This is just a delicious looking book to me. Some covers just "pop", which is the industry term for a magical cover. There's something about this one that makes me want to read it right now. Maybe because it's another one of those "daughter" books, but mostly because I love lighthouses and a bit of a mystery. And I like Colleen Coble very much. This one doesn't release till January but that's right around the corner. Might be a good, light read for a dark winter's day. Think I'll add it to my wish list. I'm trying to pack and go south. Since I last posted, I've been armed with the biggest can of Lysol I can find! We've had two boys very sick with the flu, a missed Halloween (of all the holidays, this is one I mind missing least, though Wyatt and Paul would say otherwise!), hammering rain, a windstorm, lots of Vitamin C and hot tea, etc. Editing through this hurricane is not an option as I play nurse. Though it does make me want to escape to my fictional world more than ever. There I only have to deal with misbehaving soldiers, a sassy spinster, and a misspelled word or two:)
There were some bright spots overall like walking to the mailbox and getting an old hard bound copy of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Ann Bronte from my Kentucky cousin, Leslie. Bless you, Leslie! And ordering the soundtrack from Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World which has plenty of old style music to write by.
Do you have a favorite book cover? Any upcoming ones that catch your eye and make you want to read right now? I'd love to know!
There are books of which the backs and covers are by far the best parts. - Charles Dickens
Congratulations to these winners of the current book giveaway!
Mary - The Fire in Fiction (ready to be mailed now)
Stacey - Courting Morrow Little (signed and sent in June prior to release)
Happy November 1st!
I've got to say this cover is truly beautiful. It has it all.
ReplyDeleteMaggie Brendan revealed her cover for her upcoming release, A Love of Her Own on her blog. She's a Revell author. As I said before they do a very nice job.
I think one of my favorite covers is Lisa Bergren's Breathe.
Julie Klassen and Linda Chaikin's book covers make me want to read them and I know I can count on the content to be fabulous.
Deanne Gist, Cathy Marie Hake books always look like so much fun and I know I won't be disapointed. They always draw me to pick them up.
I also, really liked how Abingdon Press's new fiction line covers are done, example Rita Gerlach's Surrender the Wind.
I am a very visual person and constantly look at the book cover while reading. It is part of the experience for me. I really get perturbed when they get it blatently wrong - hair color, wrong period dress, very wrong body type. I just don't understand how they can depict a raven haired beauty with blonde hair. Readers notice these things.
I hope you have a good trip and stay well. :)
This is a beautiful cover, Laura. The tone of the colors is Victorian. I love the sleeves on the dress. Is it a wedding dress?
ReplyDeletegcwhiskas at aol dot com
Carla,
ReplyDeleteI think it's great you're a cover watcher like me. I think one of the greatest joys in life is a good book and the excitement beautiful cover art evokes:)
I did see A Love of Her Own's beautiful cover over on Rel's site - The Jewel of His Heart is also well done. And I'm a Linda Chaikin fan, too! She has a new one coming out with Moody soon set in Hawaii. I like Hake's sassy heroine on her last cover:) I wish I could write spunky like she and Gist do. All I write is serious and intense!
You are right - some covers are so wrong and don't adhere to the time period or physical characteristics at all. Readers are very discerning, just like you said. Sometimes they see things even the author overlooks!
Praying you don't find anything like that in TFD:) Bless you for your comments!
Virginia,
ReplyDeleteYou are so right - these are Victorian colors. Maybe that's one of the reasons I like it so much. And the dress with the lovely sleeves could certainly pass for a wedding dress in that time period. I'd love to own one myself. And I've always loved hats!
This is so different than what Colleen has been writing lately with her Rock Harbor series so can't wait to see what this is about. I'm a bit sad though as I'd thought of doing a lighthouse series myself but see that it's been done:)
Bless you for stopping by!
I love the way the black clouds are looming overhead. I read the story summary and it looks like it's going to be a good novel.
ReplyDeleteAlmost done with TFD. The only thing I wish I could see was her ankle length hair! This is fast becoming one of my all time favorites! Can't put it down.
That is a beautiful cover, but I will admit I'm drawn to covers that have no image of the characters at all, because they hardly ever match the picture I have in my mind. One of my favorite covers is The Songcatcher by Sharyn McCrumb:
ReplyDeletehttp://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51WHAH2B0AL._BO2,204,203,200_PIsitb-sticker-arrow-click,TopRight,35,-76_AA240_SH20_OU01_.jpg
A cover like this evokes a mood, and a setting. That's what most appeals to me. But I will say that many of the books coming from CBA publishers these days are gorgeous (yours included, Laura!), even if they do have the MC on the cover.
Oh Carla, What wonderful words - can't put it down:) Speaking of such things, I've had a hard time putting your interview questions down, also, and am almost finished. They're just great! Thank you again for that. It's such a blessing getting to know other writers and book lovers through the blogging world.
ReplyDeleteHope TFD ends well for you:)
Lori,
ReplyDeleteI've read some of McCrumb's work as it has Appalachain themes but haven't read the one you mentioned here. I hopped over and looked at The Songcatcher (love the title!) and agree that the natural setting is very well done.
You said something very interesting - that the covers rarely match the picture the book paints in your mind. Me, too! I think of Deanne Gist who doesn't like her MC's face on the cover for this very reason. Often a reader won't pick up a book because of that face. Interesting concept:)
Tomorrow before I leave for Ky. I'll post my favorite cover and see what you think! I actually sighed when I saw it as it could have been Lael's cover.
Hope you have a great writing day today, Lori. Thinking of you!
Love those typos! I've been spelling this word all my life and look...
ReplyDeleteappalachian, it is:)
Laura,
ReplyDeleteHope your boys are feeling better? Just in time for the school week!
The Songcatcher is one of my favorites of McCrumb's, and the first I read, or listened to.
First drafts can be so painstakingly slow. That's the sort of writing day I'm having, but the trick is to keep at it, like any other sort of work out. So back for another rep I go!
Hope the editing is progressing well on TL. I started another edit of Kindred over the weekend. Amazing how much can still be cut with enough objectivity and ruthlessness. I'm hoping for another 10-20K to fall.
Speaking of the word "Appalachian" I learned recently that it's pronounced App-uh-LATCH-an, not App-uh-LAY-chen (as I'd always thought), and that's how you can tell native mountain folk from non-natives. Was I told right?
I agree with Carla---I like the covers to books by Deeanne Gist and Cathy Marie Hake.
ReplyDeleteThe Tenant of Wildfell Hall? That's on my must-read list. I just read Agnes Grey for the first time and really liked it. So now I'm reading Jane Eyre for the very first time, too. I'm enjoying examining the different writing styles of the Bronte sisters!
Chuckling, Lori, over your pronunciation notation:) Yes, I'm afraid the LATCH beats the LAY and some natives turn up their nose at those who don't get it right. It's a very soft, mellifluous sound with no glaring A's. I can't make myself say the LAY word no matter how hard I try:)
ReplyDeleteYes, first drafts can be a real work out. I think that's what separates real writers from wannabes in the end. You've gotta love it to keep at it. The carrot for you is the edit, right? That's when you really sing, if I remember correctly. Amazing how much more you see to trim after some distance from Kindred, aye?! Just remember to save those deleted scenes/paragraphs/words:)
I'm done with the 2nd read-through of TL. Lots of blue pen in the margins of that hard copy now! I miss it so today will try to make the changes onto Word.
So should I take my laptop to Kentucky or leave behind me? That's the real question! Only 4 days there and half of them offline, at least. Hmmmm....
Mary,
ReplyDeleteGist has a new one coming titled, Made to Match. It has a good cover and the setting is one of my favorite places - the Biltmore in NC, from what I've read. I've read her first book and have never read Hake but know they're very popular.
I love your reading list:) The Brontes are so interesting. I didn't like Wuthering Heights (maybe you haven't read that one yet?) but LOVE Jane Eyre so much that I've read it more than once which is rare for me - and it's a hefty book. So much drama and passion in that one! Will have to try Agnes Grey as our reading tastes are the same.
Your book is in the mail, dear Mary!!
Laura,
ReplyDeleteIs that me??? :-)
I am so excited! I hope so!!
Stacey
Hope you are feeling better,stay well and come back,with your creative juices flowing,cant wait to see where you take us next,with whom,ect....my sister in Mo.is reading TFD,and loves it,so wonderful we can share it together.Even tho we are far apart.
ReplyDeleteYes, I have to say the first time I started reading Debbie Macomber was when I saw the cover of "The Shop On Blossom Street". I have loved her books ever since. I am always amazed at the wonderful artwork that many books have on their covers. Blessings,Kathleen
ReplyDeleteKathleen,
ReplyDeleteDebbie's covers are great - I especially like her Cedar Cove ones. And she's just terrific herself! She was the keynote speaker in Denver at the conference I attended in Sept. And she was on my plane - only I sat in coach (she didn't:)
Covers really do make or break a book, I think. Bless you today, Kathleen!
Stacey,
ReplyDeleteIt is you!! You are my one and only Stacey:) I'm so happy you've won as you enjoyed my first book so much. The only drawback is waiting for Courting Morrow Little to appear which should be in late May/early June for me and you. I get an early shipment of books hot off the press and will send you one from that shipment. That's one of the most fun aspects of publishing - having the UPS truck unload that big box with your book's title stamped all over it:)
So congrats, Stacey!! I'm thrilled to have you as my reader! If you want to send me your mailing address now you can do that via laurafrantz@tfon.com. Or you could wait till we get closer to release date. I just don't want to lose touch with you!
Cree,
ReplyDeleteIt's wonderful to get your comment this morning - that sure makes me smile:) And to know your sister is enjoying TFD just as much as you did really makes my day!! You have family spread out all over like I do, sounds like. Sharing books really is a joy!
Thanks so much for your well wishes for health and travel. I leave bright and early tomorrow morning and am looking forward to I'm not sure what! Will take the laptop along to post some pics, Lord willing. Kentucky is supposed to be sunny and beautiful this week.
Bless you, Cree! Please stop back by!
Praying blessings for you Laura!
ReplyDeleteSo appreciative, Lori! I will sure miss my online friends while enroute! Praying for you, too, my friend:)
ReplyDeleteLooks like I'm catching up on a week's worth of blogs but I've enjoyed the comments on book covers. Interesting that you chose The Lightkeeper's Daughter as an example. I got a preview copy through a kind of contest on her blog and I have just finished reading it. It's Coble suspense at it's finest with tons of twists and turns that keep you on your toes and turning the pages faster and faster.
ReplyDeleteAddie, her heroine, is unique and endearing and stubborn and so easy to relate to, which for me, as a reader, is really important. If I can't connect with the characters right away, you've lost me.
Anyway, back to the cover. I find it appealing as well and there's a depth to it that you might not get if you haven't read the book. Notice that she's walking away while the storm clouds are gathering? Talk about foreshadowing before you even open the book!
Kav,
ReplyDeleteLove knowing more about this book! Glad that it has substance, depth, and endearing characters:) Colleen is a fine writer. Love the foreshadowing aspect you mentioned, also. I think we must have the same taste in books! Now I really want to read. I'm getting a bit harder to please as I get older and have less time. I told Mr. Eckert at the book fair that he's ruined me on other writers as he's set the bar so high. But I do love a good, solid romance with a few twists like this one! Let me know if you come across another!