Wednesday, November 24, 2010

In Celebration of Turkeys

Conversation I had in the dead of night last night:

Me: I don't get what happens when the President pardons the turkey. "So, you're pardoned, but we're going to eat you now"?
Husband: No, they don't eat that one.
Me: So where does the turkey go after that? Does it just live at the White House? Also, pardoning it implies that it's done something wrong.
Husband: They bring the best turkey they can find in from somewhere and the President goes, "You're such a great turkey we're going to pardon you." I think Roosevelt started it or something and now all of them have to do it.
Me: Huh.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Extra special thanks to my friends and family. I feel incredibly blessed to have you in my life.

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Cover Girls

Two of my agency pals, Miranda Kenneally and Jennifer Wolf, sold their debut YA novels last week! Check out their blogs for more info and to wish them well.

I was wondering what their covers will look like, and it got me thinking about the eye-catching images on Amy Reed's books. Beautiful features an attractive blonde girl who seems to be trying on an adult persona. It's a compelling shot to go with a compelling and thought-provoking story, but it also provides a specific model/actress for the lead, which may affect the way a reader sees the role. Clean, Reed's upcoming novel, is similarly striking.

In contrast, Ally Carter's Gallagher Girls series and Courtney Summers' books feature young women whose faces aren't quite seen, allowing the reader to fill in the characters' looks for themselves.

Do you prefer covers that include specific images, or ones that only allude to an image? Does it change the way you "see" the characters in your head if the book cover provides a precise image?