I love talking to authors. Our experiences are so similar, yet so very different, that every one of us has a new story to share. Everyone says that the moment you get your cover it really hits you – you’re an author. The cover is your story – and you – packaged for the world. So the process of the cover reveal can be slightly panic inducing. Does it fit your story? Is it what you hoped? Will it sell? With this in mind I put together the CRAP (Cover Reveal Anxiety Phase) Interview.

Today’s guest for the CRAP is Victoria Schade, author of Dog Friendly, the story of a burned-out veterinarian who takes a much-needed beach vacation, where a charming surfer makes waves in her love life, and a unique foster pup renews her passion for her work.

Do you have any preconceived notions of what you wanted your cover art to look like?

A big yes! I love art and graphic design so I always have a vibe in mind. The Nantucket setting in Dog Friendly gave us so many possible themes to use since the island is known for lighthouses, beaches, grey shingled homes, and hydrangeas. Add an adorable dog (or two!) to any of those images and you’ve got the perfect cover!

Did you have any input on your cover?

Yes, I’m very fortunate! With my prior books I was given a bunch of initial options to choose from but I think the design team felt so strongly about the direction for Dog Friendly that they only sent one image to me. I was so nervous to look at it but the instant the photo filled my screen I knew we had a winner. I requested a few tweaks (and yes, I’m such a perfectionist that I asked for Hudson’s plain collar to be changed to a preppy striped collar) and voila, the perfect beachy cover!

How far in advance of the reveal date were you aware of what your cover would look like?

We started talking about design concepts over a year before the publication date, starting with character and setting photos. I also sent a bunch of general “Nantucket inspo” photos with colors and patterns that are synonymous with the island, like the infamous “Nantucket Red” and preppy ginghams and stripes. Nantucket is a place unlike any other, and I wanted to convey the vibe to the design team in as many ways as possible. We had the cover firmed up well in advance of pub date, I think at least nine months out.

Was it hard to keep it to yourself before the official release?

Oh my gosh, yes! Of course I showed it off to my friends and family right away but I couldn’t wait for the rest of the world to see how perfect it was. It’s such a happy, inviting image!

What surprised you most about the process?

I was surprised that this cover was basically an immediate home run. The Berkley team did such a great job capturing not only the Nantucket spirit, but the tail-wagging joy of the dogs of Dog Friendly!

Any advice to other authors about how to handle cover art anxiety?

I think communicating what you hope to avoid is just as important as talking about what you’d like to see on a cover. (One of my requests was “no feet”!) And remember that your team is considering your cover’s marketability in addition to the aesthetic … they know the industry and know what sells, so be open to a direction that might be a little different than what you were envisioning.

Victoria Schade is a dog trainer and speaker who serves as a dog resource for the media, and has worked both in front of and behind the camera on Animal Planet, as a co-host on the program Faithful Friends and as a trainer and wrangler on the channel’s popular Puppy Bowl specials. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, her dogs Millie and Olive, and the occasional foster pup.