One of the most difficult tasks for writers, but also one of the most important, is creating the back (jacket) cover text.
It must be brief but intriguing, succinct but riveting. For discussion sake, here is the back cover text for my latest book, Pure Lies, a mystery about the Salem Witch Trials. It is the same text I used for the ABNA (Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award) contest “pitch” and it got me through the first two rounds. Let me know what you think or share your own back cover copy.
Two women, separated by three centuries, are connected by a legacy of greed, depravity and deceit–a legacy which threatens to make them both victims of the Salem witch trials.
1692, Salem, Massachusetts Born in a time and place of fierce religious fervor, 16-year old Felicity Dale has only endless church meetings and the drudgery of chores to look forward to. When her friends begin accusing neighbors of witchcraft, she fears the devil is in Salem. By chance, however, she discovers that the accusations of her “afflicted” friends are false. What had begun as a youthful diversion has been twisted through seduction and blackmail by powerful men into a conspiracy for profit. Nineteen people will pay with their lives.
Today, Washington, D.C. Maggie Thornhill is a renowned digital photographer in Georgetown who possesses a passion for history. As her Ph.D. dissertation, Maggie takes on a project to electronically archive the original documents from the Salem witch trials. She observes discrepancies in the handwriting of the magistrate’s signature on certain land deed transfers — land that belonged to the witches. When a professor studying the documents is murdered, she begins to suspect that the trials and hangings were a result of simple mortal greed not religious superstition.
I really hate writing the synopsis, back cover material and such … but out of necessity, I’m getting better at it.
Yup. Know what you mean.
Hi Lynne – this looks excellent. Makes me want to read it, certainly. You don’t include what you say about yourself, although judging by the thumbnail you’ve included a few lines of CV and testimonial. I’d be interested to see that too.
Good point, Charles. Author bio is on inside page near back cover in four out of five of my books. One book does include it on back cover. I think this is purely author preference. Where do you think it belongs?
Hi Lynne, interesting question. I think I’d want to have a line or two about the author on the back cover, so that (speaking as a reader now) I knew who was behind this book. Especially if I didn’t know the name. Obviously you’d want to make it something that would help sell the book. Like having already written four books, awards nominations, etc. What do you think? Why did you change for that one book?
Good point, Charles. I think I changed it for a simple reason. I had room on the back cover for the bio! No room on the others. Probably not the greatest reason. I really don’t like covers with tiny print and too much text, but that could just be me.
If I coanmuicmted I could thank you enough for this, I’d be lying.