Let me tell you. The
best part of my job as Marketing Coordinator is back cover copy. And the worst
part of my job? Yeah. *wrinkles nose* That would be back cover copy too.
You see, I go through
life loving the stuffing out of back cover copy.
To me, it’s not just a
summary. It’s not just long story short. It’s like a whispered secret you can’t
quite catch the last of. You’re intrigued. You’ve got to know more. So you open
to that first page. And cha-ching! Congratulations, my friend. You’ve
just made a sale, and potentially a loyal reader.
My poor co-workers—they
had such a hard time understanding my obsession.
That is, until I
explained.
It’s your chance to
engage the reader before he/she even opens to the first page. Take, for example, the copy written for Julie
Lessman’s Christmas novella.
Accidents happen, and
then there’s Grace . . .
Pastor Cole McCabe isn’t sure he’ll survive the holidays with his new
housekeeper and nanny. She’s dyed his long johns pink and scorched nearly
everything she cooks—even catching fire to the kitchen. But he’s desperate, and
she’s as destitute as they come.
Though she’s no good with her hands, Grace sure has a way with her heart. She’s
brought a warmth into Cole’s home, added color to his daughters’ lives, and
broken down the wall he’s built up since his beloved wife died.
When Grace’s past threatens his family, they have one chance to celebrate
Christmas together at home . . . if Grace hasn’t burned it down by then.
It will impress an agent
and publisher and reader. Not
everyone is going to share your story with the same enthusiasm. Not everyone
will have reader your whole book. But if you have an entertaining and
captivating back cover blurb, your passion for the story will shine through.
Casey Demchack has some great insight on this in his article 7 Secrets to Writing Persuasive Back Cover
Sales Copy.
It’s fun.
As you can see from the
alternative taglines for The Gift of Grace below, the brainstorming
process can be full of kicks and giggles.
She’s the accident to
his prayers.
Grace has been good all
year, but she’s still getting Cole for Christmas.
He might need saving
from his saving Grace…
Don’t be afraid to let
your imagination run ridiculous. Follow those rabbit trails. You never know
when one might land you in Wonderland. Of course, if you need a Mad Hatter to
guide you, check out my back cover copy services over at Marketing15.
Nichole Parks (not to be mistaken for Nicholas Sparks) packs a
punch as Marketing Coordinator for Gilead Publishing. Her fingerprints are all over the covers of
their latest books. When she’s not cuffed to her inbox, Nichole evades blind
dates and loves on her latest dark humor manuscript. Always with a flair for the
traumatic… Stalk her on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram.
