Goodreads Authors/Readers discussion

Hello everyone!

I am a first time author and have released my first book: Wicked Folly. I'm super proud of it and hope you all give it a try.

Colleen Cole is an up-and-coming lawyer. She has worked hard to build a life for herself that would make her hard to please mother proud. But when Colleen's semi-estranged father, Liam Cole, asks her to come visit him for the adventure of a lifetime, how can she say no? He is dying of lung cancer after all.
Soon, Colleen is swept back up in the fervor of her father's obsession with pirates, an obsession that consumed her childhood. The tales of Thunderstruck Jack and his missing treasure she could recite in her sleep, even all these years later.
When the trip is cut short by Liam's failing health, Colleen fears she has no choice but to find the treasure herself before he dies, his dream unrealized. She ventures out on her own, only to wind up caught in a storm that will change her life.

Found on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle https://www.amazon.com/Wicked-Folly-K...

I assume that is a place holder cover. I would strongly suggest a professional, genre appropriate cover before you drive traffic to the book page as it makes a terrible first impression.

Unfortunately I am unable to afford a professional book cover artist. I have been doing all the work myself with help of friends/family.
I do have the ability to paint/draw so I can make something a little more snazzy.
Thank you for your feedback!

Amanda, check out Fiverr. You can hire a freelance book designer at a very reasonable fee.

For what it's worth, the simplicity and quirkiness of the cover quite appeal to me. That's just a personal reaction, I have no idea how it would be for sales generally.☺ I imagine the intention is to evoke the feel of an old treasure map? Would it be worth adding a torn corner, a little extra staining and maybe a physical artefact like a compass sitting on top of the map? Just some thoughts. Feel free to ignore me, I know nothing anyway. I say, do what feels right to you. It's your book and your cover at the end of the day.☺

Robin wrote: "For what it's worth, the simplicity and quirkiness of the cover quite appeal to me. That's just a personal reaction, I have no idea how it would be for sales generally.☺ I imagine the intention is ..."
That's what it was supposed to be, but it fell flat, which is fine :) I appreciate your input!

Elaine wrote: "Amanda, check out Fiverr. You can hire a freelance book designer at a very reasonable fee."
I did look into that and holy cow! Those prices, feels like stealing lol. I managed to spend my afternoon working on a new cover and feel like it turned out pretty well (once Amazon updates it).