In my latest, greatest, sa-weetest news…CHLOE has a cover! See…
A bit bold, huh? And bright and sassy and in-your-face. Just like Chloe. But it’s also very, very different than many YA covers, and according to a recent Publishers Weekly article, some booksellers are ready for a little “different.”
For this particular book I was hoping not to get a YA cover with feet, one eye, a kneecap, or a girl gazing longingly off page. Not because I don’t like feet, single eyes, kneecaps, or longing gazes, but because those things aren’t “Chloe.” There’s nothing half-way or subtle about the bighearted, vintage-shoe-wearing radio talk show host heroine in my debut novel. And the mouth on the cover is spot on. I can hear Chloe saying, “Welcome, caller, this is Chloe. What’s on your heart tonight?” This is a girl who wants and needs to connect with others.
And you know what else I love about this cover? There are some people who are going to hate it (and who already told me so) for all those delicious reasons I adore it. These readers prefer to use their imaginations when visualizing characters. I’m hoping these readers ditch the cover jacket but still give the book a chance. But my point is, the Amulet team went big and bold, staying true to Our Girl.
So what do you think? Is it too bold, too in-your-face? Or do you like it? And no sissy answers allowed. Be bold. BTW, one commenter will receive a free ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of WELCOME, CALLER, THIS IS CHLOE and a handmade and numbered CHLOE bookmark. Hugs!
In-your-face is welcomed! Love this cover so, so much. (And I expect a bookmark.)
-S.
LOVE it!!
Shelley,
I normally am one of those people who like my characters left up to my imagination, but I have to be 100% honest and say that I ABSOLUTELY LOVE YOUR COVER!!! See my caps and exclamation points? That’s because I love your cover. It’s colorful, lively, quirky and just plain wonderful! I haven’t read your book yet, but I would most definitely pick this up in a bookstore! Love it!!!
Kim
I love it, Shelley. I especially love the way her mouth quirks up to one side…gives her a dose of personality. Very nice!
It’s really eye catching, Shelley and I love the quirky half smile. I think the right readers will pick it up for sure! Congratulations! 🙂
I love it! The picture is stunning, and it makes such a statment about the character. So awesome ^_^
The cover is great, Shelley! Really exciting! And I, for one, think it’ll totally stand out. I LOVE the expression on the model’s face! With one brow raised and a little smirk. Really makes it look like such a fun book! 🙂
I LOVE this cover. The expression is AWESOME! I wish I could do that one. 😀 This looks like a really fun book and I can’t wait to pick up a copy.
I LOVE IT!! If I had to change anything, it would be her too-perfect skin! *laugh*
The cover intrigues me. I want to know what’s going on and who Chloe is. I can’t say I absolutely love it, but I do think it’s attention grabbing and fun.
Normally, I’d have to say that I like the covers that show only a little bit of a person if they are used (I like having my own vision of what I think the character should look like). Although, I think this cover fits the book very well, for the reasons you mentioned and that since it is quite a bit different from the norm, it will catch attention.
I LOVE it! This is the first time I’ve visited your website or even heard of this book, but I’m already sold by the title and the cover. Off to put this on my to-read list!
Shelley, I love this cover, especially the neon letters and the tinsel (I think it’s tinsel) in the background. Can never have too much sparkle. Congrats! 🙂
I like everything except for the font the title is in. I don’t know what it is about it, but I just really dislike the font. Other than that I really enjoy your cover though.
I think it’s badass, and I uber love the fact that you ask us to not leave sissy comments. I just visited another author
s reveal and I couldnt help but feel the commenters were being very fake with their comments.
I love your cover!
I’m going to be slightly hypercritical here, but the expression is slightly unnatural. The left side of the face looks like she’s staring at the camera in awe, shock, or pure surprise, while the right half looks like she’s cackling with some sick glee. The issue I think lies in the dimple that’s markedly pronounced on the right side of her face, which adds to what appears to be a grimace. The most noticeable aspect is the upper right hand lip, which suddenly transforms into a black line, with the top lip vanishing in a magical cloud of smoke. Try to get the lip back in to restore that “bold” look you were going for, otherwise it comes across as menacing.
I think it’s great, although my first reaction was that she was about to burst into song or answer questions on “21” rather than take calls. Cool treatment of the title, and, yes, the whole thing is eye-catching.
Love your site, by the way, especially the banner with your name.
I think the cover is amazing! And I’m really excited to read the book. the only think that I don’t really like about the cover is the mouth open. The girl is really very pretty, but her mouth open like that is just kind of awkward. I think a simple smile or something would work better.
I think it is perfect!
Totally great cover! I loved it. It’s perfect.
I like faces on covers (I chose the big and bold direct eye contact approach on my first cover, Heaven Is For Heroes). I also think it’s time for a change on cover art. After a while they all start to look the same or have the same feel. The danger to using an actual face is that I’ve even seen duplicate models used on several covers. It’s kind of distracting when I’m thinking the guy on the cover is Dirk when I’m reading about a guy named Shane., LOL.
As an Indie-publishing author, I have total control over my cover, and I can be as different and bold as I want. I’ll be revealing my cover for On Thin Ice on my blog this Friday, and I love that it is different than anything else i’ve seen. With all of the new books coming out, it’s so important to stand out in the crowd.
Great job. I love Chloe already!
I love it! It has this “Teen Chelsea Handler” vibe going on. Like: “Chloe is here, ya’ll. And if you can’t handle it, then just put the book down and back away slowly. Laura Ingalls and Anne of Green Gables are right down the aisle….”
I think it’s awesome, Shelley. It’s bold. Imagine perusing the teen fiction section and coming upon that cover–I’d totally reach for it.
Wow! i love the cover. I can see that she is outspoken, pretty, and not afraid of what others think of her. I love how her hair is red, and the color of her shirt. It reminds me of my friend. IIt also doesn’t sound like something I’ve read before. I would totally buy this book!
The cover looks awesome, and I would definitely read it.
Fantastic cover, Shelly! I love the neon colors and the cover model!
I agree that it’s brassy and bold, which from what you’ve said sounds like a perfect depiction of your main character.
Argh, right when I hit “reply” I noticed I had accidentally spelled your name wrong, but it was too late to correct. Apologies!
I love it! The half smile is awesome and the bright colors are very eye catching. Great cover 🙂
I like it alot! The colors totally catch your eye and make you want to get the book AND I like your name on the microphone.
congratulations
Hi its one of Catherine’s friends. 😀 I don’t see how anyone can not like this cover!! It is so fascinating!!! It makes me wonder: who is Chloe? Is she really as out going as she looks? Or does she just appear that way? I totally agree with the comments that say they judge a book by it’s cover. Because I do… Based on this cover…
I would buy it!!!! Good luck 🙂
I LOVE IT SO SO SO SO SO SO MUCH!
I <3 THE COLORS!!! Normally, I would say that yellow, blue, and pink would look awful together but here, it actually works! The smile is a little awkward at first, but once you look at it for a while and get used to its uniqueness, it's actually really cute and seems to fit the character. The only think I don't like is her arms. To me, they look too large for her body and are sort of a weird color. Other than that, I <3 IT!!!!!
I think that this is a definite attention grabbing cover. The colors all seem to work well together. I’m not very fond of her eyes cause it sorta freaks me out, her mouth doesn’t seem to be very natural and i don’t like her hair part that well….. 🙂 i do tend to like imagining the character and i don’t necessarily like having the character on the cover. However, overall, it’s a great cover and i definitely would love to read the book!
I really like this cover a lot! I like how it’s bright and vibrant!! It really catches your eye and makes you wanna read the book a lot!!
I think it’s great! It’s bright, fun, and exciting. I think it’s great!
I LOVE the cover! I think that it’s really amazing and it really grabs my attention! I’d DEFINITLEY read the book! 🙂
Well, before I say anything, I should say that half of the books I read are the “feet, one eye, a kneecap, or a girl gazing longingly off page,” covers and I did enjoy those. But, I also must say, that when I’m looking for books, I rarely go for the ones that they have a bunch in stock of or the New York “book of the month.” When I’m looking for books in the library, the only books I pick up are the ones with: a) interesting titles, b) fun covers, and c) if the back cover or the first page makes me want to read it. And Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe has an interesting title. I haven’t read the back cover yet but I know that it looks good just from what I read on this post of the blog. And finally, Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe has VERY fun cover. I would definitely pick this up and read it in the library. No matter that the cover is different from the normal covers. I Love It. It’s fun, it’s cool, it’s interesting and I know that I’m definitely going to like this book. 😀 I think that it was a great choice.
I wanna read it for sure, and I don’t read ANYTHING hardly , so that’s saying something! The cover is fabulous, and the girl is GORGEOUS, and the lighting and everything! Keep it definetely! I think this is the kind of book that would catch my attention anywhere, and I think anyone would say that, it’s really purdy! (:
This is a really great cover! I love it!
Shelley, your cover is intriguing and attractive, which is exactly what you want a cover to be. Readers will be scooping it up to see what it’s about! Best wishes!
Hi, Shelley! Gorgeous, vibrant cover. A lot of cover art on the shelves at the moment is very dark and gloomy, so this will definitely stand out in a good way. And I love a heroine with dimples. 🙂
She’s so cute!–and I love they way they put your name on the mike! I think it’s a winner.
Great cover! I agree – be bold! Your cover makes me think I’m in for a high-energy read. Chloe isn’t the kind of girl to be lying around over-thinking everything. She’s out there making things happen. I like your cover model’s expression, too – she doesn’t look 100% confident, but she’s doing it anyway. Love that! I’m tired of decapitated heads and cover models that blatantly don’t match the description of the main character. There was one in particular where the MC had a HUGE tattoo all down her arm, and the cover model didn’t. It really bugged me. I wanted to see that tattoo.
It’s a fantastic cover! I especially like the color scheme. Congratulations on your new release. Please count me in on the ARC drawing. I would love to read it and will pass it along to my favorite YA reader–aka my daughter 🙂
I think the cover is fabulous. Spunky, conveys this isn’t a broody/moody story, and upbeat. Love it! AND I love how they incorporated your name as part of the microphone. How cool is that???
I love your cover! I love how quickly it conveys your main character’s personality! I’m actually featuring your cover among 4 others that I love on a blog post tomorrow morning!
i love it! i love that there is a red-headed cover model, it showes her WHOLE face, and that she doesn’t look like she’s quiet or shy. i think the cover will grab people’s attention as will the title. great job!
I think it’s FAB!! And Chloe is gorgeous. 🙂 I’m tweeting this!
Haha, she is read headed just like you!
unfortunately erin isn’t on any radio show… 😛
LOVE the cover, but wish your name were bigger. I think your name gets lost. 🙁
CONGRATS !!
~Angi
Normally I despise, loathe, and hate with a burning passion covers with faces on them. Normally I would be like, ‘eh, this cover is blah,’ but I love this cover. Truly and honestly, it is awesome. The in-your-faceness of it sets it apart from other covers with faces on them and if I had been glancing shelves a bookstore, this cover would make me pick it up. I do agree with the poster above me that your name gets a bit lost in there, but hopefully a thing as small as that will be fixed before the book goes into printing.
Congrats on such a wonderful cover!!
I really LOVE the cover. It reminds me of Meg Cabot.
Shelley, I think the cover will get you the readership you’re aiming for. Roz
What a refreshing cover! Chloe is a whole girl– no body pieces! And she’s got a great big smile & she’s in your face– not gazing dreamily into the distance. I’d pick it up. And I’d love to read it, especially since when I was 18, I was a radio dj & loved the experience!
Omg I actually really really like the cover!!! <3 I overall really like it
I LOVE it. It IS bold, and sassy, and fun and I cannot wait to read the book. I know we’re not supposed to like full faces on covers, but this one works!
HI this is colleen This is great i love a good book with personality I cant wait for it to come out! LOVE IT SOO MUCH!! Its nice to see a bold author whos not afriad to be different, the cover is the first thing people look at. This is one of this books, i can tell, that people wont just tuck away on their book shelves, it will be displayed. Who cares about full face FULL IS BETTER! YOU GO GIRL!!!
I absolutely LOVE this cover! It’s bright and vibrant and the colors and the lighting and the model-they’re all just perfect! Whenever I go to a book store or a library, I look for books with interesting titles and with book covers that catch my eye. Welcome Caller this is Chloe definitely catches my eye. It’s bold and bright and I love it. Congrats! I will definitely be buying this book and reading it!
I looooovveee it!
This is definitely an attention grabber. It will stand out on the shelves. Chloe looks outspoken and not afraid of what anyone else thinks. Great cover. I will absolutely be reading this book!!!
I think the cover could stand out a mile away. It is definitely a different cover that will be sure to grab the eye enough to read into the book.
Chloe looks like an easy to like quirky character. I think this book is definitely something worth reading.
This cover is just straight out awsome! =D
While many of the previous comments above state that the smile of Chloe is awkward or strait out creepy, I happen to find it intriguing. The smile itself seems to pretty much sum up the personality of Chloe: confident, loud, and quirky. The dimple also adds some spunk to her. The color scheme is interesting but oddly enough, it works. The old microphone is pretty chill and her hair makes her stand out. This cover is very unique but it’s awesome-unique.
I love the cover!!!!
Me too!
This is a really bright cover. It grabbed my attention as I saw it. I would probably read after seeing this cover
I usually like the covers that explain the character but I am drawn to this cover like a bee to honey. It totally makes me want to go out and buy a copy myself. I love how sassy she looks and how in control she looks. I just adore this book cover. The way she looks out past the microphone straight at you is almost intriguing. Her blue headphones totally stand out to me. I love this book cover. In a nut shell this is an incredible cover!!!!! 🙂
Hi Aunt Shelly,
I REALLY love the cover for your book. I think it is so unique and fun with the bright and vibrant colors. I also really love Chloe’s outfit and her peacock blue headphones(that’s my favorite color!) Her smile looks like she has interesting things to say and her face is just plain BEAUTIFUL. I am going to send your blog to a bunch of my friends so the comments will keep coming. I cannot wait until the the copy daddy ordered comes in the mail. I also love your blog design!
<3 Sammie
SAM!!! I got your email(: I love the cover!!!
Hello, Girls,
I’m Libbey’s mother, Samantha, and your Grandma Diana sent me this link. Good to meet you, Shelly. What an interesting, ambitious and adorable family you are. I’m tickled to be a tiny part of it. As for the book cover, it is very well done and appealing. Chloe smacks right into you and makes you want to get to know her. Lovely. I’m not entirely sold on the stage-light title font (or color), either, but it’s no biggie. My best to all of you.
i really like the cover, good job catherines mom!
I feel like I’ve grown up with Chloe and have to say that I agree with everyone that it’s a great cover. It tells the story right off the bat and makes you want to open the book and start living the adventure of Chloe’s life and getting to know her for future stories. I am so proud of you Shelley for your hard work and dedication to the craft. I can’t wait to stand in line and get my book signed by a great author.
Normally i dont buy the books with characters front and center of the page. Even though i’m not a simple girl i still tend to read the books with a more simple desighn. I do agree her mouth looks a bit distorted. However, this won’t stop me from reading this book! it sounds great and i’m sure you’ll have great success! As you said i can just ditch the cover if i don’t like it.
I love this cover, Shelley. It is so bright and vivid and alive and it surely does represent your heroine. i don’t know if you had any input, and if not, boy did you luck out. She’s off to a dynamite start.
WOW! I’d like to start off to say that I have MAD SWAG and this book looks awesome! It is bright and happy and catches my eye. If I were Shelly I would not sweat getting good reveiws cuz this book is gunna b NY Times number 1 best seller…….BY FAR! If I were someone who judges a book by its cover I would by this book imediately! All I can say on this cover is well done, I approve.
Eric (aka the one with S.W.A.G.)
Wow! You’re right about it being different, but I love it. It’s striking and will surely stand out in the crowd. I won’t be surprized to see it placed face out on the book shelves instead of spine out. 😉 Really wish they’d put your name larger and at the bottom, tho…
Ruth
I think this cover is fantastic.It definitely screams read me which I plan on doing as soon as it is released! Tanya
Awesome cover, Shelley!!!
HA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!That’s my name. It sounds like a good book. The cover is ok. It looks like it takes place in like the 50’s or 60’s or something. The time i mean is the time in the movie HAIRSPRAY. Her mouth is strange. But her eyes are reallllyyy pretty. The hair color reminds me a little bit like arials in THE LITTLE MERMAID. That movie is soooooo cute. But Arials hair color is darker. ANYWAYSSSS I’ll definitely have to buy it because it sounds like a good book. MOSTLY BECAUSE ITS MY NAME!!!!!!!! TOO BAD I’M NOT A JUNIOR. ONLY TWO MORE YEARS TO GO AND THEN I’LL BE THERE LIKE IN THE BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Don’t worry, i’m gonna buy it for other reasons too). But, don’t frett so much about the cover. It’s what’s on the inside that counts, rather then on the outside. Like I always say, DON’T JUDGE A BOOK BY IT’S COVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
<3<3-Chloe (<3 JD!!!!!!!FOREVER<3)
I love this… I’m to get it for X-mas… It looks awesome… Best part is I know the author!!! Hope it goes well!!!!
Hi Shelley: My first impression on seeing your cover for Chloe is that it is so eye-catching that I can’t imagine that you won’t sell a ton of books. Since I don’t read YA’s, my only questionable thought is that she seemed a little older than my impression that YA’s were for a younger set. That being said, what do I know? If she’s age appropriate, then that’s a great thing because you have reached the age-appropriate audience. Especially liked the microphone banner: A novel by….I wish you the very best of everything. Always. B
Hi,
I am one of your niece’s (Sammie) best friends. She sent me the link to your blog. The cover looks amazing!! I will totally read the book when it comes out!!!
Love,
Syd(:
Shelley here! Thanks so much for all the honest thoughts. The world needs more truth, oui? According to the random randomness at random.org, the winner of the WELCOME, CALLER, THIS IS CHLOE bookmark and ARC is…Berkeley. I’ll shoot you an e-mail with all the ARC-y details. Hugs!
Personally, I think it’s very good. I’m not sure what other covers look like but from what your daughter told me i prefer to get the authors idea of the character. I don’t think this book will be on my reading list but I’m sure it will be on many others. But I think that you should be asking yourself if you like it. If you do, then go for it. Never judge a book by it’s cover.
J.S.M
i disagree! always judge a book by its cover! especially if it has hot guys on it! then you know you cant go wrong…especially if the hot guy is steven retchless! 😀
I agree with erin about judging books by their cover!!!! i only judge books by covers, titles, or blurbs on the back!!!!!!!
I totally agree with Dominique and Erin (except for the steven retchless part:) (Sorry Erin!)! I also only judge a book by the cover, blurb, and title!
Great cover, Shelley and its wonderful that you feel it reflects your character.
I love it! It’s a stand-out cover and as you said “‘a little different”‘, but in a totally good way! It’s bold, bright and supercolourful, I know we shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover (we’re only human) but if this was in a bookshop, I can guarentee people would be drawn to it and pick it up and once reading the blurb probally buy it!
😀
I love all the bright colours that jump out at you. Also the fact the girl on the cover has red hair because it’s usually blonde or brunette on a lot of covers. Congrats! 🙂
I LOVE THE COVER!!! BEST PART IS THAT I KNOW THE BEAUTIFUL YOUNG LADY ON THE COVER & SHE REALLY LOVES SHOES.
Amazing cover! The young lady on the cover seems to captivate you before you even get a chance to read the book.
What a great cover!!!! I think it will draw a lot of readers!!!
Great cover! Beautiful, fresh and energetic!
This is an AWESOME cover!!! The young lady on the cover is the PERFECT Chloe. She is Beautiful and I know my preteen will want this book.
So awesome to see “Chloe”! She’s a hit already….
GREAT cover, GREAT choice for the face of Chloe!!!!! Looking forward to the release!!!!!!!!!!!!
Love, love, love the cover. picked the perfect girl for the cover!
The picture is perfect, stunning perfection with a perfect facial expression. Can’t wait to get the book.
GREAT picture. Eyecatching!
GREAT cover! Love it! Looks absolutely fabulous! You picked the perfect girl to be Chloe!
Great cover! It’s so vibrant! Can’t wait to read what’s under the cover!
Very eye catching cover kind of retro, Chloe, although a stunning girl, looks like the knd of pretty girl you would still like. Is this girl an actress?
I love this cover!!!!! I read the book its fantastic!!!
The cover is beautiful! I had the awesome pleasure to teach the gorgeous young lady in the photo, and you made a fabulous choice for your Chloe:) ! Kudos! And best wishes on your book!!
I love how bright the cover is. I follow on twitter and added Chloe on GR. Thanks for the chance!
Like Chloe, I love vintage and I love shoes…well, okay, I love BOOTS. And I also love http://www.etsy.com, which is where I think those beautiful bottle cap necklaces are from! Okay, now, I’m REALLY excited! And yes, I want to win your ARC of “Welcome Caller, This Is Chloe!” What do I have to do? Well, for bonus shots for these awesome bonus prizes, I:
1) …added your book to my Goodreads shelf. I EVEN requested you as my friend. (I hope you say yes!)
2) …followed you on Twitter. There’s proof. I included your link and your Twitter name in my feed. I’m @ZaraAlexis
3) …and yes, I acknowledged Chloe’s greatness on Twitter, too.
What a great giveaway and a great cause. Be sure to thank Samantha for me since I’m a great advocate for justice! (And for great shoes.) Really, what you’re doing is superb. It’s an excellent idea. Hope I win so someone else can share the joy of wearing a great pair of shoes, too.
As for my favourite pair…mmm…that’s a tough one. I am a filipina, which if you know the reference to Imelda Marcos, I, too, have a fetish for shoes. (Well, books first!) Let’s see…I have these fantastic purple, fuzzy slippers with extra soft pom-poms that I must strut about in all around my house. And then there’s my black Mary Janes, which go perfectly with EVERYTHING. As well as my brown, worn in, cowgirl boots., my must-have. So many to choose from. Nevertheless, they all make me and my feet very happy.
Congratulations on your book. I look forward to reading it—whether I win an ARC or not.
Zara
zgarcia(dot)alvarez(at)gmail(dot)com
On Twitter: @ZaraAlexis
Great cover Shelley 🙂
The blurb rocks!
I’m a shoe person too, my favorite shoes are a pair of dark maroon color sandals with only about a 1 inch heel. They’re perfect for summer dressing up.
I added your book to my GoodReads shelf,
Follow you on Twitter (RainbowEyes41)and liked you on FaceBook.
Mindy 🙂
Birdsooong@aol.com
I love the cover. I thing the young lady on the cover has a great image for your brand. She was a great choice.
Oops meant think not thing… Fat thumbs!
Love the cover! TOTALLY DIFFERENT from ANYTHING i’ve ever seen. Love the fact i have a visual aid of chloe.
Omg finished last night!!!! By far an amazing book! I am in love with it, and so much more!