Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Just like the space shuttle (without the rocket fuel)!

My book has a launch meeting date!

On July 21 the marketing, editorial, and design people all get together to discuss my book, set the title in stone, and start cover design. My editor asked me to send lots of title ideas and cruise Amazon for covers I like. So many choices! So many directions to go!

Help! What are your all-time-favorite book covers?

22 comments:

Corey Schwartz said...

Wow! Christy, so exciting! What's the working title again?

Christy Raedeke said...

Hi Corey! The book is one of two and the working title is "The Prophecy of Days, Book One: The Daykeeper's Grimoire"

Quite a mouthfull!

Jennie Englund said...

Oh my goodness! The possibilities!

It's all so... FINAL!!!

Okay, for covers: I'm drawn to simple and sleek. Like Nancy Farmer's THE HOUSE OF THE SCORPION, or my all-time fave: the Pete Hautman's GODLESS.

I could see big setting on your cover: ruins, maybe? Something golden, or tannish?

Dot said...

Hi Christy,

First, I'd like to say that I found your blog because of your awesome interview with my friend Sara Bennett Wealer. Then I took a further look around, and added Juvenescence to my Google Reader feed.

As for covers, I think the ones for Melissa Marr's books, and Cassandra Clare's are very eye-catching.

Christy Raedeke said...

Jennie - Excellent ideas! I haven't read either of those books but just put them both on hold at the library.

Dot - Welcome! Sara was great in the intereview and I absolutely cannot wait to read her book. Have you read it?

I agreee with the Melissa Marr covers, they're mysterious and lush and her two-word titles are so evocative. I hadn't heard of the Cassandra Clare books but I'll go look now. Thanks for the suggestions!

Anne Spollen said...

When is the official release date?
Like month and year --you probably said it, but I missed it -

Christy Raedeke said...

Anne, I'm not entirely sure. The word is "Summer 2010" but I have no idea what that really means.

Tina Laurel Lee said...

I'm not necessarily recommending any of these books but I read them based on my interest in their covers. Impossible by Nancy Werlin, Madapple. I love the cover for Tender Morsels. I tend to like illustrations more than photographs. I have not read it yet but I also like the cover for Liar by Justin Larbalestier. Probably there are more but I can't think of them. Oh, The Order of Oddfish by James Kennedy.

Christy Raedeke said...

Oh, I LOVED the Madapple cover! Just checked out Impossible and it seems to have that same Madapple beauty to it (plus it looks like and EXCELLENT book, now it goes on the list!).

I totally agree about Tender Morsels - it was one that caught my eye as I was scrolling through Amazon besteller lists. Love the sort of Russian fairy tale feel of the illustration.

OMG, just looked at Liar and love the cover and the sumamry. Another must have. Now off to check out The Order of Oddfish.

Excellent suggestions, thanks!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations Christy! Fruition is just around the corner!

Janie

Anonymous said...

One of my fave websites ever:

bookcoverarchive.com

Good luck!
diane

Tina Laurel Lee said...

Gosh, thanks for that website, Diane! Cool.

Christy Raedeke said...

*GASP* How have I never seen this book cover website?

Awesome, Diane. Thanks.

Angie Frazier said...

Christy, great news!! How exciting! My favorite covers tend to be period covers, though I do like The Forest of Hands and Teeth, Dead Tossed Waves, Graceling, Great & Terrible Beauty...mostly covers w/models on them...OH and of course Becca's HUSH HUSH cover! Yours will be awesome, and please, please keep the Daykeeper's Grimoire in the title :-)

Dot said...

I critiqued an early version of Sara's ms, but am dying to have a copy of the actual book!

And adding my thanks to Diane for the book cover website. Coolness!

Barbara Slaton DRE#01855977 said...

God, I just lost a lot of time at www.bookcoverarchive.com
Some are gorgeous, some scary some spare or elegant...
How do you want it to feel?

jberk said...

Here's another fun book cover blog from the NY Times -- http://nytimesbooks.blogspot.com/2008/11/my-favorites-of-2008.html

(Link goes to the best of '08 list & you can go back to older covers there too. So fun!)

Besides that, I don't really have a fav to share, just want to say that I'm so excited it's moving forward (not that I doubted that it would, just these milestones are exciting). Hurray!

Anonymous said...

YAY!!!! Closer to being able to read it!!!

Teri Hall

Eric said...

My latest favorite is the cover of Hotel on the corner of Bitter and Sweet. It's so perfect for the story. Good luck on choosing yours though. I'm sure you'll decide on a good one.

Christy Raedeke said...

Eric - Have not read that book yet but I should - Jamie grew up here in my small town. I've heard it's phenomenal and I agree the cover is lovely.

Angie - That's my favorite part of the title too! I've never been keen on the "Prophecy of Days" part...

Barb - I'd like it to feel modern but with a twist of the ancient. The closest I can come to describing it is the cover for "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"

Berk and Teri - Thanks!

Jody said...

Holy Awesomeness!! That's so cool. I have been in love with two covers lately: Audrey, Wait! and The Shape of Water. (Hi, Anne Spollen; I've never met you.) I've always thought Flux covers rule! Can't wait to see it, Christy.

Hardygirl said...

So cool!! How fun to be able to search around for covers you like. I always heard that authors didn't have much input on the cover.

And, Flux covers are cool. Yours is going to be full of awesome.

sf