Melissa C. Walker's Blog, page 65

Cover Stories: Not Like You by Deborah Davis

Deborah Davis' Not Like You is the story of Kayla, a teenage girl who must decide whether taking care of herself means no longer taking care of her alcoholic mother. Sounds like a tough one for which to design a cover, no? I asked Deborah about the process:"I didn't have an image in mind for my cover except for picturing some of the warm red, orange, and brown tones of the northern New Mexico landscape. Kayla's story is an emotional one, so I wanted warm, lively colors."Unfortunately, I was n...

Bonus Halloween Cover Story: Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott

[image error] Elizabeth Scott was here last year, sharing the story behind the very eerie hardcover for her disturbing and chilling novel, Living Dead Girl. This fall, the paperback came out, and it always makes me think of Halloween! I asked Elizabeth if she'd return to discuss the cover change, and here she is:"I knew Simon Pulse wanted a new cover for the paperback version of Living Dead Girl and my editor said she would send me one of the shots they'd done for it so I could take a look at it."Well, it ...

Photo Friday: Me, Parker Posey and Kayaks

[image error] Okay, so last weekend I got to go to this amazing Jonathan Adler charity brunch hosted by the Fred Flare gang. It was to raise money for God's Love We Deliver, and it was a fabulous morning! One: Because of the charity, naturally. Two: Because I got to meet Jonathan Adler, who is delightful and charming and makes amazing homeware (see teacup!). Three: Because I got to meet Parker Posey!She and I had a 30-second long conversation about gum that went like this:PP (putting gum in her mouth)...

Bonus Cover Stories: Never Cry Werewolf by Heather Davis

The lovely debut author Heather Davis is here to share the cover story of her fall release, Never Cry Wolf! Kirkus Reviews says, "What's a girl courted by an amber-eyed hottie to do? Fans of paranormal romance will enjoy this sweet debut." Nice! [image error] Here's Heather:"From the beginning, I think my agent, my editor and I were all on the same page for the cover for Never Cry Werewolf. There is a pivotal scene where Shelby, the protagonist, is lost in the forest -- and with the tie to the folk tale Lit...

Win-It Wednesday: Sweetgrass Basket by Marlene Carvell

The winner of last week's Libba Bray contest, chosen randomly, is... Janet Charoensook! Email me your address, JC. [image error] This week, I'm giving away the readergirlz November featured book, Sweetgrass Basket by Marlene Carvell. It's a lovely story of two Native American sisters who are sent to an off-reservation school after the death of their mother. November is Native American Heritage month. But I'm sure you knew that already. (It's okay, I just learned it last year, but I'm so glad to know now!)An...

Cover Stories: Goth Girl Rising by Barry Lyga

[image error] The awesome Barry Lyga is here today, sharing the Cover Story for his just-released sequel to The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl, Goth Girl Rising. (He's also giving away some insanely cool Goth Girl minimates! Read on for details...)Here's Barry!"For my cover, I had an idea that, in retrospect, is one of those things that sounds cool, but wouldn't work. My idea was to co-opt the cover to the first book, but reverse it: Red lips on a black background for the hardcover, then bl...

Photo Friday: Books + Bubbles

So this photo Friday I have two pics. They're both the Young Adult table at my local Barnes and Noble. I love seeing what's out there: [image error] [image error] Okay, and here's a third photo of Dave blowing bubbles on the Vassar campus when we went to a wedding there last month. Those are his Hollywood sunglasses. [image error] Don't forget that all day today, every 15 minutes, there's a new author posting on readergirlz in a Tribute to Teen Read Week! It's insanely fast and I've made it my mission to comment on all of them as they ...

LIVE! I'm Chatting Tonight at 9pm EST/6pm PST

[image error] I'm gonna be there! Cassandra Clare is gonna to be there!Patrick Ness is gonna answer questions tomorrow that are posted tonight (he lives in England so he'd have to stay up until, like, 2am, to be there live--but we still love him).All the readergirlz peeps will be there. Also there: A chance to win copies of all the featured-authors books (and if you haven't read Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments series, you're missing out!) plus a mystery swag bag from I Heart Daily (it's good--I'm fill...