Glorious, glorious cover art for The Reluctant Berserker
To say I’m pleased with this one would be an understatement. Particularly as I know how hard the artist worked to get something that was in-period, when I kept sending the mockups back. “It’s lovely, but they didn’t wear plate armour in those days.” “I love it, but I’m sorry, we can’t have a castle because they didn’t build them yet.” “It’s gorgeous, but the heater-shield didn’t come in until the 13th Century and has to go.”
I felt like a real diva. All the more so because I know exactly how hard it is to get stockphotos which are right for any historical period. I was trying not to nitpick, but on the other hand, I also knew that anyone who knew anything about the 8th Century would look at that shield and immediately think “Whoa, 500 years out of date, I bet that author doesn’t know what they’re talking about. Either that or they have no respect for their history/readers/own work.” So I just couldn’t let it go.
However, they put up with me. They changed the shield, they changed the helmet to make it look more like a spectacle helm, and eala! I am overjoyed.
All the kudos and praise to the artist, Kanaxa 🙂
Oooooooooooooooh!! Got a publishing date yet? Looking forward to reading the definitive version so much.
Gorgeous & intriguing!
Hi Elin 🙂 Thanks! I think I have a publishing date, but in my usual way I’ve mislaid it somewhere. It certainly isn’t for a while yet – January 2014, I think.
I haven’t even got a page for it on my website yet! Argh, I’m so behind with everything.
Thanks Char! Samhain do really good covers, I’ve got to admit it 🙂
That’s a great cover. You’re right to at least be able to say what you DON’T want on the cover. Looking forward to reading it.
I get the feeling that I may have been a bit more difficult about it than they expected 😉 They were very keen on a medieval look (which granted is a much more romantic look than the Saxon) but I shot my book in the foot by insisting on something closer to the real deal 😉
Just beautiful. Kudos to you for being a stickler (’cause that stuff does matter) and to Kanaxa for making it happen. Something to look forward to at the start of the new year!
Thank you Carolyn! Yes, I mean it’s not entirely right even now but at least anyone who looks at it now knows that we’ve tried. I think that’s important in a historical. I couldn’t live with myself if people went away saying things like “well, of course the Saxons had castles, I saw it on an Alex Beecroft book cover.” The shame!