Thursday 2 May 2013

New release cover and title - help me choose and win a signed copy!

Ger Mayes is about to be released after 9 years in prison for his crimes and he wants to make the right impression, which is where you can help
I have a selection of draft covers A, B, C, D below and a shortlist of titles. Please let me know which one grabs you by writing in the comments section below or email me. A winner will be chosen randomly from the most popular choice of cover & title (using the eeny meeny method) and sent a signed paperback copy (or e-book if preferred) when released.



Working title is Getting Out of Dodge but here are the options under consideration and the blurb follows:
  1. Getting Out of Dodge
  2. Tie a Yellow Ribbon
  3. Somebody That I Used to Know
  4. GFE Girlfriend Experience
  5. The Quiet Life
  6. The Romanian Trousers Mystery

Here's the book blurb:

After nine years in maximum security prison for crimes against the state, Ger Mayes is on release. Free to try and recover the life he destroyed, free to rediscover love and normality.

"The worst criminal I have ever met," said the judge at Ger's trial, and it wasn't a professional compliment. Has nearly a decade of rubbing shoulders with Ireland's criminal elite improved Ger's skills?

Two weeks later Ger is sat in a Dublin park, the uniformed authorities to his right, the gangsters with their bad trousers to his left and a blonde woman's fragrant head in a bag at his feet. He should have got the hell out of Dodge when DI Andy McAuliffe told him to. How did it come to this?

His wife is ex, his son estranged. The authorities have his number and so do the local criminal fraternity. A couple of choice decisions place Ger in the middle of a brothel turf war, and he decides to rescue somebody that he used to know. He chases his dreams but murder, kidnap and blackmail fall effortlessly at his feet. Fate hasn't had its fill of Ger but will his natural survival instinct win out again?

You have to be in to win, so please let me have your comments here or mail me. Due for release in May 2013. If you have an alternative title suggestion then let me know that too!

52 comments:

  1. I like the second cover better but only because the white font pops better they are all pretty incredible and a unique concept. Get out of Dodge is great. Somebody that I used to know reminds me of a band with that title, sorry music on the mind.

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    1. Thanks, Michelle. It's intentionally echoing that song and is a strong theme of the novel, but risky to take a current quirky hit song that might become obscure?

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  2. Hi Ruby! I like cover B and title 3 - though I think you should change the title to option 6 on your birthday.

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    1. Thanks, Roz! And I'll wear the trousers too ;-)

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  3. I like 'C' Cleaner, clearer. Love the title 'The Romanian Trousers Mystery'but have visions of Wallace and Grommit. :) Wx

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    1. Thanks, WendyBird. I think you have the wrong trousers!

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  4. the Quiet Life sounds good.

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    1. That's one of my faves, Susanne, because my character is seeking normality. He doesn't get it,though!

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  5. I like cover 2 and title 2. But that's me and song titles, as you know! As Michelle says, the white fonts stand out great.

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    1. Thanks, Pamly. 3 (Gotye) and 4 (Japan) are song titles too ;-)

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    2. Well I'm showing my age in that I recognize the oldest title!

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  6. I like A, but your name needs to be brighter. What's 'Dodge'?

    For me I like the title: The Quiet Life. It's what he is hoping for, after all.

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    1. Thanks, Louise. Here you go, courtesy of the Urban Dictionary:
      "Get the hell out of Dodge" is a reference to Dodge City, Kansas, which was a favorite location for westerns in the early to mid 20th century. Most memorably, the phrase was made famous by the TV show "Gunsmoke," in which villians were often commanded to "get the hell out of Dodge." The phrase took on its current meaning in the 1960s and 70s when teenagers began to use it in its current form.

      I guess that shows how old I am!

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    2. lol
      Thanks for that. Could it date the book then? *shrugs*

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    3. It could, or it might age limit the reader attracted by the title? Jan suggested 'Dodge' to match 'Peril' which leaves the suggestion a bit more open.

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  7. Dear Ruby
    I think the second cover has the edge, even though it's a bit busy. In fact, I'd go for the first. Less complicated. The title I'm not sure about. You should check it out on Google as "Getting out of Dodge" to see how many hits you have to wade through. that's the number of hits that will come up before yours. Then, if there are many, devise a title that comes up first on Google.

    Best wishes

    Paul T. Lynch

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    1. Thanks, Paul. One idea is to take the blood smear off the second, make it less busy. Then the chalk outline would be kinda dancing with the girl.
      Good advice on the Googling!

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  8. I've tried not to let my native Irish background influence me. I don't understand how you've come to chose the title print size. From what I understand the subject matter to be, all four covers miss the mark, sorry. The American Western-ism is "Getting Outa Dodge" and you disguise that by the non-emphasis on the "out of" on the cover. The graphics don't help recover.

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    1. Thanks Anon. The title is just a suggestion. Any further title suggestions from reading the blurb?

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  9. Hi Ruby. I agree with anon above. "Getting Outta Dodge" is the phrase, all 3 words having the same emphasis. The way you have it on all covers "out of" is too small. I would stick with white lettering, the red is difficult to see. The first cover image is the best, but needs the white lettering. The Romanian Trousers Mystery appeals to me as a title, except it's too long. How about "My Romanian Trousers" or "My Romany Trousers". Also, the blurb needs to be tightened, especially the last para. There's too much going on. Suggestion: The authorities have his number and so do the local criminals, his ex-wife and his estranged son. JJ

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  10. Hi Ruby,

    I LOVE your titles and covers!

    People hire me to help them find the best title for their work. That's because I believe there's only one good title. Paul T. Lynch has exactly the right idea. From your choices, I used my method on evaluating your titles. (See http://www.writersfunzone.com/blog/2012/01/18/3-steps-to-a-good-book-title-that-sells/ )

    From what I discovered, though millions of people do a search for "Somebody that I used to know," I doubt any of them are looking for mysteries. Really, the best titles that indicate some sort of audience that's into action/mystery are "Getting Out of Dodge" and "The Romanian Trousers Mystery."

    But no one is doing a search for "The Romanian Trousers Mystery." Only 1,600 Google searches per month for "Outta Dodge" and over 33,000 for "Out of Dodge," so my vote is for "Getting Out of Dodge." However, Google has TONS of website results for "Out of Dodge." You might want to brainstorm more titles and check their search results and their competition. You want at least 10,000 searches per month on Google and 1 to 2 pages of search results on Google.

    Once you choose your favorite title, you should have the words appear in your ebook at least five times so that search engines see how relevant your book is to the search term. Have the title on the title page, the copyright page, the bio page, maybe a note from the author saying "thanks for reading XYZ," and at least once within the text of the story.

    That said, my favorite cover depends on the experience your book gives. If your book has steamy sex in it, I vote for B (minus the smear). If it is a serious mystery, I vote for D (minus the smear).

    Congrats on your book!!

    -Ezra

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    1. Good pointers, Ezra. Best trade-off between unique title and best search results makes great sense!
      Ger's involvement and rescue of a Romanian prostitute and his overall fascination with women is a strong theme. The mystery is serious but the steamy sex dominates.
      Cheers
      Ruby

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  11. Hi Ruby! Stephen Mearns here. I like the last cover best. Couple of suggestions - Straight outa' Dodge - I think Ger is trying to go straight but gets caught up in shenanigans along they way and it's also a play on the Getting out of Dodge theme. I like The Quiet Life, but what about The Unquiet Life? anyway, the book sounds great and I look forward to reading it. Best of luck mate! We Bateman's Bestsellers alumni have to stick together.

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    1. Cheers Stephen! Well understood. Like birds of a feather ;-)

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  12. Replies
    1. Debbie, you remind me of somebody ... B-)

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  13. Cover C but with white font as B would be perfect, Ruby.

    If comedy is to the fore in this story, then the Romanian title is great. Otherwise, The Quiet Life.

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    1. Thanks, Mark. It has elements of dark humour but is more a picaresque novel (someone wrote that in a review and I had to look it up!)

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  14. It’s a no-brainer.
    A and C are out of it – the red text is virtually non-existent and hopelessly depressive as a thumbnail.
    D isn’t too bad but loses out to the worthy winner B
    B because the female form will draw more eyes.
    So there you have it. Like I said, no-brainer. In fact I think you planted the crap ones just to make me look clever.

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  15. I'm for cover B, Ruby. I think that's the one that jumps out the most in a small photo. As for the title, I like Somebody That I Used to Know the best by far. I think it's intriquing and would garner the interest of prospective buyers. Cheers!

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  16. Hi Ruby,

    I would go for cover B - but without the blood smudge. (Actually, I think all of the covers would be improved without the blood smudges.)

    As for the title, I would go for number 5 - The Quiet Life.

    And that completes the voting of the Skerries jury.

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    1. Thanks from Kilkenny, Martin ;-) Yep, might take off the smudge.

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  17. I like B And I like Get Out of Dodge Good luck with your new book!

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Janus, and thanks for the vote!

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  18. Cover C and The Quiet Life as title

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  19. D, without doubt. though I'd make your name white like the title and the title at the top so your brand pops and the cover art is framed. I think A,B, and C are a bit busy and confusing whose charms will be lost at thumbnail size. None are bad but D's best IMHO.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Rob. Much appreciated!

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  20. Hi, Ruby. Responding rather late.
    On any book cover, the title and author's name have to stand out – so although the background pictures are all good, B as a whole is undoubtedly the best. I like your current title – a bit different, and with lots of interesting connotations. (I have to say No. 6 also appeals to me – but my opinions are not necessarily those of the majority of your potential readers, so better ignore that!)

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    1. Hi, Gerry, and thanks. Not late at all, it's an all-night bar! Those Romanian trousers have their fans :-)

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  21. I don't know if I can be of any help here, Ruby. I liked your second cover pic. For me it's clearer than the others and has an image that tells me something immediately. Getting out of Dodge makes me think of Dodge City - and puts me in mind of all those old Dodge City Westerns. How about simply 'Getting Out'? Just a thought. I like the idea of the story. Ger is in dead trouble and between a rock and a hard place. Hope he gets out. I sincerely do!

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    1. Thanks for coming by, Catherine, and thanks for your idea!

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  22. Getting out of Dodge is the best title, followed by the Quiet Life. Best cover would be C.

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    1. Hey Glen, thanks for coming over and thanks for your votes!

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  23. My main criterion for a cover image is whether it will draw the viewer's eye when placed in a row with other cover images. I think B does that best, partly because the lettering is white. Who wants to strain to see the title and author's name?

    I think the title you have now is the best of the choices.

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    1. Hi Mary and thaanks for stopping by. Yep, good point. Has to work well in a line-up!

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  24. I'd go for cover B and I love the title, Somebody That I Used to Know. It sounds like a Harlan Coben or Lynwood Barclay novel that I'd snatch up.

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  25. Definitely the one all the way to the right, or the last one, or, "What is Option D, Alex. " Its the most interesting one to my eye.

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  26. All the votes have been counted and it's Title 1, cover B. The actual title will be Getting Out of Dodge: Peril 2 and the launch date is 15th June 2013.

    Congratulations to Matt Posner who is the randomnly selected winner of a paperback copy. We'll send it on to you, Matt, as soon as available.

    Thanks to all.

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