Remember when I posted the cover of my new novel The Children here, on this blog? It was the lovely image of the children jumping off a dock into a lake? I also posted it on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat. Well, I think I posted it on Snapchat, I actually have no idea how Snapchat works but I post stuff there all the time. And it disappears. I think that’s what’s supposed to happen, right?
Every time I posted it, though, I had a little feeling of doubt. I liked the cover, but I didn’t love it. I felt it didn’t really set the tone for the book. But it was too late to say anything to the publisher, they had already printed hundreds of galleys to be given away in Goodreads promos, and sent to bookstores, etc. It had been posted on Amazon, Barnes & Noble – everywhere. I decided to believe in the myth that people don’t judge a book by its cover and leave it at that. So imagine my surprise and delight when my editor, Brenda Copeland, called me one morning and said, “How do you really feel about the cover? Because I’ve never really loved it.”
Then, the fabulous people at St. Martin’s Press, DESIGNED A NEW COVER! And I love it!
I think. No, it’s really great!
I hope.
Joanie Reisfeld says
February 3, 2016 at 8:09 amI love both! Looking forward to reading this. Good luck! PS, my son says snapchat pics do disappear. Joanie
Ann Leary says
February 3, 2016 at 8:47 amThanks Joanie!
Stephanie says
February 3, 2016 at 8:14 amI wanted to say hello and tell you … I love this cover. The reason it’s good is because the horizon (as ever) draws me, I want to go close, see what’s going on up there, and now I’ve spent some time with the cover, now I’m a little bit invested, now I’m engaged. Now I want to read The Children!
I’m an SMP author too, my debut novel (at age 60!), The Next, hits in October 2016, and have just come through my own (first) cover experience, and shocker, it was not painful, and shocker, I am happy with the outcome. I read your post and chuckled … let’s see how I feel in a month.
Anyway, looking forward to reading your work, and I hope our paths cross soon (in the actual world.)
Ann Leary says
February 3, 2016 at 8:47 amThanks Stephanie! I can’t wait to read your book!
helena says
February 3, 2016 at 10:27 amI liked the other cover, as i thought I recognized the lake, but I did think that one of “The Children” in the story was probably going to drown. I still wanted to read it, though!
Ann Leary says
February 3, 2016 at 6:36 pmHmmmm
Sandy says
February 3, 2016 at 10:35 amPerfect!!!!!
Can’t wait to read it!!!!
Wendy in Wisconsin says
February 3, 2016 at 10:53 amI like this cover, there is a certain softness about it, but I liked the other cover too. Any plans for a book tour? We’d certainly like to see you in the Midwest when the weather is nice, not during a snow storm in January!
Ann Leary says
February 3, 2016 at 6:37 pmYes, I’d love to come to Milwaukee and Chicago again. Will let you know!
Charlotte says
February 3, 2016 at 11:14 amI liked both covers, but this one is somehow more unique and it seems to better “fit” with you. Plus my favorite color is blue. 😀
Ann Leary says
February 3, 2016 at 6:37 pm🙂
Sandra says
February 3, 2016 at 11:43 amI really like this new cover. I feel like I am out on a lake, looking toward shore, and I am curious about the four people and house standing there.
Ann Leary says
February 3, 2016 at 6:38 pm🙂
Betsy Madlem says
February 3, 2016 at 4:47 pmWow! Ann’s back!!! You’ve been very, very busy the past two years, I know, and I haven’t dropped in on your blog during the past few months. So I was thrilled to see your new posts with the laugh-out-loud animal chats (hysterical voice–is that you?) and the lovely cover of your new book. I agree with everyone else who’s commented. The new cover really draws the reader in with the far-off horizon, the house, and the blurred figures. I will be buying this book as soon as it’s available.
Ann Leary says
February 3, 2016 at 6:38 pmThanks Betsy, and that is my voice
Arliss P says
February 3, 2016 at 8:21 pmI really love this cover!! So lively and bold — it’s more compelling. Very much looking forward to reading your latest, Ann!
Alan says
February 4, 2016 at 7:59 amBeing the occasional contrarian that i am, I really prefer the stark and somewhat ominous tone that the first cover conveyed. Of course, not having read the book yet, I don’t know which cover better matches the mood of the story inside. That being the case, I will defer to the author’s own choice.
Maybe we should think of this as not unlike a record album being released with a couple of different covers to choose from. (For you youngsters, a record album is how your parents used to buy and listen to music….)
Amy Sue Nathan says
February 4, 2016 at 11:45 amI love the cover and have a lot of faith in SMP’s cover designers and in Brenda Copeland! 😉 I didn’t think I could like a cover more than my first — then I saw the second. (Although now I just can’t wait to see what’s next)
Can’t wait to read, Ann. Congrats!
ALISON says
February 5, 2016 at 9:29 amTo start out on a positive note, congrats. I too look forward to reading it. But I think we’re putting too much into this cover thing. And I think that your publisher is less thinking about the cover art and more about making it sell by putting your name in such large letters, and smartly so. At first glance I thought it was about your children; Ann Leary The Children is what it looks like the name is at first glance (to me). Anyway, I don’t think it really matters. I like blue and yellow. Whatever. Of course jumping off the doc is a little too cookie-cutter probably. Again, whatever…
Christine says
February 8, 2016 at 10:54 amHi Ann,
I loved the first cover. The second cover interestingly enough, is not making me think whether I like it or not. It is however, making me think how this cover and the first have something to do with the storyline of the book. I do feel covers give us a clue about the book. So if another cover comes out when the book is in paperback I am sure I will know exactly what the storyline is all about!!! Enjoy this very exciting time and congratulations again on the book!
Carla Buckley says
March 14, 2016 at 4:10 pmLove the cover. LOVE IT. And I can’t wait to read what lies beneath it.
Candy Reed-Ryan says
March 24, 2016 at 4:07 pmI do like the cover and will read the book.
Marsha Jakubiak says
May 19, 2016 at 7:52 pmI won an advance reader copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press. I thoroughly loved it. A great family story about a combined family. Each character has their own set of personal baggage & issues. They all come together when their father/step-father passes away to deal with all of their family issues. I loved each of the characters with their own little quirks. Love the writing style of Ann Leary. Highly recommend this book.