I’m excited to share an update on Whispers of Kith and Kin! As this journey continues, I’ve reached a step that’s proving trickier than I imagined: choosing the cover. I’ve been looking forward to this part, but much like writing—where plots take unexpected turns and characters refuse to cooperate—this has been more challenging than expected.

I sent my info off to the designer and then waited. And waited. When the email with the first draft finally landed in my inbox, I held my breath as I opened it. But my excitement quickly faded, bringing back that familiar creeping dread from the long-ago days of tearing open the envelope with my school pictures.

Some things you just know are wrong on sight—like a bad book cover or a school picture where your eyes are pointing in two different directions. I knew instantly that this cover, much like my fifth-grade school picture, was not making it to the final round.

 

However, I feel I was partly to blame. You see, from the onset, I didn’t have a clear image of what I wanted for the cover. But I knew what I didn’t want, and that turned out to be both a help and a hindrance. It’s easy to rule out what doesn’t fit, but finding exactly what does is a whole different story.

One reason for this ambiguity is that my book doesn’t fit neatly into a single genre. It isn’t your typical cozy mystery, where amateur sleuths solve crimes between knitting projects, baking cookies, and walking their Scottie dogs. There’s more blood and violence than your average cozy. But it also isn’t a typical suspense novel—it isn’t dark, and it has moments of humor woven throughout. My editor leans toward calling it a cozy mystery because of the lighthearted tone, though with a bit more carnage than usual. I’m considering putting a tagline on the back: “A cozy mystery with an edge.” (If you have any thoughts on this, I’m happy to entertain them!)

This blend of syles makes the cover design tricky. While I like the fun, kitschy vibe of many cozy mystery covers, my book needs something with more grit. On the other hand, suspense covers tend to be too sinister, suggesting a level of darkness my story doesn’t have. I want something in between—something that captures both the intrigue and the humor, the mystery and the fun, with just enough of a nod to the fact that there’s a murder mystery at the heart of it.

Really, the cover has a lot of heavy lifting to do, doesn’t it? It has to set the tone, spark curiosity, and give just enough away without spoiling the story. Before a reader even opens the book, they’ve already made a judgment based on the cover. I don’t just want a cover that fits the genre or even my murky idea of what it should be—I want something that has that rare quality of being both exactly right and completely magical.

When the second draft arrived, it was well-designed and eye-catching—but it didn’t feel right. It was a good cover. And I liked it okay, but I didn’t love it. The designer approached the project with their own perspective—one shaped by their experiences, preferences, and knowledge of the market. On the other hand, my perspective, as the author, is shaped by my deep connection to the story and my desire for a cover that reflects its unique tone. Neither is wrong. But we’re going to have to work together to find common ground. So we went back to the drawing board, refining, tweaking, adjusting.

So…the final cover? Well, it’s still in the works, but I’m excited to see how it evolves. In the end, I’m hopeful the cover will be exactly what the story deserves—not just what I thought I wanted, but what truly reflects the heart of the story. There’s still a lot of work ahead, and I’m looking forward to seeing how it all comes together. I can’t wait to share it with you as soon as it’s ready, and I’d love to hear your thoughts when it’s finally revealed!

 ~~ Kaye

“A cozy mystery with an edge.” –

What are your thoughts? Suggestions welcome!

 

Finn has thoughts….