Friday, February 15, 2013

A Tale of Three Covers

My Tudor series has had a makeover.  Many of you saw that the fabulous Fallon Prinzivalli over at MTV's Hollywood Crush agreed to reveal the new cover of TARNISH, and said some lovely things about it, too.

GILT also got a revamp.  And there have been some interesting reactions to it.  Personally, I love looking at book covers.  I love the mood they set, the way they feel, what they suggest about what's inside.  It seems like most readers feel the same way--but not the same way about each cover.

As an author, it's interesting to hear what people say about the covers of my books.  It's one of the things that I have absolutely no control over.  And I find it fascinating what images come up in other people's minds when they read what I've written.  So getting several different cover treatments has been very eye-opening.  And kind of like Christmas on a regular basis.  Oooh!  A new cover!  Shiny!

The designers at Penguin are such a creative team, and I think each GILT cover has had a very distinct feel.  I think each of them beg to be picked up for a different reason.


This is the image on the hardcover that many of you are already familiar with.  I have always loved how different it is from just about every other YA novel out there.  I adore the font and am still looking for the perfect match to the lipstick.


This is the original paperback design and I hate to tell you it will never be printed.  Again, the gorgeous font, the lush imagery.  Though some were worried it might be a bit too suggestive for teen readers (or their parents!)

So my publisher decided on a redesign for both books.  No models.  No sexytimes.  But still elegant, luxurious and something that I, personally, would pick up in an instant.
What do you think?

The paperback of GILT will be released May 7.

7 comments:

  1. It's a shame the original paperback design will never be printed but I do agree with your publisher, it is a bit suggestive. Hmm, still getting used to the new paperback design but I do like it for it's rich, elegant vibe. Very fitting for a historical novel! I must say, it's refreshing to have no model on the cover. Sometimes the model just doesn't fit the book or the mood or resemble the main character so that's a plus! I definitely think it'll catch peoples attention just for that fact - the intriguing, model-less, lush cover. And once they pick it, read the blurb, I have no doubt they'll be running to the counter to buy a copy ;)

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    1. You're so sweet, Rebecca! And I agree about models on book covers--sometimes they don't look like the characters I envision. (though I think the model on the first paperback cover could easily play Cat!)

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  2. Ooh, I love the new cover! I tend not to love covers with people on them (unless they are very stylized, like Gilt's original cover.) The new one is gorgeous--totally makes me want to pick it up!

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  3. I like the covers. So the other one of Tarnish with Anne on the cover won't be printed?

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    1. Thank you! And sadly, Anne will only be on the bound galleys of Tarnish, not the final product.

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  4. Love the new cover too. So lush! Love the fonts they chose for the title and your name.

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