Blurb or Excerpt?

I recently received a fantastic review for my first Malone mystery, Mixed Messages. The reviewer, Martha A. Cheves, author of several cookbooks including Stir, Laugh, Repeat, quoted a passage from the book at the beginning of her review. And, it got me thinking. Maybe that would be a better way to promote my books.

Traditionally, in the interest of keeping my post short when I’ve been a guest on another author’s blog, I’ve included the blurb from the back of the book but it never occurred to me to use an excerpt instead. So, I’ve decided to conduct a little experiment. Below, I’ve listed both the blurb and an excerpt from Mixed Messages and I would appreciate your opinion as to which of them is the most likely to entice you to read the book. Blurb or Excerpt?

Blurb:

It’s estimated that there are at least twenty to thirty active serial killers in the United States at any given time. There’s one on the loose on the west side of Cincinnati.

It’s the week of Halloween and Ann Kern struggles with several issues. Her primary concern is her marriage which, like her west side neighborhood, is in jeopardy. Her husband is drinking heavily and his behavior toward her is erratic. One minute, he’s the kind, loving man she married and, the next minute, he’s cold and cruel.

Ann dismisses a psychic’s warning that she is in danger. But, when she receives a series of ominous biblical quotes, she grows nervous and suspicious of everyone, including her own husband.

As the bizarre and frightening events unfold, Ann discovers a handmade tombstone marked with her name, pushing her close to the edge. Will she be the Westwood Strangler’s next victim?

Excerpt:

“Ann went directly to her grandmother's grave and stooped down to clear away the debris that covered the inscription on the tombstone. She heard a noise behind her that sounded like light footsteps making their way through the dried leaves and twigs... But there was no one there.

It's probably your imagination, she said out loud but, when the sun went behind a cloud, she shivered. Then, she heard the noise again... All of a sudden, a black cat sprang from the woods... 

As she turned back toward her grandmother's grave, she noticed a mound of freshly dug earth a few feet away. Curious, she went over and looked down. Her eyes opened wide and her hands flew to her mouth to stifle a scream. There, printed in bold black paint on a large rock were the words, "FUTURE HOME OF ANN KERN."

 

Mystery of the Month: How Now Purple Cow

What could purple cows and elderly spies possibly have to do with each other?

When young Mikey Cross discovers ceramic purple cows, a ring, and investigative notes left by a mystery writer popular in the 1950s, his parents’ and grandparents’ lives are turned upside down.

Pamela and Chris Cross become involved in vintage intrigue with trepidation and more than a little angst when they find out there’s an elderly assassin on the prowl and the situation isn’t quite as vintage as they thought.

The dead just may come back as the living when it’s least expected.

Buy link:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_8?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=marja+mcgraw&sprefix=marja+mc%2Cstripbooks%2C239

Marja McGraw was born and raised in Southern California. She worked in both civil and criminal law, state transportation, and most recently for a city building department.  She has lived and worked in California, Nevada, Oregon, Alaska and Arizona.

McGraw wrote a weekly column for a small town newspaper in Northern Nevada, and conducted a Writers’ Support Group in Northern Arizona. A past member of Sisters in Crime (SinC), she was also the Editor for the SinC-Internet Newsletter for a year and a half.

She has appeared on KOLO-TV in Reno, Nevada, and KLBC in Laughlin, Nevada, and various radio talk shows.

Marja says that each of her mysteries contains a little humor, a little romance and A Little Murder!

She and her husband now live in Arizona, where life is good.

Through the eyes of a child

Young children view the world with wonder and delight. Everything they see, hear, smell, taste and touch is either an adventure or a mystery. Often both. They're curious about everything, they get excited about the smallest things (small to adults, that is) and they aren’t afraid to show their emotions: excitement, joy, fear, anger. They say what they mean and they mean what they say. No pettiness, no games, no hidden agendas. And, they don’t worry about would could happen. They aren’t limited by society’s expectations or restrictions, nor do they concern themselves with what others think of them. In other words, they’re excellent role models for us adults.

When I was a little girl, I loved to go out to play in the snow. I would bundle up in my warmest winter clothes to go sled riding, to make a snow man and/or to have a snowball fight with my little brother. And, I never wanted to go back inside when my mother called me. I didn’t feel the cold until, as I slipped out of my snow pants, coat, scarf, hat, mittens and boots – all of which were soaking wet – I stood warming my hands and feet by the radiator in the old house I grew up in. And, as a teenager, I looked forward to heading to a neighborhood lake, meeting my friends and putting on my skates. I was never the world’s best skater but I loved to glide across the ice.

But I grew up and, when I think of snow and ice now, I think of shoveling the driveway, scraping off my car and driving in slippery, sometimes hazardous conditions. I worry about slipping and falling and what that could involve. Because I’m an adult and I know what could happen. If I have an accident, I know what that will entail: dealing with insurance companies, car rentals, etc. So, I’ve come to see snow and ice as a bad thing and, although I do see the beauty in a freshly fallen snow, I no longer love and appreciate Winter. I’ve lost that.

But, even though I’m no longer a Winter person, I hope that I never, ever lose my ability to see the world the way a child does. Because I still marvel at the wonders of nature, I strive to be honest and direct (but tactful) and not to worry (too much) about what could happen. I'm curious about so many things and, I still see adventure and mystery everywhere. I hope I always do and I hope you do too.