behind the scenes – what makes a great book cover – rejected fury covers

Once in a while, I’ll do a blog sharing the behind-the-scenes action of being a author, which can be fun, totally intimidating and fully crazy. So if you’re a writer, aspiring author or just morbidly interested, read on.

I hope everyone likes the final cover, but did you know that designer Ellie Exarchos originally came up with 21 DIFFERENT covers for Fury? A little about Ellie, she’s an extremely talented and prolific Australian designer. In fact, as I write this I have a copy of Alex Miller’s Miles Franklin winning novel Journey to the Stone Country on my desk and it has that now iconic cover by Ellie. She’s a superstar in my eyes and it’s an honour to wear one of her designs.

The best thing about being with an indie publishing company like black dog books is that you get to participate in every stage of the book. Most authors don’t get the say on what goes on the cover, but my editor Melissa was kind enough to show me every single cover. I didn’t get the final say (as obviously bdb will have a better idea of what and what won’t sell), but I did get to give my blessing.

Here’s some fun stuff – the rejected covers! I loved them all. But there can only be one winner.

What would you come up with if you were asked to design a cover for a story about “a sixteen year old girl and her group of friends who get involved in a murder. It could have been a knife. There could be a friend who is a boy, but not really a boyfriend…” ?

cover 1: Fury meets Gray’s Anatomy

cover 2: Fury on the mean streets. The street would be called Mean Girl Street.

cover 3: Fury meets Dexter. Or Fury meets Hamish Blake! Hi Hamish, hiding behind all that blood

cover 4: Fury meets the Goth girls that always hang out under the shady bits out in the playground

Cover 5: Always beware the girl with the cashmere knit and the kitchen knife

Cover 6:Fury meets the papa-papa-razzi

And now…. the final three covers. Me and Melissa agreed that these were the top 3 covers. The Unedited Readers Copies (pre-release copies for media and booksellers) of the novel came with a voting competition on the back that asked booksellers and previewers to choose their favourite.

Fury has come a long way from this! I have one copy of this and it is my prized possession

In Third Place… This is my personal favourite. It suggests old fashion, even slightly pulpy crime! I have to admit that the red handprint really got me, it’s very Wuthering Heights! And a touch Sin City….

In Second Place… This cover very nearly become the final cover. It was very touch and go and all wobbly for a while and I was sure this was the final cover. But I like it, it’s striking and fresh. It was the booksellers favourite.

The only problem is that… the covergirl is blonde and the main character Eliza has red hair. It was Melissa who really pushed for….

The Winner! Red haired maiden in a mysterious mask. I think it says “Fury” perfectly. The above is original mock-up sans the blood drops and changes to the font that happened later. Carole Wilkinson (Yes – Dragonkeeper Carole!) liked the “Jane Austen” feel of this one, so it’s a winner!

Here is the final cover that went to press.The photo is by photograher Pawel Piatek. Click here to read the separate blog about his photography.

Hope this blog gives you an interesting insight into the author relationships built with a funky, fun and a little bit unconventional indie publishing company.

wait!

there’s more!

Rejected Fury Covers Part 2

click here for Post#2

Discussion topic:

Which cover do you like best?

Leave a comment below!