Virna DePaul's debut novel, Chosen by Blood, is the first in the Para-Ops series, and it has a dark and dangerous-looking cover (with a splash of red, naturally). I always wonder about paranormal romances, and how the cover artists figure out what the world, so much in the author's mind and creation, looks like. Here's Virna with the Cover Story:
"I knew the cover would be sexy--with vampire Knox Devereaux for a hero, how could it not be? But I didn't see it featuring a half-clad or near-naked hero, either. I love those types of covers, so long as it fits the story, but I knew such a cover wouldn't fit Chosen by Blood. As primal and sexy as Knox is, he's sexy in a wealthy, hedonistic, almost gentlemanly way. Like most of the vampires in my story, he loves fine fabrics, sexy cars, and decadent meals. He's also a leader with the weight of his clan's survival on his shoulders, so he knows how important it is to project the right image in public! Power. Vitality. Steely calm with an edge of passion always just beneath the surface. That's Knox and that's the cover I imagined.
"I was thrilled when my editor asked for my input. I indicated that I wanted something more subtle and less in-your-face sexy. Something along the lines of JR Ward's and Larissa Ione's early color-washed covers (left). I didn't give more than that and I'm glad I didn't because I think the art department understood what I wanted, ran with it, and produced something amazing that I couldn't have articulated.
"The first time I viewed it was on my Blackberry and I couldn't see the details. I thought Knox was wearing a black silk robe and that scared me. LOL! But when I was finally able to pull up a clear version, I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED it. I still do. The art department at Berkley Publishing did a fabulous job. The cover model emanates restrained, seething passion. He's sexy, but there's so much in the details--the fine material of his clothes, the intricacy of the clan medallion he wears, and even the masculine sensuality of his lips (which I admit were the first things I noticed). It was obvious that the art department read the story and tried very hard to reflect its essence, including the core of who Knox is--and they succeeded! I think it incorporated stock photos that were then layered and tweaked with Photoshop.
"They just added the quote by Larissa Ione (I still can't believe I got such an amazing author to give me a cover quote!) and we were ready to go.
"I think my cover is a dream come true in general but especially for my debut novel. It's going to draw readers in and give my story a chance. Upon reflection, I think the setting depicted on the cover is extremely significant to the story. With a modern city scape in the background and cobblestone street in the foreground, it infers a blend of old and new. At its core, this is what Chosen by Blood is about--blending a human world with the paranormal creatures that have always existed but whom humans have only recently learned about. It's not just about old and new, but about elements that, while initially discordant, ultimately can function quite well together. I also love the fact that the hero/cover model stands unobstructed by the dark mist behind him because it signifies how Knox and his people, and how Otherborn in general, are coming out of hiding and claiming their rightful place in human society."
Thanks, Virna! Looking up close, I love the translucent font of the title, and I think the bare-chestedness is done in just the right amount for the character.
What do you guys think?
Melissa Walker is the author of four Young Adult novels, including the Violet trilogy and Lovestruck Summer. She is co-creator of the popular teen newsletter I Heart Daily and the awkward-stage blog Before You Were Hot, as well as the blogger for readergirlz.com. Her author blog, where Cover Stories originated, is melissacwalker.com.
