1. What was the first book you remember reading? Can you describe the cover of the book and did you like the cover?

The first book . . . well that would be Green Eggs and Ham and yes, I can describe the cover. It’s orange, with a creature and a plate of green eggs and ham. Classic.

2. Have you ever purchased a book because of the cover alone? If yes, which one and why?

Absolutely I have. Sometimes there’s just something about a cover that makes you think “I gotta read that.” It’s not always the same something either. Sometimes it’s a face staring out, sometimes it’s a to-die-for hunk on the cover and sometimes it’s an evocative setting.

3. When did you first know you were destined to be a writer?

I wrote something for a fourth grade creative writing assignment about grass and rain. My teacher wasn’t very nice and she accused me of stealing it. When my mom came in and verified that I had, in fact, written it, she changed her tune and wanted to publish it in the school newsletter. It was the affirmation I’d been looking for, apparently, and that sealed the deal. From that moment on, I always knew I’d be a writer. Of course it took many years and a lot of wrong turns to get there.

4. Who gave you your first break in publishing?

Tom Colgan, Avon Books. He will always remain near and dear to my heart. He discovered me at a writers conference—but of course I was too young and dumb to know I’d been discovered and I stumbled over that first big break.

5. What was your first published book and what did the cover look like? Did you love it or hate it and why?

Web of Smoke (writing as Erin Grady). The cover was very cool and my name was in really big letters which was so exciting, but the book was set in California and the house depicted on the cover looks like something from the east coast. Still, I thought it was a great cover.

6. Do you believe a cover can increase or decrease the sales of a book? Have any covers affected the sales of your books?

Absolutely! I think a cover has to be catchy. When you walk into a bookstore and you see all the books on all the shelves and tables, it’s just overwhelming. If you don’t know what you went in for, if you’re shopping for something new, a cover is what will grab you more than anything else. For writers starting out who haven’t yet hit the big time, a great cover can make or break your career. I shuddered when I saw the worst cover candidates. Those poor writers! How awful it would be to have all your hard work wrapped in something that makes readers cringe.

7. What trends do you see in book covers currently and in the future?

Men with only half a face showing. It’s strange, but I totally get it. I like to put my own eyes on my fictional men and apparently I’m not alone in that. Whenever a cover has a whole face, I always find something about it that just doesn’t appeal to me. My fantasy men are always so much better looking than the one on the cover.

8. What has been your least favorite cover from all of your releases and why?

My least favorite was the cover of Whispers (w/a Erin Grady). This story is set in Arizona, yet the scenery looks like the heartland—not a cactus in sight. And the woman superimposed in the background wasn’t anything like the characters I pictured and it always bothered me. That said, it’s still a great cover. I have been extremely fortunate in the cover department.

9. What has been your favorite book cover from all of your releases and why?

Haunting Warrior, the book that released on May 4th, is my favorite cover. Have you seen the seriously sexy hunkus maximus gracing the cover? He’s amazing. The cover artist perfectly captured that sense of movement that goes with the story. I just love, love, love it.

After that, I would say Echoes (w/a Erin Grady) was my next favorite. I always thought there was something so haunting and evocative about the woman, the colors, the forest you can barely see . . . .

And then of course there is Haunting Beauty which is flat out a visual feast.

10. Do you have a current or upcoming release to share with Cover Cafe? Please give us the details and a peek at the cover, too!

Haunting Warrior released on May 4th, 2010! I’m so excited about it I can hardly see straight. Feel free to drool . . . .

Update: Erin's next release, Haunting Desire, is scheduled for release in April, 2011!

Erin Quinn's website

Linnae Crady ()

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Author image, and covers are displayed with permission from author.