Saturday, May 14, 2016

In Search of the Perfect Cover Image Part II by Merrillee Whren

For my blog post last month, I talked about finding the perfect image for my latest book cover. I needed a picture of a front porch with two adult chairs and and a child's chair. I posted photos that I had taken on our trip to Florida where I found a front porch and added a child's chair. Here is one of those photos.
I wasn't satisfied with any of the photos that I took that day. There was something wrong with each one of them. None of them was perfect. Enter search number two.

We had the privilege of going to the Kentucky Derby this year. Prior to the Derby, we visited long-time friends who lived in Ohio. We were getting to see their new house for the first time. I was also hopeful that I would find another front porch to photograph during our trip to their small Ohio town. Imagine my delight when I saw their front porch. Here's one of the photos I took.
While we were still visiting them, I sent the photos to my cover designer. After a few tweaks, this is the new cover of the third book in my Front Porch Promises series. Books two and three will be released in the next few months.
 
Here's a reminder of what the covers for the first two books look like.
 I've lived in a lot of different houses. Some of them had front porches that were made for sitting like the ones on these covers. What kind of a front porch do you have?

Again I will be giving away a copy of the first book in the series, A Place to Call Home, to one person who leaves a comment. The winner's name will be drawn on May 15, 2016.

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Merrillee Whren is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award presented by Romance Writers of American. She is married to her own personal hero, her husband of  thirty-five plus years, and has two grown daughters. Connect with her on her Facebook page and sign up for her newsletter.

52 comments:

  1. Love the cover and looking forward to the book.

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  2. Love the cover! The only home that we lived in that had a real front porch was when we lived in the south when I was a little girl. I would love to have one now. Maybe moving back to the south I can finally get the porch that I want ;)

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    1. Lori, the front porches we have in AZ aren't the kind I was looking for either. Houses styles are different throughout the country.

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  3. I love the cover!!! I wish I had a beautiful porch to set up rocking chairs on!! Maybe I need to move south! It's too cold most of the year in Michigan to enjoy a pretty porch with comfy rockers for reading. Lol

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    1. Brittina, thanks. The south has lots of houses with front porches, but summer time can be hot and sticky, too.

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    2. Brittina, you are the winner of my 2 books. Please contact me through my website @ www.merrilleewhren.com

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  4. I do like the photo you choose! very pretty & inviting :)

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    1. Deanna, thanks. I was so happy when I saw my friend's porch, and she was super excited that her porch was going to be on my book cover.

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  5. We have a simple covered front porch with brick half walls for seating. These rockers look so inviting.

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  6. Love the cover, can't wait to read.

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    1. Deb, I'm eager to get the books ready to publish.

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  7. Nice cover! We have a good front porch but don't use it as much as we should.

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    1. Jeannie, thanks. A front porch with a rocker is always a good place to read.

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  8. I like the progression. 1,2, 3 chairs.

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  9. The cover is so cute and family focused!

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  10. Merrillee,

    I love the cover, and the other two, also. It's so cute the way they progressed from 1 to 3 rockers.

    I finally live where I have a front porch, but the heat usually keeps me inside, sigh.

    I wasn't familiar with these 3 books, I can't wait to read them. I enjoy your books so much!

    Thank you for the opportunity for anyone to win!

    Blessings!!

    robbyefaye(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Robbye, the first book is available now. The other two will be available in the next few months.

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  11. Hi Merrillee, I love the covers and look forward to the books. I am a front porch fan - something about being raised in the south (well, kind of south - Houston, TX). Now we live in the AZ desert in the winter and our "front porch" is really a concrete patio, but we have it done like an Arizona room - screened with a lot of comfortable furniture and sitting areas. joyce1510.jrg@gmail.com Joyce @ Heart"wings"

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    1. Joyce, we are also in AZ now, and we use our back patio because the front of the house faces west. Too hot, especially in the summer.

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  12. Love your covers, Merrillee. I pick up books by their covers and would definitely pick up yours.

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  13. What beautiful photos you took, Merrillee Whren. They look very comfortable and homey. These are definitely the perfect spots to forget time and read a book.

    Cnnamongirl at aol dot com

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    1. Deanne, yes a front porch rocking chair is perfect for reading.

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  14. I love the covers, Merrillee! More books to add to my wish list! In Australia the porch is called the verandah. Ours runs across the front of the house with a white table and chairs set and an ancient church pew from an old bush church.

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    1. Narelle, your porch or verandah sounds lovely, especially the church pew.

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  15. My front porch has 2 white rockers on it with table between for coffee in front of a big picture window! Shelia Hall sheliarha64@yahoo.com

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    1. Sheila, when I was looking for pictures, I saw a lot of them with 2 rockers with the table in between.

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  16. I enjoy learning the process of choosing a cover. I love this cover. :-) And, I love your stories.

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  17. We have never had a front porch. When I was growing up it was a back patio.
    annbyATcenturylinkDOTnet

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    1. Andrea, that's where we relax, too. We've had a lot of houses with a back patio or deck.

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  18. I have a front porch with a swing but mostly I sit on the swing on my enclosed back porch! jarning67(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  19. Merrillee, I love your cozy, front porch covers! Perfect for reading with a glass of sweet tea!
    psalm103and138 at gmail dot com

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  20. right now i have a smallish porch, enough room for two chairs and a small table. but oh! when i build my dream house!!! there's a nice front porch, a sun room, and a monstrous deck on two sides!!! AND a patio with a fire pit! LOTS of room for porch rockers!!

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  21. Joan, I love porch swings. My friend whose porch I used also has a back porch with a swing.

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  22. Love the picture! My front porch is pretty much nonexistent.

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  23. If I want to sit on a front porch I have to go to my mama's house :) She has a screened in porch that is awesome! It's not very big at all, just has a couple of rocking chairs and a ceiling fan but I sure do love it! I especially love to be on her porch when it's raining! I love to read and reading in the rain is the best!

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  24. Angel, sounds like a great porch.

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