Thursday, February 03, 2011

Cover Story

We have made it through "The Blizz" (as my friend, Katie, called it), and the sun is shining.  It's one of those frightfully freezing days, but the sun helps me not feel like I'm trapped in an underground tunnel thanks to the snow filling half my windows.  But enough about the snow.  Let's talk book covers!  I always like when authors show the different incarnations of their book covers.  Dana Reinhardt showcased about twenty different covers for her latest novel, The Things a Brother Knows, when I saw her speak at a conference recently.  My upcoming novel, Don't Stop Now (coming June 7!) is going through its own changes.  Here are the three so far (although there have been more; these are the same ones the public has seen.  I'm  not allowed to show the incomplete ones):
This was the ARC of the book.  I think it's cute, but I wasn't sure if it was show stopping.  Plus, it's the wrong car.  People can get worked up about that type of thing.
This was the cover that made it into the Spring catalog.  I like the lettering and shadows, although there is no exclamation point in my vision of the title.
This is the ALMOST finished version that has made its way onto Amazon.  I've been told there will be some changes.  I'm hoping the "friend or boyfriend?" goes away because I don't think that's really the point of the story.  But I know sales has a huge influence on book covers these days, and they don't always care about the content of the book vs. what's on the cover.  I LOVE this one, though.
Next week I'm finally going to post an interview I did one hundred years ago with the brilliant art director, Rich Deas.  He has lots more to tell us about the cover designing process.

4 comments:

Rachael Stein said...

I thought the ARC cover was cute but not completely fitting for the story, and I ADORE the almost finished one :) I don't really like the "friend or boyfriend" thing either, but the map is so cool!

Aleeza said...

i think all of them are cute in their own way! cant wait to see what the eventual one'll be like :) cover stories totes facsinate me.

Kayla Olson said...

Ahhhh! I love the last one—the map detail in the background is so perfect for this book. I'm with you about the 'friend or boyfriend' thing—you're right, not exactly the main point…though you DO do an exceptional job writing that dynamic. :) How fun to see all its various iterations!

Mo said...

Excited for this new book! Just finished Get Well Soon and loved it. :)
You have a new fan.
I like the map one because it adds so much more dimension to the cover than the others!