Blog Tour: Cinder and Ella - Melissa Lemon - Cover Post

I was so excited when Corrine suggested doing a post about the cover of Cinder and Ella. Why didn’t I think of that? The cover of Cinder and Ella is AMAZING!

One of the things I was asked to send to my publishing company after signing the contract was a character description page that included some cover ideas. Well, it seems to me that a lot of covers lately have characters on them, so that was my first suggestion. I only asked for them to make sure Ella was in the background since she is always overlooked. I can understand why they didn’t go with this option. I tried drawing a picture of Cinder once myself, and it wasn’t pretty. Finding a model would have been difficult, and let’s face it, photoshopped hair isn’t flattering on anyone.

The next suggestion was to do something with the trees or the castle. For those of you who haven’t read Cinder and Ella, and who haven’t noticed the cover, I will tell you that trees are important in this book. Every person is connected to a tree. And sometimes that connection can mean life or death. In the book, you learn a little bit about the king’s tree, Weston’s tree, Ella’s tree and the prince’s tree, while the trees of some characters will not be introduced until the sequel. (Wait, did I say sequel?) And these trees, well, sometimes they glow, especially when they are about to do something really cool.

My acquisitions editor sent me the first draft of the cover and said I could make comments and suggestions. I loved the initial design and that they had decided to do something with the trees. I did make a few suggestions and the final cover turned out stunning. I have pulled the two up to compare them and while the design stayed true, the changes they did make brought a brightness and clarity that really make the cover shine. Give a shout out to the designers who worked on the cover!

To me, the cover shows us a few things. First, the glowing tree represents the legend of the trees. The grove of trees behind the glowing tree represents Ella, since she wanders through forests for most of the book. And third, the castle represents Cinder, since that’s where she is dwelling throughout. Put the three of those things together, and you have not only an awesome cover, but a truly incredible story.

Thank you for being here today, Melissa! The cover IS absolutely gorgeous!! Love the insight you have given us about it! 

Melissa can be found on her blog, on facebook, on goodreads, or on twitter.

You can follow along with the "Cinder and Ella" tour here.

Maureen McGowan Talks Covers -- Specifically, Cinderella: Ninja Warrior, and a Giveaway.

Hi Corrine and thank you so much for inviting me to guest post on your blog about my cover for Cinderella: Ninja Warrior!

I was absolutely thrilled when I first saw the cover for Cinderella: Ninja Warrior. I knew they were going for a traditional historical feel, which isn’t exactly how I imagined the setting as I was writing, but I was very impressed by the beauty and lush look of the cover. Not to mention her beautiful dress!

I didn’t get any input on how the cover would look, but I was shown some examples of other covers that matched the look and feel they were going for, and loving those, I was excited to see what they came up with. I wasn’t disappointed.

An interesting aside... I actually had two covers for this book. The Twisted Tales books were originally planned to be released in the fall of 2010 with an entirely different publisher, with entirely different covers. That publisher shut down about six months before the books were due to come out, but anyone who’s curious can still see the covers, the first publisher was planning to use, on most online booksellers’ websites. I love the new covers, but I’d be curious to hear which versions your blog readers like better. 

My Cinderella never actually wields a sword in the book—she wishes she had access to a sword!—and my Cinderella looks somewhat different from the beautiful model playing her on the cover, but I love the cover. The image is very striking. It makes you look twice—what is she holding?—and really captures the idea conveyed in the title and story.

One of the first people to whom I showed the cover said it reminded her of an old Nancy Drew novel, one where Nancy is peering around a corner with a candle or flashlight. That classic book series was one of my favorites when I was a young reader and I figure if the cover designer captured a little bit of the intelligence and determination of Nancy Drew, it had to be a good thing. Those books have been popular with young readers for decades.

I also love the internal design of the books—how the designer separated the sections with a patterned pages that look like brocade fabric. I love how, as a result, if you bend the book slightly you can see all the sections marked off with thin gray lines. 

Authors rarely get any input into their covers and I was no exception. It’s very scary to see your cover for the first time, knowing it’s one of the main things readers use to determine whether they’ll pick up and buy the book, but I couldn’t be happier.

Maureen can be found at her website, on her blog, or on twitter.

Thank you so much for being here today, Maureen! I think the covers for both "Cinderella: Ninja Warrior" and "Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer" are absolutely gorgeous, and I LOVE the "Choose Your Own Story" element! I've added the old cover (above) and the new cover (below) if anyone wants to compare the two and voice which one they like the most. =)

Giveaway

Many thanks goes to Teddy and Maureen for this giveaway. 

I have one copy of Cinderella: Ninja Warrior up for grabs to one lucky winner.

Giveaway is open to US/Canada residents only.

Winner must be able to provide a mailing address with no P.O. Box. 

Giveaway ends May 26, 2011.

Please fill out this FORM to enter. Comments, while appreciated, will not be counted as entries. 

Thank you!

Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer - Maureen McGowan

In this thrilling story full of adventure and romance, Sleeping Beauty is more than just a lonely princess waiting for her prince—she's a brave, tenacious girl who never backs down from a challenge. With vampire-slaying talents that she practices in secret, Sleeping Beauty puts her courage to the test in the dark of night, fighting evil as she searches for a way to break the spell that has cut her off from her family. In a special twist, readers have the opportunity to make key decisions for Sleeping Beauty and decide where she goes next—but no matter the choice; the result is a story unlike any fairy tale you've ever read!

Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer is an entirely new type of fairy tale–one that will keep today's kids guessing and offer them hours of magical fun.

Synopsis taken from goodreads. 

Title: Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer

Author: Maureen McGowan

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Adventure, Fairytale Retelling, Choose Your Own Adventure

Publisher: Silver Dolphin

Publication Date: April 1, 2011

Format: E-book

Source: Netgalley.

Disclaimer: I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks goes to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book for review. 

Look for it: Amazon, Book Depository

My rating: 4/5

Lucette has been coddled ever since she was a baby; so much so that she hasn't been allowed to do anything for herself, lest she prick her finger and unleash the curse that has been placed on her by the bitter vampire queen. She has to wear gloves at all times, and is not allowed to do anything that could potentially hurt her. Unfortunately, that means that her hopes of becoming a vampire slayer are pretty bleak. When the unthinkable happens, will Lucette be able to break the spell? 

McGowan has done it again. With another installment in the "Twisted Tales" series, she has created a princess who not only is beautiful, but is strong as well. Lucette isn't your typical princess. She's always revolted against her restraints, and has trained secretly to become a vampire slayer. She has always wanted to be a vampire slayer, and now, with her sixteenth birthday looming, she knows she needs to be able to protect herself, as well as her family. With elements from the original Sleeping Beauty integrated into the story, it is interesting to see the variations and liberties taken. New friends are made, and rather than wait around for a prince to come, she is willing to take up arms and patrol the castle to protect her family.

Though her father is over-protective, his heart is in the right place, and you can't fault him for that. He does go overboard, but Lucette's mother is more even-tempered and is willing to help Lucette out. 

Tweens and teens will love this fairytale retelling as they get to see Lucette turn into the strong woman that she is. Though she hasn't counted out finding true love, she isn't going to sit around waiting for it either.

All in all a fresh take on the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale. With new friends, and a princess who can stand up for herself, Sleeping Beauty: Vampire Slayer is sure to charm any reader. With two fairy tales now recreated, I'm itching to see what McGowan has in store for the rest of them. 

Dust City - Robert Paul Weston

Who's afraid of the big bad wolf?

His son, that's who.

Ever since his father's arrest for the murder of Little Red Riding Hood, teen wolf Henry Whelp has kept a low profile in a Home for Wayward Wolves . . . until a murder at the Home leads Henry to believe his father may have been framed.

Now, with the help of his kleptomaniac roommate, Jack, and a daring she-wolf named Fiona, Henry will have to venture deep into the heart of Dust City: a rundown, gritty metropolis where fairydust is craved by everyone and controlled by a dangerous mob of Water Nixies and their crime boss leader, Skinner.

Can Henry solve the mystery of his family's sinister past? Or, like his father before him, is he destined for life as a big bad wolf?

(Synopsis taken from goodreads.)

Title: Dust City

Author: Robert Paul Weston

Genre: Young Adult, Dark Fantasy

Publisher: Puffin

Publication Date: September 30, 2010

Source: Received from publicist. Many thanks goes to Vimala from Penguin Canada for sending me this book for review. I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. 

My rating: 4/5

Dust City tells the story of young Henry Whelp, and what life is like for him, the son of the wolf who murdered Little Red Riding Hood and her grandma. The fairies have left Eden and Dust City, and they have taken their fairy dust and their happily ever afters with them. The drug companies start scrambling for purchase as they mine the residual fairy dust left behind. When someone Henry is close to dies, Henry will make some startling realizations that hint that his father might have been framed all those years ago. 

Dust City is a gritty, urban, and dark fairy tale recreation. I enjoyed how Weston reverted to the original fairy tales, and how he used the darkness within them to relay this possible outcome for what happens after the magic disappears. Many of the characters within Dust City are well known in their respective fairy tales, so it was neat to see them juxtaposed in this new, alternate reality. 

Henry is a wolf, though when reading his voice throughout the book it is easy to forget that he isn't human. Well, until certain things happen, but if I mention any more I'll be giving away some of the book, and I don't want to spoil it for anyone. Regardless, Henry seems like he could be a boy, rather than a wolf, but circumstances dictate that he's a wolf, and will always be looked down on as a wolf. He has the unique perspective of realizing his father has been most likely framed, and it is interesting to see how he copes with that realization, as well as the realization that things in Dust City aren't as they seem. 

There are a host of side characters who add a richness to the cast and to the book. I found it amusing to see what roles some of the fairy tale princesses played in this novel, and it was a refreshing twist on the whole fairy tale genre. 

All in all, a fresh, dark look at a promising, and unique world. I wouldn't mind reading more in this vein; especially if Weston is the one writing the re-imaginings. A realistic and raw look at life after the fairies are gone. I'd definitely recommend this one to fans of urban fantasy, dark fantasy, and fantasy in general. Sink your teeth into Dust City.