Inspired by Life ... and Fiction

Novelists bound by the pen, sisterhood, & more

Cover Reveal – Worth The Wait

By

Hand appearing beneath the curtain. Red curtain.

No Other Will Do CoverNow that my first book in the Ladies of Harper’s Station series has been out for about 6 weeks, reviews are accruing and readers are starting to ask about the next story. Since Emma and Malachi have successfully found their happy ending in No Other Will Do, everyone wants to know what will happen with shopkeeper Tori Adams and freighter Ben Porter.

If you are a regular reader of the Inspired by Life and Fiction blog, you might recall a post I wrote last year inviting our readers to help me plot a story. You can find that brainstorming session here. Well, Tori and Ben’s tale is that story! And since you all were so extremely helpful in providing ideas and inspiration, I thought it only right that you be the first to see the new cover.

And I hope that it is worth the wait. (Pun fully intended.)

So, drumroll please . . .

BHP_Worth the Wait.inddNovella covers have much smaller budgets than covers for full-length novels, but I must say that I am extremely pleased with how this one turned out. It might even be one of my favorites of all my covers for how well it captures the essence of my story.

First – I actually have a full face on the cover! And it’s a gorgeous face at that. Her clothing is fitting for the time period, and the blue on her shirt really brings out her eyes and creates a lovely contrast for her hair.

Second – Her expression captures so much of Tori’s personality. Determined to keep men at arm’s length, she keeps herself closed off from relationships – the crossed arms – yet the longer she knows the kind-hearted, self-sacrificing freighter, and the more obvious his attempts to court her become, the harder it is to remain indifferent – hence the eyes sneaking a peek even while she holds her body stiff.

Third – I got Ben and his wagon on the cover. Yay! The picture of his tying down the goods is perfect! Now, the one downside is that the man on the cover is nowhere near the size of my “mountain” of a hero. Ben is a tall man with a powerful build, part of the reason Tori is afraid to let him get close. She knows what it is like to be at the mercy of a man larger and stronger than herself, and she vowed never to be that vulnerable again. The man on the cover doesn’t exude that raw power or overwhelming size, but since he’s pictured at a distance, I’m choosing to believe that he would look much larger up close. 🙂

Fourth – The setting is perfect. Very Texas-y.

Worth the Wait won’t be out until January, and it’s not available for pre-order yet, but I just had to share it with the very people who helped create the story.

So what do you think? Was it worth the wait?

The following two tabs change content below.
My Facebook profile

Karen Witemeyer

For those who love to smile as they read, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. Karen is a multiple award-winning author and a firm believer in the power of happy endings. She is an avid cross-stitcher, tea drinker, and gospel hymn singer who makes her home in Abilene, TX with her heroic husband who vanquishes laundry dragons and dirty dish villains whenever she's on deadline. Learn more about Karen and her books at: www.karenwitemeyer.com.
My Facebook profile

Latest posts by Karen Witemeyer (see all)

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

LINKS IN COMMENTS

Please note: If you include a link or links in your comment (URLs or email addresses), your comment will not post right away. It will wait for a moderator to approve it, which may take some time.

Comments

  1. Love it, Karen! But I agree–I envisioned Ben as much larger than the man portrayed on this cover. But still it is beautiful and extremely interesting.

    • Thanks, Beth. I’m sure the available artwork of men with freight wagons was limited, so I’m thankful just to have those elements included. You and I know Ben’s true physique. 🙂

  2. Definitely worth the wait although I am still waiting for No Other Will Do to reach our Australian bookstores. We have to have sooooo much patience over here as we get to see all the responses from your US readers. 🙂

    • I hope it reaches you soon, Jacqui. I didn’t realize that release dates were different down under. Hopefully, Emma and Malachi’s story will be “worth the wait,” too. 🙂

      • I think it is how long it takes for copies to ship to us rather than the release date. Our book stores are still saying another 4-5 weeks for your book. I am currently enjoying rereading your Archer series. I just love those brothers and their women. 🙂

  3. Love it…for all of the reasons you mentioned. I loved their storyline teaser in NOWD and am excited to read this one. I do remember the million and one plot suggestions…good stuff.

    • Fun, Cynthia. Once it comes out, you’ll have to let me know if you see any of the brainstorming suggestions in there. I took several concepts and twisted them around a bit. 🙂

  4. Yes, I am SOOOOO excited about your newest book. I love the cover, I agree that it may be your best cover.
    Question: Is the book a novel or a novella?

    • Worth the Wait is a novella. It will be digital only at first. I’m hoping at some point, they will do an omnibus of all 4 stories – two novels and two novellas. I’m nearly finished with the next full-length novel. It will come out next June and is titled Heart on the Line. It features Grace Mallory – the telegraph operator. She falls in love over the telegraph lines. Kind of like 19th century Internet dating. Ha! Oh, and we finally get to discover why she carries around that Derringer. 🙂

  5. Hi Karen, Wow, what a great cover! I love it when they show the heroine’s face! It was fun to read your thoughts about the different elements. Looks and sounds like a great story!

  6. It was worth the wait to see your new cover and I cannot wait to read it! I read your first book, by chance, several years ago and have been hooked since. :]

  7. It’s so perfect! I agree, it’s probably one of my favorite covers. I love it!! I can’t wait to read the book. January? Are we sure they can’t bump it to August? 😉

  9. It’s a great cover, Karen, and I do like that they showed your heroine’s whole face. It’s the first thing I noticed. I like having the hero on my covers too, but it’s hard to get him just like I imagined. Anyway, I really love the cover and can’t wait to read Tori and Ben’s story.

    • Thanks, Vickie. I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. Especially for a novella. Heroes are tough. I’d rather have no hero than an unattractive one. Thankfully, Ben is in the distance, so it’s more the idea of him than his actual image. Leaves room for the imagination to make him as dreamy as the reader wishes. 🙂

  11. Karen, it’s so worth it! That cover is stunning, my favorite of your covers to date. The colors are great, and her expression… Love it. Can’t wait to read it!

  12. I’m just editing the Dutch translation of your new novel No Other Will Do, and I like the story already so much. And then I see this! So very, very beautiful!Just like you I like the full face. 😉 So from now on I will count the days till it appears here in the Netherlands!

    • How wonderful, Danielle! Thank you for all of your work on the translation. After my current manuscript is completed, I’m toying with the idea of a Dutch-American hero for my final novella of the series. I might need your help with some Dutch phrases to add a touch of authenticity to the character.

  14. Love love love this cover. Tori kind of reminds me of Amanda Seyfried (Letters to Juliet(my all time favorite movie) and Mama Mia) which is cool. I also agree Ben seems smaller since he is at a distance 😉 Can not wait to read this…any idea when pre order will be available? Can’t wait for Grace’s story either! Any chance the other novella will feature Andrew? 🙂

    • Yes! I remember that actress from Mama Mia. There is a definite resemblance. 🙂

      I’ve had several readers mention Andrew. Hmm . . . I might have to keep him in mind. He’s a little young for my time frame, though, so for now, there is no immediate plan to write his story. The final novella will feature Claire, the doctor’s assistant.

      • Well a story that features Andrew down the road would be a nice revisit of the characters we love-getting to see where life takes them…hint hint 😉

  16. YES, Worth the wait! Beautiful cover! It would catch my attention at any book store, or on a friend’s reading pile! 🙂

  19. Your covers are always so beautiful!!!!! The bright and vivid colors really catch the eye, practically begging for a second glance!

  20. I LOOOOOOOOOVE the cover, Karen! What fun to “mix things up” and have a face on your heroine for this one! I agree about the hero! I imagine him more “bulky”!!!!! Can’t wait for this book! I loved Tori in “No Other Will Do”

  21. Wonderful cover Karen! Fits in perfectly with the No Other Will DO cover (Which I must admit I still have to read ,Looking forward to discovering all these great characters!)

  22. I agree with your points, especially that it’s the 1st time for the whole girl to appear on the cover!

    • Hi, Melody. I’ve actually had a whole heroine a couple times before. Head in the Clouds has an entire face, as does Short-Straw Bride. But in Short-Straw the hero’s face is cut off. 🙂

  23. O definitely worth the wait. Actually any of your books are worth the wait! This cover is gorgeous! Can’t wait to read it!

  24. Love the cover!! I agree, the blue blouse really shows off her pretty face and blonde hair. I like this color (lighter) scheme better than the darker one on NOWD. Can’t wait to read this! 😀

  25. Yes! Worth the Wait! I like the whole cover, but I especially like the little scroll work detail around the edges and under the title. It makes a nice frame and is a very nice touch.
    I have just started listening to No Other Will Do, of course, I love it!

    • I like those little scrolls, too, Andrea. They make it just that much more feminine and romantic. (I guess I’m more girly that I thought. Ha!)

      So glad you are enjoying No Other Will Do. I haven’t actually listed to the audio version. I hope they have a good narrator.

  26. I am so happy to see the entire face on the cover. I really don’t like the faces cut in half. In my opinion it spoils the effect. Love this cover!!

    • Thanks, Janet. I’ve had so many cut faces, that I’m rather used to them. Something I actually prefer them because they give my imagination more freedom, but this model is so lovely, I’m thrilled to have her entire face on the book.

  28. Beautiful cover, Karen! I love the mode’s expression. Can’t wait to meet the handsome cowboy by the wagon….

  29. Beautiful cover! It’s perfect. I wish, wish, wish that they published novellas in little separate paper copies. It would be so cute, and give opportunity to display all the lovely covers. 🙂
    They sure did a great job capturing the essence of the story, and I can hardly wait to read about Tori and Ben. 🙂
    Congratulations!

  31. It is beautiful. I like it much better than No Other Will Do. It is breathtaking. It definitely invites the reader to dive right in!

  33. Karen,
    I love the cover! I’m waiting to save up money so I can read No Other Will Do! I love your stories the humor and faith are always wonderful!
    You are one of the few authors I don’t even bother reading the back cover cause I know that it’s going to be awesome! Thanks for using your God given talent for writing and keep them coming!
    Love,
    Amy 😊

  36. I really like this cover, Karen; especially being able to see the heroine’s face. Is this the same model who is on Short-straw Bride? This lady reminds me a little of Ramola Garai when she was in the BBC 2009 version of Emma.

  37. Love the cover Karen. I am looking forward to reading your book. Keep up the wonderful writing!

Recent Posts