One of the things that is true for most of the writer-types I know, is that we care quite a lot about the covers that wrap our words. I mean, stating it now, it seems totally freakingly obvious, but that old saw about “not judging a book by its cover” suggests that if you are the-sort-of-person-who-does-care-about-that-sort-of-thing then perhaps you might be a bit superficial.
Okay then …
I am a lot superficial.
Looking over my contract with Titan Books I saw that it promised that I’d be “consulted” on the cover for Lighthouse at the End of the World, although “consulted” does feel rather like a weasel word which might shield any number of sins.
Over the years, I have met writers with cover horror stories to tell. Covers that were so anathema to their original intent that recalling them still brings salty tears to their sweet, sweet eyes.
Equally, I am aware that we writers (present company accepted obvs) can be an egotistical bunch of awkwards who feel that nothing short of gold leaf and vegan leather are suitable containers for our genius. So, it was a nice surprise to get a note from my editor last month to say that he would be sending over a few potential covers for consideration. (This is actually my first rodeo – as the t-shirt says so I wasn’t sure what to expect.)
The four options that materialised in my inbox a couple of days later were all brilliant in their own ways and each one thrust a sturdy finger into the eye of the all too common contemporary practice of asking AI to puke up some generic bollocks with wizards on it. (I do appreciate that I am privileged in this regard, but come on people!)
I’m happy to say that the process of going through them was incredibly consultative with a lot of back and forth between me, my agent, my editor and the design team, to determine which would work best. Once that choice was made we went through a few iterations to get it was just right.
And so I’m very pleased to be able to share the final version in all its glory, as revealed on the ReactormagSFF site on the 30th April, along with a neat one sentence pitch:
Enter a London like no other in this fast-paced, captivating fantasy novel filled with warring gods, alternate realities and a working class kid caught in the middle of it all…
Hope you’ll agree it’s gobsmackingly gorgeous. I couldn’t be more pleased. Thanks to all the wonderful peepage at Titan Books for their patience and hard work in developing such a great cover. (Although, if there is a gold leaf and vegan leather option perhaps we can explore it?)
Finally, if I may be so bold, preorders really do help a book release land, so if you feel that The Lighthouse at the End of the World might be up your alley, you can preorder it here.