I could use a hand (har)

[rj_anderson]

As the originator points out in comments, this is not a Photoshop Disaster as advertised, but a genuine Original Art Disaster -- which if you ask me makes it even better:

Princess Three-Hands and the Nuzzling Knight*

If any of the other debut authors on my f-list are fretting about what their covers might look like, take comfort: they cannot possibly be this bad. And, if you are carrie_ryan, they might possibly be this good. Excuse me while I ENVY. (Plus, awesome book title.)

And speaking of titles, my editor and I are trying to come up with one for Knife and its sequel, currently entitled Wayfarer. Most of all we need a series title that can link the two books and is properly descriptive of both. So there is brainstorming happening on all fronts, but no magical solutions as yet. So far I think the best suggestion has come from my husband -- Faery Secrets -- but I wonder if that's too passive-sounding. What do you think? And to those of you who know something of what Knife is about, any suggestions?

ETA: As yahtzee63 pointed out in comments, this artistic disaster turned out to be a fantastic promotional opportunity for the author. Heh.

--
* Thanks to snowrabbitses for the link.

Comments

[sunsethill.livejournal.com]

Oh, Rebecca. That cover is SO awful! That poor author. And I'm sure it really helped the old confidence as your first born is getting ready to launch. I don't usually subject my husband to web stuff that I find--but he HAS to see this.

[anywherebeyond.livejournal.com]

Six Feet of Kick Ass in a Three Inch Lass.

Um. Well. That's probably my most useful suggestion, so what I say now is- I have faith that you will have an awesome cover! And you will note the appropriate number of hands are present before they finalize it. :)

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

"Faery Secrets" sounds like a series for 6-8 year old girls, in which every book comes with a free locket or charm bracelet or something.

I'd be inclined to call it "the Oakenwyld" series, or something like that.

[olmue.livejournal.com]

I agree!

[anywherebeyond.livejournal.com]

Oooh ooh, what about The Warriors of the Oakenwyld???

[lizbee.livejournal.com]

That sounds a wee bit like a Saturday morning cartoon. I'm not sure it would appeal to a middle-grade reader.

*ponders*

[kerravonsen]

"Faery Secrets" sounds like a series for 6-8 year old girls, in which every book comes with a free locket or charm bracelet or something.

Absolutely.

Anything with "Faery" in the series title is going to give the "twee fairy" impression that you're fighting so hard against in Knife (which is one reason why "Knife" is such a good title for the book).

And I agree that "The Oakenwyld" sounds good for a series title. I don't think it would be too limiting, since I assume that any books would still be about the Faeries of the Oakenwyld. It wouldn't work to call the series "Knife", since only the first book is about Knife.

[sarahsan]

"Faery Secrets" sounds like a series for 6-8 year old girls

Exactly what I thought when I read that. Don't think it sets exactly the tone you're going for. ^_^;;

I'd be inclined to call it "the Oakenwyld" series

I fourth or fifth (or however many have come before me) this title for the series. Keeping it super simple as "Oakenwyld" would, to my mind, be perfect.

I'm really terrible at titles in general, and now thinking about it this could possibly be inexcusably redundant, but might The Oak work for the title of what is currently Knife? (So, Knife and Wayfarer are definite nonstarters, then? That's a shame, I've always rather liked these titles...)

[olmue.livejournal.com]

Okay, that three-handed cover is TOO funny. The poor author!

And Carrie's cover is very nice!! If this is the style books are going in, I think you'll end up with a good one.

[yahtzee63.livejournal.com]

FWIW, the author of the book in question has said that she LOVES this cover now -- because she got tons and tons of attention as a result, and her publisher now bends over backwards to make sure she loves all her future covers!

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

LOL! So it's an ill cover that does no author good? :)

[capnflynn.livejournal.com]

Faery Secrets is a bit too passive, I think. I would probably make a face and not pick up the book, if I saw that on the cover.

So is Knife not going to be the final title, then?

[pameladean]

I guess Faery Assassin(s)is just right out? Maybe a little misleading, but not passive.

I'm always terrible with titles. I'm trying to think of some for my own book right now. But it's more fun to play with yours.

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

I did think of Warriors of Faery, but that made me think of Army A meets Army B in an epic fantasy kind of way.

[erinbow.livejournal.com]

Faery Blade?

(I hate doing titles.)

[--kali--.livejournal.com]

What a brilliant blog *bookmarks* I never notice all these photoshop errors, it makes me realise just how unobservant I am.

[carrie-ryan.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link love! THat three-armed cover cracked me up! And I'm not sure I'd have even noticed if no one pointed it out!

I've always loved the title Knife -- it has always made me want to learn more! I wish I could be more help coming up with alternatives but titles are so hard!! Good luck!

Series Title

[(Anonymous)]

Totally agree with all the previous comments about "Faery Secrets" and quests. Way, WAY lame! Unless you want to sell to seven-year-olds, you need a "cool factor". And bear in mind that once this is printed on the cover of one or two of the books, you're stuck with it for life. So anything to do with the Oak is out too, unless you're sure you're going to set all your books in the McCormick's backyard.

I'd be calling it the "Knife" series (or trilogy, or whatever), just because it's simple, clear and catchy. And a little edgy, which I think is needed. I'd avoid fantasy cliches like "Chronicles of" and "Quests" and so on like the plague. And don't use anything that will limit you later on.

[shoebox2.livejournal.com]

OK, first of all, that three-handed cover is absolutely frelling hilarious. Thanks for sharing.

Chiming in with the majority against 'secrets' or 'quests'; entirely too...twee, or something.

'Faery Knife' is good, or perhaps 'Oakenwyld'. Maybe 'Chronicles of the Oakenwyld', which has a rather cozy tales-of-times-gone-by vibe...but then again, it's not a very cozy story, is it?

[tree_and_leaf]

Having read the "Frauendienst' of Ulrich von Liechtenstein, where the narrator, who seems unable to accept that maybe his beloved just isn't that into him, loses his finger in a tournament and sends it to her in a box,I suspect that one of the hands actually belongs to her creepy ex-boyfriend, who has sent her it as a present (or maybe it's another woman's hand he's hacked off, a la whichever Sherlock Holmes story it was - the adventure of the cardboard box?)

[rj-anderson.livejournal.com]

That explanation wins at everything. Hee!

*uses closest thing I have to a Holmes icon -- which, now that I think of it, is a pretty serious omission from my icon catalogue*

[leah-s.livejournal.com]

feel free to borrow from mine, my friend. I have several.*grins*
I've been thinking of titles but the best i could come up with was some variation of "Wild" and Faery. Even with a thesaurus. Sorry.
Agree with no quest, adventure, or secrets in title

[infiniteviking]

*looks at the Three-Armed Woman Cover, falls over laughing like a maniac, looks again, falls over again* So. Brilliant. Especially the happy ending.

Thirding (or thirty-sixthing) 'The Oakenwyld', though you might want to include a second element -- along the lines of 'Under Oakenwyld' or 'Oakenrace' or something that links the simple placename to the characters and action.

[sreya.livejournal.com]

Dang - I don't know a whole lot about Knife, but I'm sad to see it go. I've always thought that was an awesome title.

But that goofed up cover? Totally awesome. And great source material for spoofing. *grin*

thank you

[(Anonymous)]

favorited this one, brother