Friday Fix #3 - It's Jenn!

The Friday Fix is a takeover of my Friday blog post by other bloggers who have volunteered their time and energy to "star" in their very own guest post on Friday. Only one mandatory thing - you must answer five of the most random questions I throw your way. The rest is up to you. Remember, if you'd like to be featured on the Friday Fix, shoot me your email, and let me know! So, without further ado, here is Jenn from Books at Midnight!



First...the five most random questions.

1. What three exotic countries would you visit if you could go all-expenses paid?

Err, Italy, France, and Japan. All of the three have delicious food... or at least I assume it's delicious; that's why I need to go there! And culture-wise, they're each unique in their own way.

2. Do cemetery workers prefer the graveyard shift?

What else do they prefer? The living dead shift? -- (Get it? We won't need graveyards anymore?) I fail to crack myself up.

3. What do you think is the secret of life?

I think the purpose of life is the greatest secret, and I doubt I'll ever really discover it. But I can be pretty cynical and stupid-sounding, so on a brighter note: live, love, and laugh.


4. Do Lipton Tea employees take coffee breaks?

YES. I am a firm believer that every person deserves that cup of coffee, especially Starbucks lattes. However, I do have a friend who refuses to drink coffee and somehow she manages the whole day on tea. I applaud her for her determination to stay awake.

5. What hair colour is put on a bald man's driver's license?

Invisible. Bald men have very long hair, we just can't see it. Or at least that's what I tell my dad.

Hi, my name is Jennifer, but Jenn is so much more unique so let's stick with that. Melissa has been super awesome in letting me take over her blog and coaching me through my uncertainties, so I'm going to take this chance and corrupt your minds as much as I can. :D

I’m feeling extremely superficial today, so I’ll reveal a vital piece of my wisdom – the top 10 things I look for in a book cover. I’m not afraid to admit I judge books by their covers, though I’ve read some amazing books with amazingly horrid cover art. So while this list is supposed to be fun and maybe give you some ideas, don’t be afraid to try out other books! Or if you are afraid, get past that fear... maybe.

Anyways, here we go:

The Top 10 Traits of Gorgeous YA Covers (not in any particular order)

1. Half-Naked Guys – Have you seen City of Bones from The Mortal Instrument series? Wow, those designers really knew what they were doing. My hands were reaching out for the book as soon as I saw Jace with Holly Black’s word “sexy” written on him.

2. Stars and Swirls – It sounds immature, but I fall for them every time. Think House of Night for swirls and Captivate and Wish for stars. Example used here is the gorgeous The Iron King by Julie Kagawa.


3. Riveting Poses – When that arch or the neck or curve of the back is just right and conveys a million feelings through that one posture. Vulnerability, remorse, bravery, etc.

4. Simplicity – Simple cover, loud statement. Often the lack of features on the cover. Shiver’s cover is so clean and pure; it made me want to read it.

5. Color Scheme – I don’t know about you, but I’m a sucker for books that use varying tones of blue. Think Fallen and here, Wintergirls. The shade of blue (not even sure what to call it) is gorgeous, and the subtle hints of green and pink stand out against the background.

6. Shiny – One word: SHINY. It can come off looking childish at times, but it definitely draws my eye. Again, Wintergirls.

7. Vivid Colors – Rich, vibrant covers never fail to catch my eye. This is especially prevalent in many historical fiction novels I’m seen.

8. Soft, Beautiful Backdrops – Case in point: Radiance by Alyson Noel. The cover just makes me feel so relaxed and makes me want to float away.... *happy sigh*

9. Texture – I like feeling ridges in books. Or extremely soft covers. Light Beneath Ferns and Fallen are both examples of books that have very smooth, soft covers, and it feels so wonderful. I sound a bit obsessed, but I love running my hands along them.

10. Artistic Skill/Originality – Lips Touch Three Times has such an unique and gorgeous cover. Jim De Bartolo’s beautifully dark art caught me from the very beginning and I knew I just had to get it. Another example is Leviathan by Scott Westerfield.

I haven’t covered everything, but those are all the basic things I look for and determine in a quick glance at a book. Am I shallow? YES! Now comes the self-promotion time where I tell all of you guys to head on over to my supremely shallow blog to read my OMG-AWESOME posts. I currently have two contests going on right now: 1) Explorer X-Alpha by LM Preston, 2) Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers, so check those out if you’d like. It goes without saying I read YA books, and in case you still can’t tell, I love me some beautiful covers. That concludes my fail guest post, and thank you, Melissa, for having me! I hope to be seeing you on the other side. :)



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So, there you have it! I highly recommend you check out Jenn's blog soon because tomorrow, she's hosting the Saturday Network, and it's such a great way to meet new bloggers! Finally, a few quick closing notes:

The Lateiner Gang Book Review Spot has a few more days to enter to win a Nook! Click here for more details!

Smart Girls Read is hosting a flash giveaway of Dear John by Nicholas Sparks (it's amazing)...click here to enter!