The winner of an early copy of Lovestruck Summer from last week's contest is... Ellie! Send me your address, E. (Also, I totally agree with you about Sarah Dessen's The Truth About Forever--amazing book!)
This week, I'm doing a combination Win-It Wednesday and Cover Story! Leigh Brescia's first novel, One Wish, is being released tomorrow! And it has such an arresting cover that I had to ask her about its tale. Luckily, she's into sharing.
"When I pictured the cover during writing, I saw a dandelion being blown across the page. In fact, what I imagined is scarily similar to Janette Rallison's new novel: Just One Wish (MW note: Janette's cover story is here). I suppose it's a good thing they didn't hire me to design the cover: it would be like showing up at the Oscars wearing the same dress as Angelina Jolie, and she gets to walk the red carpet first! Yikes!
"WestSide hired an incredible designer, Michael Morgenstern, to do the image. His work has been featured in almost every major magazine and newspaper in America. 
He also did the illustration for Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson. I talked to him about what he used to create the image, and he said that he created it in Photoshop and used textures, photographs, and digital airbrush technique. He did an excellent job! I had to use Photoshop in a graphic design class in college, and I wasn't nearly as successful.
"When I first saw the image it took me a moment to really focus and take it all in. The design is so bold and fresh: it was like nothing I'd ever seen--especially not for a YA novel. Of course, I immediately decided that I loved it and made it my desktop background.
"It's different, and it makes you look twice. You're not supposed to judge a book by its cover, but in this case, the image is so intriguing. As a reader, I would want to pick it up to see what the story is about. I think it will make a lot of people curious.
"More than anything, though, I love how the image is metaphorical and mirrors the story. My editor sent the synopsis of One Wish to Michael, and he designed the cover from that information."
"Michael told me: 'I had given Wrenn a streak of reddish hair to symbolize the makeover her theatre friends had given her. It's the brightest color on the cover, calling attention to the change which brought with it new confidence, temptations and troubles. The roses with the steely thorns represent the allure of romance on its surface: dreamy and sweet in appearance but with its thorns that can be damaging as well. In the superficial world of surface appearances, it's easy to get lost. But Wrenn's clear blue eyes will steer her through all this and eventually find truth.'"
"Isn't he absolutely brilliant? He's such an incredible artist, and I'm excited that WestSide chose him to design the cover of One Wish."
I love that we got to hear from both author and cover designer in this one! And I agree that the image is unique--that red hair streak always catches my eye. I'm behind on my pile, but I can't wait to read One Wish.
To enter win a copy of this book, just share your thoughts on the cover below. I'll pick a victorious commenter at random next week!
Happy release week, Leigh!
Win-It Wednesday
Win-It Wednesday: IMPULSE by Ellen Hopkins
Last week's trifecta of books goes to... Anna! (She was comment #65, leaving a post about Free Book Friday). Send me your address, A! The random number generating gods have smiled on you. If you didn't win, there are a TON of contest links in the comments on last week's post... so go enter like crazy!
This week I'm giving away a copy of IMPULSE by Ellen Hopkins. It happens to be the April readergirlz pick, so if you win you'll have to speed read and then join in our book talk! This book just floored me. It's the story of three teenagers who meet each other in a psych hospital after separate suicide attempts. I fell in love with Vanessa, Connor and Tony, and the bond that forms between them--it's amazingly touching how close they get, even after so much trust has been broken in their lives. IMPULSE is written in verse, which makes it's dark subjects easier to handle, somehow.
Anyway, you guys probably know Ellen Hopkins' work--I'm so behind! But I'll be picking up the rest of her books now.
To win, just leave a comment below and tell me about a book character you'd like to have as a best friend. For me, I think I'm in the mood to hang out with Gilda Joyce, a psychic investigator I just adore! Yeah, I read Middle Grade stuff sometimes too. These are the perfect little-sister books.
Happy Wednesday!
Win-It Wednesday: What Would Emma Do? By Eileen Cook
So glad so many of you wanted to win Revolutionary Road! And the winner, who is obligated to tell me what she thinks of the book (because I am obsessed) is... Cecilia! Send me your address, and you'll get the movie version of the book mailed out to you shortly!
On to this week's contest: I did a Cover Story interview with Eileen Cook last month, and then I devoured her latest book, What Would Emma Do? So now, I'm passing it on to you! Emma is a great narrator, and this book is a blast. You'll enjoy it.
So, to enter the contest, just tell me one thing that's made you happy today (whatever day you're reading this). Don't think too hard, just let the happy thing pop into your mind and then write it in the comments. I'll choose a winner next Wednesday.
For me, it made me happy that my new Hunter Festival boots came in the mail; they are seriously tough and perfect for the snow I have to face tonight when I go into the city. They're called "Festival" boots because they're made in Scotland, where big music festivals can get really muddy and you need these "wellies" to save your feet. Aren't they cute?
Happy Wednesday!
This is happening tonight. Come get poetic thoughts from Beth Kephart (she really rules and her blog is essential to my happiness).
Win-It Wednesday: Maine Squeeze
Great, great answers last week on which side character you'd like to see more of... if you haven't gotten a chance to read everyone's comments, browse here and on myspace--there are some really thoughtful ones! The winner of a signed copy of Violet by Design is... MYBKCLUB! Send me your address, and the book will be sent to you this week.
Now, I'm giving away an awesome summer beach read today. It's Maine Squeeze, by Catherine Clark, and it's complete fun to read. I actually just signed on with HarperCollins to do a beach read for summer 2009! Here are the details from Publisher's Marketplace: "Melissa Walker's LOVESTRUCK SUMMER, in which an indie-rock girl spending the summer in Austin on a coveted music internship 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." I hope you guys will like it!
So to win a beach read for this summer, do me a favor: Give me a suggestion for a band name--could be country, indie, r&b, boy band--anything. I need some fake band names to use in my new book, so let me know if it's okay to use it. I will try to use as many of your band names as I can in LOVESTRUCK SUMMER. Cool?
And I'll choose a random commenter next week to win a copy of Maine Squeeze.
Happy Wednesday! (Oh, and Happy Birthday to me... my boyfriend got me these flowers, which I really, really love. Aren't they so quirky and cute?)
