Exclusive: Full Jacket Reveal for Crow's Rest!

In another milestone on Crow's Rest's journey to becoming a real book, we now have a full cover for it and I get to reveal it here on Operation Awesome today!

It's been really interesting to get a behind-the-scenes look at how specific the dimensions need to be for a cover. We started with just the front cover, which is often all you need for an ebook. But since this will also be in paperback (and possibly hardcover, if Spencer Hill Press likes the pre-order numbers) we needed a full jacket.

The artist/designer must meet an entire sheet of specifications, leaving an area for the bar code and other "business" type items, as well as being careful to allow enough room on the spine as the page count fluctuates. I originally wanted a picture of the local landmark that inspires the setting of Crow's Rest on the back cover, but I stumbled on another piece of art by the same artist as the background of the front cover art and knew it would be perfect.

Kelley York of X-Potion Design worked her magic on it once again. I love it! It's so lush, and by pure luck it has elements that tie into the book so well: the spiders and webs, the daisies growing in the grass, the watchful raven...

Oh, what's that? You want to see it, you say? Okay, enough stalling (click on it for a larger view)

I was joking with one of our Operation Awesome alumni, Wes Chu, the other day that I want to get this cover printed on a blanket and just wrap myself up in it--but I'm afraid that crosses the line into Crazy Author territory. But maybe it's just a perfectly natural love between an author and her cover?

You can add it on Goodreads here or pre-order it on Amazon here.

Cover Reveal for Crow's Rest by Angelica R. Jackson

Reveal Day is here! I can finally show you all the marvelous cover for Crow's Rest! Are you ready?
(No fancy blank space to scroll down because I'm just too impatient) Click on the image for a larger view

Squeeeeeeeeeee!
Now that I got that outburst out of the way, onto the book blurb:

Avery Flynn arrives for a visit at her Uncle Tam's, eager to rekindle her summertime romance with her crush-next-door, Daniel.

But Daniel’s not the sweet, neurotic guy she remembers—and she wonders if this is her Daniel at all. Or if someone—some thing—has taken his place.

Her quest to find the real Daniel—and get him back—plunges Avery into a world of Fae and changelings, where creatures swap bodies like humans change their socks, and magic lives much closer to home than she ever imagined.

You can add it on Goodreads here. My book comes out from Spencer Hill Press in paperback and ebook in May 2015.

I'd love it if you'll celebrate with me on Twitter, Facebook, or in the comments here. And if you haven't checked out my new website yet, it's at www.AngelicaRJackson.com. This was my concept, by the way, brought to life by the multi-talented Kelley York of X-Potions Designs.



Angelica R. Jackson, in keeping with her scattered Gemini nature, has published articles on gardening, natural history, web design, travel, hiking, and local history. Other interests include pets, reading, green living, and cooking for food allergies (the latter not necessarily by choice, but she’s come to terms with it). Ongoing projects include short fiction, poetry, novels, art photography, and children’s picture books.

In 2012, she started Pens for Paws Auction, which features critiques and swag from agents and authors to raise money for a no-kill, cage-free cat sanctuary where she volunteers, Fat Kitty City.

She’s also been involved with capturing the restoration efforts for Preston Castle (formerly the Preston School of Industry) in photographs and can sometimes be found haunting its hallways.

Cover Reveal: Arms of Anu by Christina Mercer

Back in April of last year, I introduced you to my former critique partner, Christina Mercer, and her debut book Arrow of the Mist.

Well, I'm happy to say the sequel to sequel to the award-winning MG/YA fantasy ARROW OF THE MIST is coming out March 17, and I get to share the cover with you! Here it is, plus a little teaser blurb:

Blood of body, blood of soul, 
Entwined for life, then unfolds;
If blood still runs when magic binds,
Soul is never too far to find.

In ARMS OF ANU, Lia and Kelven battle through a land of tyrants, war and magic.

Can Lia escape the foes who ensnare her?

Will Kelven’s love withstand the darkness taking root inside Lia?

Is freedom too high a crown to reach, or will they forever remain in the hollows?

RELEASE DATE SET FOR MARCH 17, 2014 (St. Patrick’s Day!)

Isn't that cover a great complement to the first book?

Thanks for the opportunity to spread some cover love, Christina!

Christina Mercer, is an award-winning author of fiction for children and young adults. She enjoys life in the foothills of Northern California with her husband and sons, a pack of large dogs, and about 100,000 honeybees. For more about her and her writing, visit:

WebSite | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads

 

COVER LOVE: Daughter of Chaos by Jen McConnel

I've been enjoying my status as a peon in children's publishing for nearly half a year now. I work for Month9Books as an editorial assistant. Month9Books is a fantastic publisher and we see eye to eye when it comes to good fiction. Case in point: Daughter of Chaos by Jen McConnel. This is the first book I read for them that will be published, and the date is set for March 2014. It seems SO far away, so I am thrilled to share this crucial step on the road to publication: the cover reveal! I found it here, and here and here and here and here and here and here on Jen McConnel's author website. (Also the author is hosting a Rafflecopter giveaway of two other great books.)

Add it on Goodreads

Witches must choose the path they will follow, and Darlena Agara is no exception. She’s been putting it off long enough, and in her case, ignoring it has not made it go away. In a moment of frustration, Darlena chooses to follow Red Magic, figuring she had outsmarted the powers that be, since there’s no such thing as Red Magic. But alas, Darlena’s wrong (again) and she becomes a newly declared Red Witch.
Her friends are shocked and her parents horrified by the choice Darlena has made. As a Red Witch, she now governs one third of the world’s chaos. She is the walking personification of pandemonium, turmoil, and bedlam, just as the patrons of Red Magic would have it to be.
But Darlena believes there must be more to Red Magic than chaos and destruction, and she sets out on a journey to achieve balance. Only doing so puts her at odds with the dark goddess Hecate, who simply will not allow Darlena to quit. She encourages Darlena to embrace who and what she is and to leave good magic to the good witches. If only Darlena could, life would be simple, and she would not be the Daughter of Chaos.

DAUGHTER OF CHAOS is the first in a YA paranormal trilogy.

I can't even tell you how fulfilling it is to see something I had a (very, very small) part in turn into a real out-there book. I have experienced it as a critique partner to the amazing Operation Awesome blogger/writers and it never gets old. I LOVE WORKING IN PUBLISHING!!

Jen McConnel is an experienced writer whose other books also have a creeptastic witchcraft motif and stunning book covers. Check them out:

CONGRATULATE JEN ON TWITTER