I have been struggling with making a catchy blurb. Tell me, do you hate it or like it? Does it make you want to read it? No, 1, 2 or 3, neither or a mix?
Blurb 1: A confident, sassy consultant, happily married and successful is mystified when an inexplicable, overnight transformation in her husband’s behavior while overseas, forces her to abandon her previous life in an attempt to solve the situation. Taking her across countries and cultures, encountering medical men and monks, she is forced to take an inner and outer journey to analyse her previous life and relationships in a new light.
Blurb 2: A coming of age novel and love-story, this novel will appeal to readers interested in diverse cultures and countries, science and spirituality and human behavior in crisis. It will appeal to people interested in India and travel, in spirituality-the patient, the carer, the guru and the disciple alike. This novel is an uplifting and motivating story that takes an honest look at how a tender marriage bears the unexpected burden of severe illness when the vows taken in every marriage are life-long and ‘to be together always in sickness and in health.’ It deals unflinchingly with the testing of all ties at times of crisis.
Blurb 3: A confident, sassy consultant sets out on a voyage of self-discovery in her bid to save her husband who displays an inexplicable overnight transformation in behavior and character while travelling. The young wife’s effort to resurrect their life together takes her on a journey through different countries and cultures. She receives support from unexpected quarters while perceptions about what brings value to her life are dramatically altered.
Sorry for the long delay before coming back to this...
"Chic Lit" to me - and who am I to know - would tie in to Chick Flick - something (to put it poilitely) light and inconsequential - soemthing like "Legally Blonde". (Yeuk!)(As a strictly personal opinion of course).
The same applies to "sassy" - the word may mean one thing ij a dictionary but we need to be aware of how all the media have impacted on a word - and, last but not least, "common usage". Words can drastically change their meaning not just over time but in context. "Wicked" is my favourite example.
I don;t think that I thought that your description put the whole book into the Chic Lit genre - just that the word Sassy could.
Why go to great length to characterise your MC though? Isn't it better to let your reader discover who she is and what she is like? Plus - isn't there a danger of scaring some readers off by too much description?
Isn't it better to have someone buy the book and decide whether they do or don't like the character rather than giving them a word around which they might put the book back on the shelf?
David
Julie, your answer indeed is helpful, thanks. I will make a list of novels in my genre. just need to ensure I get the genre right, in the first place...
No head-hopping in mine Jonathan, : ) I resisted a reviewer's advice to do it. Strongly believe in Authorial voice and first person accounts if possible