Julianna Keyes's Blog - Posts Tagged "cover"
New "Undecided" Cover Coming July 18!
As you may know, I've been trying (and failing) to come up with a new cover design for "Undecided." There's really only so many times you can hear the same comments ("Is this a love triangle?" "That cover is very misleading!" "I HATE THAT COVER!") before you start to think that maybe the thing you love is hurting the other thing you love.
So.
There's a new cover. I tried to redo it maybe six or seven weeks ago, but I'm not a designer and the things we were coming up with looked like YA ghost stories for some reason. I bailed on the attempt, and then a short while ago I got a message from none other than Kristen Callihan kindly pointing out that maybe my cover was hurting my book. (Cue jaw drop. KRISTEN CALLIHAN??!) This was not offensive because it was not new information, but it was extremely motivating. I went back to the drawing board (which means staring blankly at stock photo sites and pondering what to have for dinner) and eventually spotted a picture I thought could work. I fiddled with it, mocked up something I kinda sorta liked, and sent it to Kristen and another author friend, Jenna Sutton (who was one of the first people to kindly suggest that I needed a new cover), who gave it their stamp of approval. One more thumbs up from a very well-read blogger with impeccable taste, and I sent it off to my friend for polishing.
All this is to say...I have a new cover and it's coming July 18. I'm going to swap the cover on the print version on that day, so if you've been thinking about buying one, you have three weeks until it's replaced everywhere but my heart.
Three weeks is a long time, isn't it? I've told myself July 1 is the day to start working on Kellan's story (that's also Canada Day, for those who don't know - I'll pretend those fireworks are all meant for me), and I'll share the title of the new book then. ;)
If you're interested in being part of the new cover reveal tour, you can sign up here: http://bit.ly/28XeFtt
Thanks for reading!
So.
There's a new cover. I tried to redo it maybe six or seven weeks ago, but I'm not a designer and the things we were coming up with looked like YA ghost stories for some reason. I bailed on the attempt, and then a short while ago I got a message from none other than Kristen Callihan kindly pointing out that maybe my cover was hurting my book. (Cue jaw drop. KRISTEN CALLIHAN??!) This was not offensive because it was not new information, but it was extremely motivating. I went back to the drawing board (which means staring blankly at stock photo sites and pondering what to have for dinner) and eventually spotted a picture I thought could work. I fiddled with it, mocked up something I kinda sorta liked, and sent it to Kristen and another author friend, Jenna Sutton (who was one of the first people to kindly suggest that I needed a new cover), who gave it their stamp of approval. One more thumbs up from a very well-read blogger with impeccable taste, and I sent it off to my friend for polishing.
All this is to say...I have a new cover and it's coming July 18. I'm going to swap the cover on the print version on that day, so if you've been thinking about buying one, you have three weeks until it's replaced everywhere but my heart.
Three weeks is a long time, isn't it? I've told myself July 1 is the day to start working on Kellan's story (that's also Canada Day, for those who don't know - I'll pretend those fireworks are all meant for me), and I'll share the title of the new book then. ;)
If you're interested in being part of the new cover reveal tour, you can sign up here: http://bit.ly/28XeFtt
Thanks for reading!
Post 1: Don't Judge a Book...
RELEASE WEEK POST 1
DON’T JUDGE A BOOK…
For this book I used the tagline “Be careful what you wish for…because you just might get it,” but I very easily could have gone with, “Expect the unexpected.” That’s good advice for readers, and great advice for me. I didn’t think this would be a real book. The idea came to me as a joke, then I picked a cover image in approximately one minute, and I was just kind of goofing off and procrastinating when I decided to write a couple of chapters. I based the main character’s look off the cover model, and I didn’t even know his name until I started writing!
I thought this was going to be a simple, easy book, but the more I wrote, the deeper it got. With each new page that sexy cover became a mask for layers of unexpectedly nuanced characters, and the more I wrote, the more I found.
I really love the idea of form supporting function, and in this case I fell hard for the idea that this book, with its on-the-nose title and “hot guy” cover, could be something so much more. As the story deepened, I considered choosing a more “meaningful” cover and title, but A) that’s much harder than you might think, and B) I didn’t really want to. I like the metaphor of this book having shallower packaging for “deeper” content. (Also, I changed the cover of “Undecided” because so many people complained, then people complained that I changed it, so… you win some, you lose some.)
With each chapter I had to admit that despite my intentions, writing “simple and easy” just isn’t something I can do. There were so many times I reminded myself, “Keep it simple,” but my brain and my fingers ignored that instruction and wrote whatever they wanted. It was actually a pretty awesome experience, one that resulted in a really solid first draft that constantly surprised me on the re-read because I forgot all the stuff I included. This allowed me to use the revision process to add more layers, more shading, and more nuance, and each pass through revealed little bits and pieces I’d missed along the way. (Yes, I wrote it, and yes, I didn’t even know!)
I went out to dinner some time ago and dessert was a “chocolate shot,” a little cup filled with melted chocolate. I picked up the cup, expecting to drink it, and realized YOU COULD EAT THE CUP. That’s form supporting function. That’s surprising someone in the best way. That’s giving me something I’m expecting, and then the added bonus of something I wasn’t expecting. You can’t eat this book, but I still think that’s a good metaphor, and I hope the story surprises you in all the best ways.
**Speaking of surprises, there’ll be a giveaway here on Friday, and the first person to answer my book-related question will win. You don’t necessarily need to have read the book to get the answer, but you will need to have a copy to find it. Be prepared!
DON’T JUDGE A BOOK…
For this book I used the tagline “Be careful what you wish for…because you just might get it,” but I very easily could have gone with, “Expect the unexpected.” That’s good advice for readers, and great advice for me. I didn’t think this would be a real book. The idea came to me as a joke, then I picked a cover image in approximately one minute, and I was just kind of goofing off and procrastinating when I decided to write a couple of chapters. I based the main character’s look off the cover model, and I didn’t even know his name until I started writing!
I thought this was going to be a simple, easy book, but the more I wrote, the deeper it got. With each new page that sexy cover became a mask for layers of unexpectedly nuanced characters, and the more I wrote, the more I found.
I really love the idea of form supporting function, and in this case I fell hard for the idea that this book, with its on-the-nose title and “hot guy” cover, could be something so much more. As the story deepened, I considered choosing a more “meaningful” cover and title, but A) that’s much harder than you might think, and B) I didn’t really want to. I like the metaphor of this book having shallower packaging for “deeper” content. (Also, I changed the cover of “Undecided” because so many people complained, then people complained that I changed it, so… you win some, you lose some.)
With each chapter I had to admit that despite my intentions, writing “simple and easy” just isn’t something I can do. There were so many times I reminded myself, “Keep it simple,” but my brain and my fingers ignored that instruction and wrote whatever they wanted. It was actually a pretty awesome experience, one that resulted in a really solid first draft that constantly surprised me on the re-read because I forgot all the stuff I included. This allowed me to use the revision process to add more layers, more shading, and more nuance, and each pass through revealed little bits and pieces I’d missed along the way. (Yes, I wrote it, and yes, I didn’t even know!)
I went out to dinner some time ago and dessert was a “chocolate shot,” a little cup filled with melted chocolate. I picked up the cup, expecting to drink it, and realized YOU COULD EAT THE CUP. That’s form supporting function. That’s surprising someone in the best way. That’s giving me something I’m expecting, and then the added bonus of something I wasn’t expecting. You can’t eat this book, but I still think that’s a good metaphor, and I hope the story surprises you in all the best ways.
**Speaking of surprises, there’ll be a giveaway here on Friday, and the first person to answer my book-related question will win. You don’t necessarily need to have read the book to get the answer, but you will need to have a copy to find it. Be prepared!
Help me pick a cover direction!
If you're not already aware, circumstances have wonderfully conspired to allow me to publish a royal novella called "Bad Princess" later this year, and I'm asking for help choosing a direction for the cover. A recent vote ended in a tie for two covers, so I've revamped them and shared them on Facebook for a final vote. If you're interested in weighing in, please visit me at www.facebook.com/juliannakeyesauthor to pick your favourite.
More details and an excerpt on my website: www.juliannakeyes.com/bad-princess.html
Voting ends Monday, October 2.
Thanks!
Julianna
More details and an excerpt on my website: www.juliannakeyes.com/bad-princess.html
Voting ends Monday, October 2.
Thanks!
Julianna
