Cover Stories: Masque of the Red Death

Bethany Griffin is here today to talk about her cover for Masque of the Red Death, which is a twist on Edgar Allen Poe's gothic short story (cool!). The cover has atmosphere in spades.

Here's Bethany:

"I think that covers are the most exciting thing, seeing a visual interpretation of your work, and every time we've sold a foreign right, a part of me is jumping up and down going, Another cover! Another cover! But, I didn't have an image in mind as I wrote.

"In retrospect, I'm not sure that there was much discussion with my publisher, but one thing we did discuss during revisions was having some symbols for different groups in the story, because through a good part of the story evil is sort of amorphous, and since there are multiple groups vying for the city, it made sense to give the reader some visual clues. I think it was great editorial advice, and added to the story, but...in my mind I was picturing a more gender-neutral cover, perhaps using some of those symbols, so I was surprised when I got the cover, initially..."

Read Bethany's full Cover Story on melissacwalker.com.

Rgz Street Team: Sarah Reviews Handcuffs by Bethany Griffin

The rgz Street Team is a group of teens who bring YA reviews to our blog, led by Postergirl Miss Erin. Find out more.

Today, Sarah reviews Handcuffs by Bethany Griffin:

"Parker Prescott is a quiet, book-ish, and aloof girl. She is so quiet and aloof that she is called The Ice Princess by all of her classmates. But the real reason might be Marion Hennessey’s blog. Marion hates Parker, because of a story that involves siblings, stalking and a restraining order.

"Parker's family is also in trouble. Her dad lost his job and is still unemployed. Her mom works long hours to pay for everything. Her older sister Paige is having trouble with her marriage to the former high-school quarterback who visits their house to steal ketchup because he doesn't like grocery stores. Also, little brother Preston is an ADHD genius. The house is up for sale, too. It isn't like Parker's life could be any crazier.

"Wait, except her ex-boyfriend has some kind of hold on her and it gets them in a situation that involves handcuffs, office chairs, and a rather compromising position. Everything goes downhill from there. Parker Prescott’s world is changing and she no longer knows who she is. Does anyone?

"The characters in this book were really well developed. I could relate to Parker feeling unsure with who she is and what she wants. Paige and Preston were also well developed. Her ex-boyfriend was interesting. I also loved that the plot had more than one story going on. There were parts of the plot that revealed something about everyone in the book. This book was original and one of a kind. Griffin is an amazing writer and I can't wait for more from her. I recommend that you check this book, if you are looking for something that is a bit edgy." --Sarah