Yesterday, I received an email from my editor.
Yes, I still love to say “my editor.”
Anyway, I thought it was going to be my edits, but no–it was cover design ideas. He presented me with two, told me his preference, and asked for mine.
I’ve thought about this moment a lot, even before I made the sale, and I’ve always known it would be a stressful thing. For one thing, I’d been thinking about possible designs for a while. Most of my ideas were, I knew, unobtainable. Further, while some publishers will ask the author what they think, the final decision is the publisher’s. More than one author has hated their book cover. I was prepared to join them, but hoping for better.
So it was with some trepidation that I clicked on the files. And then I smiled, because both designs were fantastic.
I really loved the artwork on one of them, but it doesn’t quite fit this book’s feel or themes as well as it might. But the other design is thematically perfect, and dynamic. It’s eye-catching and has a great tagline.
I’m happy. The design may change, in small or even large ways, between now and finalization. But for now? I’m totally pleased.