Wednesday, August 31, 2011

My Cover is Here!

One of the things I've been working on since I've been away is the cover art for THE LADY'S FATE. I've had an idea of what I wanted in mind for the last little while, and dabbled with it, looking for artwork, fonts, and whatnot. I spoke with a designer and she told me, it really wouldn't work. Well, not the way I wanted it to. So we went to plan B, I sent her my idea, along with a piece of artwork, and voila! Here is my new cover.






I am absolutely IN LOVE with this cover. When she first sent it to me I cried. Really. The power in the words, seeing my name on a cover for the first time, just had me weeping. I couldn't agree more that my first idea would not have worked. I liked it, but not like I like, scratch that, LOVE, this one.

Okay, enough about the cover, let me tell you about the designer. Her name is Melissa Williams and she is an absolute angel sent from Heaven. She listened patiently to my first idea and when she said, "I'm sorry, this really won't work." I wanted to cry. I really really wanted the idea to work. She gave me a list of reasons why, and reluctantly I had to agree with her.

She asked if I had thought about anything else, and I sent her option #2. I didn't really want to use it, because I wanted to try and stay away from the whole Regency themed romance covers. I didn't want heaving bosoms and bare chested men. I found this artwork, and although I thought it was suitable, I still wasn't 100% sure. I sent it off to Melissa and overnight, she sent it back to me, all done up.

Can I just say, OVERNIGHT, people.

This is her site, for those of you who may be interested in using her services.
Melissa Williams Cover Design. You'll find her prices are reasonable, and her covers are fantabulous! But the best thing of all, is she LISTENS to you when you tell her what you want. She also helps you decide what it is you want, even if you have no idea. So for those of you searching for a cover artist, stop by and give her a look-see. You won't be disappointed.

This is the logline for THE LADY'S FATE --

When Lady Violet Flowers becomes governess to the Marquess of Haverlane's daughter, her gentle care and affection for the little girl turn the curmudgeonly Marquess' eye in her direction. However, a woman from his past wants Haverlane and will do anything to get him. Will Fate intervene?


Tell me -- Do you think the cover and the logline are in sync? Do you like the cover? If not, why not?

41 comments:

Laura Pauling said...

I do think the cover is gorgeous - I'm just worried that without a man on the cover people won't realize it is a Regency romance. Does the girl play a bigger role than the Marquess and the woman from his past?

Congrats! What a terrific milestone. So happy for you.

Jessica Bell said...

I really like it. She did a great job. I don't necessarily think you need to have a man on the cover. I think the cover is quite "romantic" in itself (seeing as it looks like something a Percy Bysshe Shelley poem might conjure up!) :o) Congrats!

Unknown said...

For me personally I love the cover and think the log line is perfect!! For Regency I don't think a man is necessary. I still knew romance would be in the novel. I love the mystery with the little girl hiding behind the dress -- LOVE
IT!!

Congratulations!!

Anne Gallagher said...

Laura -- Well, according to Amazon, they give you genres and then categories, so I'm aiming those at romance, Regency, love, you know the usual. And the girl does play a huge role although most of it is off screen.

Jessica -- Thanks. What a sweet thing to say, it does look like a Shelley poem doesn't it.

Anne Gallagher said...

Jen -- Thanks so much. I think that's what the allure was with the girl, she was hiding and I wanted to convey that feeling.

Linda G. said...

Beautiful! I think the cover and the logline are perfectly in sync.

Francine Howarth said...

Hi,

The cover is Wow! Ha ha, and because I know the content, yes it admirably represents Violet's love for the child.

Good luck with the launch. I already have Her Favoured Captain up on Kindle, the book trailer at: http://francinehowarth.blogspot.com.

best
F

J.B. Chicoine said...

You know what I think!--it's BEAUTIFUL!! very impressive and professional :)

Anonymous said...

It's seriously beautiful. I would have cried, too. A cover like that will stand out and that's exactly what we authors aim to do.

CJ xx

Christine Danek said...

I think it's beautiful. I think it works with the logline. Amazing.

Yvonne Osborne said...

The logline ties in beautifully to the cover with the little girl, and all. I'm glad you stayed away from bare chested men and heaving bosoms. This is far classier. Good job! How exciting. And thanks for the link.

Anne Gallagher said...

Linda -- Thanks. I worry it's too much girl, not enough Marquess.

Francine -- I'll have to check out your book. I was away and didn't know about it.

Bridget -- Thanks. It does look nice, doesn't it.

Crystal -- Aww thanks. I didn't want the same run-of-the-mill historical cover. I hope you're right and it does stand out.

Christine -- Thanks. I just hope I do the book justice.

Yvonne -- Thanks for saying it's classy. That means a lot to me.

Matthew MacNish said...

That is SO awesome!

Liza said...

I LOVE this cover. And, I stay away from covers with bare chested men. So you are already ahead of the game with me. The logline works well and intrigues...but truthfully, I'd open the book just based on the cover. It is just that good. Yvonne is right. Classy. Stunning. Perfect.

Sarah Ahiers said...

omg, i LOVE the cover! Serious! Besides the fact that the artwork seems very fitting (and pretty) the BEST thing about your cover is that it really seems professional to me. One of my biggest pet peeves about a lot of self pubbed works is that the covers are juvenile, but this one looks like it could be a cover i would see on any traditionally pubbed book.
EXCITEMENT!

Karen Baldwin said...

The cover looks, well...elegant. And I agree...I'm getting tired of pecs to perk interest. I think it looks intriguing and it says, to me anyway, that the story will be well told and one I want to read. Congrats! It's a winner!

Anne Gallagher said...

Matthew -- Thanks so much. That means a lot coming from a man.

Liza -- Thank you. Opening the book based on a cover is a true compliment.

Sarah -- Melissa Williams is a GODDESS in my eyes. She took an idea and truly turned it into a dream. Thanks. It is pretty isn't it.

Em -- Elegant. Oh, now you're making me cry.

Michelle D. Argyle said...

You already know how I feel about this cover! So pretty! :)

Anne Gallagher said...

Michelle -- There are no words for how I feel right at this moment.

Creepy Query Girl said...

this looks fantastic! Seriously! And I think it's totally insinc with the story line. I love the look in the women's eye

Terry Towery said...

The cover is beautiful and quite intriguing. And the logline is perfect. Congrats!

J.L. Campbell said...

I like it. It takes me to another time and place, also it's not busy - if you know what I mean.

Anne Gallagher said...

Katie -- That's why I love this picture. That look. Like almost a smile, but not quite, like she's not sure.

Ter -- Thanks man.

Joy -- Not busy. I know exactly what you mean.

Talli Roland said...

Love the cover! It screams Regency to me, although not necessarily romance. But I don't think it's vital, either, that you need a man, as long as your blurb shows it's a romance.

When you say logline, do you mean blurb? As a longline on the front cover, it might be slightly long. Usually, a longline/ strapline is only a short sentence. Hope you don't think I'm being too critical; I do love it! :) Big congrats. It's such a great moment when you see your cover for the first time!

Steena Holmes said...

Very beautiful!

Natascha said...

Congratulations, Anne! The cover is so beautiful. I'm excited to see if on my Kindle or iPhone one day :)

Anne Gallagher said...

Talli -- No, you misunderstood, the logline is what I created for agents a long time ago. I just used it here in place of my much longer query. There is no blurb on the front cover, as of yet. The blurb for the book will be much longer.

Steena -- Thanks. It's good to see you again.

Natascha -- Thanks. One day very soon. Hoping to get it out by the end of September.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

The cover is awesome, Anne! Excellent artwork. And no, it still doesn't scare me.

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

The cover is absolutely beautiful. Perfect. But in your heart, you already knew that ... it made you cry.

Bish Denham said...

I absolutely LOVE the cover. And I think the logline works well. I'm so excited for you.

I have a little something for you on my blog Anne.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Anne, that cover is gorgeous!

Anonymous said...

Anne: This cover and the description fit PERFECTLY! The cover is GORGEOUS. I'm not surprised that you cried when you saw it. And I'm very pleased that you went the Indie route with this. You can feel 100% confident in promoting it through every social medium possible!
Ann Best, Author of In the Mirror, A Memoir of Shattered Secrets

Ed Pilolla said...

it's really a beautiful cover. the little details of magic for me is the way the two are touching each other. there's a sense of tenderness in the image i adore. congratulations! looking amazing:)

Nicki Elson said...

Oh yes, it's perfect! You know what my favorite thing about it is? The subtle scrollies coming out from behind he words. True artistry. Congratulations!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

The cover is brilliant. And the logline suits it perfectly too :) Congrats!

Laura Pauling said...

And since I know nothing about Regency romance then I have a feeling many readers will be drawn to your cover! How could they not be? I'm so excited for ou.

Wendy said...

Beautiful cover!!

Jeremy Bates said...

fantastic cover! i was incredibly excited when i got mine back too!

i'm stopping by with whiskey from karen's bbq party.........great blog--following!

Anne R. Allen said...

Love, love, LOVE this cover. It's so classy. And beautiful. And it says Regency without saying supermarket category romance. This says, "If you like Jane Austen, you'll like this."

I've been working with a cover designer myself and I've got to say your designer absolutely NAILED it.

Anne Gallagher said...

Thanks so much everyone for your generous comments. It means the world to me that you like it.

Tara said...

Beautiful cover, Anne! Love it - and the logline. Congrats!