Cover Talk with K.A. Barson

Today's guest for the CRAP (Cover Reveal Anxiety Phase) is fellow Class of 2k13 member K.A. Barson, author of 45 POUNDS, MORE OR LESS, a YA title about Ann, whose perfectly thin mother never had to diet in her life... while Ann struggles to keep from bubbling over into a size 18.

Did you have any pre-conceived notions about what you wanted your cover to look like?

Not really. As a reader, I don’t like covers that do not depict the main character, so I did not want a thin, blond girl on the cover. Other than that, I trusted Penguin. This is not their first rodeo, but it is mine.

How far in advance from your pub date did you start talking covers with your house?

I talked about it with my editor probably about a year before release. She agreed that she wanted the cover to depict the story. We tossed around ideas about a girl behind a dressing room door with dresses all around and only her feet and lower calves showing. I actually like the final design of a girl behind a pile of dresses better though. 

Did you have any input on your cover?

I’d had that conversation with my editor. I knew that authors really don’t have input, but they really listened to what I wanted… or more like what I didn’t want. 

How was your cover revealed to you?

My editor emailed it to me. 

Was there an official "cover reveal" date for your art?

Yes. I did a cover reveal and giveaway with YABC in November. 

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

A few weeks. 

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

Yes. I’m not good at keeping secrets. I’m pretty much an open book, so I wanted my book cover to be out in the open, too. I’m glad I didn’t have to wait too long. 

What surprised you most about the process?

I was surprised how much Penguin/Viking cared. Yes, I always knew it wasn’t just my book, but they really wanted the best cover and title and everything. The details of color and design and font were better than anything I could have envisioned. 

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

Relax. Publishing houses want your cover to be perfect as much as you do, and they have amazingly talented people doing it. 

Cover Talk with Tara Sullivan

Today's guest for the CRAP (Cover Reveal Anxiety Phase) is fellow Class of 2k13 member Tara Sullivan, author of GOLDEN BOY. Tara is a debut MG author, and I had the pleasure of meeting her (plus quite a few of my other 2k13 classmates!) this weekend at ALA!

Did you have any pre-conceived notions about what you wanted your cover to look like?

I had imagined a figure-based cover. Maybe Habo on the road, or sitting under an acacia tree… something that gave setting. Instead, I got a face-dominated cover which reveals character. SUCH a good call on the part of my art team!

How far in advance from your pub date did you start talking covers with your house?

About 9 months before my release date.

Did you have any input on your cover?

Yes! More than I expected I would. Though I loved the concept from the start, the original sketches had Habo looking angrier and showed less detail of his face. I asked for his expression to be softened (he’s really not an angry kid) and for Jesse (that would be Jesse Joshua Watson, my amazing cover artist!) to include some more clues that Habo was a person with albinism. For the final version, Jesse added the sunspots under Habo’s eyes and his hair, and now Habo’s expression shows a wary vulnerability instead of aggression. I think it’s a stunning, powerful cover and I absolutely love it!

How was your cover revealed to you?

In an email, out of the blue! My heart was pounding when I opened that attachment, I can tell you.

I was also nervous because they had originally told me that they wanted me to change my title. But then, when I came back with some brainstormed second titles I was told they had come up with some art that might make my original title work. So when I opened that email it wasn’t just my cover on the line, it was my title too!

Was there an official "cover reveal" date for your art?

More or less. Once the art was finalized, my publisher told me when I could publicly share my cover. I had a cover reveal on iceybooks.com on October 23rd, 2012.

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

Probably a few weeks.

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

Yes. :)

Like any huge news, you want to share it right away. Especially since I loved so much where the cover ended up, I wanted to share it with the world!

What surprised you most about the process?

I think, having braced myself for being completely ignored, I was most surprised by the fact that my opinions were taken into consideration. I had read, and been told, that authors have almost no say in what their covers look like, so I had been ready for the worst.

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

Do not do your immediate-reaction-processing of your cover art out loud with anyone from your publishing house!

This was advice from my agent to me, and it was really good advice. Do your processing with your friends first, then, when you have a sense of what your feelings are, have a talk with your agent. You and s/he can then boil down all your squee or concerns into concise, professionally-worded points. These are what you should bring back to your publisher as feedback.

Cover Talk with Natalie Whipple

Today's guest for the CRAP (Cover Reveal Anxiety Phase) is Natalie Whipple, fellow Friday the Thirteener and author of TRANSPARENT. Natalie is sharing both her US (top) and UK (bottom) covers with us today, and you can see that they are vastly different from each other. She explains why in the interview.

Did you have any pre-conceived notions about what you wanted your cover to look like?

Seeing as how my main character is invisible, I didn’t really have a clue how my publishers were going to handle that. Mostly I just wished them luck. Secretly, I hoped it wouldn’t look too much like The Invisible Man with the bandages and such. I figured either my covers would be horrendous or awesome—no middle ground. I lucked out on both, I think.

How far in advance from your pub date did you start talking covers with your house?

Hmm, I think I was first asked about input for around the late fall of 2011? So that was a year and a half before TRANSPARENT came out! Wow. Forgot how long ago that was. It took another few months to see the first comp, then a final. I had to wait maybe 4-6 months before I could share the cover with the public.

With my UK cover, I didn’t get any initial input. We sold to the UK in early 2012, and they sent me their plan of attack summer of 2012, I believe, and I got to share it a few months later.

And, interestingly enough, I didn’t get asked for input on HOUSE OF IVY & SORROW at all, either. I just got a lovely surprise email one day. But it was all good because the cover is absolutely stunning. I can’t wait to show it off!

I think it can be pretty common that covers don’t get talked about at all before they appear in your inbox.

Did you have any input on your cover?

Not really, in the sense of the general direction. But both my publishers were really good about listening to my input on the smaller details. The clothing colors on the UK edition, for instance, were changed several times until they settled on the right balance. The original US comp was much more red and teal, as opposed to orange. The background was pretty different as well. Both turned out great as they applied my little feedback to make it that much cooler.

How was your cover revealed to you?

Just through email, no real fanfare. That was exciting enough for me.

Was there an official "cover reveal" date for your art?

I was given a specific week that I was allowed to reveal my US cover, and of course I posted it on Monday because how could I wait any longer? Ha. It was the week before the catalog came out, so many of my imprint mates were revealing, too.

For my UK cover, it appeared on the Hot Key Books website before I knew it was available to reveal. I did a post after that to show it off more.

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

Oh, way too long, ha. I think it’s been 4-6 months for all of mine thus far, so sometimes a year before the book is out!

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

Um, YES. I will admit to sneaking it to a few friends and family members, because how can you not? It’s so exciting and if you can’t share it with the world you have to share it with at least a few people.

What surprised you most about the process?

That it went so smoothly. I’ve heard horror stories about authors and publishers not agreeing on the cover direction. Or booksellers saying they don’t like it, so the cover goes back for redesign. Maybe I’m just not picky, but it was probably the easiest process out of all the publishing things. Even my titles weren’t changed. Guess I got lucky.

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

I think it’s really important to remember that your cover is a marketing tool. Sometimes it may not be what you want, but it certainly fits the target audience. My UK cover is very different, obviously, from my US cover. That’s because the UK chose to play up the fun and comic aspect of my book, while the US chose to focus on some of the more intense, darker moments. Both aren’t entirely accurate to the book, but they highlight the part of the book my publishers think will grab their market best.