Cover Stories: Violet on the Runway

A little while ago, Alea told me she's curious about how much input authors have with their covers. I always wonder too! So I'm here to share the story of Violet on the Runway's cover, and I hope to get some other authors to share their stories with me in a new "Cover Stories" series on this blog. (Authors, email me if you want to to share the dish on your cover.)

The original cover for Violet on the Runway is posted on the right. The only things that changed along the way were a bit of a shift (less of her neck) and fonts! (My name is in a different font on the final cover).

To start the process, my editor asked me if I'd like to submit a cover idea memo. I jumped at the chance, and emailed her lots of inspiration images from vintage books, like the ones below.

And here's what I wrote in my memo:

For each of these, the inspiration photo isn't a literal translation, just the look that sparked what I'm thinking, to help show it visually. 1. I like the idea of an underexposed photograph where a model's silhouette is visible but not crystal clear. (See Inspiration photo 1). 2. A vulnerable-looking girl, glamorously dressed but curled up in a chair with long, coltish legs hanging prominently. (See Inspiration photo 2). 3. The back of a model on the runway, with abstract-looking flashbulbs going off in front of her (so she is backlit and we just see her silhouette stance). This could go cheesy, but not if we give it a less-Nicole-Richie, more-iconic-star feel. Think old-school flashes, not so much Us Weekly red-carpet (See Inspiration photo 3, though I know it's a bit trippy). 4. A model's shape in the center of people's silhouettes all around her, possibly talking about her, buzzing, etc. (See inspiration photo 4... too retro?). 5. Something incredibly sparse and simple... a model's shadow within a giant spotlight or a runway stride silhouetted on black and white. (See inspiration photo 5).

So really, I feel like my cover was so true to what I suggested and wanted--the art team at Penguin's Berkley JAM did a fantastic job! And then they created this more whimsical cover for the Scholastic version of the book, which was fun too.

So, whose cover stories do you want to hear? I'll try to recruit some more authors, and I'll share cover stories for the other Violet books soon!

Happy Monday!

Saturday Surprise: Page Six!

How fun to have this gossip page mention appear today.Here's what it says under the "We Hear" section: "THAT Nicky Hilton will host a clambake at the Grey Goose Manor in East Hampton tonight. . . THAT John Ventimiglia, who played Artie Bucco on "The Sopranos," is taking over the male lead opposite Meital Dohan in the off-Broadway play "Stitching," starting Wednesday . . . THAT Page Six gets a nice mention in "Violet in Private," Melissa Walker's new novel about the fashion industry, when 19-year-old heroine Violet Greenfield finds a photo of herself leaving a hot Manhattan club splashed in our column the next day." It's no clambake in the Hamptons, but I'm so glad I can be a bold-faced name on Page Six in a way my mom can be proud of. Phew! I think Violet should be a bold-faced name, too, but I guess fictional characters don't get all the perks. Happy Saturday!

Photo Friday: Pics from San Francisco

So I spoke at the Ypulse Mashup in San Francisco early this week (find out what I spoke about in Publishers' Weekly), and I also got to spend time with some awesome people, including authors David Levithan, Lisa McMann and Justina Chen Headley. Oh, and superstar MC Hammer. Okay, so I didn't really "spend time" with Hammer, but I did get this close to him: And David and I got to eat at a diner called Mel's, which made me smile: And I also got to see a screening of American Teen, which I'll post about soon. In the meantime, here's a photo of me and Jake, my favorite guy in the movie (he even gave me his "Team Jake" button, which I might give away in a contest after the movie comes out...if I can bear to part with it): I'm going upstate for the weekend to the house we rented for the summer, which is crazy country beautiful: What are you up to? Oh, and I'm twittering now, so find me if you are too!

Win-It Wednesday: Twilight

It was cool to hear your thoughts on independent bookstores last week! For those of you who've only been to musty or too-specialty ones, definitely look for more as you travel. There are some that feel just like home--I promise! And the winner of Love and Other Four Letter Words, signed by author Carolyn Mackler, is... Kate from myspace, who likes Ben Jelen (me too!). Send me your address, Kate. Now, this week I'm giving away my copy of Twilight. I finally got around to reading this, and yes, I get why everyone is just gaga over it: Action + Romance + Hot Vampires? How could Ms. Meyer go wrong? I have to say that at a few parts I wondered if Bella was gonna develop her feminist side at all, but I was pretty entrenched in the story. I have to read the others now... soon. No spoilers, please! I know probably everyone has this, but it's the hardcover one and it's in perfect condition. So, if you want to win it, just tell someone about the upcoming release of Violet in Private. It's less than three weeks away, and I would be so happy if you alert your librarian, bookstore friend, myspace list, etc. And bonus if you share info about this contest. After all, with Breaking Dawn coming out the same week as Violet in Private, I feel closer than ever to Edward and Bella. Just tell me below how you spread the word, and you're in! I'll pick a winner next Wednesday. Oh, and PS-Release week is going to be F-U-N. Major gift bag up for grabs. That's all I'm gonna say.

Marketing Monday: Vlogs

What do you guys think of vlogs vs. blogs? I kind of like seeing people on video, but I've always been a little bit scared of it personally. (Side note: That picture at left is one that turns up when you google image "vlog"--seriously.)That said, I overcame my fear to do a vlog for YA New York, so go watch it if you have three minutes and fourteen seconds. And, um, tell me what you think. But remember what your mom told you: If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all. Although, full disclosure, my senior quote in high school was "If you can't say anything nice, come sit by me." (Yeah, bit of a gossip habit, but that's all in the past.) My vlogging inspiration? The lovely and vlogging Jessica Burkhart, who has some great vlogs on her blog about getting her book deal and the first year in the life of a debut author. Anyway, Happy Monday, and do let me know if you have an opinion on vlogging vs. blogging.

Photo Friday: A post in pictures (mostly)

I am heading to San Francisco today for the . I wish I could get down to LA to see all the amazing authors who are taking part in (go if you can!). And, just for fun, here are three people I've gotten to interview in the last month (one in person, one via phone, one via email...). All three were incredibly nice. Really! I'll post the stories when they run. Happy weekend!

Guest Blog: Stephanie Kuehnert on fashion punks and pink hair

Since Melissa visited my blog and talked music for the release of VIOLET BY DESIGN, I thought it would be fun to visit her blog and talk fashion for the release of my debut novel I WANNA BE YOUR JOEY RAMONE.When I was 18 and going to the very radical Antioch College, the sole goth kid among a group of punk friends, we had one friend who we called "Fashion Bug." We called him this because he was a bit of a "fashion punk," overly concerned about dying his hair and what he was wearing and he just primped way more than any punk rocker should. Because punk rock is about politics and music, not about how many safety pins are on your clothing and how big your Mohawk is, dammit! And this is definitely true to a degree. I don't like it when people are into punk solely as a rebellious fashion statement and who think about their clothing choices more than their political choices (not that Fashion Bug really was like that, we just liked to tease him), but I ain't gonna lie, I do love clothes and have always had a unique sense of style. In a way my weird clothes probably led me to punk rock--not because I coveted punk fashion, but because my fashion choices made me a misfit and being a misfit I found solace in punk rock. I started wearing stripey tights, Converse sneakers, and odd outfits from vintage stores, thrift shops and odd local boutiques when I was about 10. I did not fit in with my Gap and Keds wearing peers. It was okay. Eventually I found people who wanted to go shopping with me at Ragstock and the Alley on Belmont and Clark in Chicago. Those are very hip places now, but back in the early nineties, it was where the punks hung out. In fact the Dunkin Donuts on the corner was known as Punk'n Donuts. The fashion icons of my teenage years were Spike from the original Degrassi High and early nineties Courtney Love (ie. smeared red lipstick and babydoll dresses). Vintage dresses (along with great jeans) are still my number one fashion weakness to this day. I have a closet full of them and can't help myself from buying more. As for the Spike influence, I actually asked my mom if I could do my hair like Spike's when I was ten and she put her foot down. I started doing funky stuff with my hair at the beginning of sophomore year of high school and haven't seen my natural color since. First, I put a blonde streak in it. Then I dyed that streak many different colors. Then I went totally platinum. Then gothic black. Then I put different color streaks in the black, like pink and purple and blue. Then back to platinum. Then I got a "real job" and decided to go with reddish blond. My hair was funky and respectable for about two years... until yesterday. How did I celebrate my book release day? By dying my bangs pink of course!!! Hopefully it will fade in the next few weeks because I don't think my boss is gonna like it very much... Emily Black, the main character of I WANNA BE YOUR JOEY RAMONE, shares my love for vintage dresses. And she planned to wear one for her first gig. Here is the excerpt from the book: As un-punk as it was to do so, I even planned out what I was going to wear: a short, sea green, velvet dress that I'd found at a thrift store in Madison. I thought it complemented my father's Lake Placid blue '69 Mustang and that it just looked hot. I wanted to be a million times sexier and more mysterious than the false deities whose arrogance I'd fallen for at River's Edge. Like Emily, I've been planning what I'm going to wear at my book release party forever. Well, at least since Christmas when my boyfriend bought me this awesome Sailor Jerry dress. So here's what I'll look like if you come out to party with me tonight: Well, hopefully I don't sound like a total fashion punk, but hey, I don't really care. You'll usually find me talking music and politics, but today I'm pretty thrilled about my pink hair. Note from Melissa: I love pink bangs, and I'm psyched on that dark-and-summery Sailor Jerry number. Have a great party, Stephanie! And everyone reading: Do you have your copy of I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone yet? PS-Go visit Stephanie's blog to see an interview with the awesome Jolene Siana, and comment to win a copy of her incredible book, Go Ask Ogre!

Win-It Wednesday: Love and Other Four Letter Words (signed!)

It was so much fun to read about what you'd write about for Red. I hope some of you guys are inspired to get the book (paperback comes out in October), and to write some of your own stories! Last week's winner of the beyond inspiring, multi-autographed copy of Red: The Book is... Ames! She'd write her Red essay about "the compassion i share with my brothers (and about how they are also mean)." Send me your address, A! This week, I'm giving away a signed copy of Carolyn Mackler's Love and Other Four Letter Words. This is the Printz-honor-winning author's debut novel, and it's the completely charming story of Sammie Davis, who is forced to deal with tons of change after her parents separate and her mom moves her to New York City. Sammie's voice makes this book--Carolyn is a master of characters you wanna be friends with, I think. I did a reading with Carolyn in June and she actually pulled out her old diary and read juicy parts. It was amazingly brave. I could never! Anyway, to enter, comment below (bonus entry if you spread the word about the contest through myspace or facebook or your blog or any which way). In the comments, I want to hear about your favorite independent bookstore. Meaning, not B&N or Borders, but the local bookstore you go to for a more... intimate experience. What's it called? Where is it? What does it look like? And if you don't shop at an independent bookstore, just comment telling me that, and then see if you can find one in or near your town. They're like secret treasures, especially when you get to know some of the employees who can recommend great reads for you when they know your taste. Mine is The Community Bookstore, and I just bought John Green's Looking for Alaska and ordered a bunch of other books! If they don't have the one you want, they'll always get it for you quickly. Yay! Happy Wednesday! PS-Wish Tasha a Happy 16th Birthday and win books! Double bonus. PPS-This is me being insanely unorganized, but I know I promised to guest blog for a few people around the release of VIP (Side note: Isn't it cool that Violet in Private has that acronym?). I can't remember all my guest blog engagements! If I promised you a guest blog, remind me! Thank you!

Best-Friend Breakups

I'm over at Teen Fiction Cafe blogging about the pain of best-friend breakups, so come say hi over there if you're so inclined. There are also some other fabulous authors blogging about friendships and frenemies.And there's still time to enter to win Red: The Book. I'll choose a winner tomorrow. Plus, some more contests: * Elizabeth Scott gives away six (!) summer reads. * Reviewer X gives away a copy of Jennifer Banash's The Elite. * So many awesome reviewers team up to give away a huge prize related to Stephanie Kuehnert's I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone (Happy release day, Steph!). * Cynthia Leitich Smith gives away copies of Lisa McMann's Wake and Black Pearls: A Faerie Strand by Louse Hawes. Add some contest links in the comments if you've heard about more... you know I love a chance to win!

Marketing Monday: DIY Fashion Sites

I had to share this story I wrote for US Airways' in-flight magazine, because you won't see it unless you're flying, and it showcases two really cool sites where you can design your own dresses. FUN. Of course, the most economical (and chic) way to design a dress is on your own. Dress a Day is a fabulous blog that can help (and Erin even reviewed Violet on the Runway, once upon a time!). I've got zero sewing skills, but I can still dream. Have you ever made your own clothes? Happy Monday! PS-Thanks to Bookluver Carol for the Violet by Design review, and to Sabrina from YA New York for the 20 Questions interview, which was super fun! PPS-Violet on the Runway is the Girls' Life Book Club pick this week! Head on over to join the discussion (I would be so happy if you did!). There are three other great books in the July lineup too.