Yesterday, I did a cover reveal for MARDI GRAS MURDER, the fourth book in my Cajun Country Mystery series – available for pre-order!! – over at Dru’s Musings. I thought it might be fun to share a bit about the real plantations you see on my book covers.
PLANTATION SHUDDERS features an illustration of Nottoway, the largest existing antebellum mansion in the South, now a 4-star resort. This was the first book in my series and I’ll never forget how excited I was when I saw the gorgeous artwork. Stephen Gardner, the cover artist for my books, did an amazing job. Interestingly, in my mind, Crozat Plantation B and B, the fictional family home and business of my protagonist’s family, looks like Ashland-Belle Helene, and Doucet Plantation – former home to her mother’s family – looks like…
…Houmas House, featured on the cover of my second book, BODY ON THE BAYOU. Below on the left is a photo I took of this landmark River Road home; on the right, another marvelous illustration by Stephen. I only had two notes on the cover art: make sure both the bride and groom are falling over, and make the frosting as purple as possible. (Originally it was pink, but purple is my series’ signature color, along with green and gold – the colors of Mardi Gras.)
Since book four, A CAJUN CHRISTMAS KILLING, revolved around Christmas, this cover has a different look. The focus is on traditional symbols of the holiday: presents, ornaments, a tree, even a Santa hat on the beloved family pet (who’s based on our beloved late basset hound, Lucy). All the cover lacked was an element of suspense, and my agent came up with the idea of decorating the tree with skull and cross bone ornaments. The only existing Louisiana plantation featuring Gothic design is San Francisco. I can’t guarantee that’s why inspired Stephen, but it’s the closest I could come up with.
Finally, we have MARDI GRAS MURDER. This cover features the most iconic plantation in Louisiana, Oak Alley. I’m lucky because my publisher allows me to input on cover art. I sent Crooked Lane photos of two plantations, Oak Alley and Evergreen, and also recommended that we put a mask on the cover and use the Mardi Gras color scheme. Picking a favorite cover is like picking a favorite child – you feel so guilty! But I so, so love this one…
As I write this, I’m overwhelmed with how lucky I am to have a supportive publisher who found the perfect cover artist for my series. And not only do Stephen’s illustrations make great covers… they make great charms!
Readers, do you have a favorite book cover? Besides my own, mine would be the original cover art for THE GREAT GATSBY. What about you?
No favorite book covers. But hers makes me smile as I am a great lover of basset hounds.
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Me too!
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I like that they use real looking houses in the covers. Makes the story feel real from the get go.
My ultimate favs? Probably Ellen Byerrum. Don’t know why. Maybe it’s the title combined with the classy cartoon type picture?
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Ellen’s are great. BTW, when I first started writing mysteries, Ellen and I were constantly mistaken for each other because our names are so similar. We actually took a photo we shared where we wrote, “We are not each other.”
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Book covers are quite the art form aren’t they? All in one image you want to get the essence of the story, a hint at the genre, and why the reader should pick up your book. The only image that sticks in my mind at the moment is James Ziskin’s new book, A Stone’s Throw, of a racehorse practically running over the viewer. It’s a powerful image.
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I love your cover, Keenan. It’s evocative and beautiful, yet with a hint of foreboding.
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I found me a new author thanks for commenting It’s a great way for those looking for other authors to find them.
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I love your covers! It’s so cool that those are real plantations on there.
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Isn’t it? And touring them is fascinating.
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No favorite book covers here, either, but I certainly do love all of yours.
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Thanks so much, Mark.
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Great new cover, Ellen! You’ve got quite the gorgeous gallery going now. On this one I particularly love the welcoming glow from the plantation, with the skull outside. I have so many fave covers in general…but one that has always stuck with me is Mary Higgins Clark’s “Where are the Children?” It gives me chills.
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Okay, now I have to go look that up. And thanks!
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I adore all those lurid genre fiction covers from the 1950s pocket paperbacks, esp. mysteries and scifi.
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I have a few of those. They’re GREAT.
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I love the new cover! I don’t really have any favorites. My problem is I find it hard to remember anything I haven’t looked at in the past 24 hours.
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LOL, I hear you!
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Great covers, Ellen. I couldn’t possibly pick just one out of all the ones I’ve loved for a favorite though.
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I know. That’s a tough question!
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Ellen, I’ve loved all your Cajun Country covers, but I think the new one might be my favorite — love the mask on the skull and the beads on the pup! I also adore the 1920s style on the covers of Frances Brody’s Kate Shackleton series.
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I do love her covers. That series has been on my TBR forever. I have to finally read it.
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And thanks! My fave too. I have to say…
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Great new cover! I’ve always found Oak Alley to be so intriguing. Never been there, but I’d like to go. So I love that it’s on your cover. Don’t tell the first three books, but I think this one may be my favorite yet!
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I know! Honestly, I’m a little worried about how we’ll follow this cover up! xoxo
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I love cozy covers. I’ve been to two of the plantations featured on your covers. They are awesome, and so are your covers. Love the new one!
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Thanks so much! Great that you’ve been to two of the plantations.
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I’m a visual person, so the book cover will be the key to get me looking at the blurb on the back on a book.
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I’m a visual person, too.I never thought I was, but I did a test once that show that’s how I learn best.
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LOVE seeing the actual pictures next to the covers (which I also love). Thanks for sharing these, Ellen!
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