Cover Story by Deborah Raney

AUTHOR BIO
Deborah Raney is at work on her thirteenth novel. Her books include A Nest of Sparrows and RITA award winner, Beneath a Southern Sky (WaterBrook Press). Her first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired World Wide Pictures’ award-winning film of the same title and will be released June 1 in an updated and expanded format from Steeple Hill. Coming in January 2007, Remember to Forget from Howard/Simon & Schuster.





With a bit of advance planning, the cover of your book can go to work for you long before the book hits the bookstores or the binding is even on the book.

As soon as your publisher has a cover design for your approval, request that they print 3-500 extra cover flats when they go to press. These overruns cost the publisher a pittance, but are worth their weight in gold when it comes to promoting your book.
Ask your publisher to ship the covers to you flat and trimmed, but in one piece. (If your cover will be embossed, request they not run these promotional sheets through the embosser.) Using a paper cutter or craft knife, cut each cover into three pieces––front cover, back cover, and spine. A professional printer can also cut these for you at minimal cost.

Here are some ways you can use each piece to allow your cover to pave the way for your book’s upcoming release.

Front Cover:

• To make an oversized postcard, run the front covers through an ink-jet or laser printer, printing an intriguing “blurb” about your book on the back, left-hand side. Address the right-hand side, stamp, and send these announcements to your mailing list of fans and readers.

• Print a short bio, a list of your books in print, and your web site information on the back and use as giant business cards to hand out at book signings, speaking engagements, etc.

• At book signings you can autograph or personalize these cards for people who plan to buy your book when it comes out. Readers can post this on their refrigerator or bulletin board to remind them to watch for your book’s release.

• After your book comes out, it’s nice to have these overrun covers on hand at book signings to autograph for shoppers who already own your book but forgot to bring it to the store with them, or who want to buy the book, but can’t afford it until next payday.

Back Cover:

• The back cover usually includes a short synopsis of the book, endorsements by other authors, and a photo of the author. Get permission to put a stack of these ready-made promo pieces on the desk at your local bookstores and libraries. It's a great take-home incentive to remind people to pick up your book the next time they are shopping or browsing the library. If you are available for speaking engagements, you can print your contact information on the back side.

• This also makes a perfect piece to include in the promotional packet you send to organizations where you will be speaking or signing books.

Spine:

• The book’s spine makes an excellent bookmark to give away at book signing parties, to make available to libraries and bookstores, or to hand out when you speak at an event.

• Depending on the layout and design of the spine you may be able to cut it into traditional business card-size stock and print your contact information on the back. (Hint: It’s easier to print this information before you cut the flats apart.)

Whole Uncut Flat Covers:

• These are handy to have available to give to newspaper reporters, interviewers, or bookstore owners when you are promoting your book. Besides providing a convenient written synopsis of the book, I’ve found that many times, when I’ve made a cover flat available to them, newspapers and magazines will run a facsimile of my book’s cover alongside my photo in the article.

With some creative inspiration, you can put your book’s cover to work for you long before it serves its intended purpose––to cover the pages of your book.









A VOW TO CHERISH was Deborah Raney’s first novel. Library Journal calls this award-winning classic novel “a startlingly honest portrayal of love, commitment, and redemption in the midst of tragedy.” When his precious wife of thirty years receives a devastating diagnosis, John Brighton is torn between doing what he knows is right and doing what his heart tells him can not be wrong. But John soon discovers that the heart can’t be trusted where true love is concerned. Now updated and expanded for a new generation, A Vow to Cherish was the inspiration for World Wide Pictures’ bestselling film of the same title.