


I really liked the look of this cover--it had a more literary feel. But the depicted scene doesn't really match up with anything in the book, so I said no.


The publisher cam back with four more cover ideas. This one is attention-grabbing, but doesn't fit the feel of the book. A girl's hands are bound in my book, but not in a sensual way.


Sometimes a book cover can look too real. This one does. Plus, when you give a character a face on the book, it colors the reader's imagination of the story.


This portrays a torture that just doesn't fit the book.


This is pretty close, right? I liked it from the start, even though I had never imagined anything like this for the cover. So we took this one and played with it.


They added the red lines, changed the font, and put "A Novel" at the bottom. I asked them to try a few additional, minor adjustments.


I had an idea that maybe it would look good if the hands were inverted, but it didn't.


This is kinda cool, but the comic-book effect went against the notion of making it clear this wasn't a kids book.


Some people felt that having the hands in color seemed too real, so we went B&W. I liked it. After this one, we changed the font, swapped in "A Dagny Gray Thriller" at the bottom, and it was done.

I thought it might be interesting to readers to see how a book cover is designed.  Here is the evolution of the cover of The Bubble Gum Thief.  The title of the book sounds like a kids story, so the cover had to make it clear that it was not.  

My publisher, Thomas & Mercer, is fantastic about seeking input from their authors, taking suggestions and changes, and making sure the author is pleased with the result.  You can click on the images to get my thoughts about each design.

There are lots of great events in my hometown, but Books by the...

There are lots of great events in my hometown, but Books by the Banks is my favorite.  Here’s an overview of the event:

Books by the Banks, the region’s premier book festival, brings literature to life through programs and activities for all ages. Books by the Banks is free and open to the public. Attendees can meet local and nationally known authors and illustrators and purchase autographed copies of their work. The Cincinnati area has a long history as a community that appreciates and values books and reading, annually earning distinction as one of “America’s Most Literate Cities.” Books by the Banks embraces the region’s love for literature, books, and reading. Books by the Banks inaugural event was held November 3, 2007, at the Duke Energy Convention Center in downtown Cincinnati. In 2014, Books by the Banks will debut outdoors on the Ohio riverbanks with anticipated 10,000 attendees and numerous local partners.

Books by the Banks takes place Saturday, October 12, at the Duke Convention Center.  It’s free.  And I’ll be there from 10 am to 4 pm, signing books and talking to fans, or if no one wants to talk to me or have me sign anything, sitting alone, pretending to attend to important matters on my phone, quietly sobbing.

Early this morning, The Bubble Gum Thief hit #66 on the Kindle...

Early this morning, The Bubble Gum Thief hit #66 on the Kindle charts, a new US high. (It made it to #2 in the UK, and #7 in France.). Does this mean I am now a rich and successful author? No. But it means that more people will be reading my book, and that’s fantastic.

You can get The Bubble Gum Thief through the Amazon Local app...

You can get The Bubble Gum Thief through the Amazon Local app for only $1 during this special promotion.  

(via Amazon Local National: Mobile App First: Free Voucher to Purchase Select Kindle Books for $1 Each)

Bouchercon 2013

Bouchercon 2013 is in Albany, New York from September 19-22.  I have two events lined up at the conference:

1.  On Saturday (the 21st), between 1:50-2:45, I’ll be participating on a panel  in Room 4 entitled “Don’t Worry Baby-Trust Me I’m an Author (telling lies for a living).”  

2.  I have an “Author’s Choice Session” earlier that day, between 11:30 and noon, in Room 5.  In these sessions, authors can talk about whatever they want.  Now I just need to decide what I want to talk about.

I’ll generally be around throughout the conference, in the unlikely event that anyone wants me to sign a book or anything.

Still hanging with some good company in France.

Still hanging with some good company in France.

It’s been a nice day for The Bubble Gum Thief in France....

It’s been a nice day for The Bubble Gum Thief in France.  #1 Mystery & Thriller, #1 book in English, Peaked at #7 overall in the Kindle ebook store. 

(Click photos above to enlarge)

Me, speaking. Thanks to friend Carol Ritz for the photo.

Me, speaking.

Thanks to friend Carol Ritz for the photo.

My four year old son told me to bring this truck to the debut...

My four year old son told me to bring this truck to the debut author panel because he thought everyone would like it. He is full of great advice.

Here I am at the debut author panel at Thrillerfest. Jenny...

Here I am at the debut author panel at Thrillerfest. Jenny Milchman on the left. Photo by the wonderful Stacy Alesi.