by author Jana Sasser
I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to collaborate with my publisher and their cover designers in the creation of the book cover for Gradle Bird. Below is the 10-step process and the final reveal of Gradle Bird’s cover.
Step 1: My publisher asks me for some ideas on cover design.
These were my ideas and inspiration:
Step 2: Publisher calls to let me know he’s not impressed.
John: “Jana, you know, I love your title. Do you know why I love your title?”
Jana: “No, why?”
John: “Because I don’t know what a Gradle Bird is.”
Jana: “You read the book, you ought to know.”
John: “Don’t be a smart-ass. I need you to dig deeper. What does a Gradle Bird look like?”
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About the Author
J.C. Sasser started her professional career at age twelve, working as a dishwasher, waitress, and cook at a truck stop off Georgia’s I-16. Over her life, she has worked as an envelope licker, tortoise tagger, lifeguard, Senate page, model, editor, water-polo coach, marine biologist, plant grower, software consultant, and 6-Sigma Black Belt. Gradle Bird, was a short list finalist in the 2015 William Faulkner-William Wisdom novel competition, and her other writing credits include the short story and screenplay, The Pigeon Catcher (Ceiba Productions 2002). She lives in an old barn on Edisto Island, SC with her husband, Thomas, along with their two sons, T.C. and Robert Esten, and two dogs, Cro and Blue Moon June. Gradle Bird is her first novel.