Interview:
Tell us about your book! What inspired you to write it?
Wooded Discovery is a young adult urban fantasy. I like to describe it as a mash up of Supernatural (#teamcrowley), Scooby Doo, and Harry Potter, if Harry hated magic. There’s lots of teen angst, discovering themselves, and mystery to be solved. And of course, a dash of romance!
Really, my son was a big inspiration for this story. He and I were huge Harry Potter fans. But in general, we shared a love for fantasy stories that had magic. That’s partly why I wrote this one. The main character Zaidyn is based off him, to a point. Zaidyn is just so loveable, bit of a mama’s boy, likes to read—all traits my son shares. Zaidyn’s best friend Iggy was tons of fun to write! He’s that snarky BFF who isn’t afraid to poke fun at his friend, but just a quickly will have that friend’s back in a crisis and do what it takes to help. Book 2 is his story and I kind of tortured him a bit, but he’s tough and can take it. Ky started out quiet and moody, but in his book (#3) he really blossomed into something I didn’t expect! These three POV characters each came to life during the course of the series and have stuck with me for long after. I hope readers feel the same and hopefully they see a bit of themselves in the characters, too.
Piper, Gabby, and Melody, the girls in the story, don’t get to share their POV, but that doesn’t mean they don’t take charge. I’m a bit of a feminist (okay, a HUGE feminist) so my girls will always be strong, even if they don’t believe they are. And these girls are absolutely the strength behind their friends.
How did you choose the title for your book? Did it come to you right away, before you started writing it, or did it come later?
Originally, this book was titled Out of the Woods. I attended an online workshop where Bryan Cohen was the speaker and had the opportunity to have an evaluation done of my marketing/sales page by his company Best Page Forward. His team suggested I change the cover and title to better fit the genre. The original cover looked a lot different. I don’t think it was bad, but the new cover and title absolutely is better. The colors are striking and jump out at the reader from the thumbnail. That’s an important thing to have when you’re trying to stand out on a screen.
Tell us about the cover design process. Did you have a basic idea of what your book cover would be like?
Changing from the old to new cover, I asked them to focus on the woods as the biggest part of the image. But their designers came up with the rest of the design. I don’t even think I had them change anything! I just fell in love with the look and ran with it. I’m glad I did, too. I get a lot of compliments on the covers for the whole series. At the time, I was preparing to publish book two and hadn’t even started book three, but I went ahead and had the team complete the other two covers as well. When you write a series, it’s important to have a cohesive look for the books. I’m really happy with the way these all have similar structure, but the colors and little details embody the uniqueness of each story.
Who is your cover designer and how did you find him/her?
The team at Best Page Forward worked on the covers. I don’t have a specific name, but I do recommend them as a great place to consider.
What has been the readers’ response to your cover?
When I go to book signings or events, the cover for Wooded Discovery always gets the first glance. I’ve heard so many different people say, “I love this cover!” so I know readers like it.
What tips would you give to authors who are looking for a cover designer?
I would first go with a recommendation from someone you know or trust. If that isn’t an option, then I suggest looking at references/reviews. Reedsy is a good place to start. If you see a cover you like, try to learn the designer’s name. This will be easier if it’s an indie author because they will be able to share the name. Traditionally published books will be more difficult to figure out. But you can collect images of covers that might have a feature or style that you envision for your cover. Be sure to get a cover designer who knows what your genre needs because a romance cover will look a whole lot different than a mystery.
Anything else you’d like to say about your book?
Just that I hope people seek it out and give it and me a try! And if they do, please consider leaving a review. It’s the best way to help an author get more visibility, and to help other readers decide if the book is for them.
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