Please join me in welcoming author Heather Webber as the guest blogger here today at Thoughts in Progress.Heather’s latest book, “Truly, Madly,” is the first in the Lucy Valentine series and was released on Feb. 2. Heather will be dropping back by during the day to answer any questions you might have and respond to your comments.
Heather has a dilemma and needs your help. Heather tell us about your inscription dilemma.
Do I have a challenge for all of you!
With the release of Truly, Madly last week, I’ve been signing a lot of books, which is wonderful, except for one thing:
I can’t quite seem to come up with a snappy, cute, witty inscription to personalize copies of Truly, Madly.
With my last series, the Nina Quinn mysteries, it was easy. Nina was a landscape designer who often found herself in all kinds of trouble. During signings, I used phrases like “Hope you have fun getting into trouble” and
“I hope you enjoy this book a “hoe” lot.” Things like that. Cheesy, yes, but fun.
I’m not the only author who uses phrases or tags. New York Times bestseller Lorna Barrett uses a different phrase for each of her books. For her New Hampshire set Murder is Binding, she writes “Live Free.” For Bookplate Special it’s “Beware of pumpkin smashers” – doesn’t that make you want to read the book or what?
For her Supper Club mystery novel Carbs & Cadavers, JB Stanley writes, “To good food and great friends.” Wendy Lyn Watson, author of I Scream, You Scream: A Mystery A La Mode, writes “May all life's sundaes have cherries on top.” And bestselling author Denise Swanson has a different phrase for each of her 11 (!!!) Scumble River mysteries.
With Truly, Madly I’ve used a lot of the perfectly acceptable “Best wishes” and “Enjoy!” and have toyed with “Love will find a way…” and “Laugh, love…thrill.” But nothing seems quite right. I’d hoped to use a phrase similar to those on Valentine’s conversation hearts (after all my main character is Lucy Valentine) but Be Mine and I’m Yours just sound a little creepy as does Be My Valentine.
It doesn’t help that my book is cross-genre. It has mystery, it has romance, it has paranormal elements—so ideally I’d like a phrase that conveyed all those, but really, at this point I’m not all that picky. If you haven’t read the book yet, here’s a brief blurb:
Love is a mystery. Truly. Just ask Lucy Valentine, a jaded matchmaker with a heart of gold. When she’s thrust into a murder investigation and asks the sexy PI who works upstairs for help with the case, maybe she’ll find the perfect love while solving the perfect crime… (First chapter is on my website!)
So here’s my challenge: Help me find a phrase to personalize copies of Truly, Madly. You never know what might strike my fancy, so be as quirky as you’d like and submit lots of options. I’ll choose a winner later today and that person will receive a copy of Truly, Madly with the winning inscription!
I’m really hoping you all can help me, and I’m looking forward to your suggestions!
~Heather
Are you up to the challenge? Do you have a phrase in mind that would be perfect for Heather to inscribe? Be sure to comment and leave Heather your suggested phrase.
For more information on Heather and her books, check out one of the following links: http://www.heatherwebber.com
http://www.heatherwebber.blogspot.com
http://www.cozychicksblog.com
http://www.deadlydivas.com
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/Heather-Webber/...








