COVER STORY

LUCY BURDETTE:  Before I became a published author, the workings of publishing were all a mystery. Well. Hmmm. They still are in lots of ways. 

But now I know a few things, such as that somewhere about 9 or 10 months before the book is due out, there’s a cover conference, including folks from editorial, marketing, and art departments. I’m lucky with the Key West series to have an editor who asks if I have any ideas. And I’ve learned that it pays to have them! In fact for the book coming out next May, TOPPED CHEF (which is not my first choice of title but that’s another blog post), I sent them the link to the Pinterest board I’d developed for the book.

For DEATH IN FOUR COURSES, when my editor asked for suggestions, I mentioned the Audubon House in Key West, where a major cocktail party takes place on the first night of the Key West Loves Literature event. There are lovely gardens, including a decorative pool containing metal statues of wading birds. I could just imagine a body bobbing up through the lily pads. I told her I would love to see the cover involve this little dipping pool with the birds, one of which was the murder weapon….and maybe a little plate of chocolate-covered strawberries and lamb chop bones on the side?? So I sent in this terrific picture that my friend Angelo Pompano had taken when he visited KW.

Cats are very popular on cozy covers and so I also hoped they’d include the white cat who discovers an important clue to the murder. For inspiration, I sent this photo of a typical Key West white cat. (The red on his nose is from allergies.)

Here was the first sketch from the artists, who are an illustration team working under the name Griesbach/Martucci. I loved this draft! Although maybe the lamb chops looked a little misshapen...and my

editor thought it needed some opening up with a bit of beach, so the greenery wouldn't feel claustrophobic.

(First thought: but there is no beach near the Audubon House. Second thought, never mind reality, this is fiction!)

Here is the finished cover, which is probably my favorite of the ten books I have out so far. As my agent has said, the cover fairies have been busy...

How about you Jungle Red writers and readers? Have you had a cover that you thought was fabulous--or maybe a dud? Do you choose books by their covers? 

(And can't resist one small nudge--you can order these books right here