Win-It Wednesday: Beauty Prize Pack

The fabulous Cynthia Leitich Smith is hosting an Unbreak My Heart + beauty giveaway over at Cynsations, so head there to enter to win:

a signed copy of Unbreak My Heart; a copy of Raising Eyebrows by Cameron Tuttle (a guide to your perfect brow); Marie Natie natural lip gloss in Red; Marie Natie natural lip gloss sample in Cotton Candy; Bumble & Bumble Pin Tin (bobby pins); Mad Grab Lip Balms; and nail tattoos!

Yay! US only--sorry! This package gets big/pricey. Back to international soon, I promise!

Cover Stories: Tantalize, Kieren's Story

Cynthia Leitich Smith is a huge supporter of the YA writing community who truly rocks. I recently wrote a guest post for her awesome blog, Cynsations, about writing "true" vs. "likeable" characters. She also happens to be the New York Times and Publishers Weekly best-selling author of the Tantalize series: ETERNAL, TANTALIZE, and BLESSED, Gothic fantasies from Candlewick. TANTALIZE: KIEREN’S STORY, illustrated by Ming Doyle, is a graphic edition in which Cynthia re-envisions her dark fantasy through Wolfish eyes. How cool is that? Here's Cynthia with the Cover Story for  TANTALIZE: KIEREN’S STORY:

"I anticipated that the cover would nod overtly to Kieren’s identity as a human werewolf-hybrid. We often see this with books that involve a shape-shifter protagonist. I tend to prefer those in which it’s more subtle, like Vivian’s wolf shadow on the original cover of Annette Curtis Klause’s Blood and Chocolate (right).

"Usually in shifter books, the transformation is a powerful moment in the story, and as a reader I prefer to experience that in my imagination rather than to be offered a visual up front. However, in my story, because Kieren is a hybrid (and has some issues with that), he doesn’t shapeshift as easily or completely as, say, his mother who has no known homo sapiens heritage.

"I was wary of the idea that the cover might suggest that Kieren would go full Wolf and managing that more delineated duality would be the book’s focus. The story is more of a murder mystery with strong romantic elements than a straight-up creature feature, though certainly creatures abound.

"My first thought when I saw the cover was, He’s a boy. Definitely a boy.

"The cover illustration of Kieren is very masculine at a time when depictions of boys in YA cover art tend to skew pretty. This feels authentic to Kieren, who’s determined not to be a danger to others but is still willing to go dominant when interacting with other shifters.

"He has a full head of hair and generous nose, both befitting a Wolf, but he’s still firmly human, too. This is important because it’s Kieren’s intelligence-- rather than his instincts—that he relies on most.

"I was somewhat surprised by the sensuality with which Quincie is depicted, especially since the story (while it definitely has a strong romantic subplot) is more driven by the mystery/suspense aspect. I think you can see the tip of her tongue there.

"At the same time, the juxtaposition is a strong image, and it certainly evokes her sensual nature. After that initial moment of surprise, I fell quickly in love with it, and reactions from YA readers have been overwhelming positive.

"We get that Kieren is a shifter from his transformed hands and forearms, and in my mythology, that’s where the change starts. It’s also the most significant area because—when startled by an oncoming train—his shift kicks in and his claws accidentally skewer the hand of his best friend and true love, Quincie. Though Kieren manages to pull himself together enough to save Quincie’s life, his guilt over that accident haunts him throughout the book and causes him, in part, to withdraw somewhat from that precious relationship.

"When this Candlewick graphic novel cover was presented to my U.K. publisher, Walker, the team liked it so much that they adopted the concept in repackaging the first three prose novels in the series (below)."

Thanks, Cynthia! It's definitely interesting that the cover combines the pretty of feminine lips iwth the masculinity of Kieran's form. I am also just so excited that your novel went graphic--such a fantastic shape shift in itself.

What do you guys think?

PS-Read the original Cover Stories for Eternal and Blessed.

Photo Friday + Cover Story: Blessed by Cynthia Leitich Smith

This week, I got to meet the amazing Cynthia Leitich Smith at a super-fun event at the Brooklyn Public Library. She was incredible and dozens of kids were totally engaged as she spoke -- about 30 hands went up when she asked for questions. Loved it! That's us, above. Her latest book, Blessed, came out in January, and the Cover Story is awesome. So here's Cynthia with a Photo Friday/Cover Story mix:

"I knew what I didn't want on the cover of Blessed: a sword. Not because I don't like swords (I do!*) or like them on covers (ditto!), but because the sword in the story is borrowed, and I wanted something that was more closely related to Quincie herself.

"Beyond that, I had no idea. Book one in the series, Tantalize (right), featured a profile of the protagonist. Book two, Eternal, featured a luminescent angel wing (below left). So there wasn't a standard pattern, and I felt great about that.

"This series isn't the story of one protagonist. It's the story of four. The books are coming out in both prose and graphic format. Some are told in a singular point of view, others in alternating. If I wasn't going to embrace a formula, why should the cover designer(s)?

"I had a lot of faith in Candlewick Press. One of the reasons I decided to first send Tantalize to the house was because of the wonderful art and production values of the books on its list.

"When I first saw the cover, I was so surprised to see the dress! I don't know why. It's something symbolic of Quincie, which is exactly what I wanted, and it speaks to several themes of the novel.

"I did worry a bit that it would be off-putting to boys, especially because a couple of men in my life made a point of saying so. But I often hear from guy readers who weren't the least repelled by the photo of Quincie on the cover of Tantalize. So, I'm hopeful that, coupled with the other books in the series, it'll be clear that Blessed is for both genders.

"To the extent that girls tend to be the romance readers, there's plenty for them here. But my books aren't genre romances per se. They also feature strong elements of suspense, action, and mystery. So, readers--both male and female--looking for more will find it.

"I'm crazy about the cover, and I think the white stands out on shelves. I didn't expect to see the rose petals, but the red provides a lovely Gothic juxtaposition as does the makeshift path.

"The gown is Quincie's late mother's wedding dress, and Quincie wears it into battle at the end of the story. Growing up, she felt a bit overshadowed by her mom and has been trying to fill her shoes at the family restaurant.

"More recently, the vampire chef Bradley, who cursed Quincie with his blood, had dressed her in a white nightgown on the night she rose undead. So, this is her way of both distracting him and facing him down on her own terms.

"What's more, a wedding is a sacrament (or at least it is to Quincie), and this is a novel wherein she is given a guardian angel, which reassures her that she's still a child of God. That her soul is still wholly hers.

"Finally, Quincie is fighting alongside her true love, the hybrid werewolf Kieren, which is romantic in its way, especially since they've been recently reunited after what could've been a permanent separation. "They're only seventeen with no plans of marriage at the moment, just reveling in being together and being in love. That said, Kieren's mother is a wedding planner, so you know, if the day ever comes...!

"*I like swords as decorative/art objects and in stories, but in real life, I wouldn't want one pointed at me or you."

Thanks, Cynthia! I think all of her covers are gorgeous, and I'm a sucker for an amazing dress shot. Super Valentiney, right? What do you guys think?

PS-The sky on my walk home from that library visit? So pretty/creepy it made me want to be listening to Cynthia's book on my iPod.