Back to Business: The Cover Reveal Story & a Question

So, here's a funny story. After weeks of back-and-forth with my exceedingly patient editor, we finally settled on a cover--and not a moment too soon. The galleys needed to be printed. The Penguin Winter 2014 catalog was being designed. Translation: We were under the wire.

What I didn't know last Monday was that the cover was slated to go up on Amazon at the end of the week.

(Interesting factoid: They give you a multi-day window during which the cover will go online so, though it could have been as early as Thursday, might not be up until today.) Next translation: No time to have any fun with the cover reveal...or was there?

In a panic, I emailed a few close writer friends who in no time put together a fun plan, donated awesome swag and, come Thursday morning, the interwebs were plastered with THE SOUND OF LETTING GO. More than amazed and delighted, I was so very deeply touched by the support of my friends--and of the entire book-loving internet community. Third translation: I've teared up quite often these last few days.

This morning, I felt a sudden pressure to write an amazing blog post for all my new followers and friends of TSoLG. But the only words I really want to say today are...THANK YOU.

Final translation: Everyone reading this post today is awesome and wonderful and amazing. My gratitude is boundless. My heart is full.

NOW, THE QUESTION. And it's a BIG one (okay, more than one):

• What does is mean to be a writer-blogger today versus when I began in 2007 (here are my first two posts) before the economic debacle of 2008...before the implosion of Borders and before the explosion of self-publishing?
• What does it mean to be a midlist writer (like me) who doesn't get a huge publicity/marketing budget from her traditional publisher and who is also an avid Tweeter/Blogger with awesome friends in these online book worlds?
• In the wake of all this cover-love gratitude, how can I pay it forward and remain true to my own book and business aesthetics?
• Are there changes to be made?

Please share your thoughts by commenting on this post and I'll include some of your insights in a"trying to answer some big questions" post next Monday. Meanwhile. Again. Thank you!

More cover fun: WHO'S THE HOTTIE?

NEED ANSWERS?

Some fun facts about the cover shoot for AUDITION

(courtesy of my editor, Kendra)...

• Kate, the designer, looked at many headshots to find the perfect models for the cover. She wanted models with dance experience. She also brought a number of different outfits--black and pink ballet shoes, legwarmers, two different rehearsal skirts, and leotards in different colors, and a couple of different shirts for the guy.
• The shoot was held at a photo studio in New York City. It had a huge window facing uptown and the river--an incredible view and wonderful light. It took about two hours.
• Kendra described the basics of the story and characters to the models and tried to convey to them that it was important to have a lot of romantic tension.
• Mr. Hottie had just moved to NYC from Los Angeles a few weeks before this cover shoot.
• The girl model's story was similar in some ways to the main character, Sara, from AUDITION-- she's from a small town, she's sixteen, and she comes to New York City to pursue her dreams. But in the model's case, her mom comes with her and they just come for the day :)

I love thinking how both models, like the characters in my novel, are working to make their dreams come true.  And I feel so grateful to Kendra, Kate, the models and the photo team for all the thought and effort they put into the making of this cover!