Vote the Cover of Goodbye Emily

Creating and choosing a cover for a book is a collaborative and intense effort. Usually the winner emerges in a very clear manner. But sometimes there are two covers which could work well, and the choice is not as easy.

Such was the case with Michael Murphy’s new novel, Goodbye Emily. The two covers shown were fought over and passionately defended. One of them is more about the love back story: he met her at Woodstock and now he’s going back to give thanks for their life together. The second cover is more about the pure feeling of Woodstock and recapturing that youth.  We ultimately selected one of them, but we’d like to know what YOU think. Which cover do you think best represents the story and would be most likely to cause you to buy the book? Read the synopsis below and vote using the poll on the right. You can also read an excerpt here. Thanks for your vote!

Two years after the death of his wife Emily from cancer, a college professor faces his own life-threatening illness, broken heart syndrome. With one last chance to grab life by the balls, the professor plans a roadtrip to scatter his wife Emily’s ashes where they met at Woodstock. To recreate the original trip they’ll need the third tripper from back in the day, now in a nursing home with early stage Alzheimer’s. When the home refuses to allow their friend to come along, the professor and the vet bust him out, attracting the attention of the cops and the media, fascinating the public.

The roadtrip turns into a flight from “the man” and not even the professor’s defense attorney daughter can help. In a psychedelic van, the trio dodges cops in two states and a politically opportunistic worm of a prosecutor. Against all odds, they close in on their destination. Waiting are thousands of supporters determined to recreate the magic of Woodstock and enough cops to end the roadtrip and break the professor’s heart for good.

Sure, there’s sex, drugs and rock n’ roll—we’re talking Woodstock Nation—but most of all, Good-bye, Emily is a journey of self-discovery for a man who thought he’d left all important journeys in life behind, years ago.

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