Saturday, November 27, 2010

RECKLESS ENDEAVOR

My new book will be out soon. One part of reaching the finish line is preparing the back of the book description for the cover artist to include during the layout. Basically, the trick is to condense some of the story's highlights, enough, hopefully, to generate reader interest, from more than 63,000 words into 200. While the cover is supposed to grab attention, the cover copy needs to hold attention. So far, this is the copy for the back cover of RECKLESS ENDEAVOR A Jack Rackham Adventure. Here you go...... 

Any thoughts??? Suggestions???

Dead ancestors should stay dead.

After rescuing a homeless teenager from a knife-wielding lunatic, and uncovering the secret of Mary, the spirit of a thief, trapped in St. Augustine's Old Jail for one hundred years, sixteen-year-old Jack Rackham puts to sea with his friends in search of another lost treasure, this time, aboard the magnificent schooner, Reckless Endeavor.

The voyage will take them through the treacherous waters of the Bermuda Triangle to the islands of the Bahamas and, eventually, Fishtail Cay, where the infamous cutthroats Calico Jack and Anne Bonny, with the help of the Rat Eaters, buried a fortune in Aztec gold three centuries ago. Hidden among the ingots and artifacts is the Serpent Dagger, an ancient relic embedded with the Wind Jewel of King Quetzalcoatl, which holds mystic powers for one brave enough to learn its secrets and defeat the tragedies of the past.

Calico Jack, hanged for piracy in 1720, crashes through the barriers of death and time to join his young descendant in the quest to claim the Aztec gold. His schemes will prove more diabolical and deadly than the teenaged adventurers are prepared to face and the painful brand of his curse will leave an indelible mark on one of them forever.
By the way - This is a new blog & my first post. I'm hoping it will grow over time to attract a following of readers & writers.
Normally I can be found at JaxPop Haunted City Writer

(Note: I edited this per my post reply)

10 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. It's the iPhone autospell! I can't fix it! Messed up your first comment. (Lucy) :-)

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  3. Okay - I like the new blog, it looks great but I'm not posting phone comments ever again. I hate when you notice my spelling. Quit writing & just be an editor. Ya Jerk.

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  4. Dead ancestors should stay dead. Very spooky! Great hook.

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  5. Dave, the proposed back cover grabbed my attention. I can't wait to get a copy of the book! I like this new blog, great idea to keep Jack Rackham's adventures separate from the other blog.

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  6. I love the look of your new blog, and I look forward to reading it in the future. I agree with Pat, the book does sound a bit spooky..that's spooky in a good way.

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  7. I love your new name "Ya Jerk". But maybe tell Deb it's already taken. LOL.

    Blue is such a beautiful colour. Love the pic. Love the concept. Can't wait to read my copy.

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  8. Lucy - I mean Deb, your spelling is more entertaining than anything on cable. Blame the phone, uh huh.

    Hey Pat - Thanks for visiting - it's been awhile.

    Arlene - I thought you were traveling! Anxious to see this one on the shelves. Glad you liked the cover copy. Working the artwork now.

    Laura - This site will be a work in progress. I'm going to try to blog more often & split my focus. Gotta love ghost stories.

    Joylene - I have LOTS of nicknames - Ya Jerk is pretty tame.

    Note: I think I need to to change something. It's more important to emphasize young Jack Rackham's age (16) than Rachel's (also 16) to avoid confusion with the pirate Calico Jack Rackham. I mean Calico Jack is dead, but ....

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  9. 1st post. Some brainstorming thoughts. The opening "Dead ancestors are Alive?" Make us question and want to start digging. Adding some questions of who, what, instead of telling us it allready? Exp: Jack being hanged when & how takes the subspense from what we want to read for the shock???? Does sound exciting

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  10. Hi JC, thanks for visiting. You raise some good points and, in fact, I see what I think, is something that needs to be changed for clarification-sake. I'm going to post the Prologue in the near future, that will answer your question about timing.

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