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Cover Creation: The Bridge to Belle Island

January 14, 2020 By Julie Klassen

I always enjoy getting a behind-the-scenes peek at how book covers are created. Here is a video and a few photos that describe the cover design process for my newest novel, The Bridge to Belle Island. I hope you enjoy them as I did. First a 3-minute video. Turn up your volume control!

Publicist Amy Green (Bethany House Publishers) describes the cover design process for the new novel, The Bridge to Belle Island.

Once the design direction is chosen, designer Jennifer Parker hires a model based on my character description and rents or buys a costume and any needed props. Below you can see the stylist, Tessa, transforming the model from a modern-day woman into a Regency heroine as the photographer looks on.

Below (left) photographer Mike regards our model through his view finder. On the right, designer Jennifer reviews an early shot.

Next, here are a few outtakes from the photo shoot. (Note: we considered having the model hold a basket—baskets play a role in the book—but in the end decided it was too reminiscent of “Red Riding Hood.” 🙂 Speaking of red, notice the color of the long coat or redingote. After the photo shoot, the designer digitally made it much redder.

And last but not least, here is the final cover, which I love. Hope you agree!

Thanks for stopping by today. Hope your 2020 is off to a good start.

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Julie Klassen

JULIE KLASSEN loves all things Jane—Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. She worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. Three of her novels have won the Christy Award for Historical Romance. Julie and her husband have two sons and live in St. Paul, Minnesota.
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Comments

  1. Rebecca A Reed says

    January 14, 2020 at 4:35 am

    The process is so interesting. Thank you for sharing. I always appreciate behind-the-scenes info on the making of a finished book.

  2. Deborah Raney says

    January 14, 2020 at 4:37 am

    I love cover stories, Julie! This is a cool one and the cover is gorgeous, as always!

  3. Lynn Austin says

    January 14, 2020 at 4:59 am

    I loved the book Julie.

  4. Rebecca Maney says

    January 14, 2020 at 5:38 am

    It’s an absolutely gorgeous cover . .. I love the red. And I loved the book!

  5. tish says

    January 14, 2020 at 5:41 am

    Love the cover. Love your books and I am sure i will enjoy this one. Thanks for keeping me with great books to read.

  6. Angie Quantrell says

    January 14, 2020 at 7:23 am

    It’s fascinating to see the before and after shots. Fun! I love the cover!

  7. Betty Strohecker says

    January 14, 2020 at 8:17 am

    So interesting! Thanks for sharing this process.

  8. Becky Wade says

    January 14, 2020 at 8:35 am

    It’s always a treat to get a peek into the cover design process! I really enjoyed these photos. 🙂

  9. Jennifer B. says

    January 14, 2020 at 8:56 am

    What a neat process! Thank you for sharing. I’m excited to dive in to this story! 🙂

  10. Suzanne Sellner says

    January 14, 2020 at 10:05 am

    Fascinating! Thanks for sharing the process of designing that cover.

  11. Elisa says

    January 14, 2020 at 11:44 am

    Thanks for sharing the look behind the cameras with us blog readers!
    I enjoyed reading your new novel–this was a great bonus.

  12. Paula Shreckhise says

    January 14, 2020 at 5:37 pm

    I love these interesting how-they-came-about stories!
    Can’t wait to read this book.

  13. Carole Johnson says

    January 16, 2020 at 8:55 am

    Thank you for sharing!

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