Dear All–
Hmm. So, my editor at Random House called this morning to tell me they were going to have “the cover conference” for AN ECHO IN THE BONE tomorrow–and did I have suggestions, opinions, preferences?
He’d earlier suggested the possibility of re-covering the series–he’s a new editor, and of course would like to contribute something significant in addition to his editing skills on the new book–and I’d said I was agreeable, providing the new covers were an improvement. At the same time, I don’t have any greata objection to continuing with the jewel-toned iconic covers, if we _don’t_ have a better suggestion. (Not that I can think of a suitable icon for _that_ title, right off the top of my head….and what on earth color would we use? Pink? A pale, leafy green? (Not yellow; I hate yellow, and besides, yellow books don’t do well–accepted wisdom in marketing circles.
John (the editor) suggested something more pictorial/historical, which I said I was open to–provided there are no humans on the cover. To which he said that would make it more difficult–he rather likes the later editions of George MacDonald Fraser’s “Flashman” novels, which have a sort of graphic-art version of the main character in various situations–and he doubted that putting a rubber duck on the cover would impair sales to any great extent.
“Regardless….” I said. “Besides, we can’t put rubber ducks on _all_ the covers.”
The last time this subject came up, I’d just been seized by the shape of ECHO, and in the grip of this enthusiasm, suggested (to Doug, whom I happened to be talking to at the time) doing a new cover series in which the covers were done in attractive deep colors, with the underlying “shape” of each novel done in a striking abstract style (possibly embossed) on the front. This caused Doug to make faces, so is possibly not as inspired a notion as I thought. [g]
Anyway–since y’all obviously have a personal interest in what the books look like, I thought I’d ask whether anybody has any strong opinions, suggestions, whatever. No telling _what_ will happen–as John assured me, this cover conference is merely the instigating point of the process; no final decisions are expected to emerge tomorrow–just some ideas to pursue.
So if you have ideas…let me know!
Dear Diana,
I’d do each cover different but they also should have something in common–maybe a golden stripe, somewhere, or something like that! I thought the German “Die Suende der Brueder” from the Lord John series, the cover was just awesome with the golden letters and the um…wapon (?) in the front of it–maybe they could do it a bit similar to that.
I don’t know what Doug had against stylized story shapes on the covers, that sounds cool to me. Kind of like an inside joke, but pretty even for those who don’t know the meaning.
-Kathy
I like having something on the cover that only means something to you once you have read the book and you have an ‘aha’ moment as you realize it’s significance. But I also really like to jewel covers. Having a person on the cover is risky, in that it might look romance novel-ish. Can i use that word?
Diana,
Personally, I am most aesthetically drawn to the jewel-toned covers of the books with the single icon/symbol. They’re very clean and elegant. (And there are still a few rich jewelly colors left untapped: how about a deep amethyst-type purple or a darker, more wine-like red? Not to mention the option of throwing a black cover into the mix sometime.) Of course, not knowing the specifics of the plot of ‘An Echo in the Bone’ -yet-, *anticipatory grin!* I am afraid I have no (helpful? lol) suggestions to venture for the image that accompanies your covers. They’re wonderful as they are, though!
-Kelly
I like the jewel tones as well plus the idea of putting the shapes on the cover – an inside secret is a great idea.
What about putting the Fraiser plaid on the books as a tie-in?
– Christa
Personally I like the Jewel toned ones. The cover of Outlander was the reason I picked it up. I agree with Kelly, I find it clean and elegant.
I would HATE to see people on the cover.
Dear Diana,
I personally LOVE the covers the way they are. They really do look clean, fresh, and totally unisex for your male readers. Although, if it’s book sales your new editor is seeking, I have an compulsion to have matching books in a series, so I’m likely to go buy the entire series *again* in the new cover.
If they do get changed, I do like the idea of having them
I like the covers your books have right now.
But I want to add a more general point: I like to have all the books in a series with the same kind of cover. Not only it does look nice, but it also turns them into some kind of coherent whole, it emphasizes the being part of one common story.
If you put on new covers at the 7th book, I – as a long time reader and faithful buyer of your books – would feel a little cheated. I’d have to buy the whole series in the new cover (again!!, if I may add), and then the new ones would not be the actual books I enjoyed so much while I was reading them, the books I held in my hands while I discovered the story.
I understand that your new editor wants to show his dedication (and that he wants to sell more books and would probably be glad for me to buy the first 6 books again), but isn’t there another way?
I like the jewel-toned covers fine, but I adore the UK covers. If your editor just has to redo them all, my vote is for something similar.
Cheers!
Hi Diana:
I say keep with what is working. I personally like the design of the book covers so far and you should continue in that style.
Perhaps a deep red/burgundy would fit in with the jewel tone theme.
I think a good symbol would be something like an eagle or maybe the double-headed eagle of the Freemasons to echo the importance of the Scottish people to the creation of the new nation.
I say stick with the jewel tones. I think they look more elegant and like others have mentioned it gives the series continuity. However, it would be nice to have the shape of the book somewhere (maybe on the spine. No matter what it looks like, I’ll still buy it! By the way, Diana, does the local bookstore (The Poisoned Pen, I think) do presales? I’d like to preorder Echo (if that’s an option) from a local bookseller. Just a thought.
I too have to cast my opinion toward the current covers, both the US and UK versions. The one thing about the US ones, if you must change them…perhaps, instead of the iconic graphic on the front, what about using something recognizable from the years each book is set in. Dragonfly culminates with Claire returning because of Culloden. What about something that symbolizes Culloden, probably the single most important moment in the book, really. Does that even make sense?
Because I really love the jewel tones. It’s the thing that attracted me to them in the first place. Though I’ve not seen the UK versions ‘up close and personal’, they do look wonderful on the web so those are also an attractive thought for the US covers.
Just throwing ideas out there.
Sorry about the earlier delete but you can’t edit these silly things!
Dear Sandra–
Yes, you can certainly preorder ECHO from the Poisoned Pen. I’m going down there to sign books tomorrow, in fact, so will ask them if they have a particular webpage set up for that as yet.
Hello!
Perhaps we would like a new look just as well! And you know we love the idea of a secret, as the story shape idea would be.
I really like the current jewel-toned look, with a single symbol. But… my books already don’t match as they have been collected randomly over the years.
Bethany
As someone who’s been reading your novels since they had covers I had to hide (*grin*), I appreciate the newer, more elegant ones.
The first thing that popped into my head at this post, though, was how lovely it would be to incorporate appropriate antique maps or relevant historical documents into the designs.
As people mentioned above, I’d also *have* to buy the whole series again just so all the books matched.
I really like the look of how they’ve been done thus far, so I vote for the style that’s already in place.
Well, the Australian books have already changed once. I bought the whole series with the new covers. http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21ZD8PTX3AL._SL160_.jpg and http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/514RW8M8XBL._SL500_AA240_.jpg versus http://images.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/normal/156/product-31156.jpg and http://www.lovereading.co.uk/gardimg/00/00982539.jpg I do like the US covers, maybe if yellow is out, ECHO could be Black or a dark Purple…? Changing the covers is hard on the people who love collecting a ‘set’, but maybe your editor could bring out a whole new set in hardcover or Trade with a different design, once the new one is out?
I agree with everyone above. The first thought that came into my mind for a change is more of an eye catcher on the binder part of the book. (I hope that is the right term) That is usually the first thing I see in a book store and if something catches my eye I pick it up and look at. (I don’t have one here with me right now-so not sure what is on them, currently) I am always attracted to the deep rich elegant colors—yet simple, when browsing.
The simple images that come into my head when I think of your books are herbs, vines, crests, down and dirty beauty, scars, clocks with the insides showing (I know real technical), and most of all family unity. Then again, I am not known for my creativity. That’s my two cents worth.
How about using celtic knots/designs worked in the shapes you see for the books? Keep the clean, deep shades in the background (jewel colors as they are being identified) Not so abstract as to make Doug grimace, and still with the vision you have for each one.
I fully agree with you on the ‘no humans on the cover’ thing. I can’t stand that.
I like the idea of keeping one thing on every cover the same, and the idea of tying in the Fraser plaid with them some way.
Echo in the Bone – let me think….. I also like the idea of black. Onyx is a jewel, so it’s a jewel tone…….. hmmm, black with the Fraser plaid, and a leg bone? No…. I’m not real hot on the idea of a bone being on there though – seems morbid to me.
Anyway, good luck! I’m sure we’ll love it not matter what – well as long as you stick to the ‘no human’ thing
Thanks for asking for imput – it really does mean a lot to know you care what we think!
April N.