Last Updated on August 25, 2018 by Palessa D
As I was writing Quinn’s story, book 4 in the Baxter Family Saga, I realized that I could extend some of the scenes in Unchained Hearts. Why the hell would I do that? I thought these updates would give readers a bit more insight into the Baxters and their legacy. So, for a few months, I extended some of the scenes and added some new ones to boot.
When marketing, I ran into advertising hell because my cover was considered “porn” and wasn’t appropriate for children.
I don’t write children’s books nor do I market to anyone under 18 years. It became this sticking point. I loved the second cover because it brought the attention I wanted to attract, which is readers who are looking for a book that was an interracial romance but didn’t subscribe to the clichés and tropes that some were tired of reading. I don’t like books that I can figure out too easily. I like to be surprised. The more a book slaps me in the face, the more I enjoy it.
I’ve heard from a majority of readers that that’s how they feel about Unchained Hearts and, ironically, the way I accomplish it seems to be the point of polarization.
As a result, I’ve decided to own that. Unchained Hearts is a soap opera/Lifetime TV movie in book form. Like many, I’ve been sucked into a lifetime movie after swearing I’d only watch that one show. Six hours later my day is gone and I’m wondering “How the hell did they do that?”
Now, I’m not claiming that UH is THAT good, though I would love for it to be. I’m claiming that my intention was to put the drama in my head on the page and, at the time, I did the best I could. It’s two love stories in one book with the kind of drama that may remind people of some of the most addictive, dramatic TV shows.
Seriously, all those TV-watching hours had to come out somewhere.
Then there was the cover.
I needed something that was sexy, suggestive, dramatic. It had to speak to the story more than the sexuality of the story because I think Unchained Hearts is more about the plot than about a fifty-page sex scene. I don’t have the patience for that (read into that what you will).
Based on this, here’s the result:
Meet Cass & Lila, the first interracial romance that set the scene for the unraveling of the Baxter Family legacy.
Here is the full cover:
On the back is Kyle, the subject of the second love story in the book. This cover is perfect because I worked with cover artist and fellow author Jennifer Stevens to really get the feeling of the story in the cover. I think she did a fantastic job and this isn’t a surprise.
You’ll notice that I now have a last initial. Well, I would like to thank Apple iBooks for reminding me that I’m not badass or famous like Cher, who probably wouldn’t have a problem writing under a mononym.
So, in addition to extended and added scenes, UH will be available in print and on iBooks.
Overall, I am beyond grateful and happy for the change. I hope to introduce it to new readers and to further endear it to previous readers who thought it was interesting in a crazy way.
Check it out. It’s still just 99 cents.
If you like it enough, feel free to help an indie author out by posting a review and even recommending it on Goodreads.
In the meantime, what do you think of the cover?
As I was writing Quinn’s story, book 4 in the Baxter Family Saga, I realized that I could extend some of the scenes in Unchained Hearts. Why the hell would I do that? I thought these updates would give readers a bit more insight into the Baxters and their legacy. So, for a few months, I extended some of the scenes and added some new ones to boot.
When marketing, I ran into advertising hell because my cover was considered “porn” and wasn’t appropriate for children.
I don’t write children’s books nor do I market to anyone under 18 years. It became this sticking point. I loved the second cover because it brought the attention I wanted to attract, which is readers who are looking for a book that was an interracial romance but didn’t subscribe to the clichés and tropes that some were tired of reading. I don’t like books that I can figure out too easily. I like to be surprised. The more a book slaps me in the face, the more I enjoy it.
I’ve heard from a majority of readers that that’s how they feel about Unchained Hearts and, ironically, the way I accomplish it seems to be the point of polarization.
As a result, I’ve decided to own that. Unchained Hearts is a soap opera/Lifetime TV movie in book form. Like many, I’ve been sucked into a lifetime movie after swearing I’d only watch that one show. Six hours later my day is gone and I’m wondering “How the hell did they do that?”
Now, I’m not claiming that UH is THAT good, though I would love for it to be. I’m claiming that my intention was to put the drama in my head on the page and, at the time, I did the best I could. It’s two love stories in one book with the kind of drama that may remind people of some of the most addictive, dramatic TV shows.
Seriously, all those TV-watching hours had to come out somewhere.
Then there was the cover.
I needed something that was sexy, suggestive, dramatic. It had to speak to the story more than the sexuality of the story because I think Unchained Hearts is more about the plot than about a fifty-page sex scene. I don’t have the patience for that (read into that what you will).
Based on this, here’s the result:
Meet Cass & Lila, the first interracial romance that set the scene for the unraveling of the Baxter Family legacy.
Here is the full cover:
On the back is Kyle, the subject of the second love story in the book. This cover is perfect because I worked with cover artist and fellow author Jennifer Stevens to really get the feeling of the story in the cover. I think she did a fantastic job and this isn’t a surprise.
You’ll notice that I now have a last initial. Well, I would like to thank Apple iBooks for reminding me that I’m not badass or famous like Cher, who probably wouldn’t have a problem writing under a mononym.
So, in addition to extended and added scenes, UH will be available in print and on iBooks.
Overall, I am beyond grateful and happy for the change. I hope to introduce it to new readers and to further endear it to previous readers who thought it was interesting in a crazy way.
Check it out. It’s still just 99 cents.
If you like it enough, feel free to help an indie author out by posting a review and even recommending it on Goodreads.
In the meantime, what do you think of the cover?
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