Title, Cover and a Release Date

Though I finished writing the second installment of the Bedside Manor series during the summer, it feels like forever ago.  Why?  Because for me that’s the easy bit.  What follows next are the edits, the copy edits, the discovery of a title everybody likes and, finally, settling on a cover that works.

Covers are tricky.  I’m not exactly sure of the statistics but when browsing in a store what’s on the front of a book has only seconds to connect with a potential reader.  For a writer who incorporates dogs into his stories I’m already at an advantage but how you “work” the dog is critical.  To me, it’s all about the eyes.  That’s why the dog has to face forward, not side on, and offering an expression that makes the reader say, “What are you up to?  What are you thinking?  What’s going on with you?”

With Patron Saint, one reader wrote about being disappointed, not with the book, but with the fact that the book did not contain a story regarding a bulldog like the dog on the cover.  In Australia, the publisher did use a golden retriever which proved extremely popular.  With that in mind, and, swayed by my own choice of dog, I initially pushed for a Labradoodle.  If you happen to have an advanced reader copy, you’ll see the spitting image of my dog Thai on the front.  Just one problem.  Though I hate to admit it, the dog wasn’t making that all important connection.

Not to worry.  Those bright and astute folks in the publishing world had an answer.  Trade a labradoodle for a Mastiff.  Perfect facial expression, irresistible and, guess what, Dr. Cyrus Mills’ first case in the new book is an English Mastiff.  I’ve been a Mastiff fan for years so I couldn’t be happier.  The book comes out on April 8th, 2014, and, best of all, does not require a drool bib!