Need Help Writing your book’s back cover copy?

(You might have also heard it called a blurb or just a book description. It’s usually found on the back cover or the inside flap of a dustjacket. Whatever you call it, it has a huge impact on whether or not your book finds readers).

“I am absolutely blind to what will sell my story, every single time. Cora is not blind. Cora sees what’s appealing and doesn’t get lost in the woods. She pulled the most interesting threads from the blabbering mess of words I sent her and wove them into a coherent blurb that jumps off the page.”

– New York Times Bestselling Author C.D. Reiss

If you’re unfamiliar with my career, I’ve been part of the publishing industry for more than a decade. I’m a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of romance and fantasy whose books have been translated into more than a dozen different languages. I’ve worked slush for both agents and indie publishers. I have experience with traditional and self-publishing in multiple genres. And my absolute favorite thing to do… is write my book’s back cover copy. In fact, every time I have a new book idea, I start by writing the pitch that eventually becomes that back cover copy. Your book cover is what makes a reader stop and look closer, but your book’s description is usually what decides whether your book gets bought. That’s why your copy needs to be the best you can make it! Certainly don’t let anyone convince you that AI can do it for you.

But I get it! Distilling that much information into a catchy paragraph or two is HARD. It’s difficult to know what to include and what to hold back. You have to both hook your reader and convey the right expectations for your book. And you have to do it all with a small word count. Let me be perfectly clear: You can write a fantastic book, and still struggle to write your book’s copy because they are two different skillsets. Let me help you craft the best copy possible to sell your book!

Authors, if you want to update more than one of your book descriptions from your backlist, we can discuss discounts for bulk services!

Services I offer:

Back cover copy critique: $30

If your copy/book description is already written, but it’s not working out for whatever reason, let me help you figure out what the problem is! I will pinpoint what things might be turning readers away in your copy, and offer suggestions for how to fix those issues and get your description to the right mix of concise and eye-catching. I won’t write the new copy for you, but I will point you in the right direction.

Query letter critiques- $30

Querying agents? I have read thousands upon thousands of queries in my time working for a literary agency and an indie publisher. If your query isn’t getting the returns you want, let me help you figure out why!

Back Cover Copy Rewrite- $75-100

This service includes a critique of your existing copy, as well as my assistance re-writing it into something stronger. Price will vary depending on how intensive a rewrite is needed.  Sometimes all the information I need is already there in the copy, and it’s only a matter of editing and/or rearranging information into something with more punch. This type of project would likely be priced at $75. But let’s say your issue is that the copy is too vague, then we’ll need to dig deeper into your story to find the necessary hooks to catch a reader’s attention. This is a more intensive process and would be priced at $100. If you’re unsure where your project may fall on this continuum, please feel free to email me with your current cover copy for a quote.

Write your copy with me from scratch: $200

If you don’t even know where to begin, let me lead you through the process so you’ll feel confident doing it yourself in the future. Together, we’ll drill down to the heart of your story, and I’ll teach you how I put together a book description.  Please note: This does not include me actually reading your book. You’ll answer some questions about your book for me in advance, and then we’ll craft your copy together on a zoom call. If you have an aversion to video calls, we can also complete the process via email or chat.

Brainstorming session- $100

My writing superpower is ideas! (I’m high ideation on the Clifton Strengths test if that’s your jam). Whether you need help breaking through writer’s block, building out a world, or fleshing out a character- I can help! If you need ideas on how to address plot holes or other issues in your writing, I’d love to be your sounding board. I offer one hour zoom calls for all your writing and publishing questions. This session can also be used for career advice and planning.

Contact me at coracarmack@gmail.com if you are interested in any of the above services.