search the archives
♥ recent cover stories ♥
rss
contact & author appearances
*APPEARANCES*
For upcoming events, visit BookTour
Release Week Cover Stories: Story of a Girl by Sara Zarr
Welcome to the fifth and final post of my Release Week Cover Stories extravaganza! (Lovestruck Summer was officially released on Tuesday!) I use the word extravaganza because each day, as I interview a new author about their cover, I will also be giving away a copy of the book we're talking about. To enter to win, just leave a comment about the Cover Story. I'll choose a winner exactly a week later.
The amazing Sara Zarr is here for the final day of the Release Week Cover Stories, bookending a really fun week with Sarah Dessen, Siobhan Vivian, Beth Kephart and Jenny Han! I hope you guys have enjoyed it! Here's Sara:
"I am not at all arty. In fact, I am a little challenged when it comes to visualizing the abstract in any way, shape, or form. All the furniture in my house is pushed up against the wall because I can't visualize any other way of doing it. I can barely read a map! So when it came to the cover my first book, Story of a Girl, I had literally no clue what to expect. I do remember saying to my agent, 'I'll be happy with anything, as long as it doesn't have a big giant photograph of the character's face on it.'
"My publisher didn't ask for ideas or give me any hints. I didn't even know the cover was coming when one day I got an image in my email. And, guess what? A big giant photograph of the main character's face! My gut reaction was pure disappointment, to the point of feeling queasy and like I was going to cry. I could see where the concept made sense but I didn't like the girl in the picture. To me, her face and expression were all wrong. Her hands were too small and delicate. She was too pretty. Just not Deanna. I talked to my agent on the phone and we commiserated. He showed it around his office and they all felt like it was a good cover, in terms of marketing and representing the story. I tried to be happy and reconciled to it, but, honestly, it was a big disappointment.
"A few weeks later I got another email. They'd decided not to use the photo. They were going to stick with the concept but do a shoot with a model, and I could give my input when it came to picking the model. Yay! Not long thereafter, I saw the cover for an adult novel---Janet Davey's FIRST AID. And there was the image for my original cover (left).
"On my original cover, this same photo was less zoomed---you could see more of the girl's face, including her eyes. You can see that there's something about the way she's holding her hands that feels a little bit like a model and not a real girl. 
At least not the real girl in my story. I wish I could show you the original, but...oh, wait! Here it is on a recent YA book from the author of GO ASK ALICE (right).
"But back to Story of a Girl. The cover designer sent me head shots of the two models they were choosing from. The first attachment I opened was of a girl who looked normal enough, but to me she screamed 'East Coast.' She was tough-looking, like Deanna, but almost too tough, almost a little gangsta. I crossed my fingers, hoping that the next model would be better suited. When I opened up the picture files, I almost cried again, but this time they would have been tears of joy. The model, Linsday, was, to me, the embodiment of Deanna. And then she did an amazing job at the cover shoot capturing the emotion that is just right for the story. It's the kind of picture you can look at and think she's feeling hopeful, or you can look at and think she's feeling sad. Awesome. In addition, they used a printing process for the hardcover that made the majority of the cover matte while the title is glossy.
"The paperback cover is a little bit different, foregoing the glossy cover font for easier-to-read white and moving it around a bit to make more room for quotes and what have you. And of course, my favorite thing about the current incarnation of the cover is the sticker from the National Book Foundation. Yay!
"For my second book, SWEETHEARTS, once again I had no idea what the art department could possibly come up with. But in this case, it was total love at first sight."
I'm so glad Sara got to find the girl who really represented Deanna for Story of a Girl! And Sweethearts, well, what can I say? I want a frosted cookie.
Speaking of Sweethearts, it just so happens to be the June readergirlz pick, so to enter to win a copy of the newly released paperback, just comment below and tell me what you think of Sara's covers. Then you can join the online book talk in June!
Happy Friday! Be sure to go back and enter each contest this week, and of course don't forget to enter the big month-long contest I'm hosting with Susane Colasanti!
Oh, and did I mention that Lovestruck Summer is just $5.99? It's a bargain! It's in stores now! I will now stop my shameless promotion.
TrackBacks
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.melissacwalker.com/mt/mt-tb.cgi/457
Comments (43)
Awesome. I'm so glad her story ended as it did! You know, I never noticed the difference between the paperback and the hardcover until now. For some reason I'm really digging how the title forms around her eye on the hardcover. And Sweethearts, I've loved that cover since the first time I saw it too!
No need to enter me please and congratulations Melissa!!!!!!!!!
Posted by Alea | May 8, 2009 11:06 AM
I really like the cover! It makes me hungry...and I love sweets so yummy!
Posted by Ann | May 8, 2009 11:17 AM
I enjoy both the covers, actually. I'm so glad that Sara got to have input into the cover for Story of a Girl at the end. As a result, I think both turned out marvelous! (And they're great books, at that. Hehe.)
Posted by Steph Su | May 8, 2009 11:18 AM
Thanks for posting this, Melissa. And I have to say that the cover for my next book, Once Was Lost, is another home run... I'm feeling very lucky over here!
Posted by sara z. | May 8, 2009 11:36 AM
I think I like covers that don't show characters' faces...so I LOVE the Sweethearts cover, and I think the Story of a Girl one is fine. I *am* glad that they worked out for her in the end, though!
Posted by Tiff | May 8, 2009 11:38 AM
That's a great story. I love reading how all these covers come to be.
Posted by Holly | May 8, 2009 11:49 AM
Oh yeah, I would have to agree, Sara's upcoming book has a beautiful cover!
Posted by Alea | May 8, 2009 11:49 AM
The other cover kind of looks like--"they're taking me to the insane asylum"
Glad you got what you loved--it looks great!
Posted by Brooke Taylor | May 8, 2009 12:08 PM
Isn't it just magic when the character you picture in your head translates well in real life? Congrats on a lovely cover!
Posted by Llehn | May 8, 2009 12:30 PM
I like both covers. It's pretty weird how Sweethearts looks really cute but still brings something nostalgic. I feel kinda sad whenever I look at it. Oh and Once Was Lost's cover is amazing too, I have to agree with others.
Posted by Thao | May 8, 2009 12:30 PM
very cool. I'm glad it worked out.
Posted by summer | May 8, 2009 2:16 PM
The "Sweethearts" cover is one of my favorites, and I loved hearing how "The Story of a Girl" cover came to be. Thanks for sharing!
Posted by Jeni | May 8, 2009 2:38 PM
I love these covers as well. Sweethearts is my favorite of the two. I love cookies!
Posted by Amee | May 8, 2009 3:20 PM
Sweethearts is such a bright, yet heartbreaking cover
Posted by JenP | May 8, 2009 3:27 PM
The "Story of a Girl" cover is fantastic! Thank you for doing all of these cover stories for us :-)
Posted by Kathleen Elizabeth | May 8, 2009 4:56 PM
I love the simplicity of the Sweethearts cover.
Posted by Diana Dang | May 8, 2009 5:32 PM
I love the "Sweethearts" cover, mainly because it reflects so much of the book. I think the "Story of a Girl" cover is really well done. Such a good photo!!
Sara Zarr's books rock!! :D :D
Posted by Sarah M | May 8, 2009 5:54 PM
This cover I thought was unique cuz the title "Sweethearts" and the heart shaped bitten cookie weren't typical/lame and for some reason i just knew it would be a good book by the cover, NORMALY don't ever judge a book by it's cover but ironically I did just that to this book and it turned out in my favor!!!
Posted by tracy | May 8, 2009 8:03 PM
I've got a copy of Sweethearts, so don't enter me! I'm a fan of cookies! So I love the Sweethearts cover.
I'm also a fan of close ups, so I prefer the hardcover of Story of a Girl!
Posted by Melissa N Walker | May 8, 2009 9:43 PM
Love the covers -- the simplicity of the Sweethearts cover is striking, and the girl really does seem perfect on Story of a Girl. And again, the cover gods are shining on Sara, cuz the cover for Once Was Lost is absolutely gorgeous!
Posted by Shari | May 8, 2009 10:27 PM
I like both covers, but I especially love the cover of Sweethearts. And Once Was Lost IS gorgeous.
Posted by Sarah | May 8, 2009 11:10 PM
(Don't enter me for this; I already own Sweethearts.)
I love her covers--they all have very specific moods/feels to them. Sweethearts is just YUMMY...and have you seen the cover for her third book? GORGEOUS.
Posted by Miss Erin | May 8, 2009 11:22 PM
It is always fun to see similar or the same shots on multiple book covers. In fact I am pretty sure that this was recently on Pop Culture Junkie's lookalikes. I like the cover that they chose for Zarr's book the best.
Posted by Mrs. V | May 9, 2009 2:32 AM
I think it's really sad that authors can end up with the same photos as each other on their books. They're all unique, so they should all have different photos.
I'm glad Sara got to change hers, and honestly, the girl who is actually on the cover is, in my opinion, prettier than the other girl (although Sara said that she thought the other girl was too pretty). Still, can't wait until I get a chance to read this book :)
Posted by Amanda | May 9, 2009 7:57 AM
Just popping by to say I've posted about this on Win A Book.
Posted by Bridget | May 9, 2009 1:27 PM
I really like the cover for story of a girl
I like the way the girl looking at you that grabs my attention
and for sweetheart it very simple and that what made me reads it
Posted by Denise | May 9, 2009 1:28 PM
I'm glad it ended up with the new picture, the model totally captures Deanna for me!
Posted by Nora | May 9, 2009 7:45 PM
I've never really cared for the cover of SOAG but I can see why Sara likes her expression. It IS a very good expression! But I really LOVE the cover for Sweethearts. It's SO simple and I love the white. It has inspired my own self-published covers. It really stands out among a world of Twilight and Wake and Fade, all with black covers.
Posted by Shauna | May 10, 2009 12:13 AM
Interesting story about how the cover of Story of A Girl. It's a nice cover, but not one I'd notice on the shelves. Sweethearts stands out a lot more. It's different and presents more of a mystery. Where Story of A Girl looks like just another story about a teenage girl finding herself, Sweethearts could be multiple things. The Sweethearts cover is clean and has a nice play on words image. It doesn't shout out at you, but it'd still draw your attention on the shelves. I like it, I like it a lot.
Posted by Avery | May 10, 2009 2:15 AM
I love the final cover for Story of a Girl. I think Sara was right about the first one just not having the right look. And Sweethearts has such an adorable cover! That was a truly amazing book and I think the cover ties in pretty well :-)
Posted by The Book Girl | May 10, 2009 10:29 AM
I really like the cover for Story of a Girl. The original one was not good at all but the final one is perfect. I love the cookie on the cover of Sweethearts, too. So cute!
Posted by Sarah | May 10, 2009 3:10 PM
I really like how the title for Story of a Girl looks like someone wrote something in the fogged up window.
And the sweethearts cookie is so cute!
Posted by Genevieve | May 10, 2009 10:00 PM
I love both these covers. The cover of Story of a Girl tells me just that...the girl looks like she definitely has a story, and I want to know what it is!
Sweethearts looks cute and intruiging at the same time. I think the cookie looks delicious, but then wonder what the cookie symbolizes, or what part cookies play in the story.
Posted by Erica | May 11, 2009 6:39 AM
Who doesn't like a frosted cookie? Definitely a winner.
Posted by Pam | May 11, 2009 10:32 AM
i love both covers. for real. and i'm sure the books have cool reviews too. i kmow. how? cuz i checked. lol!
but really the covers blew me away! and uh the cookie speaks for itself now doesn't it?? !!! ?? !!
Posted by hannah | May 12, 2009 1:43 AM
I really like the covers a lot -- very nice! I've been finding it really interesting to hear what goes into selecting and making a cover -- I had no idea!
marielay@gmail.com
Posted by Marie | May 12, 2009 9:22 AM
Great story -- and I love that the original cover picture has since been used twice for other books. You know, love it in an sarcastic kind of way. It didn't suit Story of a Girl at all. The cover she ended up with is a million times better.
Posted by Brenda C | May 12, 2009 4:03 PM
I like the "Story of a Girl" cover best but think teens will like the "Sweetheart" cover-- who doesn't like cookies? It's scary how writers have to put all their trust in someone else when it comes to covers.
Posted by Joyce Lansky | May 12, 2009 5:34 PM
I really like the "Story of a Girl" cover, it makes me wonder just what is going on in her head. And as for "Sweethearts", it looks very sweet! I would definitely pick that up out of curiosity.
Posted by Leann J | May 12, 2009 9:48 PM
The cover looks yummy.
Posted by Kimmy L | May 13, 2009 11:30 PM
I absolutely love the cover of "Story of a Girl." That model fits the character so perfectly- much better than the first one.
Posted by Lena | May 14, 2009 1:27 PM
wow it really is something. its really nice and im glad that the girl on the cover actually looks like a real girl. not some cute-sy girl. and the sweethearts book? its adorable! i love the simplicity of the cover and the nice shade of pink. if it was lets say another color like black, or a bland color, the cover would be way to plain. and if the cover was any more decorated then it is, and hot pink, the cover would be wayyyy toooo you know! bright and all! so i really think the color and simple cookie really balances the cover out! and makes it stand out! lol! very cute! (both of them!) -and the cookie totally speaks for itself! can't wait to read both!
Posted by hannah s. | May 14, 2009 6:42 PM
i am so mad about how the story sweethearts ended. I wanted cameron and jeniffer to b together! but nooooo it had to be a sad book
Posted by Lauren | June 27, 2009 4:40 PM