Severed Heads, Broken Hearts Cover Reveal Contest: The Reveal and This Judge’s Pick
Oct 26
Severed Heads, Broken Hearts by Robyn Schneider
Coming June 2013
Katherine Tegen Books
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I am so excited to be a part of today’s cover reveal and contest to “design your own cover” for Robyn Schneider’s SEVERED HEADS, BROKEN HEARTS. Although, had I known that being a judge was going to be quite this hard – there are some seriously awesome cover mocks! – I might have reined in my enthusiasm just a bit.
I am never great at being able to choose just one of anything. Narrowing down the field to my eight final choices was nearly impossible. Selecting just one of those as my pick was a nightmare of epic proportions.
But I did it. And after I share my thoughts about the awesome cover that will be decorating Robyn Schneider’s upcoming title, giving just a little bit of information about the book and author, and sharing a video from the author in which she talks about her book’s cover, I shall reveal my cover of choice.
Of course if you don’t want to wait, you can just scroll down.
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My Thoughts
There’s something very retro about this cover that I really love. And the more I stare at it, the more I love it. While it didn’t grab me at first – I tend to be attracted to covers that are either very soft and feminine, very striking or very dark – the longer I looked at it the more I connected with it.
The color combination is also one that I wouldn’t normally gravitate toward – tan and teal with just a hint of red aren’t color choices that top my list of visual favorites – yet I find myself drawn to this one.
I love the fanning-out of each word in the title and how they follow the lines of the boy and girl’s sketch. There’s something very whimsical in their pose, which appears as if they’re standing on a tire swing, the boy on top and the girl below. And I love that even though they are just drawn silhouettes, you can still get the sense that he’s gazing at her but she’s looking elsewhere.
I don’t know how the cover art connects with the story but it’s interesting enough and different enough to definitely make me want to find out just how it does. And with such an intriguing title and unique cover, I am very excited to read this author’s book.
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About the Book
Golden boy Ezra Faulkner believes everyone has a tragedy waiting for them—a single encounter after which everything that really matters will happen. His particular tragedy waited until he was primed to lose it all: In one spectacular night, a reckless driver shatters Ezra’s knee, his athletic career, and his social life.
No longer a front-runner for Homecoming King, Ezra finds himself at the table of misfits, where he encounters new girl Cassidy Thorpe. Cassidy is unlike anyone Ezra’s ever met—achingly effortless, fiercely intelligent.
Together, Ezra and Cassidy discover flash mobs, buried treasure, and a poodle that might just be the reincarnation of Jay Gatsby. But as Ezra dives into his new studies, new friendships, and new love, he learns that some people, like books, are easy to misread. And now he must consider: If one’s singular tragedy has already hit, what happens when more misfortune strikes?
Robyn Schneider’s Severed Heads, Broken Hearts is a lyrical, witty, and heart-wrenching novel about how difficult it is to play the part that people expect, and how new beginnings can stem from abrupt and tragic endings.
Find it: GOODREADS, AMAZON, BARNES & NOBLE
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About the Author
Robyn Schneider is a 26-year-old author, videoblogger and social media personality. Robyn:
- has appeared in the LA Times, The Today Show DigitalLife, Vogue.com, Elle Japan, Time Out New York, NY Magazine, the Philadelphia Daily News, Mashable.com, as well as on TimesCast, MTV, Showtime, RTE2, BBC and at the New York Improv, Comix, Laugh Factory and others.
- Is the writer, producer and host of Doctor Who Reviewed, a web series of episode recaps for Doctor Who Online.
- Is the author of four books for teens and tweens: The Secret Prince (Aladdin Books 2011), Knightley Academy (Aladdin Books 2010), The Social Climber’s Guide to High School (Simon Pulse 2007) and Better Than Yesterday (Delacorte 2007).
- Has appeared as a keynote speaker and panelist at many conferences on social media, YouTube, science fiction, fantasy, and publishing including New York Comic Con, Playlist Live, Gallifrey One, Aeternitas and Book Expo America.
- Graduated from Columbia University in 2009 and is a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania’s Department of Medical Ethics (School of Medicine).
- Created the “At Your 10 Year High School Reunion” meme, which received over 10 million hits and is considered one of the top 20 most popular internet quizzes of all time.
Find her: TWITTER, TUMBLR, YOUTUBE, FACEBOOK, GOODREADS, WEBSITE
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See What Author Robyn Schneider Says About Her Cover
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So I went with simple. Much like the actual cover for the novel, I found that this cover intrigued me the most about just what this story might be about.
While I absolutely loved all the beautiful covers by OhHeyIt’sJaimee and the stunning cover with it’s captivating colors, tint and font used by InLoveInTheTardis, in the end, it was this cover’s mystery that drew me in.
And while it appears simple at first, I find that it has more to it than first meets the eye. I love that there’s just a slight difference in colors for the fonts for “Severed Heads” and “Broken Hearts.” I love that while it appears very balanced left to right, it isn’t. And I love how each length of white line bisects the black just enough.
I also love that while there are four fonts used on this cover, they work so well together that it doesn’t make the cover look cluttered or dissonant. Perhaps it’s the lack of the serif on all but the one.
I do find it interesting, too, that the teal color used for the heart and the word “hearts” is very similar to the teal used in the actual cover for this book.
So, that’s my choice… I can’t wait to see what the other five judges chose as their favorite!
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If you’d like to see what THE JUDGES chose as their favorite cover mocks, be sure to visit each of their blogs, listed below. All of our selections will be presented to HarperCollins who will pick the winner. Good luck to all participants!
PAM – Bookalicious & @BookaliciousPam
LIZ – Elizziebooks & @elizziebeth
APRIL – Good Books & Good Wine & @booksandwine
KRISTI – The Story Siren & @thestorysiren
SHANYN – Chick Loves Lit & @shanynlee
I felt the same way about the cover! The colors took a while to get used to but I really love it. Great judging choice. I like the simplistic designs :]
Thanks! Yeah, the cover is definitely addictive. The more I look at it the more I love it. And I loved your pick too. It was so tough to choose just one. Can’t wait to see which cover Katherine Tegen chose and very curious if one of our picks were on her list of favorites.
O_O
I love both! The actual cover and the one you chose BUT I’m definitely much more in love with the actual cover…
I’ve always been a fan of romantic but weird and awesome covers… And I think this one is just that… plus I instantly noticed what you said… he’s looking at the girl while she’s gazing at any other place but him…
Simply love it!! <333
#1stalker
LOL! I don’t think the original is weird.
It’s so retro and cool. I would have loved the design no matter what, it just took me a few to be like, hey those colors kind of do rock. Hey I think they look perfect.
Granted, I love the title so much. I’d have bought this book just for the title.
I can’t wait to read this book. So excited!
I really liked this cover too! and the other one that this artist did…. the colors really popped! such talent to choose from, it was hard!
I loved them both too, but the blue had that clean simplicity I liked. But the OhHeyJaimee covers were so gorgeous. I’d love to see more covers designed by her. There were so many talented designers, it was incredible. Loved your choice!
Gahhhh thank you for choosing my design! Totally made my week, you’re so nice!!