When I asked you for your help in choosing Musiville’s cover last week, I had no idea you would all be so generous with your feedback. I’m grateful to everyone who voted or commented – thank you! You really are the best 🙂
Continuing the Musiville cover saga, your feedback made it clear that the idea of a village appealed to you. So, my illustrator friend Dimitris Fousekis offered to work on a second alternative for the “villagey” cover.
Before he goes any further, I promised to ask if this one appeals more to you. Hope you are able to give me some further, much needed feedback on which cover you like best.
Once again, a big thank you and a David Prosser-like bear hug to each and every one of you!
Catherine Mackay said:
The new village cover is nice, but I’m sticking to Trumpehant – he’s just so cute 😀
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Lol – hence option #3 😀
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Richard Ankers said:
Trumpephant rules the world of covers, so number three for me 🙂
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Wow! And to think I almost didn’t put him there 🙂
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Richard Ankers said:
He’d have caused a ruckus until you did 🐘
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Yep. You don’t want to know how loud that trumpet of his can get.
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Richard Ankers said:
I’ve seen his trumpementry implement! 😁😳
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beetleypete said:
Like the others above, I am sticking with Trumpephant. That elephant has some loyal supporters!
Best wishes, Pete.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Indeed he does! Thank you, Pete 🙂
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khansana1000 said:
I would still stick to Option 1, it is simple ,nice and conveys idea of village and multiple characters in story! Didn’t know much about character Trumphephant so as a new reader only him on book cover gives me an idea that he is protagonist of story and all story revolves around him.If that is the real case, I would then go for option 3.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Sadly, Trumpephant is just a bit player in the story. Maraceros is the protagonist. But he’s not as cute 😦
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Charles Yallowitz said:
I’ll admit that I’m in the Trumpephant camp, but it sounds like more people want a village. I like the second one because it depicts more of a scene than the first. The first one has a slight appearance of being characters simply being put on there. I guess they could be playing music together, but I didn’t get that thought right away. What’s the guy on the new village cover?
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Erm… he’s not actually in the story – we just made him up for the cover. An Elvisaurus?
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Charles Yallowitz said:
I’m trying not to laugh and wake the wife on that one. For some reason I find it funny that one of the great visual characters isn’t in there. Another book in the future?
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Heh heh, yes, it *is* funny. I can imagine people finishing th ebook and wondering, “so, just who was that creature at the cover?” 😀
I have written another half dozen books with the boy from Smile, but none from Musiville at the moment. Hmm…
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Charles Yallowitz said:
It’s kind of like when you see a big action seen on the cover of a fantasy book. High chance that it isn’t actually in the story, but not everyone notices that.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Lol – how true!
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TanGental said:
I think Trumpephant because it’s the clearest image, esp if it’s on a small scale (say Amazon). It’s also deliciously cute.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
He is cute, isn’t he? 😀
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Jan Hawke said:
Hi Nick – art editor’s hat on! Definitely No 2 as you can see the Village… if Elvisaurus isn’t a featured player then why not put Trumpephant in there instead as he’s far and away the most fun! 😉
That would be my instinct for the best of all worlds, as the new village solution makes a great background and Trumpy can be better placed in the foreground and maybe ‘frame’ the Illustrator credit line? 😀
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Just for calling him Trumpy, I will suggest it to Dimitris. Hope he doesn’t come after me with his pencils!
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Jennifer Jensen said:
I vote for #1. It gives a hint of the village – multiple characters anyway, and Trumpy is prominent. He’s so cute!
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Lol – second person to call him that. I think I know who next book’s hero will be! 🙂
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macjam47 said:
Covers 2 and 3 are nice, but #1 really grabs my attention. However, I really liked Jan Hawke’s suggestion.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
I sense more work for Dimitris 😀
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macjam47 said:
Yup!
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D. Wallace Peach said:
I voted for #1, but also really like #3. This is so hard isn’t it? Ha ha.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Tell me about it *scratches head* 😀
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utahrob said:
I think anything that hints that there’s more to the book than one character works.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Hmm… Interesting point. Thanks!
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imakeapicturebook said:
Love Trumpephant!
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Lol – he’s certainly a crowd-pleaser!
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Rachael Ritchey said:
I voted for opt 1, but I think I’m still torn between that and #3. 🙂 haha That’s just so helpful of me. You’re welcome.
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Lol – good to know you like both 🙂
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Rachael Ritchey said:
It’s terribly unhelpful, though, and I LOVE being helpful. haha 🙂
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Bette A. Stevens said:
Voted for The Village, but I do like them all… 🙂
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Lol – good to know 😀
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jan said:
Number Two is my favorite – more color!
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
A good point!
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dgkaye said:
Seems like Trumephant is stomping all over this race. 🙂
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Lol – well said 😀
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gahlearner said:
Difficulter and difficulter. I voted for #2 because I really like the village aspect and the Elvisaurus… but I’m never sure. In hindsight, that monster-like piano character with the big grin won me over after staring at him for some time. I think it depends on the age of the children you want to entertain. Why don’t you print out a few of the cover-candidates and show them to a group of kids of the target age?
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
That’s a great idea, only I’m not sure where to find said kids. I, too, love Pandiano, but people have pointed out he might be too scary for most kids. Sigh…
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gahlearner said:
Most older kids do like monsters, though. Just think of the three-headed dog in Harry Potter. If it doesn’t cause nightmares, they might actually prefer it to what we think is nice…
Maybe a local school or kindergarten? You could tell the kids how books are made…
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
You know, I love that thought! Hmm… Let me make a few phone calls. Thanks 🙂
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Sue Coletta said:
I might be in the minority, but I still love Trumpephant (#3). He rocks!
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Lol – he has rather fervent supporters, it seems 😀
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Michelle Proulx said:
I’m still liking the first village cover. Also, I like the darker teal for the background color, if that’s helpful 🙂
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
That is very helpful! Thank you 🙂
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Courtney M. Wendleton said:
Reblogged this on Books and More.
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Tara Sparling said:
I’m late to the party, but Trumpephant gets my vote, too – because I reckon he’s the clearest & most obvious illustration of what the book is about…
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Nicholas C. Rossis said:
Thanks for the vote 🙂
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