Guest Post

Guest Chick: Sydney Leigh and #Giveaway

We Chicks want to give a warm welcome to Sydney! She’s here to talk about different ways to discover a new book–including being drawn to beautiful covers!

Judge a Book by its Cover? You Bet I Do! By Sydney Leigh

With so many books coming out every month, even the most voracious of readers has to whittle down their list of TBR’s (To Be Read’s). I’m always thrilled when I see PERIL IN PINK, the first book in the Hudson Valley B&B Mystery Series, on someone’s list. I always wonder what drew them to it in the first place.

My favorite way to choose a new book is via a personal recommendation. When a friend gushes about a book, especially if they love cozy mysteries and thrillers the way I do, I know I’m in for a treat. Not only have I never been let down this way, it also makes for a fun discussion over a cappuccino or a glass of rosé. My favorite things to discuss are always about the mystery itself—top suspects, best hidden clues, and whether I’d managed to solve the murder by the end of the book. Of course, if there’s a little romance or a funny scene, I love to dissect that, too.

There are many great ways to discover authors and learn about new books other than by a friend. Social media, for example, is another avenue. Bookstagrammers take time to not only create beautiful imagery about books they enjoy, but also rate them. Their ranking system is usually easy to find and understand. I’ve discovered not only crime fiction this way but also modern romance. I’m a sucker for the enemies-to-lovers trope so it’s become an auto-buy when recommended by one of my go-to influencers.

Next is the library. Often, well-thought out displays with fun themes are front and center. As well, librarians are a wealth of knowledge, about books, research, and so much more! I don’t only visit daily to work on my manuscript, I regularly walk out with a novel in my bag that wasn’t even on my radar.

And bookstores? Yes, please. One of my favorite things to do on the weekend is to visit a handful of bookstores near me, both big and small. Nothing is more relaxing than seeing what’s featured around the shops. Bestsellers, local authors, trending themes. I like it all.

And finally, last but not least? It’s the cover. Yes, I judge a book by its cover. Not always—promise. Like I said, all the other methods of choosing books are top notch. But there’s something about seeing a book in person and being drawn to it like a moth to a flame. The first time I saw the cover for my book I got goosebumps. Pink, pink, and more pink, with a touch of murder. It’s like the publisher read my mind.

For a chance to win a hardcover copy of Peril in Pink, answer the following question:


What are you drawn to in a book cover?

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Everything is coming up rosé for innkeeper Jess Byrne until a murder on opening weekend gives her B&B’s killer vibe a whole new meaning.

Schitt’s Creek meets Only Murders in the Building in this sparkling debut mystery.

It’s the grand opening of The Pearl B&B in Hudson Valley, and owner Jess Byrne has prepared the ultimate, Insta-worthy welcome, complete with her ex-boyfriend—reality singing sensation Lars Armstrong—performing live. As guests check in and mimosas are poured, Lars arrives with his stepdad-turned-manager Bob in tow. But things go south when Bob is found dead, and Lars is the prime suspect.

After a desperate plea from Lars, and knowing the reputation of her B&B is at stake, Jess agrees to help clear Lars’ name, but the more she digs, the less sure she is that he’s innocent. Especially when he’s found at the scene of another murder.

With the guests under lockdown, the B&B in the press for all the wrong reasons, and a killer on the loose, Jess is in over her head. With the help of her best friend and business partner Kat, Jess is determined to uncover the truth before Lars is put behind bars and The Pearl is permanently cancelled.

ABOUT SYDNEY:

Sydney Leigh spent several years running a seasonal business, working in the summer so she could spend cold months in cool places. Now she writes mysteries and thinks about murder. She served on the board of Crime Writers of Canada from 2018-2021. PERIL IN PINK is out now with Crooked Lane Books.

40 thoughts on “Guest Chick: Sydney Leigh and #Giveaway”

  1. Your book cover is eye-catching for sure. I choose books by the covers I like. I like colorful covers with hints about what the book is about. No dark, harsh colors for me! lindaherold999(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Thanks so much, Linda! You and I have the same taste in covers. I’m attracted to fun colors and love a hint to the books themes. Appreciate you sharing your thoughts 🙂

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  2. A big thank you to Jennifer J. Chow, Ellen Byron, and the whole Chicks On the Case crew. I’m thrilled to be here and appreciate the warm welcome!

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  3. Congratulations, Sydney. I’m drawn to covers that give me a sense of what the story is about – evocative images and eye-catching colors.

    I was at a library event and sold two books based solely on the covers, we are not alone in this!

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    1. Thank you so much Liz! And you have such fabulous covers, it doesn’t surprise me one bit about the attraction to your covers. The readers are in for a treat!

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  4. Peril in Pink is such a fun read, Sydney! Over the years, I’ve found I do judge a book by its cover. I’m not much of a thriller or horror reader and have learned what those covers tend to look like, so I steer clear of them.

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  5. Book covers definitely draw me to a book. I think my cover preference has to do with genre. For mystery and romance (my go-to genres), I tend to gravitate toward colorful, illustrated covers.

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  7. I’m definitely attracted by covers, and tend to go for saturated colors and bold designs (which means I love your cover!).

    Thanks so much for visiting the Chicks today, Sydney, and congrats on PERIL IN PINK!

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    1. Thank you so much Leslie! I’m a big fan of bright bold colors, too. I’m honored to be a guest here–thank you so much for having me on today!

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    1. I agree-it’s great to get a sense of what a book is about based on the cover images. Thanks for your comment!

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    1. Hi Sydney! Glad you stopped by to visit us here!

      I guess I’m kind of an outlier as far as covers go. Like you, I get lots of recommendations from pals and I’m never disappointed. In fact, that’s almost exclusively what I read these days. If I’m not reading to blurb, or to give comments, I’m reading because I love reading my friends’ books! And it’s almost always in ebook form so sometimes I don’t even see the cover unless I go looking for it. I probably have chosen a book at the library or bookstore because of the cover, but probably more likely is the the name on the cover!

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      1. Thanks Becky! So true about recommendations. I imagine you get lots of blurb requests too! Thanks for having me on!!

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    2. Hi Ellen, Left Coast Crime was a blast. It was my first time and I had so much fun! You were such a fantastic moderator! Catchy titles rock and I love a book with a great setting.

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    1. Absolutely. Cozy titles delight me!! Puns are so fun and yes please to furry friends. I absolutely loved Marshmallow ❤️

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  11. A nice picture usually draws me to the cover. Color, too. It’s hard to say because I can think of exceptions, of course, but some nice color and a nice picture will at least get me to look more closely at the book as I’m browsing.

    (Yes, please enter me in the giveaway.)

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  14. I love your cover it is fun to look at and it makes me curious. I like cozy mysteries so I like a cover which is bold and gives clues to the story.

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  15. Welcome, Sydney, and thank you so much for hanging out with us!

    I love covers and they definitely inspire my book purchases. It’s interesting to see the trends, as well! Woman Running in a Red Coat has been a perennial favorite.

    Love your cover and your book sounds great!!

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    1. Thank you so much Kathleen! I’m thrilled to be here. I love book covers too. It’s fun wandering around book stores to see what’s out there. So true about Woman Running in a Red Coat!

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  16. The most important thing to me is that the genre is clear. From there, hopefully the title is compelling and gives an idea of genre/what to expect from the book. Then I’ll stop and read the blurb. khpinelake (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. Thanks for your thoughtful response, Katherine! It’s always good to have a clear idea of what a book is about when you look at the cover.

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  17. I love bright and colorful covers. I like the pink in yours. I also like to get hints from the cover about what the story is about. This will intrigue me and make me want to read the blurb and find out more.

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    1. Thank you so much Cherie! I agree that the cover is a great tool to intrigue readers. Appreciate you sharing your thoughts 🙂

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