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Hey folks, got another one. This story centers on the search for a crashed nuclear-tipped Kinzhal hypersonic missile (pictured) accidentally fired into the Florida Keys. The main action is the search and then fighting off an international criminal gang trying to find it first.

Would appreciate any and all reactions - thanks in advance!

Clear, gives an indication of the subject matter, colours stand out - in fact, I'd find it hard to fault.

Anna wrote: "Clear, gives an indication of the subject matter, colours stand out - in fact, I'd find it hard to find fault."

Thank you, Anna!

Broken Arrow - Elliott Arnold, Frank Nicholas

That book is why you might want to change the title a little. That is the book that generated the movie Broken Arrow. It is a western but is well known. There are also several other movies and books with the title Broken Arrow. Always do a search for your title to make sure that you aren't competing against a really popular book with the same title. One of them is similar to your book and is here on Goodreads.

As for the Cover--I like it in that it is clean, easy to read the title and your name and it shows that it is going to be about a war/missile/target,

I'm going to agree with B.A. Not because of the Western, but because of the 1996 movie with John Travolta and Christian Slater. Some people might pick up your book expecting the story that film was based on, as there's enough similarity to the plot with your cover. A disappointed reader is more apt to leave a negative review.

As for the cover itself, I love the ombre effect from red to blue, and the yellow title stands up well against it. The scope sight seems too big to me, as it makes the missile look quite small -- that takes away some of the menace of it for me.

Gifford wrote: "I'm going to agree with B.A. Not because of the Western, but because of the 1996 movie with John Travolta and Christian Slater. Some people might pick up your book expecting the story that film was..."

And I agree with both B.A. and Gifford. I remember the western and the 1996 movie and wondered about the title. I do like the cover.

I agree with all above. It's too close.

In Russian, "Kinzhal" means "Dagger".

Lost Dagger?
Keys Dagger?

[deleted fake news report about 1958 lost nuke. Yeah, they got me on that one.]

Best of luck with this...dying to know how an armed Kinzhal found itself lost in the Keys.

-Rock

My two cents worth just to play devils advocate- were the authors of the other books/movies concerned about the same name (broken arrow)? Wouldn’t appear to be the case. If you are really wedded to the title then use it. However, if you have some flex there, the it’s good advice above about using another title.

I tend to disagree. The cover tells the reader it’s not a western, so there’s no confusion there. The cover also says it’s a modern missile, not a nuke lost from a B52. That eliminated the confusion with either film.

Let’s say that someone mistakenly goes to that page, expecting one of the other Broken Arrow’s, reads the burb—perhaps the sample—too, doesn’t see a problem, and buys a copy. Oh horror of horrors. They get a good story to read.

Hmm…I might just title my next release, War and Peace. 😆

The 1996 book wasn't as it was about WWII. but when you see over 4 items with the same name, you might want to look at changing it so that you are lost in those books. I've learned to to a title search so that I'm not copying another title. I really don't want my books mixed up with an other book.

Terry wrote: "My two cents worth just to play devils advocate- were the authors of the other books/movies concerned about the same name (broken arrow)?"

At the time the movie was released (1950), broken arrow would have automatically referred to a Western. And all the advertising promoted that.

Now, it's a military reference to any lost nuclear weapon, which is probably why it's become so popular.

I agree it is very clear, but it comes with a price. The colour gradient takes a lot of space but does not communicate much. And seems dated, to be honest.

There seems to be some symbolic confusion because a missile in a sight would indicate that it is 'in sight' e.g. not lost.

Again it is clear, but the premise: a hunt for a nuclear weapon lost in Florida, is very exciting and in my opinion that does not come across on the cover.

Edward wrote: "Hey folks, got another one. This story centers on the search for a crashed nuclear-tipped Kinzhal hypersonic missile (pictured) accidentally fired into the Florida Keys. The main action is the sear..."

Hey Edward. Honestly, the fonts are very basic and need work. The image you chose, might suit the story but won't entice readers to buy when next to other books on the digital shelves. Do yourself a favor, and look at the bestseller lists for your genre. Identify what those covers have in common and emulate that.

B.A. wrote: "Broken Arrow - Elliott Arnold, Frank Nicholas

That book is why you might want to change the title a little. That is the book that generated the movie Broken Arrow. It is a western but is well know..."
Sigh. Thanks, B.A. - you're right. I was holding on to that name because it's cool but the risks with crossing with the (great) James Stewart western and (lousy) John Travolta thriller are too high. Besides, the correct term for the incident is NUCFLASH.

Jay wrote: "I tend to disagree. The cover tells the reader it’s not a western, so there’s no confusion there. The cover also says it’s a modern missile, not a nuke lost from a B52. That eliminated the confusio..."

Keep it shorter than Tolstoy's and I'll buy it! ;) Thanks for the feedback. I'll probably play it safe and change the title (correct OPREP-3 term for this type of incident is actually NUCFLASH anyway)

Eldon wrote: "Edward wrote: "Hey folks, got another one. This story centers on the search for a crashed nuclear-tipped Kinzhal hypersonic missile (pictured) accidentally fired into the Florida Keys. The main act..."

Thanks for the advice - on it!

John wrote: "I agree it is very clear, but it comes with a price. The colour gradient takes a lot of space but does not communicate much. And seems dated, to be honest.

There seems to be some symbolic confusio..."

Interesting comment. My first iteration had a NOAA navigation chart of Florida and the Keys as background, but I thought it looked too "busy." I might give that a second thought,

Rock wrote: "I agree with all above. It's too close.

In Russian, "Kinzhal" means "Dagger".

Lost Dagger?
Keys Dagger?

[deleted fake news report about 1958 lost nuke. Yeah, they got me on that one.]

Best of..."

"Lost Dagger" is taken up by a fantasy book, but "Wayward Dagger" is in the hunt!

Hmmm. Not sure about 'Wayward.' My mind goes immediately to 'wayward child.'

Need something more threatening...

Shattered?
Vanished?

Again. looking forward to reading this one.

-Rock