alfreda89: 3 foot concrete Medieval style gargoyle with author's hand resting on its head. (Default)
alfreda89 ([personal profile] alfreda89) wrote2010-10-25 10:50 pm
Entry tags:

Prototypes -- HIDDEN FIRES cover and "back blurb"



Cover painting by Don Dixon of http://www.cosmographica.com

Note: This is version 2 October 27, 2010

He had spent a hundred years seeking the woman called Silver; he still didn’t know if he was going to kill her.

Garth Kristinsson’s parents were free-traders, the aristocracy of con artists, able to fleece the dishonest with their own greed. But his father’s last scam went horribly wrong, and at the last, both his parents were dead. Garth wanted answers no authority could give him, so he searched six solar systems for any clue, any lead on his father’s partners-in-crime. One of them still lived – he would find her on the mysterious planet Nuala.

Nuala . . . planet of deadly radiation levels, humans who heal by touch, and the rarest platinum group metal in the known galaxy.

“Silver” is Darame Daviddottir, a famous free-trader who is now a citizen of Nuala – her husband, Sheel Atare, leads one of the planet’s most powerful tribes. Together they have brought an uneasy peace to a world racked by sterility, intrigue, and unimaginable wealth. For the first time in countless generations, Nualans are actually working together, their council a voice for interstellar trade and a sounding board for inter-tribal cooperation.

But the new ruler of Atare’s ancient enemy is a spoiled and arrogant genius named Rex Dielaan. When off-worlder Garth meets aristocrat Rex, it is a meeting of two con artists ripe for mischief...and maybe murder. Two misplaced quests explode into a conspiracy of death, treason, and abduction. There’s a plan afoot leading toward war, and it threatens Nuala’s peace, Atare’s prosperity . . . and Silver’s life.

********

So . . . what do you think? Would you pick up this book? Is the back intriguing? Is it too subtle? I'm wondering if the lettering on the cover is too dark, or just right. It looks great here, but the little LJ icon looks a bit dark. But since it's shown at a decent size at BVC and eventually (sigh) Amazon, that darkness might not matter much.

If I can get stuff turned in on time this week, there will be a free offering of this e-book at Library Thing next month.

[identity profile] lasofia.livejournal.com 2010-10-26 03:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Sorry I have no time for detail or advice, but figure a quick first impression might be valuable. Love the cover, really do, it would make me pick it up.

The blurb I think covers too many details; most of us skim the back blurbs and this one is hard to skim. Maybe too subtle, as you say. Please not that I am terrible at marketing and advertising, so grain of salt and all that.

Also quick question as apparently this is one I haven't actually read; is it told from Garth's POV?

[identity profile] alfreda89.livejournal.com 2010-10-26 03:33 pm (UTC)(link)
(Running out the door)

It is told from Darame's, Garth's and Sheel's POV.

[identity profile] abwarwick.livejournal.com 2010-10-27 09:57 pm (UTC)(link)
I love the cover.

I like the blurb - altho think it a little long.
The details is fine; I would definitely buy the book. I like to know a bit about the book I'm buying. I loved the way old paperbacks (many years ago now) gave a blurb about the book.

[identity profile] alfreda89.livejournal.com 2010-10-27 10:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Actually, this is shorter than the blurb for FIRES OF NUALA!

I like the cover, too. Thanks for commenting!

[identity profile] abwarwick.livejournal.com 2010-10-27 11:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Hmmmm.
Guess it looks longer in this format than on the back of a book.
Looking forward to when it's 'out'.
:)