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Cover Stories: LOVESTRUCK SUMMER by Me!
This cover is a real departure for me, obviously. It's a summer romance in the HarperTeen "Beach Reads" category, which includes fun titles like these:
So, you see the theme here? Colors, cartoons and general candy-coated-ness. I'm fully embracing my hot-pink-and-blue cover. Here's the back story:
Lovestruck Summer is the story of 18-year-old Quinn, an indie-rock girl spending the summer in Austin on a coveted music internship. While she hopes to find the perfect hipster boyfriend, she unexpectedly falls in love with a college cowboy who makes her challenge her own stereotypes, expand her musical tastes, and ultimately open up her world.
So, you'll notice that the cover isn't really "indie rock." At all. Haha. When my editor asked me for some cover ideas, and warned me that "music covers" are a harder sell (I have no idea why). She asked me to tell her about some scenes in the book (it wasn't quite done yet) and here's what I emailed her:
"Here are images that come to my mind:
* guitar (can't help it, but feel free to ignore the music stuff... I'm just brainstorming)
* little dog in a tiara (her cousin penny has this dog)
* Tri-Pi greek letters (her cousin's sorority, although she hates it)
* Barton Springs blanket-on-the-grass-under-trees moments (photo attached--she and Russ go here)
* Bats over a bridge (flying in a heart formation?) (photo attached--i know it sounds crazy but they fly out from under bridges in the summer)
* outdoor music festival scene (something sxsw-esque?)
* the iconic shape of texas with a heart and music note?
* something in the style of these old post cards (TEXAS postcard attached)"
And I sent these inspiration pictures (bats flying out from under a bridge are shown in the middle--how crazy is that?!):
Obviously, that first image made an impression. I think it's fun and beachy, which is just what its meant to be! And now I'm going to change my profile pics and twitter page and all that, so you'll see lots of this cover through May.
I'd love to know what you think!
PS-Remember this post where I asked for band names? I used a TON of them in the book--seriously, they were a HUGE help! THANK YOU!
PPS-Yes, preorder totally available here, sans cover so far. Amazon, why you so slow?!
Comments (34)
Awwww! I looove the colors, Melissa! :) So. Pretty.
Posted by Jessica Burkhart | January 5, 2009 10:12 AM
So happy to see this! That's weird about music covers being harder to sell.... Cause personally a South By Southwest or Texas postcard cover would have been awesome!!! But I like the cover especially the colors!!!
Posted by Alea | January 5, 2009 10:13 AM
Love it! Perfect for a beach read and the story sounds great. :)
Posted by Wendy T | January 5, 2009 10:23 AM
It's cute! It's very different than the Violet covers, but I like it. I'm really excited!
Posted by Melissa Walker | January 5, 2009 10:32 AM
Oooh. A VERY fun, beachy cover. Love it!
Posted by Linda | January 5, 2009 10:59 AM
Yay, Austin! Can't wait to read. I love reading books set where I live or been. What a great "creeky" cover since it is supposed to be Barton Springs Pool. HeeHee.
Posted by mari | January 5, 2009 12:41 PM
Whoa - REALLY different from Violet! I can see how this fits into the series. I would have loved to see guitar or bats, but this is cute, too!
Posted by E. Kristin Anderson | January 5, 2009 12:58 PM
OMG, Melissa! Yay--it looks so great! Congratulations!
Oh--and I'm S0 sorry it's taken me forever to start reading/reviewing those VIOLET books you sent me....hopefully I can make my way through my massive TBR stack and start them very soon!
Posted by Claire | January 5, 2009 1:02 PM
I can't wait! I didn't even know you were getting close to having another book published! It's on my wish list now. I love the cover. I like those cute-sy kind of covers. Let's me know it's something I can just sit back and enjoy. :)
Posted by Amee | January 5, 2009 1:14 PM
Love! Can't wait for it to come out.
Posted by khy | January 5, 2009 1:16 PM
Ohh, I've very excited for a new book. Already added to my wishlist. :)
Posted by Em | January 5, 2009 2:22 PM
That cover is adorable! The book sounds great -I can't wait to read to read it. Is it going to be a standalone or part of a series?
Posted by Taren | January 5, 2009 2:43 PM
WOO HOO! The cover is ADORABLE. I love it. And I'm SO excited to read this one. The concept is awesome and, well, you know I love you and everything you write. Congrats! XO
Posted by Alexa Young | January 5, 2009 3:10 PM
Yay Melissa! Fun cover--you know I can't wait to read it. I think you told me about this before, but it's really awesome to see the cover--very official. And the book, of course, sounds awesome.
Posted by jocelyn | January 5, 2009 3:53 PM
Melissa, that is so FANTASTIC! I recently have read Picture Perfect by Catherine Clark and I love this kind of sunny, funny and summer-ish books, it puts a big big smile on my face, and immediately I am in a summer mood (wich is my favorite season) I really hope to read and review Lovestruck Summer when it comes out. But first I have to read and review Violet by design, wich I will receive in my mailbox tomorrow , looking forward to it!
Posted by Marjolein | January 5, 2009 4:26 PM
Melissa, that is so FANTASTIC! I recently have read Picture Perfect by Catherine Clark and I love this kind of sunny, funny and summer-ish books, it puts a big big smile on my face, and immediately I am in a summer mood (wich is my favorite season) I really hope to read and review Lovestruck Summer when it comes out. But first I have to read and review Violet by design, wich I will receive in my mailbox tomorrow , looking forward to it!
Posted by Marjolein | January 5, 2009 4:26 PM
Melissa, that is so FANTASTIC! I recently have read Picture Perfect by Catherine Clark and I love this kind of sunny, funny and summer-ish books, it puts a big big smile on my face, and immediately I am in a summer mood (wich is my favorite season) I really hope to read and review Lovestruck Summer when it comes out. But first I have to read and review Violet by design, wich I will receive in my mailbox tomorrow , looking forward to it!
Posted by Marjolein | January 5, 2009 4:28 PM
Awe, I think the cover is really cute. :] I'm a sucker for covers like this! :D
hope.
Posted by Hope. | January 5, 2009 4:28 PM
Love it, Melissa! Awe.. Summer.
Can't wait to lounge on my beach chair and read LOVESTUCK SUMMER. Congrats!
Posted by Keri Mikulski | January 5, 2009 4:40 PM
yayyy I'm so excited! It makes me want it to be sunny right nowww. So annoyed by the rain haha. Love Harper Teen books as well =)
Posted by Mitzy | January 5, 2009 4:54 PM
adorable cover! looks like a fun beach read!
Posted by scott neumyer | January 5, 2009 5:06 PM
Tubing is so much fun! And those bats are crazy! Can't wait to read it!!!
Posted by Brooke | January 5, 2009 5:14 PM
I love the new cover! It looks all...happy and hyper and bright! And the book sounds awesome too.
Posted by Priya | January 5, 2009 7:36 PM
Hey! Many congratulations. What a grand moment, to have the new book near!
Posted by Beth Kephart | January 5, 2009 7:43 PM
Yay, another book! I LOVE the cover, the book just looks so...FUN!
Posted by Amy | January 5, 2009 8:09 PM
Gotta love the urban bat colony. ^_^ Can't wait to read it since I am an Austin college girl.
I also have to read it to see if you used one of my band names. Because who doesn't love Probable Lung Fungus?
Posted by Liviania | January 5, 2009 8:31 PM
I cannot wait for this book. It looks so good and the cover is adorable!
Posted by Meredith | January 5, 2009 10:36 PM
Austin! Oh yes, but answer me this... Is there an Amy's Ice Cream in the book? No indie girl could go without her some Mexican Vanilla from Amy's in Austin. Yummy!
Posted by Allison | January 5, 2009 11:17 PM
Awesome! You know, I forgot about that post asking for the band names! I just re-discovered it. I can't wait to see of you used any of mine. And for a crazy weird coincidence, the cover of Maine Squeeze that you were giving away that day would totally fit in with LS's cover, and the others in the "Beach Reads" category.
Posted by Ink | January 5, 2009 11:53 PM
It looks great! Can't wait to read it! :)
Posted by Chelsea | January 6, 2009 12:25 AM
I really like your new cover! :)
Posted by Vanessa | January 9, 2009 8:56 PM
Yay, Melissa! Love the cover and can't WAIT to read it!
Posted by Amber | January 16, 2009 4:27 PM
I LOVE the cover! it sounds like a good book! Can't wait for it to come out!
Posted by Bryce | March 29, 2009 1:11 PM
I LOVE the cover! Can't wait for it to come out! I sounds like a good read!
Posted by Bryce | March 29, 2009 1:14 PM