"Finally, I came up with the idea of a boy and a girl running into the woods together, as Natalie and Connor spend their nights fooling around on his family's Christmas Tree Farm. Something like this stock photo (left). That idea was shot down, too. I forget why. But I think it did lead us to the cover we have now, a photo that featured the love story of Natalie and Connor, rather than the story of Natalie and her friends.
"I really really appreciated their asking for my input. I got to pick Natalie and Connor from several beautiful girls and very adorable boys. Hardest part of the job. ; )
"I was definitely happy with the cover, but I did worry that it maybe looked a little too romantic. My book certainly has that element to it, but it is also very much about the relationship between three friends. That said, I was really impressed with the emotion captured by the photo. There was tangible heat behind that almost kiss!
"Here's a funny side note: David told me that both of my models were in relationships with other people, and that they REFUSED to actually make out for the shoot, even when the photographer told them to. Hello! What would Tyra say about that?!? I'm actually glad though. I think the second-before-a-make-out is way hotter than seeing actual tongue wrestling.
"The original concept for the photo shoot had been that we'd get a picture of a boy and a girl kissing, and then have the design department put a black censorship bar over their mouths. That was supposed to represent how Natalie fears how people might judge what she does with Connor.
This week, I'm giving away an advance copy of Siobhan Vivian's The List. It's out April 1st, and it's already racked up three starred reviews (and counting...). I am reading it right now and I can hardly get to my laptop to do this post. Riveting, people. And smart and interesting and truthful and complicated.
