Comments on: Covers: Agnes and the Hitman http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/ More than you ever wanted to hear from Bestselling Author Jenny Crusie. Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:36:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Petrina http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-6043 Petrina Wed, 20 Jun 2007 15:00:48 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-6043 What a great lesson in cover art. The first one would have had me turning it over to read the back blurb even if I didn't know the authors. I also like your final choice and can hardly wait until August. What a great lesson in cover art. The first one would have had me turning it over to read the back blurb even if I didn’t know the authors. I also like your final choice and can hardly wait until August.

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]]> By: Dee S. Knight http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-6023 Dee S. Knight Wed, 20 Jun 2007 01:13:44 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-6023 I love hearing the logic behind the evolution of the covers. Thanks for sharing. I have to say, until the final cover, I didn't know the red marks were bullet holes--I'm glad it wasn't just me. I love hearing the logic behind the evolution of the covers. Thanks for sharing. I have to say, until the final cover, I didn’t know the red marks were bullet holes–I’m glad it wasn’t just me.

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]]> By: Laura Vivanco http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-6007 Laura Vivanco Tue, 19 Jun 2007 23:09:13 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-6007 Mary Stella, those 'not-good' gunholes are very definitely the Cherry equivalent of the Rorschach test. So far we've got (1) me seeing flying pigs (rather appropriate for an academic who thinks that one day some romances will be recognised as having significant literary merit). (2) Mary Stella seeing 'deformed bloody bats' (is this the influence of the paranormal Unfortunate Miss Fortunes and their butterflies?). (3) Diane (TT) seeing 'the top bullet hole was the head of a dead flamingo and that a lower one was more dead flamingo poking through' (as she said, she's the only one 'on topic') (4) Jenny, seeing 'chocolate covered cherries' (and we all know Jenny meticulously researches <a href="http://www.jennycrusie.com/trivia/recipes.php" rel="nofollow">recipes mentioned in her books</a>). (5) my husband, who was sure the top one was a tiny map of Australia and was trying to work out which country the second one was when I started laughing at him. (He likes maps). Mary Stella, those ‘not-good’ gunholes are very definitely the Cherry equivalent of the Rorschach test.

So far we’ve got

(1) me seeing flying pigs (rather appropriate for an academic who thinks that one day some romances will be recognised as having significant literary merit).

(2) Mary Stella seeing ‘deformed bloody bats’ (is this the influence of the paranormal Unfortunate Miss Fortunes and their butterflies?).

(3) Diane (TT) seeing ‘the top bullet hole was the head of a dead flamingo and that a lower one was more dead flamingo poking through’ (as she said, she’s the only one ‘on topic’)

(4) Jenny, seeing ‘chocolate covered cherries’ (and we all know Jenny meticulously researches recipes mentioned in her books).

(5) my husband, who was sure the top one was a tiny map of Australia and was trying to work out which country the second one was when I started laughing at him. (He likes maps).

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]]> By: Jennifer Talty http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-6004 Jennifer Talty Tue, 19 Jun 2007 22:36:37 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-6004 yep - it's a winner. I like it. I didn't like some of the others one so much, espeically the pink, but you are talking to a dance teacher who avoids pink costumes at all costs. I have issues with pink. Yep - bullet holes are hard, but I think they look good on the final cover. Looks Good! Can't wait for the book to come out. yep – it’s a winner. I like it. I didn’t like some of the others one so much, espeically the pink, but you are talking to a dance teacher who avoids pink costumes at all costs. I have issues with pink.

Yep – bullet holes are hard, but I think they look good on the final cover.

Looks Good! Can’t wait for the book to come out.

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]]> By: Jenny http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-6003 Jenny Tue, 19 Jun 2007 22:21:38 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-6003 See, I saw chocolate covered cherries instead of bullet holes. There was another version, the one on the ARCs where they looked like white daisies with red centers. Bullet holes are hard. See, I saw chocolate covered cherries instead of bullet holes. There was another version, the one on the ARCs where they looked like white daisies with red centers.

Bullet holes are hard.

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]]> By: Vaishali http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-6001 Vaishali Tue, 19 Jun 2007 21:45:19 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-6001 ZaZa: omg - you are dead correct on the Carl Hiassen cover! Perfect. Great final cover. I love the incomplete Agnes pic, catchy and intriguing, esp. with her checking you out from above her glasses. ZaZa: omg – you are dead correct on the Carl Hiassen cover! Perfect.

Great final cover. I love the incomplete Agnes pic, catchy and intriguing, esp. with her checking you out from above her glasses.

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]]> By: ZaZa http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-5999 ZaZa Tue, 19 Jun 2007 18:33:56 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-5999 That first cover belongs on a Carl Hiaasen (sp?) book, no? ;+) Send it to him, Jenny. And does anyone else, when looking at that Agnes face, think of Jenny, as a school teacher, terrorizing the kid who never does his homework, with a single raised eyebrow? That first cover belongs on a Carl Hiaasen (sp?) book, no? ;+) Send it to him, Jenny.

And does anyone else, when looking at that Agnes face, think of Jenny, as a school teacher, terrorizing the kid who never does his homework, with a single raised eyebrow?

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]]> By: Melissa http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-5998 Melissa Tue, 19 Jun 2007 18:09:20 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-5998 My first thought when I saw the pink cover, "Pepto-Bismol" and then ,"god that fits every romance novel stero-type(a pink cover). I love the final outcome. Could be the red-framed glasses or I'm easy to please. The big flamingo was just too much. My first thought when I saw the pink cover, “Pepto-Bismol” and then ,”god that fits every romance novel stero-type(a pink cover).

I love the final outcome. Could be the red-framed glasses or I’m easy to please.

The big flamingo was just too much.

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]]> By: diane s http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-5997 diane s Tue, 19 Jun 2007 18:04:11 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-5997 I just LOVE the final cover! makes me salivate to read the book... I just LOVE the final cover! makes me salivate to read the book…

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]]> By: Diane (TT) http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-5992 Diane (TT) Tue, 19 Jun 2007 15:28:50 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-5992 Well, when I saw an earlier version of the cover, I thought that the top bullet hole was the head of a dead flamingo and that a lower one was more dead flamingo poking through. At least I hallucinate on topic, I guess! Well, when I saw an earlier version of the cover, I thought that the top bullet hole was the head of a dead flamingo and that a lower one was more dead flamingo poking through. At least I hallucinate on topic, I guess!

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]]> By: Steph http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-5991 Steph Tue, 19 Jun 2007 15:22:09 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-5991 i am eternally grateful to good covers. it keeps my toddler occupied with her own conversation while i get some reading done. ditto for author pics on the back cover. she thinks y'all are talking to her so she talks back. smart or scary, not sure which, but it's working for us. i am eternally grateful to good covers. it keeps my toddler occupied with her own conversation while i get some reading done. ditto for author pics on the back cover. she thinks y’all are talking to her so she talks back. smart or scary, not sure which, but it’s working for us.

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]]> By: Mary Stella http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-5990 Mary Stella Tue, 19 Jun 2007 15:18:57 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-5990 The bullet holes are like our own Rorshach test. Laura saw pink flying pigs, I saw deformed bloody bats. Hmm. Let's not examine our respective psyches too closely. The final cover is definitely a winner! The bullet holes are like our own Rorshach test. Laura saw pink flying pigs, I saw deformed bloody bats. Hmm. Let’s not examine our respective psyches too closely. The final cover is definitely a winner!

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]]> By: Laura Vivanco http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-5988 Laura Vivanco Tue, 19 Jun 2007 14:33:52 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-5988 I was trying to work out why those middle covers had two pink flying pigs on them. Took me a while to realise that when Jenny said 'better bullet holes' she was meaning that they were the not-so-good ones. I was trying to work out why those middle covers had two pink flying pigs on them. Took me a while to realise that when Jenny said ‘better bullet holes’ she was meaning that they were the not-so-good ones.

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]]> By: GatorPerson http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-5987 GatorPerson Tue, 19 Jun 2007 13:53:47 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-5987 I LOVE the tablecloth. I LOVE the whole chosen book cover. I think a person unfamiliar with Agnes would get the drift from the cover. OTOH, I love the first cover. The novel behind it would be a takeoff on Alice in Wonderland playing golf with the flamingo, aiming the balls at the target. I LOVE the tablecloth. I LOVE the whole chosen book cover. I think a person unfamiliar with Agnes would get the drift from the cover.

OTOH, I love the first cover. The novel behind it would be a takeoff on Alice in Wonderland playing golf with the flamingo, aiming the balls at the target.

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]]> By: Deb http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-5986 Deb Tue, 19 Jun 2007 13:24:35 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-5986 Yes, I think you do have a winner. Love the bullet holes. I did read your previous essay on cover design and have to tell you, I thought the "bracelet" on "Anyone but You", was actually Fred's collar, since it is Fred's book and all, so I think it fits well. The fact that you didn't see it that way indicates the problem with the design, but still.. Yes, I think you do have a winner. Love the bullet holes.

I did read your previous essay on cover design and have to tell you, I thought the “bracelet” on “Anyone but You”, was actually Fred’s collar, since it is Fred’s book and all, so I think it fits well. The fact that you didn’t see it that way indicates the problem with the design, but still..

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]]> By: Susan D http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-5985 Susan D Tue, 19 Jun 2007 12:14:47 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-5985 Psychologically speaking... The first cover says to me some creepoid is using defenseless flamingos for target practice. The chosen cover is just the opposite. Bullets may be flying, but Agnes is in control. Her look says, "You let that thing off one more time and you'll eat this frying pan." Psychologically speaking…

The first cover says to me some creepoid is using defenseless flamingos for target practice.

The chosen cover is just the opposite. Bullets may be flying, but Agnes is in control. Her look says, “You let that thing off one more time and you’ll eat this frying pan.”

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]]> By: Michelle L. http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-5981 Michelle L. Tue, 19 Jun 2007 09:12:07 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-5981 Love the cover! It would sell it to me even if I didn't follow your blog & hadn't followed the development of this book. :) I so love it when covers actually DO capture the book because far too often they don't. My all-time favorite book cover is A GREAT & TERRIBLE BEAUTY by Libba Bray. I saw that one from across the room at Barnes & Noble during their Christmas rush (I believe I actually gasped!) and then made like the world's greatest quarter-back dodging grumpy shoppers to scoop it up just so I could see what was behind the awesome cover. LOL! Luckily, the story was indeed worthy of the cover and I read my first young adult novel in 20 years. I also bought the sequel when it came out & cannot wait for the 3rd one in December. The point of that long ramble... never underestimate the importance of a great cover! I believe y'all have a winner! Love the cover! It would sell it to me even if I didn’t follow your blog & hadn’t followed the development of this book. :) I so love it when covers actually DO capture the book because far too often they don’t.
My all-time favorite book cover is A GREAT & TERRIBLE BEAUTY by Libba Bray. I saw that one from across the room at Barnes & Noble during their Christmas rush (I believe I actually gasped!) and then made like the world’s greatest quarter-back dodging grumpy shoppers to scoop it up just so I could see what was behind the awesome cover. LOL! Luckily, the story was indeed worthy of the cover and I read my first young adult novel in 20 years. I also bought the sequel when it came out & cannot wait for the 3rd one in December. The point of that long ramble… never underestimate the importance of a great cover! I believe y’all have a winner!

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]]> By: Jenny http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-5979 Jenny Tue, 19 Jun 2007 08:37:41 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-5979 Certain chains can change a cover by changing their order. Sometimes it's just a flat out yes or no: if Walmart won't stock your book with a certain cover, you change it, period. Other times, the chain's buyer who needs to sell a lot of books will look at a cover and say, "I'll take X number of books with this cover, but if you fix it, I'll take 4X." So publishers change it because chains sell a lot of books. Everybody wants the same thing: lots of books sold. They just disagree on what will do it. But everybody's happy with this one. Certain chains can change a cover by changing their order. Sometimes it’s just a flat out yes or no: if Walmart won’t stock your book with a certain cover, you change it, period. Other times, the chain’s buyer who needs to sell a lot of books will look at a cover and say, “I’ll take X number of books with this cover, but if you fix it, I’ll take 4X.” So publishers change it because chains sell a lot of books. Everybody wants the same thing: lots of books sold. They just disagree on what will do it.

But everybody’s happy with this one.

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]]> By: Strop http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-5978 Strop Tue, 19 Jun 2007 07:43:35 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-5978 I love the flamingo motif, and really liked the flamingo on the first cover but I have to agree, the version you ended up with is soooo cool. I love the flamingo motif, and really liked the flamingo on the first cover but I have to agree, the version you ended up with is soooo cool.

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]]> By: JulieB http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-5972 JulieB Tue, 19 Jun 2007 03:56:11 +0000 http://www.arghink.com/2007/06/18/covers-agnes-and-the-hitman/#comment-5972 Having seen so many bad covers, and covers that just don't fit the book at all, I probably would have seen the first one and thought "Wow! Winner!" Yep, it didn't fit the book, but hey, so many don't. But seeing the evolution of this cover is great, and the last one really has it all. I can't believe they did the pink one though. . . . I like the red tablecloth too. It evokes danger and a taste of blood. Plus, I think there's plenty of red-checked tablecloths in the south. I was wondering about your comment that Barnes and Noble didn't like the cover. Do bookstores usually have a say in cover choices as well? Having seen so many bad covers, and covers that just don’t fit the book at all, I probably would have seen the first one and thought “Wow! Winner!” Yep, it didn’t fit the book, but hey, so many don’t. But seeing the evolution of this cover is great, and the last one really has it all. I can’t believe they did the pink one though. . . .
I like the red tablecloth too. It evokes danger and a taste of blood. Plus, I think there’s plenty of red-checked tablecloths in the south.
I was wondering about your comment that Barnes and Noble didn’t like the cover. Do bookstores usually have a say in cover choices as well?

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