Don’t judge a book by its cover. How many times have we heard that phrase, and while we all know what it means, I went on a Google frenzy to see where it originated. This is what I found. The phrase was popularized when it appeared in the 1946 murder mystery, Murder in the Glass Room, by Lester Fuller and Edwin Rolfe: “You can never tell a book by its cover.” And of course, we all know the idiom refers to more than just books. But if I take it literally, I do judge most books by their covers. For what it’s worth, my humble thoughts on book covers.
First, I don’t like photographs of people’s faces on book covers. (The exception to this would be a memoir or biography). I want to let my imagination picture how each character looks as I meet them for the first time in print. I have bypassed books because the people on the cover are not those I’d like to meet in real life. Silly perhaps, but I am not into bearded hunks (unless one shows up at my front door) and I’m not the young businesswoman in heels and a tight dress. While many of these book covers are well done, I feel they are forcing a character’s appearance on me.
But photographs will also make me buy a book because I love the cover. Example, “The Language of Flowers: A Novel” by Vanessa Diffenbaugh published in 2012. Such a charming photograph of a child’s dress, boots, and her hand holding flowers. I loved this cover, bought the book, but to date have not read it. I had to have that photograph on my bookshelf. I am a sucker for covers that have old houses, flowers, garden themes, dogs, farms, and the beach. I love all the cozy romance and mystery covers with tea shops and cupcakes. A romantic dreamer and former antique dealer, I am drawn to covers that have images that remind me of my favorite things.
Not the most intellectual way to buy books but it’s what I do. I also collect children’s books, used ones from thrift stores that are in lovely condition. Again, put a rabbit, dog, pig, garden, flowers, old houses on covers, and it comes home with me. The illustrations in these books help me with my own paintings, more as reference than reading.
There are no right or wrong book covers, I am just stating what I love and what makes me buy. And always a print book. I have to hold a book when I read it. I love looking around my house at all the books stacked on tables, chairs, bookshelves, with cover images that fill me with joy and inspire me with my own art, be it writing or painting.
Barbara Barth's
WOW! WOMEN ON WRITING TOUR
OF
Sleeping With Dogs
Tour Begins February 10th
Book Summary
Barbara Barth started adopting dogs after the loss of her husband in 2008. From larger dogs to downsizing to Chihuahuas there are always five to six dogs at home. Barth has captured the essence of each dog's personality in short free verse poems. Known as Writer With Dogs, Barth has written two memoirs and a variety of novels. Dogs are always present in her stories. This is her first collection of poems.A chapbook of second chances.
ISBN-13: 979-8988575061
ASIN: B0DNMFXP46
Print Length: 37 pages
Purchase a copy of the book on Amazon. You can also add it to your Goodreads reading list.
About the Author
Barbara Barth turned to writing and adopting dogs to heal after the loss of her husband in 2008. Known as Writer With Dogs over the years, she now calls herself Chihuahua Mama and lives with six demanding Chihuahuas in a charming small town forty miles from Atlanta. She is Literary Arts Chair on the Board of her local art center. Inspired by the many talented artists she meets Barth started painting. Her whimsical style embraces ladies, gardens, critters, and of course cats and dogs.
Find her online at:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barbarabarthstudio/
Blog: https://barbarabarthartandwords.blogspot.com/
Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/shop/BarbaraBarthStudio
Blog Tour Calendar
February 10th @ The Muffin
Join us at The Muffin as we celebrate the launch of Barbara Barth's poetry memoir Sleeping With Dogs. Read an interview with the author and enter to win a copy for yourself.
https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com
February 11th @ Lori B. Duff Writes
Visit Lori's blog for her review of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.
https://substack.com/@loriduffwrites
February 12th @ Frugal Freelancer
Visit Sara's blog again for a review of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.
https://saratrimble.wordpress.com/
February 13th @ One Writer's Journey
Visit Sue's blog for a guest post by Barbara Barth about finding creative time.
February 13th @ Love a Librarian
Stop by Zarah's blog for an excerpt from Sleeping With Dogs. Zarah will also be sharing her own dog rescue story!
https://lovealibrarian.blogspot.com/
February 14th @ Words by Webb
Visit Jodi's blog for her dog rescue story and a spotlight of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.
https://www.jodiwebbwriter.com/blog
February 15th @ A Storybook World
Visit Deirdre's blog for her spotlight of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.
https://www.astorybookworld.com/
February 15th @ Book Bunnies
Stop by the Book Bunnies blog for a fun review of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.
February 16th @ Chit Chat With Charity
Visit Charity's blog for a review of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs. Charity will also be sharing her own dog rescue story!
https://chitchatwithcharity.wordpress.com/
February 18th @ Chatty Patty's Place
Visit Patty's blog for her review of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.
https://www.chattypattysplace.com/
February 20th @ Pages and Paws
Visit Kristine's blog for her review of Sleeping With Dogs by Barbara Barth.
February 20th @ One Writer's Journey
Sue will be sharing her review of Sleeping With Dogs by Barbara Barth.
February 22nd @ Wonderful World of Words
Visit Joy's blog to read an excerpt from Barbara's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.
https://awonderfulworldofwordsa.blogspot.com/
February 24th @ The Bohemian Princess Journal
Join Rebecca for her review of Sleeping With Dogs by Barbara Barth.
https://rebeccajwhitman.com/the-bohemian-princess-journal/
February 25th @ Frugal Freelancer
Visit Sara's blog for her story of how she rescued her dog. You can also win a copy of Sleeping With Dogs by Barbara Barth.
https://saratrimble.wordpress.com/
February 25th @ Lori B. Duff Writes
Visit Lori's blog again for her story of how she rescued her dog.
https://substack.com/@loriduffwrites
February 26th @ Create Write Now
Visit Mari's blog for a guest post from Barbara Barth about book covers.
https://www.createwritenow.com/life-matters-blog
February 27th @ Word Magic
Visit Fiona's blog for her spotlight of Sleeping With Dogs.
https://fionaingramauthor.blogspot.com/
February 28th @ Chatty Patty's Place
Visit Patty's blog for Barbara Barth's guest post on her art.
https://www.chattypattysplace.com/
March 1st @ One Writer's Journey
Visit Sue's blog again for her interview with Barbara Barth about her memoir.
March 2nd @ Just Katherine
Visit Katherine's blog to read a guest post from Barbara Barth about rescuing dogs.
https://justkatherineblog.wordpress.com/
March 3rd @ The Bohemian Princess Journal
Visit Rebecca for her story of how she rescued her dog.
https://rebeccajwhitman.com/the-bohemian-princess-journal/
March 4th @ Just Katherine
Stop by Katherine's blog again for an excerpt of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.
https://justkatherineblog.wordpress.com
March 5th @ Choices
Visit Madeline's blog for a guest post by Barbara Barth about writing poetry for the first time.
https://www.madelinesharples.com/
March 6th @ World of My Imagination
Visit Nicole's blog for her review of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir, Sleeping With Dogs.
https://worldofmyimagination.com
March 7th @ Kaecey McCormick's blog
Join Kaecey for her post featuring an excerpt of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.
https://www.kaeceymccormick.com/blog
March 8th @ Free to be Me
Join Leslie for her review of Barbara Barth's poetric memoir Sleeping With Dogs.
March 9th @ Caitrin C. King's blog
Visit Caitrin's blog her review of Barbara Barth's poetric memoir Sleeping With Dogs.
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