I threw brief, casual back cover copy onto my fake cover for Keraunani just so I could move on and get a review copy to help me proofread the book. I mean, really brief! Like this:
When Esau Karuma volunteered to marry a girl real quick to get her out of trouble, he didn’t anticipate any particular difficulty.
He may have been a little too optimistic about that …
Now, I don’t know that the back cover description is super important for this book. People are going to read Tarashana and think, Sure, why not see how Esau’s mission goes, sounds like fun. Or possibly, Well, what I want is Tasmakat, but in the meantime, fine, how is Esau’s mission going? Honestly, the above description might be enough to remind readers that oh, right, Esau had this side mission, and that’s probably enough.
Perhaps a little more detail might be advisable, though. Something like this:
Esau never expected to marry any woman. Not permanently, as a jewel wife. He’s really not the type to give a girl a jewel.
But when Keraunani needs to get married right away to get out from under a whole lot of trouble, Esau doesn’t hesitate to volunteer. After all, there’s no reason there should be any particular difficulty about it. As long as the girl has a thimbleful of common sense, no reason either of them should be too much of a nuisance to the other. He’ll just marry her quick, get her settled someplace she’ll be comfortable, and that will be that.
He might have been a little too optimistic …
What do you all think? How does that sound?
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Sounds great to me. I’m a new reader — came across Tuyo and fell in love with everything related to the series. Bought them right after reading them from KU. Read it again. I intend to get your other books as well — but am waiting until my book hangover from Tuyo passes. I am looking forward to more next year. Thanks!
I like it! Although new readers might be puzzled by “Not permanently, as a jewel wife.”
If I were reading that second version, I think I’d expect the trouble to come after the marriage rather than getting to it.
Would it also be a good idea to hint that half the book is flashbacks?
I like the short version! I think it’s appealing even for someone who’s never encountered the Tuyo world.
Instead of the second sentence, you could say something like, “Given all his previous experience, he should have known better.” And that potentially sets us up for the flashbacks.
First, I love how this world just keeps growing new stories – I’m so excited to read this and the new story about the doctor! And I blame it on editing finals weeks papers, but I think a combination of the two has a little more oomph:
***
Esau Karuma never expected to marry.
But when Keraunani needs to find a husband right away to get her out of trouble, Esau doesn’t hesitate to volunteer. He’ll just marry her quick, get her settled someplace she’ll be comfortable, and that will be that – no reason either of them should be too much of a nuisance to the other.
He might have been a little too optimistic …
Thanks, everyone! I’ll fiddle with it. Amara, good suggestion. Craig, Kim, you’re right, it would be good to set up expectations about the flashbacks.