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I’ve been waiting for this day for a while–the official cover reveal of STAINED (which comes out this November from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)! All across the web today, you’ll see many book bloggers, librarians, reviewers, and some readers who have generously taken part in this reveal.
So, here it is–the cover of STAINED!
I really, really love this cover. I think it immediately tells the reader exactly what the book is about, just like SCARS does. You know just from looking at the cover that the girl has been abducted. And if you read the tagline–Sometimes you have to be your own hero
–you also know that Sarah has to be the one to rescue herself, and from that you know that she’s a strong-girl character. You don’t see all of Sarah’s face on the cover because she usually hides her port wine stain beneath her hair (she has body image issues, like many of us do). I love that my editor, Karen Grove, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt asked for what I wanted, and listened! That’s such a good feeling.So what’s STAINED about?
Here’s the official book description, which I love:
In this heart-wrenching and suspenseful teen thriller, sixteen-year-old Sarah Meadows longs for “normal.” Born with a port-wine stain covering half her face, all her life she’s been plagued by stares, giggles, bullying, and disgust. But when she’s abducted on the way home from school, Sarah is forced to uncover the courage she never knew she had, become a hero rather than a victim, and learn to look beyond her face to find the beauty and strength she has inside. It’s that—or succumb to a killer.
Like I did with SCARS and HUNTED, I drew on some of my own experiences of bullying, abuse, and trauma to write STAINED and to give it greater emotional depth. Like Sarah in STAINED, I experienced abduction, imprisonment, periods of forced starvation, mind control, and having my life threatened. And like Sarah, I tried hard to fight against my abuser, keep my own sense of self, and escape. I hope, if you read STAINED, you will see Sarah’s strength and courage, and appreciate her emotional growth as she reclaims herself.
And here’s the book trailer for STAINED; I hope you’ll watch it!
So, what do you think? Do you like the cover? Does STAINED sound interesting to you?
comes out Nov 19, 2013. If you want to make sure you don’t miss it, you can pre-order a copy:
Amazon.com (hardcover)
Amazon.com (kindle)
Amazon.ca (hardcover)
Amazon.ca (ebook)
Amazon.co.uk (hardcover)
Amazon.co.uk (ebook)
The Book Depository (free shipping worldwide)
Love the feeling of tension and strength in the cover, Cheryl. I know it will get the attention it deserves.
I love the cover, Cheryl! And the trailer is good – full of suspense! Best of luck!
Anio, thank you! (hugging you) I’m so glad you love the cover, and think it has strength! Glad you can see the tension.
Ishta, thank you! (smiling at you) I’m so glad you like the cover and the trailer! (beaming) I enjoyed making the trailer.
Compelling cover and book trailer, Cheryl. Another great book that you’ve brought into the world!
Oh, thank you, Karen! (smiling at you) So glad you like the look of it!