Why Space Junque Is Now Hero Material

[image error]As you may know by now, I've changed the title and the cover of Space Junque to Hero Material.

After you read Space Junque, you realize it's a great title for this book. The Space Junque is the hero's shuttle, and it plays a huge part in the action of the story. Jake, the pilot, has withdrawn from the public life he could have had. He identifies strongly with the Space Junque.

One character, Rani, cares about it so much, she has an SJ tattoo.

The problem with the title -- and the cover too, which I loved -- is that it's misleading to someone who has not yet read the story. The cover/title have to work for both. If you've read the story, I want you to see the cover later and smile, remembering. If you haven't read the story, I want you to see the cover and -- want to!

Space Junque, was a great cover that made the wrong impression. Sci-fi readers looked at it, saw romance, and ran away. Romance readers saw it, thought sci-fi, and ran away.

So many of the great reviews include a comment something like: I don't usually read this genre, but I'm so glad I did!

The other thing is, the Space Junque cover/title is kind of a lie. Hero Material is not science fiction, even though most of the action happens in orbit. It's the story of how the paranormal world in the Apocalypto series replaces the old, unmystical, normal reality.

In fact, when the paranormal elements kick in, it's a shock to a lot of readers. I blame myself for almost nonexistent foreshadowing. But I blame the old cover too.

And the more I look at Hero Material, the more I love it. (Click on the cover for a bigger version)

What do you think?