I went to London yesterday and asked my editor if it was okay to show the cover of TO DEFY A KING to the world. She said yes, so here it is. It's a PDF that I've had to open in paint and a better resolution one will be available in the not too distant future, but here's one to be going on with - and isn't it fabulous! It still says historical fiction, but it's not run of the mill headless woman/body part/ etc. It has a filmic looks and I love it to bits. The background cloth is slightly more prominent and is a kind of rich damask fabric.Click on the image to enlarge
25 comments:
Awesome. It's going to be a looooong six months waiting.
Wow, gorgeous colours! I think that cover definitely has some selling appeal!
I linked to you on my blog. This might be a concern, given it's me doing the linking and given that the Jane Austen and Zombies type of book has made me reassess those earlier cover. I'm going to my shelves now, hauling out everything of yours I have, and retitling them as horror where the missing body parts allow.
If I had graphics skills, it would make a very fine blog entry, retitling those covers and rewriting the blurbs. Fortunately for you, I can't draw for nuts.
Gillian
Gillian, it's such a good thing I know you! You've been at the bullace liqueur haven't you?
I really think you need to start with The Other Boleyn Girl if you're going to discuss the 'headless' phenomenon.
Have you seen the latest twist on the historical personage and monsters thing? Queen Victoria is now in on the act...now we know where all the heads went...
Absolutely stunning! Can hardly wait for the book.
I love it! When is the book coming out?? Can't come fast enough for me!
Nadine
That's a stunningly attractive cover - and a real eyecatcher. Above the title the woman is looking straight at you so already it's hard to resist picking up the book and then you want to turn it upside down to see how she looks with the tiara (king-tiara - what's that all about?). And now you've got the book in your hand and that question in your mind, how can you resist opening the book and reading the blurb, and then...you're hooked. That's how I'd react, anyway. (Not sure if tiara is the correct word, though.)
Oh, and the colour and texture are sumptuous. Bravo!
Gorgeous. And what a neat trick to have the tiara only on the reflection. Presumably that reflects something highly significant in the story?
Completely and utterly stunning! Mahelt would be proud if it.
Thank you for the comments everyone. You are underlining what I know - that this one is particularly stunning. I am so pleased that you all like it so far. I think I need to write a blog post about this cover design and how it came about because I think it would be of interest to the world of readers and writers.
Nadine, it comes out in hardcover on May 10th. Not sure about the paperback date, but probably about 6 months after that.
Carla and Annis. The tiara was put in by the design team in order to suggest 'powerful' woman and how Mahelt Marshal sees herself. but as it happens I have been able to work at least a mention of it into the story. It's not a royal crown, but a ducal coronet. As a crown image though, it has resonances with William Longespee's wife Ela, and her husband's relationship with her. The images are about what Mahelt is and what she will become. It's about how she sees herself, and how others see her. It's about what's on the surface and what's underneath, and all part of the same character...
This cover is sooooo pretty. Even if I had never read any of your books before I wouldn't be able to resist picking this up in a bookshop. And is it just me or does the woman look a little bit like Claire Danes?
The waiting is killing me!!!
Lucy, yes I see what you mean about Claire Danes! The model is actually called Jade Creswell and she's a professional model signed to Mot Models. The dress began its life as green but due to the wonders of photoshopping is now red.
http://www.motmodel.com/models/detail.asp?model_id=2827
Gorgeous cover!!!
I saw the crown as symbolic - and a reflection of self.
Ought I grudgingly admit I think the cover's gorgeous? No, that would ruin my reputation.
BTW, bullace doesn't make nearly as good a liqueur as more modern fruits.
The images are about what Mahelt is and what she will become. It's about how she sees herself, and how others see her. It's about what's on the surface and what's underneath, and all part of the same character...
And if that isn't a fantastic tease for the book then I don't know what is!
Just echoing everyone, what else could I say?--it is a Fabulous Cover! =)
That is one really cool cover! There is something very hypnotic about it, and it "draws" me. Wil keep an eye out for the book!
Anne G
I like it, very pretty. I prefer to see faces on the covers of books instead of chopped off heads...
It's beautiful!! Can't wait to read the book.
Eliz, that is fantastic! Like others, I can't wait! (am I remembering correctly that this book will be published simultaneously in UK and US?)
Question I've always wondered: who do they find to model the covers? Are there actual models who make it their career, or is it someone chosen by the publisher or author? Who designs the covers, and do authors now have more say in how their cover looks than in the past? (when many excellent HF was spoiled by bodice ripping covers)
Cindy, those are all questions I'm going to be answering hopefully in a blog early next year. I want to talk to the design team about creating this particular book cover and then report back so that readers know what goes on behind the scenes. In this case, my publishers used a fashion model called Jade Creswell from the Mot Models Agency and hired a dress from a costume agency. It was actually green to start with, but with the wonders of Photoshop, the colour has been changed. The model herself has done shoots for magazine covers, lingerie, cosmetics and fashions, so has an all round portfolio. I don't know who came up with the reflection idea, but I was involved at the initial planning stage, where we decided that we needed something different. The other covers were good but had become samey and we needed a market leader. The key themes that emerged were 'filmic' and 'sumptuous.' Must admit, I love this one to bits. :-)
I've always been pretty sure that a fair number of these females on book covers are models. Jade Creswell certainly has "the model look" without being too obvious about it. And part of the reason I thought the cover was "hypnotic" was that she really looked the part. BTW, I know very well what you can do with Photoshop. I Photoshopped the redhead that introduces my blog. She originally had dark hair and eyes, and olive skin. . . . but my character, right from the beginning, had to have red hair. Hence the green-eyed redhead
A very striking cover. I focuses on her, not the body parts. Nice for a change.
I keep coming back for another look at this cover, Elizabeth.
Every time I look I see something new. Mahelt's own sureness and inner conviction, the stunning imagery. The way the touches of dark red on the background damask highlight and enhance the red of her dress. It's all so clever and so absolutely complete.
Is there an award for book covers?
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