No Ocean Too Wide Cover Design

by | Jun 10, 2019 | My Books, Uncategorized | 13 comments

Hi Friends, Only two weeks until the release of No Ocean Too Wide! I’m very excited to share this new story with you. Here’s what author Roseanna White said about it, “In this heartwarming story about the lengths to which a family will go to protect one another, Turansky deftly weaves a tale that combines a sometimes shocking history with a tender romance. This beautiful story will breathe hope into readers’ hearts.”

I come from a family of artists, and I was a fine arts major in college, so the cover design of my novels is very important to me. I’m grateful the team at WaterBrook Multnomah allows me to have some input on my covers, but it’s not all up to me. There are many people who give input as the cover comes together and is finalized, and I thought you might enjoy seeing some of the steps in designing the cover for No Ocean Too Wide

Back in August of 2018 I filled out the author questionnaire for my publisher and included a link to my Pinterest board with images of my characters and the settings. I also showed them two covers I liked and explained why I liked them. The heroine takes a journey across the Atlantic from England to Canada, and there is a hint of mystery as she searches for her siblings. I thought the two covers below reflected the kind of feeling I was hoping for, plus I loved the color scheme of The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes.

 

In October of 2018 I started exchanging emails with Kristopher Orr at WaterBrook who has designed all the covers for my English historical novels. He shared the painting above on the left with me, and we discussed the idea of showing the heroine on board a ship. He asked if I had a particular ship in mind, and I sent him two old postcards featuring steamships from that time period.

Kristopher discussed his ideas with the team at WaterBrook, and after many hours of work he sent me the cover below. I loved the color scheme and the heroine’s dress and hat, but I asked him to lighten her hair and brighten the sky for more contrast. I didn’t feel the ship at the bottom fit in well with the rest of the design, so I sent him more ship images. Kristopher made a few more changes to the design. My editor sent me the “final cover,” and I was thrilled. Even though I was on vacation, I shared the cover online that afternoon, and the response was very encouraging. My readers loved it and shared it all over social media. 

 

That evening I received an email that said they were pulling that cover and looking for a new design. I was surprised and uncertain what to do about all those posts and shares, but I kept quiet until we had a new “final cover.” 

A phone call from my editor helped me understand why they were making the change. WaterBrook is a division of Random House, and the team in New York felt a design that focused on the children in the story would make a stronger statement and give No Ocean Too Wide a broader appeal. Now that I see the final image, with the ship more set off in the fog and the children larger and brighter, I see their point.  

 

No Ocean Too Wide is a richly woven novel of heartache and hope that shines a light on the unjust child emigration scheme that sent more than 100,000 poor and orphaned children from England to Canada between the years of 1869 and 1939. I hope you’ll preorder your copy so you can be one of the first to read it when it releases June 25th! Stop by my website to learn more about the story and to order your copy.

 

Until Next Time, Happy Reading,

Carrie

13 Comments

  1. Cathy Gohlke

    A beautiful cover for a wonderful and moving book! Readers will love the story as much or more than the cover–which is stunning!

    Reply
  2. Lelia (Lucy) Reynolds

    Perfect cover. Makes you want to be immersed in the story.

    Reply
  3. Alicia Haney

    I Love your book cover , it is Beautiful!! Your book sounds like a real good page turner! Thank you for sharing this info. God Bless you.

    Reply
  4. Suzanne Sellner

    I love the final copy of the cover and am drawn by the children and concerned for their futures. I’m really looking forward to receiving the book and reading it!

    Reply
  5. Anne Payne

    I love both covers and could see the merits in using either one! It is an equally haunting and beautifully told story.

    Reply
  6. Linda Marie Finn

    I just so love reading about
    Cover Art and how the whole
    Cover comes together!

    Blessings
    Linda Marie Finn
    Faithful Acres Books & Author Services

    Reply
  7. Robin Willson

    Interesting! Love all of the covers actually. Great color palette. Fabulous story!!

    Reply
  8. Susan

    I went to art school, though I paint with words now I do love beautiful covers! This is spectacular! Great choice!

    Reply
  9. Joanne

    Thanks Carrie for the story of your cover! I love the final cover and the story of how you got here makes it all the more attractive. I can’t wait to read it!

    Reply
  10. Sally Ferguson

    Very interesting to see how the cover came together!

    Reply
  11. Mary Kay Moody

    Thank you, Carrie, for sharing the cover journey. I like both, but certainly see the publisher’s point. The children pull at my heartstrings. So eager to read this.

    Reply
  12. Jessica

    Both are beautiful ?

    Reply
  13. Tina Rice

    Very interesting the way a book cover comes to “life”, Carrie. The final cover is perfect for the story!
    Blessings, Tina

    Reply

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