Blog Tour: Jessica Lee Anderson Cover Interview and Giveaway!

1. Did you have any input in the cover design? Was it what you had imagined it looking like?

I have so much respect for designers! My editor asked if I had any ideas, and to be honest, my ideas were all over the place, especially since my editor and I were still in the process of discussing other title possibilities. When I opened the file for the cover design, I was impressed even though it looked different than what I had imagined.

2. It looks like the scene on the cover may be a specific scene from the book. Is it? And does the girl look like Calli?

The colors and the scene match the Louisiana setting perfectly! The model captures my protagonist’s attitude quite well, but she definitely isn’t the Calli I had envisioned as the model is quite thin whereas Calli has more meat on her bones.

3. What is your favorite aspect of the cover? If you could change one thing about it, what would it be?

I especially love the title treatment and the bead overlay! If I could change one thing about the cover, though, I would somehow extract my mental image of Calli and place it on the cover.

4. Were photographs taken for the cover or did they use stock images?

Stock images, I believe. This was the case with my novel, BORDER CROSSING, and it was really interesting to see how other designers used the image of the male model (such as in a church bulletin).

5. What are your favorite young adult covers?

My dear friend, PJ HOOVER, has such a beautiful cover for SOLSTICE! The colors are so vibrant and the cover fits the dystopia/mythology aspects nicely. The cover (hardcover version) for THE ADORATION OF JENNA FOX by Mary Pearson caught my eye immediately, and I found it even lovelier after finishing the book.. Lastly, I think the cover for THIRTEEN REASONS WHY by Jay Asher is very memorable and intriguing.

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Thanks so much, Jessica, for stopping by! Be sure to visit her website for more information.

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GIVEAWAY!

I also have two copies of CALLI to giveaway to two lucky winners!

Fill out THIS FORM to enter.

US Only. Ends September 25. Two winners.

Blog Tour: Jill S. Alexander Cover Interview and Giveaway!

I'm excited to welcome the fantastic Jill S. Alexander to my blog today! She is here as part of her blog tour, this time to discuss her covers!

1. The cover of your debut (The Sweetheart of Prosper County) and your sophomore novel (Paradise) are quite a bit different. Did the same designer work on them? And did you have any input on them before they were finalized?

This is such a great question, and one I’ve never been asked. Like most authors, I have little or no input on covers. The art director is Rich Deas, and he’s amazing. On both covers, I received an email of the cover image and responded with my thoughts – even though the decision had already been made. I loved the Sweetheart covers (both hardback and paperback). However the first image sent to me for Paradise caused some concern. I can’t share the image, but the girl and boy were much older. I did not feel they reflected the characters in the book. My agent and I expressed our concerns, and my fantastic editor and Rich, the art director, came up with the cover you see today.

2. Were cover models used for Paradise’s cover or was a stock image selected? Do you think the cover suits the book?

The PARADISE cover is a stock image. I do think it suits the book. It’s very swoon-y, and the girl is Paisley perfect. I also love that it captures a moment of hesitation.

3. The Sweetheart of Prosper County’s cover changed quite a bit from hardcover to paperback. What made your publisher decide to do that? And which version do you like better? Do you think one appeals to teen readers?

SWEETHEART’s hardback cover (the rooster) is fun and whimsical but is more of an intellectual cover – it requires some interpretation. The paperback with the girl rockin’ the hat is less interpretive. You can look at that image and know that it’s a story about a small town girl. The more straightforward cover is probably better for impulse buying at a bookstore. I’m sure that factored into the publisher’s decision to make a change. At school visits, teen readers tell me they prefer the paperback cover with the girl on it. Which do you prefer?

4. If you could have any other image on your cover then the couple currently being used, what would you choose?

One of the things I adore about my publisher, Feiwel & Friends, is that they believe in attention to design detail – both inside and out. When folks buy the hardback, they will find beautiful images on the inside – one of which is a girl with drumsticks in her back pocket. I’d probably put that on the cover if we weren’t going with the kissy couple.

5. You are lucky to have two fantastic covers that really stand out. What are some of your favorite covers?

Thanks so much. I do feel really blessed with fantastic covers. However, there are really some terrific covers in YA fiction. I LOVE the cover for Sara Zarr’s newest novel HOW TO SAVE A LIFE. (Anxious to read that one!). And I have to say; Andrew Smith’s novel STICK, which comes out this fall with my same publisher, has a powerful cover that captures the strength of the novel. Those two covers really stand out to me.

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GIVEAWAY TIME!

I also have a signed hardcover of Paradise to giveaway to one lucky winner.

Fill out THIS FORM to be entered!

US Only. Ends July 13th.