Can you judge the Princelings books by their covers?

During my blog tour for the Princelings of the East a couple of weeks ago, I had some lovely reviews, interviews and comments.  One very nice review commented it’s “an amazing book jam-packed with mystery and action.”  However he also went on to say “Overall outwardly the book title and cover is very deceiving however the plot is absolutely brilliant.”  As he is aged 13, he’s exactly the sort of reader I need this feedback from.  Would other boys his age turn away from it because of the cover?

This is good feedback, since although I have had comments that say they like the covers, I’ve always wondered how good they are.  Do they sell the books?  Do they entice people to read them?

There’s definitely development in the book covers.  As I start to think about the one for the latest book I find myself also wondering about the first.   I wonder what we might come up with if we did the first book again.  And should I change the title?  At one point I called it “The Princelings and the Great Energy Drain” but I didn’t think that sounded enticing, either.  “The Princelings and the Time Tunnel” rather gives the game away, I think, although you then know you’re in for a time travel adventure, and solves any problem of people reading book 4 first.

What do you think?

There’s a poll in the right hand margin to ask you which you think is the best cover – ‘best’ being what you want it to mean, but I’m thinking in terms of what attracts you to the story.

If you have time, please would you also take part in the questionnaire below.  To keep it simple, I’m asking you to check any of the statements below which you agree with.  But if you have a burning comment to make  you an either use the comments to this post, or add a new question to the poll, if you can think of a good way to phrase it, so that others and select it if they agree.

Thanks for taking part.

The morning after the freebie

A big THANK YOU to everyone that downloaded The Princelings and the Lost City yesterday.  If you enjoy it, please ‘LIKE’ the Amazon page, or tag it, or even write a review – it doesn’t have to be more than 20 words.

I hope you find this website, and if you do, leave a message, check the teasers, read the blog… tell me what else you’d like, too.

Enjoy yourselves!