JUDGING A BOOK BY ITS COVER

Eve Hallows and the Book of Shrieks

I've mentioned a bit about the creation process for the cover of Eve Hallows and the Book of Shrieks (If you want to read that earlier post, you can check it out here), but I thought on this freakishly snowy Hallow's Eve, I'd talk a little about the picture itself.

First off, let me introduce the characters.  On the left, we have Maddie Hallows (Eve's Mom); hiding behind the tombstone is Sam Hallows (Eve's little ghoul of a brother); sitting front and center is Eve Hallows, and to the right is Bill Hallows (Eve's Dad).

In the picture, everyone is getting ready for a family photo, and, perhaps, the first question you may have is Why would they be taking a family photo at a graveyard?  And the obvious answer is that they live in a monster world known as Gravesville, and to Gravesvillians the graveyard is as much a part of their world as the beach is to, say, Californians.  You mean to tell me you can't see that from the picture?

Yeah, so, anyway, we have Mom, who is a gorgon, checking her face in a mirror and--What do you mean a gorgon can't look into a mirror without turning to stone?  Well, guess what?  This gorgon can.  You'll just have to read the book to find out why that's possible, won't you?

And then there's Sam, who appears rather frightened.  Perhaps he's annoyed Eve one too many times. And, of course, we have the star of the novel, Miss Eve Hallows, who looks simply miserable (she would say adorable, but I'm not gonna go there now).  Makes you wonder why, huh?  No?  Really?  Then you must want to know why Dad is checking his watch?  And didn't I mention they are getting ready for a family photo?  Shouldn't they be all happy and family-like?  Guess that depends on your definition of "family."

Also, you must be asking yourself why do Mom and Sam appear to be monsters while Eve and Dad look all human.  Hmm, very interesting.

Finally, you have to be wondering how the title and relates to the picture.  EVE HALLOWS AND THE BOOK OF SHRIEKS.  Sure, the "Eve Hallows" part is pretty obvious.  There she is sitting on a tombstone.  But what about the whole "Book of Shrieks" part.  She isn't holding a book, and no one appears to be shrieking, and how can a book be about shrieks anyway.  All very good questions.

So, in short, the cover makes very little sense at all, but for a nominal fee ($12.99 for the paperback or $2.99 for the ebook) all of your questions can be answered. Well, maybe not all of your questions.  The book doesn't offer up the meaning of life or how to bake a cheesecake without it cracking, but it answers any questions you may have about the cover.  After all, isn't that the point of a cover? To make you ask some questions?  Well, covers also gives an author like me a big head because my name looks all nice and shiny, but that's a post for another day.

So what have you learned from today's post?  Absolutely nothing.  Did you really expect me to make a point?  Absurd!

Hope you all have a safe and happy Halloween.  I'll send you off with this:

Posted in: Eve Hallows