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!

Cinderella: Ninja Warrior - Maureen McGowan - Blog Tour Review

In this fast-paced story full of adventure and romance, Cinderella is more than just a servant girl waiting for her prince—she's a tough, fearless girl who is capable of taking charge of a dangerous situation. Seeking to escape the clutches of her evil stepmother, Cinderella perfects her ninja skills and magic talents in secret, waiting for the day when she can break free and live happily ever after. In a special twist, readers have the opportunity to make key decisions for Cinderella and decide where she goes next—but no matter the choice; the result is a story unlike any fairy tale you've ever read!

Synopsis taken from goodreads.

Title: Cinderella: Ninja Warrior

Author: Maureen McGowan

Genre: Young Adult, Fairytale Retellings, Fantasy, Adventure, Create Your Own Adventure

Publisher: Silver Dolphin

Publication Date: April 1, 2011

Format: Softcover

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

Tour: Premier Author Virtual Book Tours

Look for it: Amazon, Book Depository

My rating: 4/5

Cinderella's had a tough life. She's had to slave away, toiling hour after hour as her stepsisters think up cruel and unusual jobs for her to do. What's worse though, is that her stepmother not only encourages them, she also makes life miserable for Cinderella. All is not lost for Cinderella though, as she has been training and teaching herself how to be a ninja. Her stepmother would be livid if she found out, so Cinderella practices only when she knows there is no one around. One day soon she hopes that she will break the spell cast on her, and will be able to live a life free from her step-mother's constant reign. 

Cinderella: Ninja Warrior is an extremely cute and fast-paced read. Reminiscent of the tale we all know, Cinderella: Ninja Warrior carries on with the basic premise from the original fairytale. There is a prince, there is a ball, and Cinderella is at the mercy of her two step-sisters and their evil mother. There is something different in this retelling though. Cinderella is depicted as a strong character balking at her stepmother's tyrannical rule. She isn't going to wait for anyone to come sweep her off her feet, let alone a prince. She reads in secret, and trains to be a ninja warrior. Someday she will be able to free herself. Magic abounds, and Cinderella herself has talents that have gone unnoticed.

I think my favourite part of this novel is that the reader chose what Cinderella did next, making it seem like the reader was right there with Cinderella, acting out her part. She's a determined, strong young woman who wants to find a way out of the situation that she is currently in. You have to hand it to her, prince or no prince, she's bound and determined to get what she wants. 

All in all, I think this is a cute read, and I believe many tweens and teens will enjoy this read. With a message that combines strength and girl power, I think many will enjoy this retelling of the classic Cinderella. I'm looking forward to reading the next in the series, and am curious to see just what McGowan has in store for the rest of the fairytale princesses.