Now & Forever Book Trailer!

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Cover Stories & Giveaway With Susane Colasanti!

Susane Colasanti's latest novel (out next week!) has a great Cover Story. Here's a peek at it:

"The hottest thing about the cover of Now and Forever might be that the models are a couple in real life.

"Or maybe it’s how the background image totally captures the excitement of a concert. And not just any concert. Now and Forever is about a girl whose boyfriend, Ethan Cross, is the world’s biggest rock star. So of course we had to do some kind of concert venue type design. I couldn’t wait to see which direction the art department would take.

"My contract says that I’m allowed cover consultation. When my editor sent me the first draft of the cover for feedback, something very obvious was missing in the audience..."

Read the full Cover Story at melissacwalker.com, and US residents can enter to win a signed copy of the book below!

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Cover Stories: So Much Closer (paperback) by Susane Colasanti

Susane was here last year to talk about the original hardcover (pictured below) and now she's back to discuss the brand spanking new paperback version (left):

"Can I just say how much I adore the shiny new paperback cover of So Much Closer?

"This is the first time one of my book covers changed from the hardcover to paperback edition. I loved that the photo shoot for the So Much Closer hardcover was done on the High Line. The High Line is my favorite place here in New York. It plays a big role in the book and has a really unique energy. But my publisher received feedback that the original cover (right) was too street..."

Read the rest of Susane's Cover Story at melissacwalker.com.

Cover Stories: So Much Closer by Susane Colasanti

This week, Susane stopped by to talk about the cover of her new book, and she's offering a brand-new paperback version of last year's release, Something Like Fate (remember that Cover Story?). Just leave a comment on this Cover Story over at melissacwalker.com and you're entered to win.

Now here's Susane with the tale of this so-NYC cover...

"You've probably heard that authors don't get to decide anything about their covers. We can't just imagine how we want the cover to look and then have it turn out like that. That never happens.

"But it happened anyway.

"My cover designer is amazing. I saw Jim a few months before this cover was designed and he asked me if I had any color ideas. It was so cool that he was asking me about the cover because I had been envisioning the exact cover I wanted for a while.  So Much Closer takes place right in my New York City neighborhood, the West Village. One place I’m infatuated with in my nabe is the High Line. It's this old section of elevated train tracks that was turned into a magical green space with lots of trees and flowers. Some key scenes in So Much Closer take place on the High Line. I really wanted the cover to show my characters on the High Line at sunset or at night. I told Jim about my idea.

"Then it was summer and I was wondering what the cover would look like. My books come out in May, which means their covers are done the previous summer. Even though I knew dream covers never happen, the hopeful part of me never stopped believing that it might be possible. That's me, always dreaming big even when something seems impossible! But I really wasn't expecting to get an email from my editor with an initial cover design.

"With my characters on the High Line at sunset.

"Dude. They actually did a photo shoot on the High Line. I was beyond ecstatic. [Below, the photographer talks to the models on set.]




"Early versions of the cover featured orange and pink sunsets. The first orange sunset involved some serious Photoshop action. Marketing thought it was too much. Jim toned down the sunset. I love the pink sunset version even more than the final cover...."

Read the rest of Susane's Cover Story, and enter to win a copy of Something Like Fate, at melissacwalker.com.

Cover Stories: Something Like Fate by Susane Colasanti

Last year, Susane Colasanti shared the Cover Story for her Dawson's Creek-esque image on Waiting For You, and now she's back with a new release--Something Like Fate (a book I dropped in Madrid for Operation Teen Book Drop!).

Also, I have an extra ARC of this book so one lucky commenter will win that, too. Just comment on the full post at melissacwalker.com and leave your cover thoughts before May 5th.

Take it away, Susane!

"Before Something Like Fate, my book covers shared a similar theme. They all featured a boy on the left and a girl on the right with their faces hidden in some way. Plus, they all had a sweet natural lighting effect. Right before Waiting for You came out in paperback, shiny new editions of my other paperbacks were released. The goal was for all of my books to share a uniform look by branding them with new stripy watercolor patterns on the spines. I was so exited about this change! The new spines really pop on the shelves.

"My publisher wanted the cover of Something Like Fate to look a bit different. Instead of the usual boy/girl image, she felt strongly that one boy and two girls should be featured on the cover to emphasize the lovers' triangle. I think a stock photo was originally found, but didn't seem quite right. So they had a photo shoot for the cover. It was held at a studio in Chelsea with models from Ford Models. The girls were in high school (their moms were there) and the boy was a few years older. My editor was there, which is how I know some of the behind-the-scenes details.

"The setting is supposed to be an old-school ice cream parlor from the book. At first, they were going to use real ice cream in the photo. They went out and got all of this ice cream, but it ended up melting because it wasn't used. They tried some poses at a counter with the models sitting on stools. Between the models' legs and the chair legs, the image looked too busy. The couch was already there in the studio (although I think my cover designer changed its color to

purple), and it was clear that by using the couch as a backdrop for the finger touch, readers would get an immediate sense of what the story's about.

"When I first saw the cover...well, I was less than thrilled. It seemed a bit Gossip Girl to me. Not to dis Gossip Girl - love that show! - I just didn't think it quite matched t

he tone of my book. It was a shock to see two girls when I was used to just one. I didn't get what a plush couch was doing in an ice cream parlor. Isn't that a recipe for disaster? And the couch seemed huge to me. It was taking up almost half the cover!"

"I loved the fonts and colors, though..."

Read the rest of the story at melissacwalker.com and leave a comment there for a chance to win the book! (Weigh in here too if you'd like!)

Cover Stories: Waiting For You by Susane Colasanti

Susane Colasanti's May release, Waiting For You, has lots of love, angst and the perfect pop culture references. It's also got a great cover. Here she is with the story behind that:

"My vision for the cover of Waiting for You was actually a lot like the final product! I have an excellent cover designer who is able to reflect the tone of my story with amazing accuracy.

"As with the When It Happens and Take Me There covers, a stock photo was used. I'm psyched it was out there. When I first saw the cover, I was so excited! I was on the phone with my editor at the time and could not shut up about it. I love everything about the cover - the characters, the water, the fonts, the colors. The hues are so peaceful. It was a very Zen experience.

"My contract states that I get to be consulted about the cover once a mock-up is complete. I actually had no suggestions to improve this cover at all because I am in love with it so much.

"With When It Happens, there were three cover mock-ups. I liked the tree version the best. It was great that I was able to provide feedback, most of which the art department incorporated. Originally, Tobey was wearing white sneakers. I explained that Tobey would never, ever wear white sneakers and suggested that he wear black Converse. I was really happy that the change was made.

"The Take Me There cover was designed by Sam Kim, who designed the Waiting for You cover. I think this cover rocks. I love the natural light coming through that huge window, and how the characters are talking behind stacks of books. The original version of the cover had a square around the title instead of a rectangle.

Barnes & Noble wanted the font sizes on the cover to be a bit larger, so the rectangle change was made after their input. The only change I suggested was that the box around the title be removed. This was not implemented for the hardcover edition, but I'm stoked that the paperback edition will just have the title against the windows without the box.

"As for my newest cover, I think the it captures the feeling of my book perfectly. We see a boy and a girl on a dock. The story takes place in a small boating community and these two characters have a history of playing together on their dock. As they grow up, the nature and significance of their interactions on the dock change. When I look at this cover, I can sense their waiting, wanting, and longing.

"Please let everyone know how they can connect with me. I love hearing from readers!"

You heard Susane! You can find her on her website, blog, facebook, myspace or twitter.

Personally, I love the cover of Waiting For You, and I think it's very Dawson's, which rules in my book. I also like the paperback version of Take Me There, without the rectangle. Maybe they were trying to make the square look like the circle on the cover of When It Happens, like a Susane signature, but I think all of these covers' signature is their light, airy feel (with a blue sky or natural light behind them). Anyway, the paperback version just looks more simple to me. I'm into simplicity. (I also love hearing how B&N again affected a cover... the stories multiply! Interesting.)

What do you guys think?

Lovestruck Summer Release Day Contest!

Today's the day that my new release, Lovestruck Summer, officially hits stores. There's a week of Cover Stories and giveaways going on at melissacwalker.com, so come on over!

There's also this month-long contest that I'm co-hosing with Susane Colasanti, whose Waiting for You is released May 14th. Watch the video, and then go to my blog and Susane's blog to enter to win books and makeup and musical things!



Thanks for celebrating with me, readergirlz!