The absolute final cover
|March 24, 2011|
…and when I got back to Santa Fe from Taos this afternoon, what do I find waiting for me on the tubes of the Interweb but a final version of the Pirate King cover, really truly final this time:
You can compare this with the one I’d thought was the final cover, a few posts back, by scrolling down…
So, what do you think?
Posted in Pirate King
Whoever did the final tweak knew a thing or two — your name at the top works much better. **hopping up and down with excitement** Another step completed, and bringing us closer to getting our hands of the book in Sept. Wahoooo!
–Alice
I do like this much better!
Laurie, I’m glad to see this change. In the previous version your name reversed into the light gold color didn’t provide enough contrast. I’ve sat with designers at those wonderful art computers as they moved elements around and made them larger and smaller until we got a version that pleased us. With this cover, I would like to take a look at what it would be like with the title placed above “A novel of suspense, etc. . . .” Yet the way it is may be best. The designer had an interesting but awkward piece of art to work with.
Yep. This one’s better. Lovely and whimsical.//Meredith
I like the change of putting the your name at the top, but there’s something about the cover I don’t care for….it doesn’t seem like Mary Russel to me, but then I’m not a cover designer so what do I know? It certainly won’t keep me from buying it 🙂
It’s very beautiful. And I won’t even obsess over how an early camera like that one would need a lot of strong sunlight for the film exposure to actually work. It’s wonderfully artistic, but not very practical that the three=legged camera could be out there on the bow sprit. But I won’t obsess. I love the colors. And your name is much better positioned. Congratulations.
I just hope they tested it. Data is good and crunchy–*nom, nom, nom*.
I managed to miss the last cover; however I think this one is great. I love the sunset with people trying to have a sword fight and the cameraman taking it all in. I’m chuckling as I type. I can’t wait for this one.
Our Tuolumne County Library pastes their Bar Code ID stickers on the top line of book covers where it can be read by the check out machine. Your name would be partially obscured in this version. Not a good idea.
This one is definitely better!
Dear Ms. King, Just to see the final cover art makes me yearn for September.However wishing time to speed by is not spiritualy healthy , so I must along with your other ardent followers bide my time and itch to get my hands on a copy. Here is looking forward to early Autumn!!! James
I also like it better than the previous version. Not that The Pirate King isn’t important, but it IS a Laurie R. King book, and that now stands out even better than before. I am awaiting this book with tremendous anticipation. There is always humor in the Russell/Holmes books, but to have one deliberately slanted toward humor… be still my heart. Only wish I could have it in my hands at Bouchercon in St. Louis.
Linda,
The book is being released on Sept. 6th, so B’Con (Sept. 15-18th) is a definite possibility for signage.
–Alice
Your name at the top is much better- a stronger impact, even though it’s a simple change. I do think the graphics/color captures the intense, dangerous, mysterious, colorful adventures that Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes often embark upon. I like!
Colour and all the rest noted above are all true and lovely. However I am not sure that it reflects Mary in any way; could there be some feminine image/imagery invoked somewhere? Perhaps suggested in the foreground of the castle/building at the bottom right?
I love the cover – both versions work fine for me. What I want to know though is does Pirate King have the same publication date in the UK as in the US and will it have the same cover? Very excited and don’t want to be disappointed!
Very sorry, but the UK edition doesn’t have a pub date yet, I really don’t know why. And they will undoubtedly have a different cover.
That’s a pity – I’ll just have to get an American one then!
I think it’s beautiful, I love the sunset background and the entire exotic feel.
**sigh** 😉
Well, there is an incentive to buy both editions, IF the UK one is running later than the US edition!!! I’ll have to have the US first edition as soon as it is published and then, of course, add the UK edition to the shopping list too!
Chris
Mmm. I agree, the placement of the name is much better. The cover is very lovely, however it just doesnt completely come together in my mind as being the cover of a Mary Russell novel. Perhaps its the campy-vibe that the covers gives off visually. Who knows… however, my mind isnt closed to it. We shall see what we shall see, come the fall.
I’m so enamoured of the name Fflytte. It’s inspired – can’t wait to meet him.
Fflytte, a rogue’s name if ever I heard one.