Cover Reveal

I'm so proud of Our Last Vineyard Summer.

Selecting a cover for a novel is always tricky. Your publisher sends you a few iterations (or maybe only one attempt) and it’s an author’s job (1) to decide if it suits the book, and (2), how it will fare in a bookshop. I’ve always loved my covers, so when I received the first choice from my publisher for Our Last Vineyard Summer back in August, I was left scratching my head.

To me, the cover felt all wrong, even though in many ways it was right. Two girls on a beach, cartoonish, cute bathing suits. But the mood just didn’t hit right.

I hemmed and hawed. How much did I dislike the cover? Could I live with it? I spoke to my agent, and we both agreed: I would politely ask (beg) for another option.

It can be hard (read: intimidating, terrifying) to speak up about a cover you don’t like. For one, you don’t want to disparage another creative’s work; an art director worked on the concept and idea. Also, as an author, you always feel so lucky to have a book contract at all. It’s hard to complain about anything, and yet, if I didn’t speak up, I’d be stuck with this cover that felt completely wrong.

My editor was very receptive to the gentle criticisms, and she was willing to go back to the art department. They came back with a few more ideas that didn’t feel right either. At that point I was in panic mode. Was I being a diva? A pain in the neck author that my publisher would deem “difficult”?

I wanted to love this cover…I started the email back to my editor.

Luckily, my intrepid art director was not deterred and came back to me a few weeks later with a fresh new concept. I was immediately in love. She completely nailed it. Are you ready to see it? Here’s the Youtube link to the book trailer, too. YOU HAVE TO SEE THIS!

Isn’t this absolutely gorgeous? This is an image I’ve nearly bought for my walls numerous times. I think it captures the energy and spirit of the sisters in Our Last Vineyard Summer completely — and the image is so Vineyard.

Now I’m going to ask you for a favor.

Will you preorder a copy? Our Last Vineyard Summer is officially out for preorder for 25 percent off on the Simon and Schuster website (GIFT25). Why not give the gift of summer a bit early with any of my summer novels: Summer Darlings, On Gin Lane, All the Summers in Between and Our Last Vineyard Summer.

A Funny Story

I was in the Catskills a couple of weekends ago, and I stopped in to one of my favorite bookshops that I once wrote about for The New York Times. Rough Draft Bar and Books. I found my novel All the Summers in Between on the shelf, and I got so happy that my husband snapped a photo of me with my book. This is how goofy authors are. We never tire of seeing our books in bookshops.

A woman who was waiting in line to order coffee came up to me, “Are you the author of that book?”

“Yes!” I smiled, sliding my book back onto the shelf.

“That is so cool!” she said. “I need to buy your book and have you sign it. Will you sign it for me?”

Oh my heart. She was so sweet and excited, and it literally made me so happy to find a copy of my book but then to connect to a new reader. I was floating. That woman has no idea how happy she made me! If she ever reads this, thank you! And if you ever see an author awkwardly posing with her book, do the same. It’s such an act of creative kindness.

xo

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone. I’m running a Turkey Trot that on Thanksgiving morning, and then I’ve been tasked with mashed potatoes and brussel sprouts. YUM.

My favorite thing about the holiday is my mom’s gravy, her creamed onions AND she makes mashed rutabagas with butter and salt. I crave them all year!

As always, if you enjoy reading Dear Fiction, please heart this post. It helps other book lovers find Dear Fiction on Substack. Thank you, and have the best holiday ever.