Choke On Your Lies: The Cover
by Anthony Neil Smith

This week, I released my latest novel as an e-original direct to Kindle and Nook, bypassing the publishers. I still have major respect for publishers and would take a deal from them in a second (sellout? Yep), but I really wanted to get this book out as quickly as possible rather than let it swirl around for another year or so.

So, this cover. Gorgeous, ain’t it? I was lucky to find this amazing photo from model Erin Zerbe that reminded me of old sixties and seventies paperback covers. Very alluring, yet very “mysterious” in a way. I had to have it. And luckily, Erin was more than happy to let me use it. Kudos. I originally wanted to make the whole thing retro – fonts, colors, maybe even a bent corner or coffee ring stain. But in the end, I liked the very stark final cover you see here. It did the best job.

Some people won’t like it. Maybe because she’s half-naked. Maybe because she’s a proud plus-sized model. All I know is that I think it’s beautiful. Let’s get a couple of things straight: 1) I find plus-sized women very attractive, and 2) the novel revolves around the character of Octavia, who weighs about three-forty. She’s outrageous, mean, bitter, and sexually aggressive. And I think she’s an amazing woman.

I didn’t really want the cover to have anything to do with the actual characters and story other than give you a feel for it. I mean, did the hotties on the old Sixties’ covers and Spillane novels actually appear in the book? It’s all about setting the mood. And for a book about a plus-sized woman and a lot of sex happening all around, this cover fit the mood perfectly. I had my cake, ate it too, and then remembered the recipe for later.

If the people demand it (going into Charles Dickens mode here), I plan on writing some other Octavia mysteries, and I’m crossing my fingers that Erin might be available with some more photos. She’s not only a beguiling model, but she’s also working towards her MFA degree – her thesis is a stunning piece of work called “Control.” And maybe forty years from now, people will dig back through the archives online, find these covers, and have their breath taken away for a moment. And I hope they’ll say, “Wow, I wish they still made covers like that.”

And maybe they will again. Crossing my fingers.

Choke on Your Lies is now available at the Kindle and Nook stores for .99 through Feb 4th. After that, it’ll cost you a couple extra bucks. Spread the word.