Soliciting your learned opinions

[[deleted user]]

Jambo, friends and fellow members. I'm in a difficult situation, and I'm soliciting the opinions of my FF family because I need to get this right. So here's the background, in case you have a moment you can lend me:

I just bought a marvelous piece of artwork which is going to grace the cover of the third book in my series. The artist is doing the layout, and wants me to provide a blurb for the back cover. The difficulty arises because I haven't yet finished the second book, and am thus unable to reference that second book in any detail. I do have the general outline in my head and my notebook so I know the big picture. So here's the question:

If this cover attracted your attention, which blurb would be most likely to "seal the deal," and spark your curiosity to the point that you would buy my book over other similar offerings?

Here are the choices:

#1:
Still coming to terms with their role of eyes and sometimes more for Kenya’s Governor General, Kestrel’s crew receives a visit from an old acquaintance with a proposition that could overturn all their preconceived notions of how the world is run, and who is in control.


#2:
Suppose you learned that everything you ever knew about the way the world is run was wrong? Suppose this revelation was imparted to you by the one person on earth you were least likely to believe? Would you shift to a new paradigm without a shred of evidence? Even if the fate of the world as you know it hung in the balance?


#3:
Life in the African colonies was a difficult proposition in 1884, and the crew of the Kestrel had long faced a dangerous life on the far edge of the harsh environment. They could little imagine how much more dangerous it would become when an old acquaintance returns with an unbelievable story.


So there you are. If you can take a few moments to help me become the next Stephen King (or help me sell enough books to cover my internet bill), you have my thanks. And if you're curious about these aforementioned books, drop me a line; I'll be happy to bend your ear!

[Mark]

If this blurb is for your third book in a series, I wouldn't worry about it too much. People aren't going to start with the third book, they are going to read the first two, and if they've already come along for two books then the blurb is not going to make or break their decision to buy the book. Your first two books will make or break that decision.

That being said, I like number three the best. I think it has a better flow and gives more useful information.

[[deleted user]]

Mark wrote: "If this blurb is for your third book in a series, I wouldn't worry about it too much. People aren't going to start with the third book, they are going to read the first two, and if they've already..."

Thank you, Mark. That's kind of the way I feel, but the artist wants something for the cover, and I don't want to shoot myself in the foot with something that comes across as being weak or blah. It's also conceivable that someone could find it at a garage sale some day, like it, and seek out its predecessors (exactly as I did with the Gor series), but not if they don't read it first...

[Lily]

I also like number three the best. Number one is too vague and number two asked too many questions to the point it annoyed me a tad.

In terms of the book being a series, it depends on whether you intend to add, third book in a series. Some will pick up a book regardless, some prefer to start with the first book. I feel it mostly depends on whether each book can be a stand alone.

[[deleted user]]

Lily wrote: "I also like number three the best. Number one is too vague and number two asked too many questions to the point it annoyed me a tad.

In terms of the book being a series, it depends on whether you ..."

Ah, hadn't thought of that. The first book is six novellas about the same cast that run in chronological order. It resembles a TV series in that aspect, and I intend to follow the same format for as long as it leads me. Each set of six shares a theme, and will stand alone. There are some minor callbacks, but nothing of the magnitude that would leave you lost if you hadn't read them first.

[Lily]

An episode type of series, I wouldn't worry about it.

[G.G.]

Tough one.

I love the second half of the first blurb: 'Kestrel’s crew receives a visit from an old acquaintance with a proposition that could overturn all their preconceived notions of how the world is run, and who is in control.'

People who have read the previous books might guess whom that person is, yet it sounds mysterious. The first part? I'm still trying to figure it out.

The #2 is what some people might call invasive. Are we part of the story or not? If we were in book 1 and 2 than ok, this one might fit. If not, I wouldn't go with that one. That also depends on your blurbs for 1 and 2. If you did them in that fashion than maybe stick with it. Personally, I don't care too much for it and as Lily said, too many questions.

#3. While it has something similar to the part of the sentence I liked in the first, overall it's more complete. So I'd have to say my favorite is #3.

[[deleted user]]

G.G. wrote: "Tough one.

I love the second half of the first blurb: 'Kestrel’s crew receives a visit from an old acquaintance with a proposition that could overturn all their preconceived notions of how the wo..."

Ah, again. The first part is a reference to the second book, which I suddenly see that if you haven't read, it's just confusing. That's why I love this group. You ask one simple question, and you get more information than imagined was relevant when you asked.

[Lily]

That's what we're here for :)

[Maron]

Number 3 was the best in my opinion. Number 1 wasn't quite exciting enough, and Number 2 read like a blurb for a first book in a series. Number 3 seemed to strike a nice balance of connecting the book to the rest of the series while creating some mystery and excitement about the events that will occur in this particular book.

[[deleted user]]

Maron wrote: "Number 3 was the best in my opinion. Number 1 wasn't quite exciting enough, and Number 2 read like a blurb for a first book in a series. Number 3 seemed to strike a nice balance of connecting the b..."

Thank you, Maron, and thank you all again. Great information here!

[Justin]

I like three as well. One is descriptive but kind of boring and doesn't pull me. The 2nd is solid but the third is informative and has good detail and it sparks my interest in wanting to know more. Best of luck to you Jack, here's to you becoming the next Stephen King.

[[deleted user]]

Thanks to all of you who participated here, it was very helpful. This isn't the only place I solicited advice, but no other site, group, or guild came through like you guys. Oh, and BTW, #3 was the hands-down winner.

Thanks again, you guys are the bomb!

[Tabitha]

Definitely #3 :0)