New Laptop!

I got a new laptop! 

It's sleek! 

It's shiny!

 It's a saucy little Samsung Series 5.  I love it!  I haven't had my "own" computer since before I got married. 

My husband has built us several computers over the years and we have a large and ever-growing family of computers in the house (along with as many hand-held devices that you can imagine), but the only other computer that was truly mine was an old "Leading Edge" computer I bought through the University of Iowa's student computer purchase plan. 

It's such a great feeling to have my very own machine! 

Sure, I've had access to many wonderful computers over the years - Macintoshes in the computer lab at the U of Iowa, IBMs and HPs at Emerson and my first work lap top at the travel company I worked for a couple years ago.

Before that, it was all desk computers.  I had a snazzy little PDA, an Edge, that was the BEST thing since sliced bread. 

Sure, I have a Kindle Fire and an iphone, but my heart belongs to Sam 5.  I've spent most of the day getting the laptop loaded with all my favorite software and weblinks, so it's looks like home. 

Now, the next big project for me will be to get all my old stories off those archaic floppy disks.  I'm really hoping that I managed to transfer them onto the small floppy disks and that they are not all still on the big floppy disks.

Last year, I took three or four "ancient" computers to Staples and paid them $10 each to take them to recycle. 

I wonder how long Sam has before he's considered too old to load with "new" software? 
As a mom, I know I never look at my kid and think that in 80 years, she'll have been superseded by at least three generations of new Hansens. 

So, Sam and I have been working hard together to write my third "Guy" book.  We've surfed the web, customized software and driven my husband bonkers asking about all the options.

So many options, so little time!

Thanks, Sam, for helping me write my first blog on your lovely keyboard.  Your beautiful purple screen saver is surely a sight for sore eyes. 

I can't wait to see all the beautiful scenes we create together over the next 3-4 years. 

(Lap top of the future?  http://www.rucksandrolls.com/soon-your-laptop-will-be-a-table-top/)

Some books are like a box of chocolates - you never know what you're going to get

I'm fascinated with the gorgeous covers available to e-book writers!  Paperback and hardcover covers are limited by cost, but with digital covers, graphics can be gloriously vivid.  I've been reading several blogs about what makes great e-book covers.  The exciting news is that simplicity and boldness reign.  Deep colors and imaginative graphics are also appealing.  It's interesting to see that the NY Times bestsellers from the publishing houses are still, for the most part, using class covers for their e-book publications.

Here are some covers from the top-selling books on Amazon:

Fifty Shades by E.L. James series:
Incredibly stark and simple - grey against black.
Large, bold object.
Very appealing!
I wish the books were as enticing as the covers, but that's just my take.


Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn:  Great use of color in the author's name.  Note the size of the author's name versus the book's title.
It's exciting to see how the publisher markets the writer as well as the book.



Last to Die by Tess Gerritsen:  The USA bestselling cover is the yellow and blue.  Love the blackground!  This cover is busy, but effective.  Intense!

What do you think of the cover used in the UK with the girl looking down and the big window behind?  Is it as effective and intense?

I'm definitely drawn to the closeup of the girl's face in the US cover.

Bared to You by Sylvia Day:

Very sexy cover with the high heel!

What do you think of the other two covers?

The text really pops on the cover with the earrings.

Bones are Forever by Kathy Reichs: 

Can't beat a classic layout!

But, honestly, is that the best they can do?!






THE BOY IN THE SUITCASE, by Lene Kaaberbo and Agnete Friisl. 

I like the faded Polaroid/old photo style of the cover to the left

Here's the same cover to the right with more green:


The colors and the faded image are pretty scary.







#10 on the NY Times fiction bestseller e-books is The Ugly Duchess by Eloisa James.  Nothing ugly about either of these covers, but the cover to the right is the one that is the bestseller.  Personally, I love the purple, glittery swans, but I like a little glam.



OK, so what's happening in the Indie book cover world?
Let's take a quick look....


From Amazon's Bestselling Indie authors:

Pretty classic if you ask me!  Some of the erotica novels are using some beautiful colors.

I'm curious about how long it will take for the 3D world and the art world to intersect with the book covers.  I'd like to see book covers jump off the page and grab readers!  Let me know your favorite book covers.