Let's Talk

We live in a world where a lot of communication is via text, tweets, and social media posts, all enhanced with emoticons. Things were different in the nineteenth century. Then, if people wanted to communicate, they did something  that might seem very old-fashioned: they talked.

That's one of the reasons why I had so much fun when blog hosts asked for interviews with the characters from A Tender Hope.

Let's start with Thea, the heroine. When she's cornered by one of the biggest busybodies in Cimarron Creek, the conversation becomes interesting.
Thea's Encounter with the Busybody

Jackson doesn't get away any easier. Silver, the owner of the town's one and only saloon, wants to know much more than he's willing to share.
Jackson's Uncomfortable Moments with Silver

Aimee, the woman who joined Thea on her journey to Cimarron Creek and who has a story of her own, tells more than she intends in a conversation with Novel Pastimes.
Aimee's Interview with Novel Pastimes

And then there's Warner, the town's apothecary and a man who's known more than his share of heartbreak. He's convinced that he'll never marry, and as for being a matchmaker, well ... only one person has accused him of that.
Warner's Thoughts about Marriage and Matchmaking

I hope you enjoyed the insights into four of the most important characters in A Tender Hope. And, if you wondered what happened to Wednesday in Wyoming, those blog posts will return in June.

Behind the Cover for A Tender Hope

So many of you have told me how much you enjoy learning about the process involved in developing the wonderful covers that Revell has given me for each of my books, that -- as I promised last year -- I'm continuing to blog about them.

As is always the case, many people are involved in turning a concept into the final product, but the biggest responsibilities fall on the Art Director, Cheryl VanAndel, and the graphic designer, Dan Thornberg of Design Source Creative Services.

This time, the process included a step that I hadn't seen before, namely the creation of a cover sketch.

As you can see, it resembles the finished cover, but the model and her costume are very different. Why create a sketch at all? The reason, Cheryl explained, is to allow Revell to select the model's pose and placement prior to the photo shoot, thus streamlining the process.

One of the most important elements in my covers is the model. After all, she represents my heroine. Thea Mills is 27 years old, shorter than average, and has blonde hair, brown eyes, and a medium build. She's deeply compassionate but also fearful of having her secret revealed.

Knowing that, Revell chose Emily.

Even though you're seeing her in modern dress here, isn't it amazing how well she captures Thea's personality?

Next comes costume selection, which I freely admit is one of my favorite parts of the process, since I'm part of it.

Cheryl gave me a choice of more than half a dozen different blouses including the following:

None of those truly appealed to me, but when I saw the next one, I knew it would be perfect. In addition to its antique look, I loved the fact that it was a complete outfit and that we wouldn't have to find a coordinating skirt.

At this point, everything was ready for the photo shoot.

While the cover sketch identified one possible pose, Dan photographed Emily in several different ones.

Do you like this one?

Cheryl told me it was a top contender for the cover, but the committee preferred the next one.

I agree with them that the second pose is better for the book, in part because it emphasizes Thea's medical bag and gives a hint to her career as a midwife.

If you compare this to the final cover, you'll see that the pose is the same, but there's a big difference. Did you find it? Yes, Emily's expression is different.

Thanks to the marvels of Photoshop, Dan was able to use the head from the following picture with the body from the previous one.

The photo shoot was complete.

The model is one of the most important elements of the cover, but she's not the only one. The background is also key to setting the scene for the book and giving readers a hint about the story itself.

As is often the case, Dan used stock art for the background, starting with Thea's home in Cimarron Creek.

Don't you wish you lived in a house like this? It's beautiful, but there are a few problems, including the streetlights. Those had to be removed. And then there was the water. While it's lovely and you might believe it was Cimarron Creek itself, the creek doesn't flow through that part of the town.

What to do? Dan used flowers that might have been growing in the Hill Country to block the water.

And so we have the final cover, the one I showed you at the beginning of this post.

But the front cover is only part of the whole book. The back cover is almost as important, because that's where readers learn about the story. And the spine is critical for bookstores, since few of their books are shelved face-out.

As you might expect, given the attention that Cheryl and Dan put into the front cover, a lot of work was involved in the back cover too. Writing back cover copy is an art in itself. Fortunately, Revell has extremely talented writers who specialize in condensing a 95,000 word story into a few words. And the addition of a western picture as a cameo adds to the appeal ... at least it does for me.

I was thrilled with the cover and hope it piques your interest and makes you want to read the book.

If you'd like more information about A Tender Hope, you'll find it and buying links on my web page.

And, of course, I hope you enjoyed learning more about the cover art process. It never fails to intrigue me.

Cover Reveal - A Tender Hope

For me, one of the major milestones between the time I turn in a manuscript and the day the book is actually available for purchase is when I can share cover art with you. After all, even though we're told not to judge a book by the cover, we do ... or at least I do.

A great deal of planning and effort goes into the development of a cover. I'll blog about costume choice, how the background was developed, and the other details that you've told me you enjoy learning as we get closer to the release date, but today I wanted to share the finished product with you.

So, without further fanfare, here it is: the cover for A Tender Hope, the third of the Cimarron Creek books.

What do you think?

I hope you're as pleased with it as I am. I loved the historic costume (notice that it buttons what we would consider the wrong way) and the medical bag that's so essential for Thea's profession as a midwife. As for the house, wouldn't it be fun to live in one like that as long as you didn't have to clean it?

If the name "Thea" sounds familiar to you, it's because you met her in Paper Roses. So many of you asked for her story that I couldn't wait any longer to tell you what happened to her when she grew up.

A Tender Hope will be available on March 5 next year. I know it's a long wait, but while you're waiting, here's a glimpse into the story.

The Really, Really Short Version
An abandoned baby and a young woman warm the heart of a Texas Ranger seeking justice for his brother.

The Longer Version
As far as Thea Michener is concerned, it's time for a change. Her husband murdered and her much-anticipated baby stillborn, there's nothing left for her in Ladreville. Having accepted a position as Cimarron Creek's midwife, she has no intention of remarrying and trying for another child. So when a handsome Texas Ranger appears on her doorstep with an abandoned baby, Thea isn't sure her heart can take it.

Ranger Jackson Guthrie isn't concerned only with the baby's welfare. He's been looking for Thea, convinced that her late husband was part of the gang that killed his brother. But it soon becomes clear that the situation is far more complicated than he'd anticipated and that he'll need Thea's help if he's ever to find the justice he seeks.

A Tender Hope is available for preorder at Amazon now and will be available at the other retailers soon.