Award-winning author Susie May Warren’s book, Heiress, grabbed my attention — twice.
We’ve all heard the adage: Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.
But really, isn’t that exactly how we first judge a book? We walk into a bookstore (or a library) and we scan the shelves until — whoa! — a book’s cover art captures us, saying, “You have to read this book.”
And that’s exactly what the cover of Heiress does. You can’t see the woman’s face entirely … but you know some things about her, don’t you? She’s rich. Beautiful. And she has a certain attitude. Self assurance bordering on snobbish, perhaps?
And then there’s the first line of Heiress:
With the wrong smile, her sister could destroy Jinx’s world.
Having benefited from Susie’s mentoring, one thing she teaches is how vital it is to start with a compelling opening sentence — not just in the first chapter of your book, but in every scene.
Those ten words — count ’em, ten! — hooked me and had me asking questions: How could Jinx destroy her sister’s world –and with a smile, no less? Why would she do something like that?
So what’s Heiress about? The first of three books in Susie’s Daughters of Fortune series, here’s a glimpse of what you’ll find behind the cover and beyond that first line:
They can buy anything they want — fame, power, beauty, even loyalty.
But they can’t buy love.
The beautiful and wealthy heiress daughters of August Price can buy everything their hearts’ desire. But what if their desire is to be loved, without an enormous price tag attached? When one sister betrays another for the sake of love, will she find happiness? And what happens when the other sets out across the still untamed frontier to find it — will she discover she’s left it behind in the glamorous world of the New York gilded society? What price will each woman pay for being an heiress?
To find out what others are saying about Heiress, go here.
To read an excerpt, go here.
In Your Words: Book cover. First line. Back cover copy. Which one do you look at when you’re considering buying a book? Leave a comment below and I’ll put your name in a drawing for a copy of Heiress!
Comments 10
Wow! What a first line! Susie’s is so good at coming up with them. I think, when I’m looking at a book, the front cover gets me to pick up the book, but it’s the back copy that really hooks me in. Believe it or not, I’ve never even thought to open a book and read the first line, but I think I will in the future.
I know, Jeanne. I have to say that I love that first line!! I want to go through one of Susie’s books and just highlight the first lines of all her scenes!
Book covers definitely draw me in…even with a Kindle, I still look at book covers on Amazon. Back cover copy also is important to me – a cool cover is great, but if the copy on the back doesn’t offer a pretty sweet story, it just might negate the cover. If I’m in a bookstore, I do usually crack the book open and read the first line if not the first few pages…
Heiress totally rocked. I loved it soooo much. (No need to add me to the drawing, though – I’ve got a couple copies of Heiress already. Yes, that’s how much I love it!)
That’s one drawback to the e-book revolution: the lack of covers. (Although that’s changing, right?) I do the whole cover-back cover copy-read the first page process when I’m selecting a book. Even if someone’s recommended it, I like to peruse the book myself.
Whoa, That cover has some major wow factor! I usually look at the cover first, but briefly. Then I look at the back cover and read the hook at the top. If it compels, I read the description, then the first line of Chapter One, then the first page, then…. 🙂
Heiress’ cover is stunning … and the first line … and the rest of the book. I had the privilege of being with Susie when she was brainstorming some of the storyline. Susie is a master storyteller and she doesn’t disappoint with Heiress!
I love that first line! I tend to continue a pattern I developed as a kid. I read the covers and then the first page.
Also a good method, Stacy. 🙂
I usually am drawn more to catchy titles than to the cover art, but this cover art is certainly engaging. Then I read the back cover copy and the first page or two. I’ve been seduced by many books on remainder tables just because of the titles that call to me to look inside.
Lanita,
Titles capture me too — which is probably why I agonize over what I know are supposed to be “working” titles on my manuscripts. I was thrilled (yep, thrilled!) that Howard Books kept the title of my debut novel (Wish You Were Here) because it so completely ties into my story. Believe me, I tossed a lot of titles before settling on that one. (As I am doing with book #2.)