another beautiful book

I thought I'd post one more book cover as I enjoy them so much. This is from Sara Donati's upcoming release in 2010. She writes for the secular market and her 18th-century novels are very long and multi-faceted. 300,000 words for this one! I've only read one and really enjoyed her descriptions of the natural world though I can't sanction some of the content. This cover is like I imagined Lael's would be prior to publication. The colors are so rich and there is a wildness about it as well as an air of unreality. Per this reviewer, anyway:) I'm sure each one of us has very different reactions which just makes it all the more interesting. Sometimes the publishing sales team has the final say on a cover and it gets tweaked or redone altogether. I'm blessed to have a publisher that asks for my input regarding my protagonist, her dress, and the background. Wonderful stuff! I just had to wait a long time before it finally happened:)

Do you have any best loved ideas for your own book cover? Or, if you aren't a writer, are there any book covers that really "pop" for you?

The covers of this book are too far apart. -Ambrose Bierce

another beautiful book cover...

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!

a cup of tea

Since that last post, I've been so caught up in counting my blessings I think it's making me sick:) But since we're in thankful mode, it could be worse. I could have the flu and not just a bad cold. And instead of being this Tuesday it could be next Tuesday, the eve of my Kentucky departure. And I could be so sick I'm unable to write, which I'm not. The Lord was so good today in parting the clouds after our weatherman vowed we'd not see the sun till next July (no kidding). I found a hot spot on our deck in which to edit. My granny always said the sun can bake a cold right out of you. And if I take an extra Tylenol I can almost pretend I'm not sick at all. So there, cold bug, begone:)

I never want tea unless I'm sick - ever try Tazo Wild Sweet Orange? It's great! No sugar needed. Put it in one of these lovely teapots and you'll perk right up. This china reminds me of Morrow. I'm just dying to post her book cover. I finally printed it out last week and had it laminated so I don't have to retrieve the e-file every time I want to look at her. Yesterday the blurb for Courting Morrow Little was posted on Amazon (back cover copy) if you want to look. I didn't write it but it's the gist of the novel minus a few dozen threads. I'm not a back cover copy kind of gal. Cramming a 400 page book into a paragraph is not my idea of creative fun. But I appreciate the intrepid editor who did that.

Better get off here before I sneeze! Hope you're happy and healthy today.

Christmas countdown

Now that we've downed all that turkey, Christmas is only 26 days away! In years past we've had our tree up by today and all those Christmas cards addressed and stamped and the whole house smelling of cinnamon and cedar and woodsmoke. But not now! I have other things to think about like book covers and sales catalogs:) I did untangle two strings of white lights and threw them up over a quilt rack and the hutch but they're hanging a bit crooked and not all of them are twinkling. I won't be sending Christmas cards this year, just book cards and bookmarks next year, Lord willing.

About that book cover. It's been interesting to hear first impressions. My mom said, "Wow! Your name is in big letters!" My dad thinks the man standing in the background looks like Randy, my husband. Sans ponytail, that is - or queue, the 18th-century term. A dear Hispanic friend of mine looked at the girl on the cover and exclaimed, "My, she's so WHITE!" Well, as far as I know, Joyce, there were few Hispanics settling Kentucky in 1777. They were making things happen further west (Missouri territory)!

I really like the cover. It's very different than I thought it would be. The beautiful girl on the front is an actual model. I hope she reads the book! Lael looks right to me as does Ian behind her. His clothing is also just right. Colonials were big on buttons. I love the cabin and woods and the dramatic colors. I even love the font style used - sort of looks chisled in wood. I'd prayed about this whole process and am so pleased. If you were standing in my shoes after a 40 year wait, you'd be singing too!

The Frontiersman's Daughter is available for pre-order on Amazon.com and also Christianbooks.com at this point. And yes, I've already ordered my copy!

Happy Friday.

a novel experience

I've just climbed down from my desk and finished singing the Hallelujah Chorus so now I can tell you that I received my book cover today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The designer did a wonderful job of capturing the essence of the story itself. I won't say any more till I post it here and hope that will be soon. Seeing your name in print on a book cover is truly a novel experience, no pun intended:) Strangely enough, it was the last thing I noticed.

I received a preliminary cover design last week but the art team wanted to change a couple of things. I do know that covers can go through several stages until things are just right so what I post might not end up being the real deal in the end. It is interesting to track the changes made. I've spent the last few minutes (well, the last half hour or so!) comparing the first and second design. And singing as I go!

I've read that authors sometimes throw a "diplomatic fit" if a cover isn't to their liking but honestly, this is all such a gift, I'm about to burst! I'm so glad the 40 year wait is over!

I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me. Psalm 13:6