On the Blended Notes Cover

Or: That one time I actually had an idea.

On the cover of Blended Notes, in addition to our handsome protags lookin’ extra snazzy for some reason, there is a car. Not just any car, oh no.

You see, that ridiculously high spoiler there belongs to the 1970 Plymouth Superbird. A car that NASCAR deemed to be both too clunky and too powerful, and average car-driving people felt was too weird. (Too weird for the 70s is a solid commitment to weirdness.) Thus the Superbird was only in production for one year, with about 2,000 models produced, many of them sitting unsold and unwanted on dealer lots. :( Restored Superbirds are something of a cult collector’s item now, and Grady Dawson, bless his big beautiful impulsive heart, decides that the thick of a professional and personal crisis is the perfect time to restore one of them. Grady’s car looks like this, only worse:

In discussions about the cover, IP’s amazing and talented art director wanted to incorporate the Superbird (because symbolism!) and was having trouble fitting it in with the guys. “Why not just include the back end with that absurd spoiler?” I suggested. Y’all, I pretty much never have suggestions. It’s a small moment, but I need it, okay? All credit otherwise goes to CB and my wonderful and talented cover artist Victoria. And so…

Now just what does this weirdo car have to do with Grady or country music or romance or transplanted L.A. stylists still finding their footing in Nashville and in love? Guess you’ll have to pick up the book and find out.