by Dame Jenna
Last week, I received the cover art for Glimmerglass, my first young adult novel, which is scheduled to come out next summer. There’s nothing quite like the fearful anticipation that comes with waiting to see what the art department is going to come up with. Will I love it? Will I hate it? Will it have anything at all to do with my book? And if I don’t love it, will my publisher be willing to work with me to create a version I can at least tolerate?
With all these questions buzzing around in my mind, I was really holding my breath to see this cover, especially since it was a new publisher and a new genre for me. This time, I think I hit the jackpot, with a cover that’s dramatic, evocative, and just plain stunning:
I have not always been so lucky in the past. Of my nine books before Glimmerglass, four covers ended up being completely scrapped and redone. I thought it might be fun to show you the dramatic cover changes I’ve had in the past, almost all of which I’m convinced were for the better.
It started with my first book, Watchers in the Night, which came out from Tor Paranormal Romance in 2006. I did not see the first version of the cover until after the marketing department at Tor had rejected it, which is a good thing, or I might have panicked. The cover incorporated just about every vampire cliche in the world, none of which actually fit with the vampire mythos I was using. (No bats, no undead, no cemeteries, no crosses.) The final cover was much more in keeping with the tone and style of the book, and didn’t use a single vampire cliche. (I think the flying creatures in the background are birds, rather than bats.) Here are the before and after pics, with the original on the left:
My second book, Secrets in the Shadows, also had a complete cover change, though this one happened very differently. My editor showed me the first version, and I loved it. Then one day I looked on Amazon.com and saw a totally different cover, one I didn’t like as much. I contacted my editor, and she said that a certain Very Large Retailer had really hated the first cover, saying it was “too depressing.” This Very Large Retailer was so influential that there was no other option but to change the cover. To this day, I like the first cover a lot better, but I know that it was impossible for my publisher to keep it under the circumstances. (Original on left, final on right.)
I had a lucky streak after that, and didn’t have another cover problem until the third book of my Morgan Kingsley series. I loved the first two covers (particularly the one for The Devil Inside), and I was expecting The Devil’s Due to be more of the same. That was not what I got. Morgan’s look was completely changed, and instead of my sexy, hunky demons, there’s a pointy-tailed monster in the background. This one went through a few iterations, but in my opinion, even the last iteration failed to capture the proper tone for the series. I was asked if I could live with it, and after much discussion with Dame Agent, we both agreed that no, I could not. We also offered suggestions on how it could be made better and more fitting for the series, and to my unutterable relief, the cover was scrapped and they started a new one from scratch. You can see how the final version is loosely based on the first one, but how it suggests “sexy urban fantasy,” whereas the original suggested “campy horror.” (Original on left, final on right.)
And finally, we have my most recent cover change, which is for the upcoming The Devil’s Playground. My publisher decided they wanted a dramatic change in look for this book, most likely hoping that a big cover change would increase sales. (Book covers are, after all, a sales tool.) I’m always happy to make changes in an effort to increases sales, but I was a bit taken aback by this one. Don’t get me wrong–the cover is lovely. If my book were a paranormal romance, I’d have been more than satisfied with it. However, for a contemporary urban fantasy with a female protagonist, I didn’t feel this cover worked. (I was terrified that people would pick it up expecting a romance, and then get pissed off when they read it and found it wasn’t what it looked like.)
Once again, my wonderful publisher listened to what I had to say. My agent and I had both suggested that perhaps we could use a version of the art on one of my foreign editions to give the book that new look, and we sent in the covers from my UK and German releases. My publisher finally decided to use a modified version of the German cover for The Devil Inside. Again, it’s very different from the other books in the series, but I still found it better suited than the original, and am thrilled with the change. (Original on left, final on right.)
People often say I’ve been blessed by the Cover Gods. For the most part, I think they’re right. But those blessings didn’t exactly come easily, and there were some scary moments along the way.
As a little celebration of my brand new cover (and because Dame Agent sent me a bunch of extra copies I don’t need cluttering up my office), I’m going to be giving away a copy of Speak of the Devil. To enter, all you have to do is comment and tell me what your favorite book cover of all time is. (Yes, you can have more than one favorite if you can’t decide.) Any idea why that one is your favorite, or is it just one of those gut reactions?
The winner will be chosen at random, and will be announced on Sunday.
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I think the changes on the covers were a good change. I have to admit I judge a book by the cover at first. One of my favorite cover is Lisa Manchev “Eyes Like Stars” I think because of the bright beautiful colors.
Fav cover??
Hmm…very hard choice here…but I would have to say the Vampire Academy (by Richelle Mead) covers because they are coloured coordinated, having awesome models on the covers, and are very pretty of course.
Another favourite of mine would have to be the cover of Evermore (by Alyson Noel) just because it has a very powerful and eye catching colours etc.
I like trhe changes and i also judge a book by its cover most of the time. if its not appealing enough to pick up i’ll never know what the book about.
I have to say, I’m glad I live in the UK and get the other covers for the Morgan books, tbh. I really like the ones we get.
My favourite book cover? Hum. I don’t know. Cover is something that’s very important in making me pick up a book. I’ll decide whether to buy or not by the back cover blurb & any reviews I’ve read, but the cover is what makes me pick it up in the first place. I recently found an amazing series that I’m now anxiously waiting for the next book in, that I hadn’t picked up before when I’d seen it because I thought the cover looked awful.
Picking a favourite cover is hard, because I like different ones for different reasons. I really like the UK cover for ‘The Name of the Wind’ by Pat Rothfuss, or the ones Naomi Novik has now – the white background with the dragons on. I also really like the UK cover of ‘Full Moon Rising’. And I love the original Terry Pratchet covers – there is so much going on there.
Ach, I could go on, but I really have to stop there. So many great covers, though.
I like the new cover for “The Devils Playground”. But then again I love all of your covers. They pulled me in. Your cover made me but the series.
Wow, the Glimmerglas cover is a real beauty. Ok I have to admit I like the original cover of Secrets in the Shadows more too.
My most loved cover of all times. That’s a tough question. I kind of admire the covers of Erin McCarthy’s Fast Track series but I think this could be the fault of the hunks on the cover. I really love the German covers of the Kate Daniels series. And one of my all time favorites are the German covers of the Walter Moers books. He illustrates his books and also makes the covers. Love those!
I really love Lisa Mantchev’s Eyes like Stars. The cover is beautiful and intriguing. The colors really pop and catch my attention. When I saw it in the book store for the first time I immediately gravitated to it. Another fave is Leviathan by Scott Westerfield…very steampunk.
My favourite would have to be one of the Virgin Suicides. It was done when the movie came out but isn’t the one just featuring Dunst. It’s got all the girls on the front cover and really captures their sisterhood.
Great post, Jenna! I loved this behind-the-scenes look.
I’ve always liked the cover for Watchers in the Night – had no idea it wasn’t the original! That was a narrow escape… Heh.
Um… obviously, I’m not entering, just passing through.
For the record, one of my favourite covers of recent years is Melissa Marr’s Fragile Eternity. Not only is it beautiful, but it represents the book and the character of Sorcha wonderfully.
Kaz
Love the cover of Glimmerglass Jenna!
My favorite cover has to be Eyes Like Stars: Theatre Illuminata, Act I by Lisa Mantchev. Stunning cover.
I’m also a fan of Nicole Peeler’s covers: Tempest Rising (Jane True) and Tracking the Tempest.
Hmm tough choice. I think my favorite cover was for Cassandra clares city of bones. The cover just made me pick up the book and I had no real idea what the book was about but I walked out of the store with the first two books in the trilogy.
I love the covers for Faith Hunter’s ROGUE MAGE series (the trade paperbacks, not the mass markets). I also really like the cover for Gail Carriger’s SOULLESS. The cover for Gail Z Martin’s THE SUMMONER is what made me pick it up. And I would have picked up Nicole Peeler’s TEMPEST RISING based solely on the cover art, even if I hadn’t heard that it was also a great book. (Even my picky artist husband loved that last one.)
Oh I have so many that I love! But the most recent ones are Rachel Vincent’s Shift (although I loved Stray, Rogue, Pride and especially Prey’s too), and I love all Devon Monk’s.
There’s so many others, but I’m not going to bore you with them.
I can’t say that I have a favorite but I do appreciate when the cover has something to do with the actual text. There are so many covers out there that are just some generic stock picture that sort of might fit the theme of the novel but has nothing to do with its content! Therefore it makes me really happy to see a cover, read the book and see that the artwork matches the text because that lets you know that time and effort was put into designing the cover.
This is just my opinion though. And I also realize that if the cover matches the novel it doesn’t necessarily make it a good cover but some thought and attention is always appreciated.
jmspettoli
First I would like to say that it was very, very hard for me to pause in my reading of “Speak of the Devil” (Chapter 11) to take time to read this post. I find it impossible to come up with ONE favorite cover. I have been reading in excess of 40 years and have seem so very many great ones along the way. The cover is, of course, the first think to catch one’s eye – the very purpose of creating them. I do enjoy your covers. How much input do you actually have in the choosing? Or, are you stuck with what is picked for you?
I found it very interesting the way that covers evolve – it seems most of yours have changed for the better. Picking a favorite cover? It’s hard to say since I usually pay more attention to what’s inside. My favorite right now has to be Katie MacAlister’s coming book Steamed – it’s a really great cover.
Covers that have really wowed me were Jeaniene Frost’s Destined for an Early Grave and Tracey O’hara’s Night’s Cold Kiss.
Really with the loads of series that I read, each cover tops the last! So with the Morgan Kingsley series I really like this new one a LOT! I am an urban fantasy reader, so if I saw the “old” cover, I would be pretty uneasy with buying it. I am not a strictly romance novel kind of gal, so thank the cover gods again for Dame Jenna’s cover change!!
jmspettoli said: “Therefore it makes me really happy to see a cover, read the book and see that the artwork matches the text because that lets you know that time and effort was put into designing the cover.”
I think a lot of time and effort goes into most covers–it’s just that the time and effort is geared toward creating a cover that is an ad for the book, not a cover that illustrates the book. (That’s why Morgan has long hair on all my covers, even though in the books, she has short, spiky hair–the publisher thought they would sell better if she didn’t look too butch, and they’re probably right.) I know as a reader that it can be annoying, but that’s the book biz.
“How much input do you actually have in the choosing? Or, are you stuck with what is picked for you?”
I have very little input. Generally, the cover is presented to me as “here it is, don’t you love it?” I’ve been very lucky that both times I had objections to the cover that was presented to me, my publisher listened to me and was willing to redo it. Redoing a cover costs money, and since the publisher contractually has final say on the cover, they could just as easily have chosen to save the money and stick with the originals.
I love the new cover designs for Kim Harrison’s novels. And Kelley Armstrong’s too. But all time favorite, would probably be A Fistful of Charms, by Harrison. I just really like it.
It is so cool when they redo the covers for some authors, but they never print them all the way through in one format, so you have some in one format, and some in another, and it is frustrating, because I am a little picky about my books. (I don’t crease the bindings at ALL.) So that is vaguely frustrating. I like seeing them when they come out though!
I love the cover for Glimmerglass. It looks fantastic. My fav cover? Hush, Hush. Amazing! I’m also patiently awaiting my own cover to come shortly. I’m both nervous and excited.
Hmmm – I started to post and it disappeared. If it comes back, I apologize, I didn’t mean to post twice!
So, I had to skip reading about everyone else’s, otherwise I would have said – oh yes — that’s it! I think it’s very hard to choose, and I confess, I sometimes DON’T buy a book for its cover, but I very rarely DO buy a book on cover alone.
So, if I had to pick, I love Lauren Dane’s Laid Bare and Maya Banks’ Sweet Persuasion. For an historical, recently I’m enamored of Elizabeth Boyle’s Confessions of a Little Black Gown (great title, too). For YA, I love the Cast covers.
I have to say, I love your covers, and think both Glimmerglass and Speak of the Devil are fab covers! I think all the changes above were great improvements, too – even if The Devil’s Playground is a “new direction” for the series
As you can tell, I am a total cover love whore, and I thoroughly enjoyed your post. Thanks and congrats on all your exciting new releases!
~bella
Wow, you got luck on some of those cover changes. Favorite cover of all time? That’s a tough one. I’m going to say, the cover of my copy of The Black Stallion by Walter Farley… it’s elegant and very simple.
That’s a tough question. I guess I’ll pick Hush,Hush by Becca fitzpatrick.I love the fallen angel and feathers,simple but says alot.
My favorite covers have been from Jeaneine Frost’s Night Huntress series, just because I think they capture the characters and details so perfectly.
I like the covers for Melissa Marr’s Wicked Lovely – as they are hmm “lovely”. I like the direction they took with Rachel Vincent’s Shifters series…though was bothered when the scratch was in the wrong spot on the model! Yes readers pay attention to details that small.
I actually don’t like it when a series changes design midway thru…i have a ton of books – mostly serial and i like the continuity from book to book to stay the same.
I will say i liked the covers on your series – see no reason for them to change but atleast – tall, dark and shirtless is gone!
The covers of Anne Bishop’s novels Sebastian and Belladonna take my breath away. And I loved that they seem to fit the characters and the stories so perfectly.
So many beautiful ones to choose from…
I’d say that one I love (this is only one of the many) would be eyes like stars.
Ok, I’ll definitely be in the minority here, but I love the covers from Meyer’s Twilight books. Sure the content is…well.. nowhere near as lovely, but the dramatic colours used is nothing short of beautiful.
Also, Hush Hush is up there for me in the most recent releases. I’ve not heard good things about the story itself, but again, the cover is stunning.
I love any cover John Jude Palencar creates, especially those for Charles de Lint novels. But my all time favorite of Palencar’s is the cover for Tanya Huff’s Smoke and Ashes.
I agree with the cover of Hush Hush. I haven’t personally read the book but every time I see it i can’t help but stare.
Thank God you were able to get the cover of The Devil’s Due changed!
Joanne Bertin’s DRAGON AND PHOENIX has a great cover and Rachel Vincent’s entire SHIFT series is pretty awesome on the cover front but I’d have to say that my favourite covers are those of Linda Wisdom’s Hexy series. They’re just so adorable!
Wow, you have some awesome covers! My favorite covers have to be Lauren Kate’s FALLEN and Jessica Verday’s THE HOLLOW. Striking colors, pensive faced models and a nice font really drew my eye in. Also, HUSH, HUSH for it’s simplistic B&W photo but what a photo it is.
I love book covers! They really propel me into books. Your covers for The Devil Inside really made me interested in the series
My favorite cover is that of Sunshine by Robin McKinley. Both the new and old are absolutely stunning. I want copies just to keep nice and lovely. I love the atmosphere they create.
Hi Jenna, your cover of Glimmerglass is so Fabulous. I love it. And i think the Glimmerglass is my favorite. Even you are a new Author for me (i found out this link from Rachel Vincent’s note in fb) I’m definitely want to read your books! Especially Glimmerglass.
i love the cover for welcome to temptation by jennifer crusie with the cherry on it. but, i really love that book i have read it like half a dozen times.
and i am a sucker for the black dagger brother hood covers by jr ward. those guys on her covers are just so HOT.
the demonica series by larissa ione has a really cool medical symbol on it you can recognize anywhere which is neat.
My favourite book cover is Marianne Mancusi’s RAZOR GIRL, and I recommend this cover whenever I can
Here’s the art by Judy York: http://judyyork.com/collections/Fantasy3/imgs/5.jpg
Honestly, I don’t remember covers much after I read the book – what I find more important is the blurb. It has happened that many times after reading I thought the book would be boring or not worth reading so I wouldn’t pick it up for quite a while, and then it turned out it was great.
Btw, all Morgan Kingsley covers were great. And please, I’d like to be included in the draw.
I tend to buy 99% of my books online, so the front cover only plays a small part in why I pick a book. Some of my all time favourite books had erally awful covers. One of my favourite covers would have to be the Night Huntress Series from Jeaniene Frost the step backs as well are awesome, as well as the UK version of Women of the Otherworld. I could go on and on about the covers I like.
Funnily enough I prefer Morgan Kingsley UK Covers better than the US ones.
I read most of my book on my Sony EBook, so to be honest I don’t really see very much of the covers, those that come with one are in black and white anyway!
Jenna I really love the new cover for The Devil’s Playground, you are right it definately fits the series better than the first one and the Glimmerglass cover is simply beautiful, it would make me pick the book up for sure.
One cover I would mention is the Rachel Caine Morganville Vampires series, my sister borrowed them off me and rang me up really excited when she went to bed because the covers glow in the dark!!
Glimmerglass cover is really beautiful!
Congrats on the positive cover art. I have been hearing alot of back and forth on this topic lately on the blogs.
I was going to say my fav cov is The Gargoyle by Andrew Davison – The one with the wing tattoo… but after a little bit of concentration I pick… Flicker by Gem Sivad. I just laid eyes on this cover last week and I can’t stop thinking about it. I can see elements of the story… and my mind is racing through plots and theories. The book has not been released yet, so I will have to wait to see if I am as enthralled by the story as the cover art.
You can see the cover here: http://gemsivad.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/lost-souls-cover-1.jpg
And read the blurb here: http://gemsivad.wordpress.com/books/lost-souls/
Interesting post!
My all time favorite cover is the one on the Science Fiction Book Club edition of Foreigner, by CJ Cherryh – I’m not sure exactly what it is, but it grabbed hold of my gut and forced me to buy the book, which I fortunately wound up enjoying. Part of it is the contrast between black-skinned, -eyed and -haired atevi with pale-skinned, blond human. Part of it was the expressions on both faces.
A close second is the paperback cover of Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonsong that was created by Rowena Morrill. The hair, the outfit, the fire lizards all combine to give me a feeling of wonder and freedom every time I look at it.
Both of these covers are artwork I’d be happy to hang on my wall
I think my favorite would be Kim Harrison’s cover for White Witch Black Curse, when i saw that cover i had to see what it was about.
Rachel Morgan looked like she was a sexy, kik a.. girl and i was disappointed. 2nd would be the covers of Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson books.
I actually like both covers of The Devil’s Playground..but i diff think the new cover is very intriguing, she looks kinda wicked but in a good way.. lol cant wait to read it.
Thanks for sharing, Jenna. What a fun and fascinating post. I loved it. And the cover for ‘glimmerglass’ is just breathtaking. Can’t wait to read it.
Recently two covers come to mind that I love. One is The Drowning City, The Necromancer Chronicles, by Amanda Downum. And the other title is historical, Confessions of a Little Black Gown, by Elizabeth Boyle. Thanks again for the terrific post.
Gayle
Thanks for sharing the cover art info, it is interesting that all the books were crafted with females on the front. Thanks for that as the before covers with the male models would have of course suggested Romance and these books are not in that category.
Glimmerglass is beautiful cover art, looks like it will be your next series on my Wish List and To Be Read Pile….
My favorite covers have always been the ones used by Laurell K. Hamilton on her Anita Blake series and the ones on the Nightcreature Series books by Lori Handeland.
Thanks for the lovely post and the chance to win a drawing, good luck to all us fans…
Jackie B. in Central Texas
Beautiful Cover arts! Definitely eye candies. I love the cover art for Lilith Saintcrow’s Dante Valentine Series, Strange Brew by P.N elrod, Jim Butcher and et. al and First Lord’s Fury by Jim Butcher. I dont know why I love these book covers. I just has something that definitely caught my eyes.
I like the cover choice for Glimmerglass! Very Cool:o) Wow favorite covers, thats hard cause I like alot! lol. Well Jennifer Rardin’s Jazz Park series(the different poses make it interesting and show’s the main characters strength), The Eternal Kiss(I like the simple picture and its very imtimate showing just her nose, neck and shoulders), Windfall by Rachel Caine(I love the main character so this cover shows her breaking point in this book), Fade out by Rachel caine(You get to see her whole face and her expression is strong and focused), Twilight by Stephenie Meyer(original cover because I like the simplicity of the two hands holding the apple it makes you wonder), Magic to the Bone by Devon Monk(I like how the title is highlighted by this glowing orb! lol It was interesting to me), Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz(Shows a girls neck but when you touch the two puncture marks on her throat you can feel two bumps cause it has texture to it!) , Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick(So simple but shows the most emotion. The grey scale is great and the frozen movment is completely powerful:o))
Thanks!!!
I’ve always love THE POISONWOOD BIBLE, probably because of its elegant simplicity. Also love the cover for Holly Black’s IRONSIDE – who doesn’t love a twisted, darker interpretation of a faerie queens tiara; Jennifer Estep’s KARMA GIRL, plus all of Linda Wisdom and Dakota Cassidy’s print novels, ’cause I’m totally into cartoony images; Devon Monk’s MAGIC TO THE BONE; the first Morgana Kingsley, and Therese Walsh’s THE LAST WILL OF MOIRA LEAHY. There are tons more but I’m trying to keep this list to a minimum.
Oh right, and I think the GLIMMERGLASS cover is *stunning*!
Being Australian I tend to have the UK covers for most things and it is always interesting to see the UK vs US market covers. I usually prefer what the UK comes up with if there is more than one version.
Having said that I can’t choose my one and only favourite but love the UK covers for Laurell K Hamilton’s Merry series (well, before they re-released them again!), the Linda Wisdom Hex covers, and the covers of both of Sunny’s series (Lucinda and Mona Lisa)
Since i live in France i usually have the choice between UK and US covers (and French ones when i’m about to buy the books for friends or family)
There are several books that i have in both UK and US version and some that will make me wait for the UK version because i like them more.
I think the cover i love the most is the UK cover of Men Of the Other World by Kelley Armstrong, it’s an anthology. It’s not that elaborate but i love this cover, and as you said it’s a gut feeling sometimes it’s hard to rationalize
[...] Black has unveiled the cover for her first YA novel, Glimmerglass, which has an August 2010 release date. Other than [...]
I really like the cover of Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston.
The Glimmerglass cover is beautiful.
BUT my favorite cover of all time is “Song for the Basilisk” by Patricia A. McKillip
I do have to say that the cover for Glimmerglass is stunning… Hmmm as far as a favorite cover period.. I’m not sure… Honestly, I do grab books that have covers that interest me but if the title is blah or the jacket blurb is blah then I won’t read it… Sometimes all a book has is a pretty cover… OH I do love the older leather bound books… The feel of them and the simply lettering imprinted titles…
*sniffle* Two days ago, I saw the cover art for my 2010 release. Luckily, I’m 37 weeks preggers, so there’s only so much hormonal ranting I can do before wearing myself out.
Anyway, the most memorable cover art for me was the hard cover for Kelley Armstrong’s Bitten. I don’t know why it continues to strike a cord, but it definitely caught my attention.
Oh gees, there is so many I like it’s to hard to choose. I can tell thought that Glimmerglass has a gorgeous very intriguing cover, honestly I really like it.
I really like your Glimmerglass cover. It is a very intriguing cover.
I have to say I’m a big fan of the cover of My Immortal.
I completely agree about the first cover of Secrets in the Shadows, way better than the second.
Glimmerglass is very cool, congrats!