This post was originally sent through my author newsletter on November 4th, 2022. To subscribe to my newsletter and receive up-to-date news, musings, and more, click HERE.
Earlier this week, MarcyKate's and my editor for The Thirteenth Circle sent us an email with cover art updates. This was a surprise to us—but also to our editor. Apparently, she hadn't expected to discuss the design for our book yet, but someone brought it up, and so the discussion happened right then and there. Two artists were selected (a first choice and a backup). Our editor sent us links to their portfolios, explaining all the rationales behind why they were the team's top picks.
Why is this noteworthy?
Well, maybe to some authors, it isn't! But for me, it is absolutely the most communication I've ever had about cover design—and it's been both fun and enlightening.
Cover design is one of those areas where, in general, authors get little input. (Unless you're a Very Big Name, i.e. a celebrity or a New York Times Bestseller.)
For my two YA novels, I saw and heard nothing until there was a close-to-finished cover layout. The emails landed in my inbox with language like, "Here's what we've decided on. Hope you like it as much as we do!" I was able to offer tiny suggestions. For instance, I had a few comments about the model in the photograph chosen for the How It Feels to Fly cover: I asked that her nail polish be removed and her makeup be toned down, because she looked much older than the character's 16 years. But overall, I was given the impression that this was what was happening, and I'd best get on board.
(One story I do like to tell about the HIFTF cover is that I was completely caught off guard by those balloons! The image had been chosen because the floating balloons made the designer think of flight. But...there were no balloons *anywhere* in the book. So, rather than argue about the cover not really tying into the story, I added a scene with balloons into the manuscript.)
For Class Critters, I was brought into the process a bit earlier. I learned that they'd be using two different artists: one for the books' covers and one for the interior illustrations. I was told that the sales and marketing team wanted a more photorealistic animal on the cover, with a few quirky illustrated details. I was sent links to portfolios as well as sketches by the artists who had been chosen, and I was able to offer comments on the proposed artwork. (For instance, both the interior and cover artists for Tally Tuttle Turns into a Turtle initially drew tortoises, so I had to send back descriptions and sample images showing the differences between turtles and tortoises!)
But even though I was looped in earlier, I didn't have much say in the actual direction the cover designers chose. I love my Class Critters covers! I'm super lucky! But this was definitely still a situation where things were happening outside of my purview as the author.
Which is why the process with The Thirteenth Circle has been so interesting! Back in September, our editor emailed with some requests. MarcyKate and I were asked for scenes from the book that we thought might be good to feature on the cover, as well as for major symbols and elements that could be included. We were asked to describe the main characters' appearances and general styles. (This is the step that would have saved the Tally Tuttle artists from first drawing tortoises!) We were also asked to share some covers from recent books that we were drawn to, to give the design team some jumping-off points in their brainstorming discussions.
Obviously, I don't know if the finished cover will end up showing the book scene we suggested, but the characters should look the way they are described in the text. Plus, the artists that were chosen for consideration are absolutely fantastic; either one will do an amazing job. And sure, maybe those artists would have been selected even without the authors' suggestions. Maybe they were already on the designers' radars. But it felt amazing to be included in the conversation!
There is so much in this business that is outside of the author's control. Really, the only thing that is ours is the words on the page (and even then, we have an editor and a copyeditor and a proofreader making suggestions). Everyone involved in publishing books wants the best—and most marketable—finished product. There are definitely times when I, as the author, have to let go of something that isn't being done the way I would do it. I have to hope and trust that the people who made the decision did it for good reason. Cover design falls under that umbrella, because cover trends ebb and flow. My job is the words.
But wow, I can't wait to see this Thirteenth Circle cover. I am so excited by the possibilities we've discussed and by the portfolios we've been shown. And of course, I'll share it with you as soon as I'm able!
Fingers crossed we love, love, love it. :)
~Kathryn
What I'm:
Reading: I am currently reading a YA manuscript for blurb consideration! It's been a long time since I was asked to blurb—a.k.a. write up a nice promo statement for marketing and/or the book cover—but this author reached out to me after being moved by How It Feels to Fly. I'll let you know if I decide to blurb her book, so you can check it out when it releases!
Cleaning: I've been on a bit of a home improvement streak lately, working on updates to my office area and my kiddo's room. Do you go in and out of phases where you absolutely must do something to freshen up your living space?
Watching: The kiddo has been home sick for a couple days, so our TV has been set to her current faves: "Doc McStuffins," "Mickey Mouse Club House," and "How It's Made."
Loving: Luckily, she wasn't sick on Halloween! (The germs really hit her on Tuesday...) As promised, here's the two of us: a spooky princess and her skeleton sidekick.
