Book publishing is a funny thing. At the end of the day, it’s a business. And just like any other business, the object is to generate income. Profits. So publishing houses have to make certain decisions that may or may not always jive with the opinions of content creators - i.e. authors. Sometimes, they might not even make sense.

Let me give you an example. In my first children’s book, I retold Jesus’ parable of the great banquet using animal characters. The publisher loved it! I mean, they gushed about it and claimed it would sell like mad. They promised not to change a single word... except for something on the very last page. You see, after the animals show up for this big party, they eat ice cream and... (gasp!) begin to dance! Yeah, I know. Dancing animals! It’s crazy and outlandish and very edgy. What was I thinking?

So they asked me to take that out. Seriously. Business-wise, it went like this: Our customers are conservative. Some of them (think Baptists) don’t approve of dancing. They believe dancing leads to carousing which leads to drinking which leads to loose behavior which leads to hanky panky which leads to babies so.. no dancing animals!

The animals in that particular book do not dance. They might want to, but they resist the urge.

I get it. If something about a product could potentially impact sales negatively, no go. It’s not personal. It’s business. As a result, the animals in that particular book, do not dance. They might want to, but they resist the urge.

Another example (no bitterness here), was my fourth novel for a publishing house that shall not be named. It was an expansive book - years of research, hundreds of pages, tons of characters, lots of action in different locations all over the world. Very Tom Clancy-ish. Very timely in terms of topics. My editor, after receiving it, actually made a special trip to Colorado to meet with me. His first words, after small talk, were: “It’s genius.”

I’m not kidding. I will never forget that moment. So if I die while writing this blog, put that on my tombstone because it’s the best review I’ve ever had - by far.

What followed was not as positive. After a long pause, the same editor continued with, “...But the publishing board will never approve it.” A soaring high followed by a bone-crushing low. Turns out, the storyline had its own dancing animal issue - something the publisher wasn’t prepared to deal with. I could have handled, “It’s controversial, so sales might not match your past books” or “Be prepared for backlash.” But being told it was good and then given the thumbs-down... Ouch!

That book never did make it to print. But that’s the publishing industry. C’est la vie, baby!

Which is why I’m so excited about my new novel. Turned down by the a plethora (vocabulary points, please) of agents, and a menagerie of publishing houses, the manuscript got picked up by a publisher who did something truly outlandish. Instead of telling me how things were going to be, they asked my opinion.

This has NEVER happened. I’ve had dozens of editors and publishers suggest radical storyline changes (“Readers will love this!”), title changes (“This will sell better.”), and character changes (“Change the gruff old man main character to a single mother with a lisp.”). But my new publisher - Odyssey Books - actually asked my opinion on the title and the cover.

(Insert blown away emoticon here)

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So we’ve been working on mock-ups and - here’s the thing - we need your help. We now have three drafts that we’d like to present and get your feedback on.

The synopsis of the novel goes something like this:

As Kevin visits his grandmother in the hot, locust-infested, West Texas town of Hope each summer, his relationship with Nora Sue Jenkins slowly moves from childhood friendship to an awkward, ill-defined adolescent romance. Along the way, he notices a change in her – the presence of a deep, secret pain.

The summer after he graduates from high school, as Kevin prepares to go to college, he makes his last stop in Hope. One rainy afternoon, Nora Sue finally reveals her hidden sorrow. THE HOUSE ‘CROSS THE WAY is a tragic love story involving a young man’s desperate struggle to rescue the love of his life.

Okay, I know that’s not much to go on. But it gives you the basics: a boy, a girl, West Texas, and something bad hiding in the shadows.

With that in mind, take a look at these book cover images. Also, consider the title. While you’re at it, ask yourself these questions: Would I pick this book up off the shelf at Barnes and Noble (if I actually ever went to Barnes and Noble anymore)? Do any of these fit the vague storyline? Do any of them seem to illustrate the book description?

Write your choice in the comments below.

If you don’t like any of them and/or have other ideas for a title, a cover, or even font choices, make that known in the comments too. I’m asking your opinion, just like my publisher is asking mine. Crazy, right?

Don’t worry. The book isn’t risqué or rude or ribald or any other r-word. And be assured, it doesn’t contain any dancing animals. I learned my lesson on that one.