It’s finally here! The highly anticipated (at least on my end!) reveal for the cover of Desperately Ever After, which hits the cyber shelves at Amazon February 1!
I have to thank the wonderful Hazel Gaynor once again for directing me to Andrew Brown’s Design for Writers. He did a great job tackling my desire for a whimsical and fantastical–but not too girly–design. Yes, there is pink, but we tried to offset it with the orange sky and the deep red font, about which a dear friend said: “The crimson reminds me of blood and thus I feel the desperation.” That still makes me laugh.
Plus, the book Andrew designed for Hazel went on to sell close to 100,000 copies before William Morrow stepped in and gave her two-book/reprint deal. So there’s that…
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WIN
Enter to win the very first e-book of Desperately Ever After by leaving a comment below. Just tell me why you’d like to read it by 11.59 p.m. Tuesday, January 28.
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS for RELEASE WEEK!!
Tuesday (1/28): In addition to the contest mentioned above, Chick Lit Central interviews yours truly and offers another (double!) giveaway. Hint: It’s Disney Month over there, so a fun time is guaranteed!
Wednesday (1/29): Ruth Mancini, author of Swimming Upstream, talks about her inspirational journey from self-publication to coveted reprint deal. Stop by to hear all about it and enter to win an e-copy of her acclaimed novel.
Saturday (2/1): Early Bird Release Day! Desperately Ever After officially hits the cyber shelves at Amazon. (Print copies may take an extra few days.) The women on these pages have become more than friends to me over the years, so I can’t wait for you to meet them. I’ll post the link here as soon as the clock strikes… well, you know.
Sunday (2/2): Nothing for me. But cross your fingers (hopefully while snuggling up with a brand new book…) that Punxsutawney Phil doesn’t see his shadow!!
laurakenyon.com 
I’m really excited for you, and I would love to win a copy of this book. When you described it as “one part Sex and the City. Two parts Desperate Housewives. Three parts Brothers Grimm” I was immediately intrigued.
Thank you! I thought it was a good combo 😉
Looks like it’s right up my alley! Totally can’t wait to read it!
Well, “Grimm” is in the second line on the back cover, so I think you’re right!
This sounds like a really fun and intriguing read! I would love to read something this inventive!
Thanks Shadow!
Sounds like an awesome read. I was very intrigued when you said it was part Brothers Grimm. You have yet to disappoint so I know it will be fantastic.
Aww thanks Spring!
How exciting! Congrats. I would love to read your book.
Thanks Katherine! So glad you stopped by 🙂
Sounds very interesting, can’t wait to read it. Thanks for a great giveaway!
It’s my pleasure!
Love the cover! Eye catching! Congratulations on your release! Cannot wait to read it!
Thanks Melodie! Andrew Brown did a fantastic job.
Every time i had finished reading a fairy tale when i was child i was always wondering what was going to happen to the princess after she got married. Will she still be happy just like she was in the end of the fairy tale or will she have a normal life full of problems just like the rest of us? I guess now i can have my answer by reading this book.
Thanks Fani. That’s exactly what I was going for! Best of luck in the giveaway and thanks for stopping by 🙂
Super cute cover, Laura! Congrats!
Thanks Lori. Can’t wait for your visit in March!!
Sounds like a great book! Would love to win a copy to read! 🙂
Thanks Tracy! I had such a great time writing it 🙂
I’ve always loved retold fairy tales. This is an interesting twist I’m curious about. 🙂
Thanks C. I’ll be interested to see what you think of it!
you know i don’t read, but i believed in you in college and all your hard work has finally paid off! =)
Haha, thanks Mikey 😉 I appreciate that.
I love the cover – the crown, castle background, the colors and the script! Great idea to revisit our favorite princesses and watch them make their own happiness!
Thanks Christina. It was so much fun to write! And Andrew did a great job with the cover 🙂
Congratulations! The cover is fantastic! I can’t wait to read your version of how the fairy tale continues and what happens next 🙂
Thanks Andrea. I can’t wait either 🙂
Great front cover and I love the story idea. It’ll be a great read!!
Thanks for the words of encouragement, Betty!
I love fairy tales…especially modern makeovers with not so fairy tale endings! The cover art looks great and I can’t wait to read it!
It seems re-imagined fairy tales are almost as timeless as the original ones, doesn’t it? Thanks for commenting, Siobhan!
Congrats, Laura! Good to see all the hard work paying off. Can I get a life-time supply as gifts for future girlfriends?
That depends… How many future girlfriends are you planning on having 😉
I love stories that are based on fairytales, and this sounds original and fun.
I’m so glad you think so! Thanks for stopping by, Carien!
This sounds so exciting and original! I love the blend of the fairytales. The cover is fantastic!
Thanks Whitney. I just couldn’t resist the idea of all of those fairy tale princesses coming together — like the SATC girls or the ladies of Wisteria Lane. Honestly, I wish they were real so I could hang out with them!
Your description of Desperately Ever After brought to mind the lyrics to an older country song ” Hey Cinderella” http://lyrics.lucywho.com/hey-cinderella-lyrics-suzy-bogguss.html . I am a fairytale fanatic, but love the newer renditions with the empowered female. I have only really found good examples in YA books like “Cloaked in Red”, “The Rumplestiltskin Problem”,,and “Entwined”. I would love to read an adult rendition…as I am frequently commenting to some of the young ladies I teach, “Who marries a guy after only three dates??? Is that a basis for a good relationship?”
Haha I love the connection. “Does the shoe fit you now?” Or, more accurately probably, the dress?
Congrats on your cover! It looks beautiful! I haven’t heard much about your book to be honest but I usually judge wether I want to read it or not pretty quickly by the cover and title alone (I’m horrible like that) and the blurb afterwards. And the title is very interesting! Love fairy-tale like stories especially with a twist 🙂 I would definately pick this up at a bookstore ^^
Well, I’m so glad you’ve heard about it now 🙂 And that I passed the test!
I’m looking forward to the release of this book, finally! It sounds like a fun read (and the cover is fabulous!)
Thanks Wendy! So glad you like it!
I would love to read your book. I love the trend we are seeing now of the retelling of fairy tales and I love to see where author’s imaginations take us, the reader. I also love stories featuring women friends who are there for each other, good times and bad. When I read your synopsis, describing the women, I could tell it’s going to be a great read ~ Belle, Cinderella, Rapunzel (sex-crazed socialite – ha!), and Penelopea. Great women with modern day issues – love it!
Thanks Susan. If you haven’t yet, you might want to try J. Courtney Sullivan too. Both of her books center around a group of women who support each other as well–friends in one case, family in another.
Thanks for the heads up, Laura. I am always excited to discover ‘new to me’ authors.
What a beautiful cover! Can’t wait to read it!
Thanks Bonnie!
The cover is gorgeous so it must be good! 😉
Haha, well, ordinarily I’d argue. But since this logic works in my favor today… 😉
Laura this one looks amazing! Even if I don’t win a copy it’s totally on my to read list 🙂
Aww Shezz, you made my day 🙂
Congratulations! Your book sounds really awesome! I love anything to do with fairy tales so this would be a book I would enjoy.
Thanks Susan!
Because it sounds interesting
Short and sweet. Thank you 🙂
Congratulations on your forthcoming release! I have always had an obsession with fairy tales and have really been getting into modern takes on classic fairy tales. I really love the idea of what happens when the happily ever after ends and am very eager to see how your tale unfolds. It sounds like it will be a lot of fun to read. I’d love to win a copy, but if I don’t, I will definitely be adding it to my Amazon list and checking it out.
Good luck with the release!
Well, I hope you enjoy it no matter how you end up reading it 🙂 Thanks Tammy!
Thank you for chance to win your book. I’d love to read it on my new Kindle. PS I love the cover. Well done.
Thank you Debra 🙂
It’s an intriguing combination and very clever! I know it will be a good read! My Kindle is ready & waiting. Best of luck!
Thanks Lisa 😉 I appreciate it!
Sounds like a wonderful read! I love the way the cover is designed…..you’r e right…it’s magical and whimsical but not overly girly. Definitely catching my eye and making me want to read it even more now! Thanks for the chance!
I’m so glad you think so, Molly. Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Congrats what a big day for you. They did a good job on the cover!
Thanks Pabkins. And yes, I’m loving today 🙂
I want to read this for so many reasons… firstly I love anything to do with fairy tales… and 2ndly I’m doing a research thesis into the retelling of such stories and I love to see how people take a new look at the characters… taking them for the 1 dimensional beings we know from the old fairy tales into these people who are alive and have problems and aren’t just living perfect lives because some fairy waved a wand… plus I have a book review blog and so reading is my life… it’s what I do…
Sounds like a very interesting (and fun!) thesis. Best of luck with it!
thanks! I need all the luck I can get 😀
Looks great! I can’t wait to read this. After reading 100 books last year, I’m looking for something JUST LIKE THIS!!! Many Thanks!
Wow, 100 books? I envy you!
I love me some Fairy Tales and I can’t wait to read this one. It sounds like a fun and fantastic read!
I’m so glad to hear it. And nice avatar 😉
Looking forward to reading your book. They need to sign you up as a visiting author at JJHS. Won’t that be incredible?