I went to The Vero Beach Book Center's Children's Store when I was in Florida last week and signed a few copies of Small Town Sinners (if you want a signed copy, I bet you could call them and snag one). This bookstore is ACES--such a great teen section. I snapped a few shelf pics with my phone because I spotted some friends on display. Here you go:
Sorry for the blurries. Spot anyone you love?
Happy Friday!
The winner of Bunheads, as chosen randomly, is... Kimberly C! Send me your address, K.
This week, I'm giving away a hardcover copy of Tempest, a debut novel from Julie Cross which has been touted as “The Time Traveler’s Wife meets The Bourne Identity." So yeah! Also, it grabbed The Compulsive Reader right away (read her review). GRIPPING plot, I hear.
To win the book, comment below and tell me what your favorite action movie is. I am talking about the ones that stay with you, like Die Hard, Point Break, Taken (that last one is my favorite--Liam effing Neeson!). So those are probably my three faves. I'm just in the mood for more. So suggest away!
PS-You can see the trailer for Tempest on ew.com (BIG TIME!).
PPS-There's an audiobook too, and here's a sneak listen.
Holly Cupala was here to talk about the cover of her debut novel, Tell Me a Secret. Now, her second novel, Don't Breathe a Word, is out this month, and it has a cover that manages to convey both darkness and sparkle. Here's Holly with the Cover Story:
"After the gorgeous cover HarperTeen put together for Tell Me a Secret, I knew to expect something fantastic for my second, Don't Breathe a Word… though it came about in a completely different (and for me, much more nail-biting) way…
"The original working title was Street Creed, which is what the design team initially had to work with. The first cover concept was… steamy (below). It featured two gorgeous creatures, probably Italian models, who met as if by chance after a swirling, beaded-dress-bedecked night for an almost-kiss. Sigh.
"But it didn’t feel like my book.
"Don’t Breathe a Word is the story of Joy, who runs away from home to escape an abusive relationship to the streets of Seattle. She finds allies who have secrets of their own, including Creed—a homeless boy who dreams of making it in the music industry.
"There is a steamy relationship (and Creed is swoonworthy!), but there are no beaded dresses. In fact, the only scene where that dress could have appeared was at a fundraiser party where Joy meets her boyfriend Asher—the dark reason she has to leave. Also, I was worried with the final title, it would look like 'Don’t Breathe a Word about that naughty thing we did after the prom.' No. Oh no.
"The thought of responding to my publisher without effusiveness completely terrified me. Not because my editor isn’t fantastic (she is!) but because conflict is way low on my totem pole of desirable activities. But like I said, my editor is fantastic! She completely understood where I was coming from, and they set to work on a new cover.
"I sent a link to some photos I loved (several of them including bokeh light flares), and here’s what they came up with:
"Love! It captured the movement, the darkness, the grit, and even the glamour of living on the streets.
"But…unfortunately the photo (the original of which is here at iAnton’s flickr) was already contracted for not one but two other book covers. Luckily he had another that we loved even more, and voila, here is brilliant designer Ray Shappell’s final cover:
Thanks, Holly! I think the final image is magical, and I love the hint of huge color without actual inclusion of many colors. Does that make sense? Anyway, what do you guys think?
Yay! You know I'll be giving some away soon... in the meantime, the pink is totally making me happy now. Read the Cover Story here.
Eileen Cook has been here before, sharing Cover Stories for What Would Emma Do?, The Education of Hailey Kendrick and Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood (all awesome tales, btw). Her new release is Unraveling Isobel, and there's a rainbow Cover Story to tell:
"When I finished this book I was certain I knew what should be on the cover. I pictured a creepy gothic house perched on top of a cliff overlooking the ocean. I’d been imagining the house in the book for so long I could imagine it perfectly. I’d even drawn floor plans of the house when writing the book. Of course the problem with having this type of clear vision, it’s really hard to find something in the real world that matches.
"I’m incredibly lucky to work with the team at Simon Pulse. They always invite me to participate in the cover design process. They talk to me not only about what I imagine the cover looking at, but also the feeling I want the cover to impart. My cover designer, Cara Petrus, wanted to make sure that the cover had some of the creepy gothic feel, but also wasn’t too dark as the book has humor too. Cara picked up on Isobel’s interest in art and also her feeling of being trapped. The concept of her hands being held by her own art work was perfect. Part of what Isobel struggles with in the book is that she isn’t sure if she is seeing ghosts, if she’s going crazy, or if someone is trying to get rid of her by having everyone believe she’s crazy. For me the cover hints at all of this.
But on her first night in her new home, Isobel starts to fear that it isn’t only her life that’s unraveling—her sanity might be giving way too. Because either Isobel is losing her mind, just like her artist father did before her, or she’s seeing ghosts. Either way, Isobel’s fast on her way to being the talk of the town for all the wrong reasons.
Happy New Year!
Writing my own Cover Story is always odd. But here goes. I sent Caroline, my editor at Bloomsbury, a bunch of inspiration images for this cover (a couple are below). You know, girl, sailboat, sun, water... okay, so I was kind of vague.
When they came back to me, it was with this first draft (right). And it DID capture the girl, sailboat, big sky stuff. But the boat? It wasn't right. So here's how I responded:
Thanks so much for sending along this design! I do like the echoing heart from SINNERS and the general feeling of being out on the water, glimmering sun, and mood of the girl. I have a couple of things I'd like to mention though:
1. That boat is a Catamaran, totally different from what Clem's family is on. I think because the boat is such a big part of the story, it matters.
2. The pink feels a little like it veers over the cheese line. Maybe it's the pink with the heart, maybe it's the pink and purple of my name... it just feels a bit like it's trying too hard somehow to shout "Love Story!" Maybe there's a way to get a similar tone in there with a natural element, like a sunset?
And Bloomsbury was great, really took my concerns to heart. Everyone really loved the girl (myself included) so at first they tried to adjust the boat so it would look more like Clem's... but that just made it look less like a real boat. So they went in a totally different direction (left). I liked this image, though I had reservations. Here's how I responded:
My initial thoughts are: Cute. Feel like I've seen similar images before, but that's probably okay. Would like it to look more like a big river/lake and less swampy but I assume that can be done. Like the green dress and the sunlight--would love the sunlight to always be a part of my covers because I LOVED the lens flare on SMALL TOWN SINNERS, which was subtle but awesome, and there's one here too. Part of me misses the boat, but if it's included I do think it has to be the right sailboat, so maybe this is a better direction.
And then they found another boat photo that everyone liked, and they sent me this:
I loved it instantly. The sail, the wind, the sun, the water... the girl. It felt so much like Clem! My agent raised the issue that the girl looked a little young, and Caroline said they could play with ways to age her up a little bit. Actually, here's what Caroline said exactly (so interesting!): I spoke with the designer and he is going to try making her chin and forehead a bit more prominent—basically elongating her face so it’s not quite so cute in a young way. We’re going to try elongating her body a little as well. I also suggested adding some wispy hair in front of her cheek. I think when all of this is combined, she’ll look closer to 15/16. Fingers crossed!
I even got used to the heart (and started kind of loving it and hoping that all of my covers would have hearts from now on!).
Then the internal discussions at Bloomsbury kept coming back to everyone really liking the pink of that very first design. They missed it. I have to admit, I didn't. I really adored the green-blue-on-blue. I'm into blue. But I liked this cover and was willing to go with the colors that everyone thought would make the book most pick-up-able. And so here's where we landed:
I keep staring at it. I'm glad the pink is lightened a bit, and I like the contrast with the blue water. I really like it--it makes me so happy. It's out May 22, 2012. I hope you like it! (And that you'll like the inside parts too, of course!)
Happy New Year, you guys!
Youguys youguys youguys youguys! It's here! My new cover! (Full story coming soon.)
From Bloomsbury: Told in alternating chapters that chronicle the year that broke Clem’s heart and the summer that healed it, Unbreak My Heart is a wonderful dual love story that fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Susane Colasanti will flock to. (Out May 22, 2012).
So (holding breath): What do you guys think?
PS-Thanks to all the fellow bloggers who are sharing this reveal! You guys rule.
Gah! I missed Wednesday again. Well, you guys are used to it by now. I should change this feature's name to Win-It We-Thursday. Anyhoo, last week's winner of the signed copy of Blake Nelson's Dream School is... Danie! Congrats, D. Send me your address.
This week, I'm going to let the giveaway run until the new year (two Wednesdays, maybe three). I have a copy of Bunheads by Sophie Flack, which has a fantastic cover. I love looking at it! Also, "ballet's gritty inside story," as the Wall Street Journal calls it? Yes, please.
To enter to win this book, tell me one goal of yours for 2012. It can be anything, from being consistent about flossing to falling in love to finishing a screenplay and shopping it in Hollywood. Leave a comment and then it'll be out there in the world, and we'll all support each other in these goals!
Here's mine: Do a reading at Flyleaf Bookstore in Chapel Hill! I love it there, and I WILL read there this year, maybe for Unbreak My Heart (cover reveal happening tomorrow!).
Guys, like a year and a half ago, I hosted this Boat Name contest. And now I'm finally doing copy edits for this book, so I know what the main boat ends up being called. I used a LOT of the funny names that BabyGirlG provided, so I did send her the prize box. In the end, though, I stuck with The Possibility as the name of the main boat. I guess first instincts are often best! You guys ALL rule though, and I so appreciate the help. Fair warning: I will call on you again.
The "boat book" also finally has a title (and ALMOST has a cover). It's called Unbreak My Heart. Here's a description:
Sophomore year broke Clementine Williams’s heart. She fell for her best friend’s boyfriend and long story short: he’s excused, but Clem is vilified and heads into summer with zero social life. Enter her parents’ plan to spend the summer on their sailboat. Normally the idea of being stuck on a tiny boat with her parents and little sister would make Clem break out in hives, but just floating away sounds pretty good right now. Then she meets James at one of their first stops along the river. He and his dad are sailing for the summer, and he’s just the distraction Clem needs. Can he break down Clem’s walls and heal her broken heart?
Told in alternating chapters that chronicle the year that broke Clem’s heart and the summer that healed it, Unbreak My Heart is a wonderful dual love story that fans of Sarah Dessen, Deb Caletti, and Susane Colasanti will flock to.
It's out in May--hope you guys like it. Cover reveal coming soon, I promise!