[alison]

This one's for Rad - though others might be interested.

Here are the three different covers of The Gift, in order (Australia, UK, US) - sorry, I can't seem to control the sizes!!

http://www.masthead.net.au/alison/fantasy/cover.jpg http://www.masthead.net.au/alison/fantasy/giftuk.jpg http://www.masthead.net.au/alison/fantasy/naming1.jpg

And for good measure, the covers so far for The Riddle (Australia and UK):

http://www.masthead.net.au/alison/fantasy/Final%20Cover.jpg http://www.masthead.net.au/alison/fantasy/riddleuk.jpg

[Radthorne]

Ooo, thanks! Yes, quite different concepts, aren't they?

I have to say I think the UK covers are quite striking - I like 'em a lot! I don't care quite as much for the title font on them (I'd probably have gone more with the style on the Australian editions), but the images are very vivid. I think your name on the Australian covers also looks really good in that particular font.

Do post The Riddle's U.S. cover when it makes it's way to these shores...

[Evil Agent]

Those are all really nice! I especially love the red one for 'The Gift', and the matching blue one for the next book.

(I've never actually read anything of yours though!)

[alison]

Thanks Rad and Evil Agent - I am fondest of the UK covers (those lovely colours and beautiful objects) but perhaps it's not a coincidence that they're the ones I had probably most to do with. It was quite interesting; when the designer, Patrick Insole, asked me what the lyre looked like, I realised I had very little idea. We settled on an Anglo-Saxon lyre crossed with the traditional Greek shape, but it made me realise something about how I imagine things - I knew enough details to be able to write about it in detail, but not enough to actually draw it. Patrick also designed the Treesong Runes for me - what a darling that man is! - he gets a credit in the Appendices and Introduction as Professor Patrick Insole of the Department of Ancient Languages at the University of Leeds, expert on the scripts of Edil-Amarandh, which certainly amused me, and I hope amused him!

[Rocket Sheep]

I was amused.

I quite liked the icebergs etc on the cover of The Riddle that I was sent but the figure in the cape annoyed me. I have an aversion to capes and cloaks in fantasy... far too extravagant a garment for an adventurer and overused by fantasy writers.

I have heard from fantasy writers who've had dragons or flying horses put on their book covers just to highlight them as fantasy when the book contains no dragons or flying horses. That must be annoying.

[Gemini]

I like the British Riddle cover better, i don't know what it is about the Australian one, it just gets to me, it doesn't seem very....melded, it sort of looks like they just stuck a few random pictures together, almost like they couldn't decide what to put on there. Though i do like the Australian Gift cover, it's very mysterious lol :) I have an aversion to capes and cloaks in fantasy... far too extravagant a garment for an adventurer and overused by fantasy writers. too true, one should never underestimate the quality of a good old jacket.... of sorts. I guess cloaks and the like are used alot because it just fits with the whole medieval/ fantasy thing, that and some writers are to scared to deviate from tried and true methods. I wish i had the American cover for the Gift on my book now, sigh, oh well.

[Lirva]

i think capes and cloaks are perfectly acceptable, very useful piece of clothing and can give a dramatic touch (i am a hopelessromantic at heart and have a soft spot for cloaks :o )

[Gemini]

i think capes and cloaks are perfectly acceptable, very useful piece of clothing and can give a dramatic touch (i am a hopelessromantic at heart and have a soft spot for cloaks :o )
but really....don't we all..... :) :D

[Lirva]

embrace the cape then it's great!!!! :p

[Kibeth]

Capes Are All Part Of The Atmosphere!!!!!