Cover question and Teaser from “The Grave Artist” #teasertuesday

I can’t believe how closely together Tuesdays seem to be coming lately! Teaser Tuesday is below, but first, a question for you. I have been working on a concept cover for “Once Bitten, Not Shy”, a new novel still in first draft, and I need some feedback. Knowing nothing about this novel, take a look at the concept cover, and let me know what genre you would expect it to be and what your guess is as to the subject matter or storyline. I am having way too much fun in Photoshop to be objective about whether I am close to the target or not! Let me know what you think in the comments.

cover concept y06 14

 

And now, on to Teaser Tuesday!

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

I have just (today) started to read The Grave Artist by Paula Lynn Johnson. While I am only 16% of the way in, I am really enjoying it so far. Well-written, good emotional engagement with the protagonist, a good hook.

Here is a teaser from the first chapter (2%):

“Are you freaked?” I ask him, shifting uncomfortably in my seat.

He levels his eyes with mine. “Wouldn’t you be?”
Paula Lynn Johnson, The Grave Artist

 


16-year-old Clare can’t stop drawing the bizarre, winged skulls she calls “Sammies”. Her psychiatrist assumes the compulsive drawings are just expressions of Clare’s grief over her father abandoning her. But then Clare discovers that her Sammies are exact matches for the Death’s Head on the grave of Samantha Forsythe, a teen who reportedly fell to her death over two centuries ago.

Before long, Clare’s drawings morph into cryptic writings that urge her to uncover the truth behind Samantha’s death. Together with Neil — the friend she might be falling for — Clare scours the local history for clues. She finds that, although Samantha was engaged to a wealthy landowner, there were whispered rumors of her involvement with a younger, biracial man.

Soon, Clare is haunted by disturbing dream images — a mysterious eye, a broken chain — that point to someone Samantha called her “Dearest”. But who is Dearest? And why does Samantha need Clare to find him so badly?

Isolated and carrying hidden scars of her own, Clare fears her obsession with Samantha will threaten her sanity and safety. But it seems she has no choice in the matter . . . 

The Grave Artist is a compelling paranormal murder mystery and a poignant story about loss and what it means thrive in a less-than-perfect reality.

11 thoughts on “Cover question and Teaser from “The Grave Artist” #teasertuesday”

  1. +JMJ+

    Classic banter in the teaser!

    Your cover and title make me think of a Medical Thriller . . . with vampires . . . and some roots in Antiquity. I know that the Caduceus is Greek, but the colours suggest Ancient Egypt to me. I hope that this helps! =)

  2. I like that teaser! Judging from the blurb, there might be a few things to freak out about if you’re a character in this story- sounds intense and mysterious. Hope it’s great!

  3. The cover looks like it could be a medical thriller, though the title makes me lean toward vampire paranormal.

    The teaser makes me wonder what they are freaking out about.

Tell me what you think!

Scroll to Top