What attracts me to a book?

What Attracts Me To A Book?

As I try to create a cover for my novel I started to wonder what actually attracted me to all the books that line my shelves?

Sadly, I cannot easily see a common theme from looking at them.

I was surprised to notice that I don't choose genre first.  I know I must grab it because something on the cover called to me, but what?

I know when I read the description that is what keeps the book in my hand but why did I pick it up?

Maybe seeing some of these items on the cover is what draws me in.
Location: Anything in Italy, especially Venice, Ireland, or New England
Storylines: Anything with food and travel
Characters: Strong females, interesting situations and desires. A character with my name.
Title: interesting, catchy or a play on words or a well known phrase.

What makes you pick up a book?  What covers have worked for you and what hasn't?
I look forward to your suggestions and advice.

Happy writing!

Unplugging

We recently took a cruise to Mexico.  We assumed that our phone roaming charges would have been exorbitant. When would a cellular company give up the opportunity to charge us? The cruise line also was continually finding a way to extort our money and internet access was a sign up fee and then $0.75 per minute for a pretty slow connection.  The television was sparse at best.

This weekend was our first weekend back and without even thinking about it we continued behaving as we did on the cruise.  I forgot to check my work emails all weekend and on the car ride home from errands we started discussing which games we were going to play. No one suggested a movie or television and my son did not ask to play his video game!  If you had heard him complain about not having his video games the first four days of the cruise and the second the boat docked you would understand how impressive this was.

We spent the weekend pulling games that had not seen the light of day for years out of cabinets and closets. The kids knew a lot of games from school and friends that we didn't know and they loved teaching their parents how to play card games, like baloney sandwich, which most of you will know as BS, which you may have thought stood for something else, but I was assured it was baloney sandwich.

Tonight my daughter finished her homework as quickly as she could so we could play Sequence. She beat me handily and was so proud of herself. She never felt proud of herself watching television.  She also did not ever think critically, formulate a plan or do a victory dance. Don't think cocky athlete think exuberant little girl whose dance ended in a mommy hug and conciliatory kiss.

I am sure that television, video games, and the internet will work their way back into our lives but I am going to work hard to keep them relegated to the side stage.

I would love any game suggestions you have.  It is time to donate a lot of games to our friends with younger children and get some new games to keep the interest alive.

I look forward to your game recommendations!

Je Suis Charlie