Every Cover Tells A Story--Or Should

I love searching for a book cover for a new story. How do I decide on the cover that works? It has to fit the genre, but it also has to fit the story. I believe every cover should tell the story or, at the very least, reflect the story inside. I don’t look for works of art, and I’ve learned to shy away from covers that are too busy. I look for something original (definitely NOT generated by AI). The cover might have an image that reflects my main character, or it might be reflective of the plot or the setting of the book. But I want a cover that makes sense within the story. For example, my cover of Finding Hope. This so well reflects my main character and her journey and will give the reader an image of what the character looks like after her personal transformation.

For mystery and suspense, I chose this cover for A Private Practice because it tells you the story is about murder and police activity. And I was able to carry the theme through the next two books in the series, Child’s Play and Portal to Murder. A reader pretty much knows what to expect given these covers.

The cover for The Game tells you it’s a romance but also depicts a woman holding a football and a male baseball player in the distance. I had the artist add these two figures. In the story, Caroline plays QB for a women’s football team. J.C. is professional baseball player whose career is teetering on the brink following an injury. When I wrote the sequel, The Game Changer, I was happy to find the same basic cover presented in a different way that reflected the next shift in Caroline and J.C.’s story.

One of my favorites is the cover I designed for Almost Heaven. The little yellow cottage and white picket fence are central to the story and significant for Annie, the main character. It’s also an example of the setting becoming a character in itself.

Authors are often asked if they think the book cover is as important as the story inside. Surprisingly, I’ve heard authors say they don’t think so. I disagree. That image is the first thing a reader sees, and it should entice them to pick up the book and, hopefully, read the back blurb (also significant in selling your book). Everything about the cover is important: images, font, placement of title (and tag line, if you have one), and author name. An author once suggested to me that using the same font for your name on every book imprints your name in the mind of the reader. I can see how that works, but sometimes the font needs to change to fit with genre, if you write across genres. Font should be clean and readable, in any case. But don't be afraid to play with it a bit, the way I did with Mister Fix-It. The tools tell part of the story.

When I write a new book, I often search for a cover before the book is finished. That gives me a visual image that motivates me to keep writing. This cover for my upcoming release has kept me focused on the story with the beach setting and the symbolism of the missing roof shingles.

Over the years, I’ve changed a few covers on some of my books because I learned a lot along the way and found covers that better represented the stories, that were cleaner and more professional looking. It’s important to cover your book with something that fits the story, is appealing or intriguing, and that looks professional. Don’t write a gem of a story then wrap it up in something akin to a brown paper bag. If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, make sure you have the skill and tools you need. If not, leave the work to the professionals. Hire a cover artist or find cover art sites where artists present one of a kind covers that they create (not generated with AI.) Your readers will thank you.

What to Expect in 2026

I gave myself December off. Then winter hit with a vengeance, and I had a hard time getting my mojo going. But I'm happy to say my mojo is back, and I have three very different books in the works for 2026. Stay tuned.

A Bittersweet Farewell

Some bittersweet news to start this new year. When I wrote my first book, I had no idea what to do with it. I'd only written it to see if I could write an entire book. I ended up being directed to Wings ePress by a fellow author who was published by them. Wings ePress was one of the first e-publishers in the business, founded n 2001 by a small group of women whose goal was to bring new authors and their books into the world of literature. I was proud to be a Wings ePress author for several years before making the decision to go the self-published route. I will be forever grateful to Wings for literally giving me and my books wings and for all that I learned about writing, editing, and publishing while a part of their stable of authors.

I know the decision to close was a long-thought out and painful one for the remaining owners. I know that closure is painful for the remaining authors. For many of us, it is the end of an era. I don't know that I would have gotten to the point of having written and published 54 books without their encouragement and support at the beginning. The women: Lorraine Stephens (RIP), Linda Voth, Beverly (BJ) Haynes, Pat Casey, and Marilyn Kapp (RIP) and several others along the way dedicated themselves and worked tirelessly with their authors to produce the best possible books in both ebook and paperback formats. For those of you who are feeling the pain of this decision, know that my heart is with you as you say goodbye to Wings ePress. The story of their founding and vision is extraordinary and inspiring. It's a testament to the power of a shared dream and the sacrifice to collectively make that dream a reality. If you want to read their inspiring story of how it all began, here is the link: Wings ePress History

Looking to 2026: What if...?

I'm a firm believer as a writer that all stories begin with one question: What if....? I think that question is the key to imagination to allow us writers to create a new story, new narrative, open up new worlds regardless of what genre we write. As I sit here on New Year's Eve morning, reflect on the past year and ponder the coming year, I find myself considering that same question: What if...?

What if we all agreed to a cease fire of sorts? What if we stopped being fearful of differences in race, religion, orientation, gender and just accepted one another--let go of those things that divide us--the things about others that don't really hurt me. What if we embraced the richness of those differences? What if we agreed that every human being has the right to access to health care and the kinds of help they need to live a healthy life? What if we all agreed that if everyone paid their fair share according to their abilities, we could build a stronger society? What if we all agreed that education was important enough not to make it a financial burden but to make it an opportunity for all?

What if we agreed that women have a rightful place in this society and that they have the same rights as men to make decisions over their own bodies? What if we agreed that, based on our history as a country, we find ways to welcome strangers and refugees and those seeking a better life among us and help them create that better life rather than punishing them for wanting it? What if we truly had the just system we have so long proclaimed to have? What if we saw science not as something phony or evil but as a tool to help us build a better society for all?

What if we just stopped being so angry and hateful and afraid of the imagined bogeyman and agreed to live together in peace? There are so many what ifs that we could consider that would give us all a better and more peaceful life if we weren't so fearful and stubborn and angry all the time. What are we so afraid of?

What am I afraid of? I'm afraid that this new and possible narrative is just another work of fiction, a pretty story for the books but not for reality. And that makes me sad.

I hope that you will consider the possibilities and do whatever you can to change just one thing to create this world in 2026 and make it a kinder, gentler, more accepting and welcoming place.

                                                                    Peace, Linda

It Wasn't Meant to Become a Series, But...

 If there is one thing I've learned in these past twenty + years of writing, it is that you never know where a story or a character will take you. Way back in the beginning of this writing thing, I submitted a short story to a contest in Writer's Digest. The story received an honorable mention. Then a friend read the story and suggested it really should be developed into a novel.

Okay, well, I considered that for a few years. Then one day, I opened the file and began to tease out the story. The book, A Private Practice was born and the character of Detective Susan Wycoff took the lead. It was not until five years later that I got the inspiration to follow up with another Det. Susan Wycoff suspense and published Child's Play. I thought that was that.

But, no. Another story wiggled its way into my brain and, all of a sudden, I've written a series featuring Pittsburgh police detective Susan Wycoff. Portal to Murder was published last month.

Where did the idea come from? I was visiting Dublin, Ireland last fall. I read about portal art installations that had been set up to link cities around the world where people could interact in real time. I didn't get to see the one in Dublin, but of course the 'what if' idea that starts all stories struck: What if a family on vacation in a city that had a portal installation connecting to Pittsburgh arranged to meet at the portal with a friend on the Pittsburgh side? And what if they witness a brutal murder? And just like that, the plot for Portal to Murder was born.

So, now I've written a suspense series. I'm not saying there will be a fourth  book. And I won't say there won't be, because I never intended to write a series in the first place. All three are available on Amazon.com

I enjoy writing strong women, and Susan Wycoff is no exception. The books can each be read as a stand-alone, but you have to read all three books to fully appreciate the way Susan finds a balance between her strength and her willingness to be vulnerable. That might have a little bit to do with Detective Donovan Casey.

Follow the Amazon link to get the series and stock upon your winter reading.

Nothing Like Birthing a New Book

 Ask any author. There is no rush like the rush of having a new book go live. Today my 53rd book published. It never gets old. Writing is truly a labor of love, or it should be. If it's just a labor, you're either doing it wrong or shouldn't be doing it at all. Writing requires passion and a love for telling a good story. Even though it is work, it should be fun. At least this is my perspective. When writing is no longer fun, when it takes more than it gives back, I'll no doubt stop. But until that happens, I'll keep riding the wave of the rush I get from seeing that next book publish.

And here it is--that next book. Troublemaker is a romantic comedy that's sure to give you a chuckle and maybe even elicit a tear or two.

Cassidy Devlin is good at her job brokering business mergers and acquisitions. She gets the big promotion she thinks she wants, but she can’t celebrate having destroyed someone else’s dream to get there. She walks away and goes to the only place she’s been that gives her a sense of peace. 

Dr. Colton Tillman was a partner in a well-established pediatric medical practice in Philadelphia and engaged to marry. His life was falling into place. Until his fiancée sleeps with his business partner, then the same business partner sells out their practice to a large medical system. Colton returns to his hometown to lick his wounds and let his mother pamper him while he finds a way to start over. 

When their attempts to start over collide, Cass proves to be nothing but trouble for Colton. But it turns out, a little trouble can make life interesting.

Available at Amazon.com and at Smashwords.com

Reader's House Literary Magazine Interview

What a gift it was to get the email notice on Mother's Day of this posted article and interview in Reader's House Literary Magazine (UK). I am over the moon.

"Linda Rettstatt stands as a luminous force in contemporary literature, weaving together tales that resonate deeply with readers’ hearts and souls. As an award-winning and bestselling author, she triumphantly bridges the genres of women’s fiction, romance—both contemporary and later-in-life—suspense, regional historical fiction, and light paranormal storytelling. Her accolades speak volumes, with outstanding novels such as Love, Sam and Ladies in Waiting earning prestigious recognition through the EPIC eBook Awards. Celebrating the remarkable milestone of her 50th published book in August 2024, Linda has firmly established herself as a gifted storyteller whose works explore the profound depth of human emotions, relationships, and reinvention.

What makes Linda’s writing truly exceptional is her ability to breathe life into her characters, crafting individuals with complexities, flaws, and redeeming qualities that mirror the intricacies of real life. Whether it’s the diverse group of women in Ladies in Waiting, each with their poignant secrets and powerful journeys, or the themes of forgiveness and unconditional love masterfully explored in Unconditional, Linda’s stories are a testament to her understanding of the human psyche. Her background in social work and psychotherapy adds a distinctive emotional richness to her narratives, enabling her to artfully delve into the motivations, vulnerabilities, and triumphs of her characters."           

                                               Reader’s House Literary Magazine – 10 May, 2025

Read the full interview here: Reader's House Interview