So, I am not quite there with my second book yet, but I have decided it is time to do the cover reveal. There are two main reasons for this. Firstly, I am finding the marketing elements of self-publishing a bit of a mission, and there is a lot of advice to build some suspense before the release. So, a cover reveal with a 'coming soon' message on social media ticks that box.
Secondly, I haven't actually finished the book, so I am hoping this will inspire me to get it across the line. There isn't much more to do, but the closer I get to the end, the slower time seems to go. One more story to finish, a final edit, and then I will be good to go. Although my marketing strategy (Googling tips) tells me I also need to put it on pre-sale to further build the tension.
With regard to the cover itself, I am pretty pleased with it. It is a picture I took myself in my home town of Burford, Oxfordshire. It is a view through the trees from Swan Lane and overlooks Burford's wonderful church. I have also incorporated the picture into the title story If I Had Died Last Summer, so keep an eye out for that if you decide to read it at some point in the future.
I have mentioned before that I have chosen to create my own covers at this stage, so I can claim to be fully self-sufficient in this whole process. My writing process also seems to find me having a vision for the cover quite early on, hence why I am able to reveal it before the whole book is complete. I am happy with it but always happy to take feedback.