Hey those who know. I am experimenting with ideas for my soon-to-be released RomCom, set in 1865 Somerset. I had created a cover, etc. Yet, I'm not feeling it. So, I have commenced playing with various ideas, trying to match the moods of what's presently out there. Which of these catches you the most? (These are just screenshots; I am yet to adjust font sizes, locations, etc). Here's the blurb (again): 1865. Somerset. Love and Money, those twin pillars upon which so much of mortal existence precariously rests, have never been more at odds. For Mr. Francis Sheringham—a libertine whose charm is far more substantial than his purse—desperate times call for desperate measures. When the vengeful Lord Grant cheats his father out of their ancestral home, Francis is forced into an audacious new career: highway robbery. But he is no common thief. As the most courteous and gallant rogue on the King's Highway, Francis leaves his female victims more captivated than terrified. His path collides with the fiercely independent heiress, Miss Vanessa Lockwood, a woman of uncommon spirit trapped by the schemes of the very man who ruined Francis. What follows is a rollicking burlesque of mistaken identities, disastrous fancy-dress balls, calamitous kidnappings, and farcical duels. Amidst the chaos, Francis must reclaim his fortune, outwit his enemies, and convince the one woman immune to his practiced wiles that his heart is truer than his aim. In a world where passion and property are at war, the ultimate prize is a love that money can't buy.

I am soon to launch this next book. I'd like to know what vibe it gives off - as the book is a hist/thriller with elements of comedy. I am playing with the cover, etc, at the moment. Here is the blurb: He gambled for a fortune. He played for his life. 1791. Paris. The Revolution is in full swing. Heads will roll as easily as dice. Enter our hero: a Swiss peasant with empty pockets, a head full of dreams, and a burning ambition to trade his humble Swiss vale for a life of consequence. His opportunity arrives in the form of a secret society — a cabal of self-appointed kingmakers promising a new world order, where merit trumps birthright. ‘Tis is a seductive lie for a young man in a hurry. After winning a card game to gain entry, he becomes the society’s favoured courier. But there is a catch: loyalty is ensured by a slow-acting poison, for which only his masters hold the cure. As he races against time (and his own mortality), he uncovers a devastating truth: the society he serves are the mechanism for a foreign invasion of the very home he scorned — Switzerland. Now, he must make a choice that no amount of wit can solve. Will he embrace the power he has always craved, or play the fool to save the country he left behind? He wanted to make history. Now he just has to survive it. Before the spy, before the amnesia, this is where the conspiracy began. “... the paths of glory lead but to the grave.” — Gray NOTE: I HAVE SINCE ADDED IN THE MORE MODERN-BOURNE-FEEL COVER (AS PER JILL'S SUGGESTION) TO COMPARE.

After several redesigns - having settled on the current covers (presently on Amazon) as a safe/temporary option until my brain would conjure something else up - I have, I believe, finally found the look for my covers. After researching so many historical satire covers, & after playing around this past 2 weeks with new ideas, I have arrived - methinks? Though I write historically-timed books, they are more classic in cadence with adventure, suspense, satire, mystery, espionage, & romance all wrapped up together; & particularly with my narrative voice being heavily influenced by such authors as Fielding, Dickens, Haywood, Austen, Burney, etc, it has been a real head-killer to composite all this in the book covers. I just know I had not hit it! My tropes are (as shown in the one creative text attached below): Amnesiac hero; anti-heroism; Satire of accidental hero; comedy of errors; fugitive on the run; classic fiction; ticking clock; political intrigue; quest for identity; inept protagonist; mistaken identity; histfic; Macguffin. I have just felt that I was not hitting in with my current covers. But I think this look might finally do? Thoughts anyone?

For week of 11/3 post your homework in here. Bonus points rewarded for making a reel!

In class just now, FB turned on two enhancements on Mal's ad that she didn't ask for and couldn't remove. FYI, this is what Claude said they do: - "Reveal details over time": Facebook might take your static image and add animation effects that gradually reveal parts of the image, creating a sense of motion and progression even from a still photo - "Show spotlights": Facebook might automatically add visual enhancements like brightening certain areas, adding subtle zoom effects, or creating focus points to draw attention to specific parts of your creative