CAN tell a book by its cover!

You CAN tell a book by its cover and also sell it. I rarely considered the importance of cover art until the Decatur Book Festival in Georgia three weeks ago. I brought four 'tween book to sell at my publisher's booth. Of the four, all eyes immediately went to the one in the middle, The Mystery Under Third Base. The cover stood out.

My publisher, Randy Young of Sleepytown Press is a terrific artist and used a photo he took of a student at his school sitting on third base in the town's baseball field to design the cover. The attraction was astonishing. I grew fascinated watching people of all ages look immediately at that book. More than half the sales that day were this book and I almost sold out.

I love all the covers of my books that Randy designed, but we both know that this one was unique because of its realism and stark design.

DECATUR BOOK FESTIVAL

Over Labor Day weekend, Sept. 4th & 5th, I participated in the largest independent book festival in the country, held in the lovely town of Decatur, GA, just outside of Atlanta. Hundreds of authors and publishers displayed and sold books not found anywhere else. Crowds of people wandered through the town of Decatur stopping at booths, talking to authors and publishers and buying books. I was psyched. I got to meet my publisher, Randy Young of Sleepytown Press, his charming wife, Beth and their adorable grandson, Zander, age 5. I made a number of important contacts, was interviewed for a television news show, and sold 25 books. The best part was getting to talk to so many people of all ages who stopped by to check out the books. It was an exciting event, which I hope to attend every year.