I wanted to announce the news here so any serious cover spotting can begin. Don't know when it will appear, or just where, but now it will happen. Soon. And I have an Amazon gift card here for the first one who finds it online and emails me.
This morning I showed it to my mom who said, "She looks so real I keep thinking I can touch her if I just reach out my hand." But no spoilers!! I will say it's a beautiful glimpse into the heart of the book. This heroine is the most lifelike of all so far. A thousand thanks to Revell's art team and designer Brandon Hill for getting it right:)
Then today, like icing on the cake, the galleys for Love's Reckoning came. WOOT! I love reading through the editorial comments, especially when I spy a smiley face or two:) I'll be offline till February 14 or so, polishing the book to a high shine for you. Prayers appreciated. If things are going well, I'll sneak in a devotional post or two. And that cover, if you find it;)
See you soon!
Oh what a tease. You aren't allowed to share it yet? Well, fun of you to offer a contest for spotters. I'll sure be looking. Can't wait to see her. Is HE on the cover too?
ReplyDeleteYou don't have to say if you don't want to spoil the surprise. :) I'm just so glad you like it.
Lori, No sign of THE MAN:O - at least on the front. I'm hoping he'll get a cameo on the back or even a profile. I so wish I could share it. I will say it's my favorite of all 4 covers so far. I think you'll know why when you see it:)
DeleteOhhh! How fun! I'll be on the lookout. Can't wait to see it!!! I know it'll be beautiful--all your other covers are gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteKatie, So love your excitement - it's contagious! Revell really does do a beautiful job on covers, thanks. Will be interesting to see which cover you and others like best. I don't mind favorites. I have them, too!
Deleteohh goodness! this is too much!! i'm so happy you got it now!!! can't wait to seeee!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLove the JOY:) Wish I had a bottle of the stuff that I could just uncork on bad days! I'll be so curious as to your first impressions. Can't wait!
DeleteSo glad you like the cover! I will definitely be looking for it! You have my prayers as you polish LR. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the prayers, Michelle. It really requires a lot of concentration and reading things over and over and over. I hope your looking is rewarded! My guess is that it appears on the Revell site first...
DeleteCan't wait to see your new cover. I'm sure it's beautiful!
ReplyDeleteCathy, Many thanks for your support! I do think this cover is beautiful and hope you think so, too!
DeleteWill be praying for you :-) Have fun
ReplyDeleteOh, prayers so appreciated Breanna - and I need the reminder of the "fun" aspect. It really is fun once I'm into it!
DeletePrayers coming your way Laura
ReplyDeleteAnd you have mine, Carissa, as you study and all else!
DeleteYay!!! So exciting! Praying that all your polishing goes well :)
ReplyDeleteHelen, Polishing for you as I know you like those heroes:) I hope you love this one, too! Mutual prayers, friend!
DeleteWhoot!! Laura!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a blessing after such hard work and long waiting. He is faithful to complete the works He began in you---that's my verse for today, glad to share it with you. Have fun with your edits. Can't wait to get a peek at the cover soon!
Love the verse, Ann! Needed that, thank you:) You know, I'm so curious as to first impressions. Covers, like books, are truly a subjective experience! So glad I can share the cover stuff with you!
DeleteI bet this never gets old, Laura. Congratulations. Love your positive attitude through it all!
ReplyDelete~ Wendy
Wendy, Love having you here:) I had to smile about the postive attitude. Thanks for that. I do have my moments but most of them are off camera, so to speak! That's the thing about publishing. It's truly a roller coaster ride with some definite highs and lows. Cover art is one of the highs, thank heavens!
DeleteOh joy!! I can't wait to see it Laura. I'm sure it's just spectacular!!!
ReplyDeleteHannah, I will say this one does get your attention! Spectacular is certainly what Revell hopes will happen:) Bless you for saying so.
DeleteWell, I'll try, but with my own deadline, I'll probably find it after someone else announces it! I just want to see the cover, Revell does such a beautiful job with them, makes me glad I'm an author.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to see your cover, Winter. Every house is so different with design, etc. I do feel very fortunate with Revell. I think they have staff that are passionate about cover art and it shows. Just show back up here when it appears and celebrate with me:) Prayers with you on your deadline, too.
DeleteYay! I'll be scouring the internet like mad trying to find that cover....and only be slightly peeved at you for not going ahead and showing it to us :-) So glad that it exceeded your hopes and expectations and I love your mom's comment about it!
ReplyDeleteMary, It takes enormous self-control not to slap it up there on the blog:) Revell would spank me, I'm afraid! Mom loves it and keeps looking:) That's because it's in the colors she loves. But no spoilers! Can't wait to hear your thoughts when it appears! And I'd love to send an Amazon card your way!
DeleteOh, this is exciting! I love seeing new covers. You mentioned what a great job the art team did and that your mother said, "She looks so real..." I thought they used live models/photgraphs for the covers of these books now days. Do they use live models, but draw them for the cover instead? What about your other books? I thought they were photographs.
ReplyDeleteSylvia, You're right on - real models are used for the photo shoots and then publishing houses do their own magic once they get the images from photogrpahers/designers like Brandon Hill. I'm not really sure how it all comes together - hope to do a blog post on that soon and actually visit Revell's art team. My other 3 books have sort of an ethereal quality to them - they don't look quite real but more like a painting. Just my opinion. But Love's Reckoning seems different to me. Much more lifelike for some reason, like something out of a movie. I'd love to know what you think once you look it over. And no problem if some of you flag former covers as favorites instead. I actually have readers who like TFD's cover art best. My preferences work backwards. LR is my favorite, then TCL, CML, and lastly, TFD. As for my books, I don't have favorites. Strange stuff!
DeleteSorry for the typos! Grrrr...
DeleteOh, yay!!! I'm so excited to see the cover and get a glimpse into LR. I love when you can get the overall tone, story, and characters just from looking at the outside of a book. And yours are always so lovely! Will definitely keep my eyes peeled for that sneak peek...
ReplyDeleteAlso, will be praying you get all the edits needed done, without too much stress. I'm sure it's quite an arduous process! Thank you for putting so much of yourself into each of your stories-it really shows in the finished product. :)
Christina, You name the elements of a good cover so succinctly:) That's why I'm so smitten with this new one. It seems to be a window into the story in a very memorable way. I don't know how they got it so right - but they did! Another tiny spoiler...this young woman is more natural-looking, not the classic cover model beauty. That was a lovely change for me. And you also mentioned "tone." Something else that is very evident this time!
DeleteI so appreciate your words. It makes the overkill I do worth it in the end, if it brings you a better story. Thanks so much!!
You have my prayers, Laura! How exciting! I can't wait to see it!
ReplyDeleteGwen, Prayers needed all the way! I was thinking of you and how thankful I am for you today:) Too many reasons to count!
DeletePraying for you,Laura.So excited to see the new cover,and to read the book. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteI just realized, Colleen, that this book will be out the month we hope to meet in Dallas:) Praying that works, Lord willing. It seems a long ways off! Thanks so much for your prayers. You have mine.
DeleteRejoicing with you!
ReplyDeleteLove the rejoicing, Jennie! That's actually one thing the Lord has impressed on my heart this year - to be more joyful! Can't wait to share the cover with you - and the story.
Deleteso when will the new book come out? I read The Colonel's Lady, Courting Morrow Little and Frontiersman's Daughter in under 2 weeks. So I can't wait to read your next book! Love the history you put in your books! I didn't want Morrow and Red Shirt's story to end...
ReplyDeleteHi Anon, The book should be out mid-August:) But I wish sooner! That's amazing you had a read-a-thon with my books!! Love that! Also love hearing you didn't want Morrow and her man to end. Me either! I keep thinking about a sequel to that one:) Bless you so much.
DeleteCongratulations, Laura, that is such FABULOUS news!!! I'm so blessed for you, dear friend, and I've been praying for you and will continue to do so! How exciting! I can't wait to see it AND read it!! ;)
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your time shining up LR, though I'm sure it's already glowing! :)
Prayers & Blessings,
Amanda
OH AMANDA! Triple WOOT!!! So happy you're here! Now that I've completely embarrassed you (with a few typos thrown in, no doubt, as it's getting late), I'm so thrilled to share the cover buzz with you. I was thinking about you earlier, remembering you said you'd hoped to be back online in January and now here you are:) And I hope you warm to this new cover when it appears. It seems to be an Amanda-type cover so maybe you will. Praying your year is off to a good start. I know I haven't been the only in the blogosphere who's thrilled you're back. Prayers with you, too, my friend.
DeleteWhat an exciting time, and a busy time as well. I can't wait to see the cover, but even more so to read it. Polish that gem!!
ReplyDeleteOh, hope there's enough gem to polish, dear Carla!! You've been through this yourself now and know what I mean:) Congrats, too, on your release this month to book clubbers! I look forward to holding it in hand later this spring and spotlighting it here. Can't wait to hear your cover thoughts when it comes. Bless you so much.
DeleteSQUEE! Do you think this will top my all-time fave cover Courting Morrow Little? :-P
ReplyDeleteSQUEE! Can you see me smiling:) I think our Morrow has some stiff competition! But it will be so interesting to me to hear your thoughts. How I'd love to be able to show you myself and share the moment!
DeleteThat is super exciting!! Can't wait:) I'll be on the lookout.
ReplyDeletePrayers for editing!!
Oh, thank you, dear Kristen! I hope your writing is going very well, too:) Would love for you to discover that cover!! Bless you and that little one and hubs!
DeleteWishing you much success as you go into your writing cave with your galleys, Laura. Sure wish you'd at least let us get a peek at it over in CACW. We won't share it with anyone. Honest!
ReplyDeleteOh, how you tempt me, Carrie! Would you believe me if I told you it was a locked file and can't be transferred?! I'd love to hear what the CACW book lovers say...:)
DeleteBless my agent for liking it, too! She said she'd sure pick the book up;)
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see your cover. Praying for you going into your writing cave. Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteGlad your prayers go with me, Julia:) I just came up for air and saw this. You're a blessing!
DeleteOh Laura!! I'm so excited for you! I absolutely LOVED "The Colonel's Lady" and I will certainly be looking for "Love's Recokoning." I will ask Becky to be praying for you also! You have such a way of wraping concern for your characters around my heart and squeezing!!It is hard to put your books down! You are a blessing for sure!
ReplyDeleteSusan - oh, YOU'RE the JOY and blessing here! Your gracious words are just what I needed tonight as I get ready for a busy week. I'm so touched by what you said about my characters. I do hope these beloved folks in Love's Reckoning give you a heart's squeeze or two. Creating poignant stories is my aim as an author. And please give hugs and hellos to Becky. Prayers and hugs to you, too! Thanks a million for taking time here.
DeleteJust wanted to tell my dear readers here that I've loaded the cover and it's all ready to go. It's BIG for some reason and takes over the whole screen so you'll see it just like I did in living color when Revell sent it to me:) I had a reader contact me yesterday who sent a photo of a cover model from Brandon Hill she thought might be mine but alas! Lovely, but not it! So please keep looking:)
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm still looking!! :) I can NOT wait to see it!
DeleteOh Marissa. I am SO ready for you to find it:) I had be away this afternoon and kept wishing myself home in case someone had spied it! Sd soon as that happens I can post it here - woohoo!! And am hoping you love it as much as I do, my encouraging friend:)!
ReplyDeleteI keep searching and searching for it with no luck LOL. I can't WAIT to see it! And I especially can't wait to read it! I've been picking up a few other books but they bore me. Laura, you sure have spoiled this gal! I can't find a book that even compares to the greatness of your books. And recommendations on other authors while I impatiently wait for LR? heehee
ReplyDeleteOh, I'd SO LOVE to send an Amazon card to Scotland!! WOOHOO! Please keep looking. A little bird told me it should appear within the next 2 weeks so am hoping so. Hate to keep readers waiting... More than anything, hope you are as smitten with this cover as I am! Will be interesting to hear reader reactions. One never knows... Kind of like reading and favorite authors. I'm beyond thrilled I'm one of yours:) I do have favorite books and will be glad to share some here. Another reader just asked as well this week. My only concern is that books won't resonate with others like they do with me. But I'll still share and pray/hope they do...
DeleteThe real stand-outs for me are Liz Curtis Higg's books. And guess what - they're set in Scotland:) I would start with her latest series of 2: Here Burns My Candle and Mine is the Night. Not sure how Scottish libraries work but hers are usually at libraries. And they're available on e-readers, too. She has several other historicals I love set in Scotland, too, you might try if you enjoy these two. She's an amazing author and one, like you said, who spoils you on the page and makes you unfit for anything else!
I also really like MaryLu Tyndall - historicals with pirates and lots of romance and action and a solid spiritual message. She's also a sweetheart like Liz and I can't say enough good about her! Can you tell I'm stuck on historicals? You could try The Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner. A time travel historical, so to speak. I'll think of more and come by your blog and tell you. It's early yet and my brain is in slow gear! Oh, and Francine River's Mark of the Lion series is just stellar. Very rich and moving. Also, her Redeeming Love is another great read. Hope this gets you started.
And thanks a million for your kind words! Wish I could buzz over to Scotland and we'd have tea and scones and talk books:)
I spotted the cover Laura :) BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete