A few months ago I took part in a book tour with Brook Cottage Books for my contemporary women’s fiction novel, A Way from Heart to Heart. It was good fun and a great experience, and I’m happy to say there were lots of great reviews. One interesting point came up when one of the bloggers asked her readers for feedback on the cover.
First of all, if you haven’t read the book, this is the blurb: Kate Hemingway’s world comes crashing down when she’s told of her husband’s death in Afghanistan. The man who brings her the news is Paul, her husband’s reserved friend. When Paul agrees to accompany Kate and a group of disadvantaged teenagers on a trip to the Yorkshire moors, he reveals something he’s kept secret for years, and Kate sees him in a different light. But how can she ever risk her young son’s happiness again?
You might know that, although the novel is set partly in London and partly on the Yorkshire moors, I took the title from an Afghan proverb: There is a way from heart to heart. I thought this summed up the theme of my novel perfectly, which is that, no matter how distant we appear to be from one another – through age, experience, culture, or whatever – love can always find a way.
Here’s the original cover for my book, which I loved:
The feedback on the book tour, though, was that although readers really liked it, it didn’t convey accurately what the book was about. I do love this cover, but after discussion with my publisher we agreed to change it, so that readers would have a clearer idea of what’s in the story. I’m excited to say that I now have a new cover. And here it is!
What do you think? I love the font, and I think the cover has a fresher, more optimistic feel to it. Of the two designs, I prefer the first as an image. But as a reflection of the story, I think the second cover gives a better idea of what’s inside the book.
I actually feel quite lucky to have two covers!
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Which cover do you prefer? Do you study a cover before buying a book? How much does the cover influence your decision? If you have any comments at all, I’d love to hear from you!
Helena Fairfax 
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