I had such a specific image in my mind that it took me a few days to adjust when I received something quite different from my publisher. But now I am absolutely head over heels about this cover! Not only is it beautiful, but it’s perfectly on trend with other young adult historical fiction novels coming out.

All along, I said I would trust my publisher to know how to do their job. I am a writer; I’m not a marketing rep. When We Wait You came out, I had to choose to do the same thing. The cover I had asked that publisher to design wasn’t the one finally chosen, and I’m so grateful for that. Their choice was so much better than mine.

One thing I love about the cover of One Degree of Freedom is the hidden imagery. I won’t give it away. You can see if you spot the symbols.

My new book cover echoes my vision of how Adriana’s wardrobe looks. The last time Steve and I were in Eastern Europe, I already had the first rough draft of my novel complete.  We stayed in a room in Sighisoara, Romania with the wardrobe pictured below–exactly mirroring the description I’d already written of Adriana’s wardrobe.

“Don’t judge a book by its cover” is good advice when it comes to first impressions of people, but it’s a fact of life for booksellers. The first thing a potential buyer sees is the cover. The cover design must catch their eye and convey something about the story, all without words.

If the cover passes the test, next up is the title. The title must pique their interest enough for them to flip the book over and read the back cover (or if they’re searching online, read the blurb describing the book). If all of these elements have captured their fancy, they may check the reviews on Amazon—how many and the number of stars.

My part doesn’t come into play until they’ve purchased the book and started to read. If the story I wrote doesn’t keep them turning the page, then I’ve lost a reader.

We’re off to a great start, and I couldn’t be more excited!