Win-It Wednesday + Cover Stories: The Blood Coven Series by Mari Mancusi
The winner of last week's The Sweetgrass Basket contest is... Kelsey! K, email me your address. Thanks, you guys, for all the gaming ideas -- I have a want list now!
Today, the effervescent Mari Mancusi is here to share the story of the repacking of her Blood Coven series -- so we'll see old and new covers, and you'll have a chance to win a copy of one of the books!
Here's Mari:
"It was the phone call I'd been praying for. Berkley finally decided to buy BAD BLOOD, the fourth book in my Blood Coven Vampire series. But they also had another surprise for me. Thanks to the success of series like Twilight, House of Night and Vampire Academy, they had decided to repackage and re-release the first three books in my series. They told me Boys that Bite, Stake That, and Girls that Growl would be getting new covers and be back in stores.
[The old covers]:
"I was thrilled, to say the least, and began dreaming of what the new covers would look like. While I always liked the first three covers, especially Girls that Growl, there were a few things that bugged me about them. One, the girl in Boys that Bite wore a jean jacket - which just looks straight out of the eighties if you ask me. And, besides the title, it doesn't even hint that it's a vampire book! The Stake That cover, on the other hand, goes too far in the other direction. It's too gothy. Now I'm all about the goth scene and so is Rayne, my main character, but I believe a cover should be accessible to the largest audience possible. After all, you don't have to be a hardcore goth to enjoy this book. Girls that Growl, on the other hand, is pretty awesome - really captures the feel of the book - where the goth girl becomes a cheerleader.
"But the thing that bugged me most was that the old covers were all different and didn't have a cohesive feel. Looking at them, you might not even know they were a series. They also felt a bit outdated now -- with the cut off head motif that used to be so popular in YA or chick lit books. Now most paranormal books feature the model's entire face.
"For the new covers, the publisher wanted to make them less humorous and more like House of Night covers. (Which people always compare them to now, so I guess they succeeded.) They even changed the original jokey back cover copy to something darker and more mysterious to emphasize the angsty romance in the books, rather than the humor.
"I have to say, overall, I really do love the new covers. The girls they chose, the colors -- all gorgeous. And best of all, they look like a set. They now say 'A Blood Coven Vampire Novel' on the cover to indicate they're part of a series. They're dark and mysterious and very striking. I love them quite a bit, especially looking at them side by side (Bad Blood is at the top):
"That said, some people have criticized, saying the new covers are more generic and don't capture the feel of the books as well as the old ones did. I definitely see their point; for example, you know exactly what Girls that Growl is about by looking at the old cover. Not so much with the new one. Also, some criticize saying the new covers look too much like all the other paranormal books out there and aren't as original. Also true, but, to be honest, I think that will actually make them appeal to a greater number of readers. Perhaps those who never picked them up the first time around.
"And in the end, more readers means more sales, which means me being able to write more books in the series. Which, I think, is a win for all readers -- no matter which covers they prefer.
"My question to commenters is: Which covers do you prefer and do you have a favorite out of the new covers? My favorite is Stake That, but I think I'm in the minority so far. Bad Blood is also beautiful.
"Comment for a chance to win a copy of the newly repackaged Boys that Bite. OR one of the old ones if you prefer!"
Thanks, Mari, for this double feature Win-It Wednesday + Cover Story. I love this success tale of a series being repacked for new readers, and I think the new covers are really striking. I have to admit that I love the camp nature of the old covers, especially Girls That Growl in all it's cheerleading awesomeness. Among the new ones, I like Bad Blood the best -- it's gorgeous.
PS-Late add: The very cool trailer for Boys That Bite and the Official Blood Coven website!
You guys?
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Comments (38)
Hi, Mari! I love the new covers! Especially since they're a series, they're got the similar fonts, etc which makes it very cool. I think my favorite would be State That, so pretty!
Anyway, congrats on the new awesome covers and I can't wait to check out your books! I read Gamer Girl a while back and loved it so I will definitely be checking out these ones, too. :)
Posted by Wendy | November 4, 2009 8:50 AM
Gah! Sorry - I meant Stake. STAKE That. :)
Posted by Wendy | November 4, 2009 8:51 AM
I like the old ones but the more i see the new covers i am starting to like them more my favorite book as been stake that. I can't wait to get the new book i have the old ones but I like things to make lol and i can't wait for Bad Blood to come out! i'm so excited
Posted by Brittany Cannon | November 4, 2009 8:52 AM
I like both covers, but I have to admit the new ones are probably more eye-catching for today's teens.
Margay
Posted by Margay | November 4, 2009 9:00 AM
My fav is the Boys That Bite cover. I have not read this series yet, but is in my TBR
Posted by Jackie O'Mullane | November 4, 2009 9:37 AM
I like the new Bad Blood cover too.
Posted by Ink | November 4, 2009 9:39 AM
I love the new covers I think they are amazing. My favorite is Girls that Growl.
Posted by Caitlin Usignol | November 4, 2009 9:57 AM
I Love The New Covers!!
So What If They Seem Similar To Others..
They're More Mysterious And Alluring Than The Older Covers.. And I Have To Agree About The STAKE THAT Cover.. It Rocks!!! They All Do!!
BTW, You're Right About The BOYS THAT BITE Cover. I Remember When I First Saw At The Book Store And Thought It Was A Regular High School Type Book And I Wasn't Into That... I Wanted Dark And Suspenseful With Some Romance!! Then, I Read The Back Of The Book And Realized The Cover Was Very Misleading... I Was Getting What I Wanted. LOL!
xoxo
Kaila
Posted by Kaila | November 4, 2009 10:17 AM
I think the new ones are very eye-catching, especially Boys that Bite.
Posted by JenP | November 4, 2009 10:35 AM
New Covers are much more contemporary and appealing.
Posted by Joellen | November 4, 2009 10:44 AM
I really enjoy the old covers, they're fun! My favourite from them is GIRLS THAT GROWL. Out of the new ones (which are lovely), I'd have to say my favourite is BAD BLOOD.
Posted by Cait | November 4, 2009 11:03 AM
I love the new covers! Although I loved the old ones, as they got me hooked, the new ones seem amazing! My favorite of the new would definitely have to be BAD BLOOD!! I hope you get to release the fifth book too!!!!
Posted by Chelsea DeTorres | November 4, 2009 11:21 AM
I really like the new covers--the old ones look too dated. Congrats on your books being repackaged and re-released! Can't wait to read them!
Posted by Carol | November 4, 2009 11:41 AM
I really like the new covers...Bad Blood is my favorite.
Posted by Raelena | November 4, 2009 2:51 PM
I like the new covers, I agree that the old ones look a bit out dated. I think my favorite of the new ones is Bad Blood.
Posted by April H. | November 4, 2009 2:52 PM
I definitely prefer the new covers, but the old covers aren't terrible either. :) My favorite one is probably the new Boys That Bite cover. I can't believe I haven't read any of these books!
TheBookworm
emailthebookworm(at)yahoo(dot)com
Posted by TheBookworm | November 4, 2009 2:58 PM
I love the new covers. My favorite is Stake That. I really like the way the shadows are playing with the blue color highlighting the black. It makes me think of a paranormal book. The old covers werent bad but they didnt look like a series and were kind of all over the place, out of them the only one I really like is Girls That Growl. Congrats on them be re-released I have been wanting to start this series and now it looks like it will be fairly easy to do.
Posted by Donna S | November 4, 2009 3:00 PM
I agree that the new covers doesn't differentiate from the rest of the YA paranormal titles but I think it will help sales. On a personal lever I happen to like the newer ones lol
Posted by Yan | November 4, 2009 3:22 PM
Hmm, I agree about the new covers being a bit generic. I almost prefer the old ones, particularly Girls That Growl. The Bad Blood cover is really good, though :)
Posted by Amelia | November 4, 2009 3:54 PM
I definately like the new ones better. Though I do agree with Mari that the old Girls that Growl cover is pretty awesome:) Out of the new covers, I like the Bad Blood cover best.
Posted by Dani | November 4, 2009 4:01 PM
Wow! These look absolutely stunning! if i dont win i'll definitely have to pick them up some time! I think Boys that Bite is exceptionally stunning, the old covers are pretty cool as well and i think Stake that is the best out of those ones. The new ones might be generic to YA fiction, but it holds appeal!
Posted by Jenners | November 4, 2009 4:30 PM
I love the new covers! Especially Stake That and Bad Blood. (And I absolutely love the titles!! They're so catchy!)
sara
Posted by YA Vampire Books | November 4, 2009 5:35 PM
Wow the new covers are awesome. Bad Blood looks great, too!
I emailed you about The Sweetgrass Basket, thanks so much(:
Posted by Kelsey | November 4, 2009 5:55 PM
I have always loved the old covers because the models captured the character's looks pefectly. Sunny's dirty blond hair and Rayne's black hair. In the new covers the models look nothing like Sunny and Rayne.
But your right the new covers do give that mystery and supernatual look.
Posted by Sierra | November 4, 2009 8:23 PM
I definitely like the new covers better...they would grab my attention! And I love Bad Blood the best!
Andrea
Posted by Andrea | November 4, 2009 8:38 PM
The new covers are awesome! I think I like STAKE THAT the most as well. The colors (or lack there of) is what catches my attention.
Posted by Emma | November 4, 2009 9:57 PM
I have to go with Bad Blood. It's the one that caught my attention the most. Simply gorgeous!
Posted by Cyndi H. | November 4, 2009 10:06 PM
Oh wow. The difference between the first cover and the second is huge.
The first covers show more character, whereas the second covers do sort of look like, well... many of the vampire covers already out there. I think the first version looks more cool and special...
However, I would probably pick up the newer version just because I tend to follow the crowd. I know I shouldn't, but I do. I'm pretty sure Twilight, Vampire Academy, HON, etc, etc, all fall under "the crowd", and all those are books I own. And yeah, they all look the same. Well no, I'm exaggerating, but they are all practically the same. (Ahaha still exaggerating!)
Both covers are cool to look at though.
:o)
Bad Blood's cover is striking and something I would for sure pick up. Mainly because of the hair... I love the hair... I mean, don't you love the hair?
xo-hannah s.
Posted by hannah s. | November 4, 2009 11:58 PM
Congrats on the new covers! The new ones do make it look more like a series than the other ones did. My favorite is Stake That, it just looks all mysterious like.
Posted by Amber | November 5, 2009 11:04 AM
I am excited to have seen this post pop up on my twitter as I just started reading and getting into this series.
The new covers are absolutely gorgeous, they definitely show the books are together in a series and I find that the simple more simplistic look to the new covers is much more attracting to the eyes.
My favorite cover would have to be Girls that Growl, as the emotion on the girls face shows so much.
Looking forward to continuing with reading this series.
Posted by ReaganStar McBeigh | November 5, 2009 11:50 AM
The new covers are definitely more commercial and more asthetically appealing.
Posted by Llehn | November 6, 2009 8:06 AM
I love the new covers, they're just so fresh. Stake That also appeals to me a bit more, but maybe that's just because I like the color blue!
Posted by Lea | November 6, 2009 8:41 PM
I like the new covers a lot better. Of the new ones I like Bad Blood best.
This is a new series for me,I look forward to reading it.Sounds like something I would like.
Posted by elaing8 | November 7, 2009 12:56 PM
I love the new covers -- especially the one for Girls that Growl!
Posted by Marie | November 7, 2009 3:07 PM
I like the new covers better. They are just more appealing to me.
Posted by Briana | November 9, 2009 11:15 PM
While I do really like the new covers (and they do go together well as a series...) there's something about the old covers that makes me think Buffy so I like them just that little bit more (and of course I have the first two books with the old covers so I hope I can get the third sometime ;)
Posted by Lucile | November 11, 2009 3:51 PM
I personally like both sets of covers, that being said the new ones are more marketable for today. I especially like the "Bad Blood" cover because for some reason love pale faced redheaded model above the caption with Blood in the title, seems to match. I am stoked that you were able to redo the series and release it again and thanks for the opportunity by Melissa to win the first book in this drawing.
Good luck to everyone and hope this posting is not too late for an entry found the site by accident and really want to add my name to the hat...
Jackie B Central Texas
Posted by Jackie Burris | November 11, 2009 4:22 PM
I dig the photography of the new covers. I think that it's important to retain consistency in a series. However, I like how the typography of the old covers has more personality! The new typography is a little generic and doesn't match the attitude of the titles!
Posted by aileen | November 14, 2009 7:41 PM