Debut Author Interviews

Did the art director read your entire book to get inspiration for the cover?

• Carrie Jones on...Cover Art
• Thatcher Heldring on...Cover Art
• Marlane Kennedy on...Cover Art
• Ruth McNally Barshaw on...Cover Art
• Sarah Beth Durst on...Cover Art
• Julie Bowe on...Cover Art
• Melissa Marr on...Cover Art
• A.C.E. Bauer on...Cover Art
• Kelly Bingham on...Cover Art
• Tiffany Trent on...Cover Art
• Judy Gregerson on...Cover Art

Did the art director read your entire book to get inspiration for the cover?

Two artists read TIPS ON HAVING A GAY (ex) BOYFRIEND. They read the whole book, which is pretty cool, I think.

Then they both submitted ideas.

The idea that was chosen is really cool because it’s a collage. The artist actually carved my name in wood that’s supposed to be like a dugout wall or a school table. How fantastically neat is that? Somebody carved my name, and it wasn’t in the bathroom door stall at a rest stop somewhere with the words IF YOU WANT TO HAVE A GOOD TIME CALL or anything like that.

Did the art director read your entire book to get inspiration for the cover?

I am not sure whether the artist who designed the jacket to my book read the book. I do know that she did a terrific job. I made two or three suggestions after my publisher showed me a first pass and the designer incorporated them beautifully. I even tweaked a scene in an early chapter to match what is shown on the cover!

Did the art director read your entire book to get inspiration for the cover?

I had no involvement with the book cover at all. Though I knew who the artist would be, I was kept in the dark about the actual cover. My first peek at the cover didn’t happen until the Advanced Reader Copy arrived in my mailbox. Thankfully, I was happy with the outcome! And I could tell right away that the artist had read my book. The main character, Mildred, grows giant pumpkins and had quite a few disastrous growing seasons in the past, yet she remains full of hope and anticipation for the growing season ahead. Mildred’s expression on the cover says it all perfectly. Even the dog’s expression is spot on—though good natured and loveable, he causes a bit of trouble for Mildred during the course of the story. Later, I was able to contact the artist (the wonderful, talented Marla Frazee) to let her know how pleased I was with the cover. I found out that she had indeed read the manuscript and loved the story.

Did the art director read your entire book to get inspiration for the cover?

I did the ELLIE McDOODLE cover art (and the inside art too).
I worked with my editor and art director to figure out the design and illustration for the cover.
We did it as a team.

Since my book is heavily illustrated — illustrations tell half the story — it would be funny if the AD never read the book.
I love the Art Director at Bloomsbury. She’s fabulous. I can’t say enough great things about the staff at Bloomsbury.
I feel very lucky to have landed in their group.

(My sympathy to authors who feel their cover is disconnected from the text; I hear that horror story occasionally in various other writer groups)

Did the art director read your entire book to get inspiration for the cover?

I don’t know, but I’m totally in love with my cover. I especially love the little creatures that are hanging out in the swirls. (You can see a picture of it on my website if you’re curious: www.sarahbethdurst.com.) Best part about those little critters: they appear inside the book! At the start of each chapter, there’s a silhouette of a creature. When I first saw the design pages, I called my husband at work and shrieked in his ear, “My book has bunnies!” I love it.

It was designed by Jose Nieto at square zero (http://www.squarezerostudio.com).

Did the art director read your entire book to get inspiration for the cover?

I don’t know if the art director read the book, but I know the artist (Jana Christy) who created the cover did (www.janachristy.com)
I love her work and I’m really pleased with the cover.

Did the art director read your entire book to get inspiration for the cover?

Both the Art Director (Alison the Art Goddess) & her right hand, Bev, read WICKED LOVELY. Then, we met to go over ideas and for me to answer questions for them. As the process moved forward, we were in contact on a variety of details (iconic images, type of flower, which model, different designs). I was kept a part of the process, but each idea was derived from their familiarity with the text.

Did the art director read your entire book to get inspiration for the cover?

The art director, Nicole de las Heras definitely read the book. The art for my book was created by Danny “casroc” Casu, a Belgian graffiti artist who does remarkable work. (His website is here: www.casroc.com.) He also did the interior art and, early on, sent Nicole a drawing of a monkey’s head. Having read the book, Nicole was puzzled. She went back to the book: had she misremembered? No, she was sure, there was no monkey anywhere in the story—but there was a magical donkey. Although Danny Casu speaks and reads English, it isn’t his first language, and monkeys and donkeys do share all but the first letter… The result of this happy mistake is a wonderful donkey’s head that appears strategically throughout the book!

Did the art director read your entire book to get inspiration for the cover?

I’m actually not sure…but I would have to think YES, since the cover encompasses so many small details mentioned in Shark Girl. For example, I have one line in the whole book about my main character wearing a pink bikini to the beach the day of her attack…and on the cover, she is wearing one. Wow. Also, the photo on the cover is framed so that the right half of the girl’s body is cut out of frame…echoing the loss of my main character so clearly. There is also a film strip motif on the left hand side of the cover with images of disturbed water…also echoing a story element in the book (her attack is caught on tape.) I was apprehensive what my cover would look like, but when I saw it, I was so pleased. Stunned, really…Candlewick did an amazing job designing this cover. I am one hundred percent thrilled!

Did the art director read your entire book to get inspiration for the cover?

Honestly, I don’t know. But I think she pegged the cover pretty well. I can’t wait to see all the covers for all the books in the series!

Did the art director read your entire book to get inspiration for the cover?

Yes, the art director did read my book. When she was done, she contacted me and we talked about ideas. I had a concept that I liked a lot and she agreed that it would be very compelling. She went to work on it, came up with a couple of versions, and we all (editor, publisher, art director, and me) decided on the final cover. And it’s my original concept.

The nice thing about a small press is that you can have that kind of input. I’m thrilled with my cover and what makes it even MORE fun is that both my kids are on it!