The Secret Adventures of WriterGirl

I have a particular fondness for short stories. Sometimes you want to enjoy something in its entirety but you don't have time to dedicate to lengthy piece. Short stories are also unique in their format in what they convey--in how much is said by being left unsaid and filled instead by what you bring to the table. For those of us who only have a few free moments, here is a visual short story that is both gorgeous and sad. It's called The Invention of Love.

Since I had a heyday braincrunch over the merits of UK vs. US covers of Throne of Glass last week, I ran out of space and time to discuss my other perplexing quandry for another upcoming book that is due to be out soon. You must remember that this is unusual for me. I am usually a stout fan of US covers. Nothing against other covers (in fact, I love to collect them. Remember my trip to Thailand where I hunted for AGES to find a book in Thai? You have no idea how hard it was. It nearly killed me) but in many cases the US cover strikes a chord with me.

And here I am again left debating the merits of both covers. Ready for round 2? Let's go!


The book in question? Stormdancer by Jay Kristoff.


And now, the covers.













Now this one I feel is going to be a lot more ambiguous as I try to describe it. You see, this story is an Asian Steampunk. Do I really need to go on past that point? Oh, if you insist. :)

Griffins are supposed to be extinct. So when Yukiko and her warrior father Masaru are sent to capture one for the Shogun, they fear that their lives are over. Everyone knows what happens to those who fail him, no matter how hopeless the task.

But the mission proves far less impossible, and far more deadly, than anyone expects – and soon Yukiko finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in her country's last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled griffin for company. But trapped together in the forest, Yukiko and Buruu soon discover a friendship that neither of them expected.

Meanwhile, the country around them verges on the brink of collapse. A toxic fuel is slowly choking the land; the omnipotent, machine-powered Lotus Guild is publicly burning those they deem Impure; and the Shogun cares about nothing but his own dominion. Yukiko has always been uneasy in the shadow of power, when she learns the awful truth of what the Shogun has done, both to her country and to her own family she's determined to do something about it.

Returning to the city, Yukiko and Buruu plan to make the Shogun pay for his crimes – but what can one girl and a flightless griffin do against the might of an empire?

So you see, there are griffins, steampunk, and a save-the-empire all wrapped up in tantalizing Asian setting. I like me some steampunk, and I certainly have nothing against griffins. All of this chalks up to a "sign me up please!" story. But onto the covers.

They've both picked a very similar palette, which I love. They are both beautiful in their choices of colors.




You can see from the US cover they are already giving hints of the steampunk world, that this is not the kind of Asia you think you might be stepping into. This is important, so you don't expect one thing and then get the rug pulled out from underneath you upon stepping into the story. At the same time, the font is styled so that it pays homage to that culture, which is very nice.




Whereas the only sense of place in the UK cover is a beautiful, but very old-looking structure that might be Cambodian (please correct me if I'm wrong), and I believe this is meant to take place in an alternative Japan. There is no sense of the steampunk world in this cover. Though I absolutely adore the typography they picked for this cover. It is gorgeous.


However, I love the composition of the UK cover. It flows wonderfully from one image to the next. By placing Yukiko in the lower right corner it is following the rule of thirds. In fact, I believe the center of her body is directly in the rule of thirds. From there your eye flows down the point of her outstretched sword (I love how much it conveys about her character in such a simple, but active posture), leading you straight to the little city I pointed out earlier. From there your eyes follow the points of the buildings right up the S of the title and the circular symbols beyond. At this point, your eyes catch the color of of the flowering tree whose branches lead your eye straight back to Yukiko. It's fantastic. It follows a very natural progression that lets your eye take in all of it, and more importantly, linger there.

And then of course, in the very center is the title, not being intrusive, but a natural part of the picture, inviting and enveloping.




But where are the steampunk elements? The US cover has a lot going for it, especially if the story is to be considered. I've already mentioned the steampunk typeface, but there is also a direct representation of the griffin, weaving more of the story into the cover.




And is that a tiger's hindquarters I spy? Do you know how cool that would be if that is actually in the book?!

The color and composition is also something to be noted here. It is easy enough to see with the griffin picture, but encompasses the entire cover. Do you notice the dark gray on black? Not only does this stark contrast help the book to really *pop* it also gives an ominous atmosphere of foreboding. It looks like a storm is coming (natural or manmade), or a war that is already here, complete with smoke and a blood red sky, things I am sure were not unintentional. High kudos there.

Sadly, placing Yukiko front and center on this cover actually makes her blend in, because it has been used so much in covers of late. Double for having her back half turned. There is also less places in this composition directed for the eye to wander. The direction of her pulling out her katana leads nowhere and is a sadly missed opportunity.

Here is a closeup of her tattoo. I do not know what it means, but let's hope it has some significance to the story. I do love foxes, and the expression on its face lends to help this girl seem like a fighter. Do you notice the dark clouds and flowers present here in her tattoo as well?




But this? What's the point of this?



It makes it look like she isn't wearing underwear and I have no idea what they intended by that. This is one thing that does bother me about the cover. The best I can come up with is they are trying to sexualize her when there is no need for it. This cover may have won outright without the weird "extra skin" inclusion. The Yukiko on the UK looks fantastic, a fighter while still retaining the complexities and frailties of a human character. The US's closed, contemplative downturned eyes help lend to this idea, but the US girl does not feel quite as... real to me.




So this is a complex conundrum, because the US cover nails both atmosphere and story far better than its UK counterpart. Yet the UK cover is so easy to sink into and let your eyes wander and linger. I've caught myself looking at that one plenty. But it tells so little of what the story is about. If it belonged to a high fantasy Asian-inspired story, it would be golden.

So do I buy US from my local indie or import from the book depository when the time comes? Which cover do you find yourself liking more? I'm so torn!

You guys! You guys! You have to watch this! Not only because it is an extremely fun get-to-know-you author video, but you get to see author research IN ACTION. And you must also watch because, well, she picked my idea!

If you don't know them yet (and you totally should), the Friday the Thirteeners are group of YA authors debuting next year. And to go with that, they are posting author introduction videos by playing Truth or Dare. There are so many good videos, and Megan picked my dare!

I'm not telling you what she does. All I will say is - she paid to do it. And it looks pretty freaking awesome, if I do say so myself. Watch and get introduced to a new author before she's famous. Have a fantastic weekend, everyone!

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Annie by Safetysuit.






You guys, I'm torn. Usually I am ecstatically proud of the quite frankly jaw-dropping covers designed for so many books published here. The UK covers are great, but never seem to quite catch my eye in the same way. But now I'm at a quandry.


There are two books where I am honest to goodness torn. I've not read either yet (since they're not out), so I only have the covers to entice me. Yeah, anyone who said "don't judge a book by its cover" lied big time.


Enter Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. It is about a female assassin, which is a major woot! in my book. She is pulled out of a salt mine prison by the prince's captain of the guard offering her freedom if she wins an upcoming contest choosing the next royal assassin. A mix of Poison Study and Graceling adding in a fight for her life? Um, sold?


So here are the two covers.

They each have their own, distinct appeal. But I am having a few problems with the US cover. First of all, the hair.



Yes, yes, I know she is moved to the palace (which you can see in the background and is one of the highlights for this cover), and she has to learn courtly ways and such. But the perfectly coiffed hair? The flawless skin? This girl was in the salt mines for a year, where most people there don't survive past a month, apparently. I can't believe she would come out looking like that, even with a mountain of mudbath treatments. Also, her eyes look too... serene. Perhaps a bit mysterious. Which I suppose could lend to the "underestimating" factor, but I just don't get the vibe that this girl could kill me. Now, the UK cover on the other hand seems to fit in for an assassin. I mean, by page three in the book it is describing her shoving a pickaxe into one of her old taskmaster's guts and feeling the sticky blood run down her hands. *glances up to US picture* I'm just not seeing it. It's just not coming across that she's a hardened assassin to me, the "best" in her kingdom.


Now onto some other details a first glance might have missed.



Now I like this detail. Here is the first hint that she is a fighter. Some have commented on the strange sizing of the dagger, but I like that they've included a throwing knife (it has to be properly weighted so it will fly end over end). That is a really nice touch, and feels realistic for an assassin to me. And call me silly, but I love that this girl has got a bicep. It could be even bigger to me, but I'm glad they didn't just pick a dainty waif and expect me to believe she could take down full grown men.




Also, something I almost completely missed. She is clenching her fist, I suppose to show her defiance/determination? It's a pretty tight grip (also emphasizing her arm muscles) but the angle is all wrong if she is looking for a fight. And then there is her serene expression again to contend with.






Now there are still plenty of things wrong with the UK cover, in my opinion. Her clothing choice especially seems to lend to a much more urban fantasy feel rather than an alternate world fantasy, but I do love she has wrist, knee, and leg guards. Her shredded shirt and overly-tight clothes do nothing for me. An assassin should have free movement and that leather-looking material looks really restrictive. A very nice touch with the bare feet though (almost didn't catch that one either). I'm guessing that is to emphasize her silent assassin skills (though with the background looking like ice, I can't help but think how cold her feet are!). Hair seems too long to belong to an assassin, but it does look impressing flowing behind her as she approaches looking very much like she's going to eviscerate you.


So yes - torn. Do I wait happily for my little indie bookstore to get the US version in? Or do I order the UK version from the book depository? I dissected this one so much, I'll have to hold off comparisons with the other book for another time. :)


Oh, and so you know I wasn't lying about the pickaxe on page three, here is a preview of the book. ^_^

Current Theme Song (aka what's playing on my ipod right now): Iris by Goo Goo Dolls.




The idea of Monday's Muse is to introduce you to unknown, forgotten, or overlooked fiction that has been lost from regular radar. I am WriterGirl. I am in the business of saving lives, one book at a time.

What I do is go to one of several places, narrow it down to a YA field and type in a random word, any word that comes to mind. I then take a sampling of some I have never heard of before, or only vaguely heard of (and hopefully you as well). No infringement is intended for any description I take for the books. It's purely for promotional reasons. I will try and cover as many genres as possible that are fitting for the random word. Simple but it really uncovers some incredible gems. I will be doing this every other Monday. If there are any words you want to prompt me with, go ahead and fire away.

[This one is a work in progress. Do you know of any novels where a blind person is the main character?]





Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes by Jonathan Auxier.

Debut author Auxier spins a lively, magical adventure led by 10-year-old PeterNimble, a blind orphan and "the greatest thief who ever lived." Peter has always had to fend for himself, and after five grueling years of working for a heartless beggarmonger and perfecting his burgling skills, he uncovers a box filled with three sets of stone eyes: gold, onyx, and emerald. The first set transports him to a hidden island where the psychic Professor Cake awaits. The professor provides Peter with a companion (Sir Tode, a half-cat, half-horse knight) and a mission: to solve a riddle and save the Vanished Kingdom from an evil king. Peter and Sir Tode set sail unarmed, aside from their kind natures, faith that the eyes will guide them, and Peter's skill at picking locks ("He considered every lock to be a personal challenge. By definition, locks are designed to tell you what you can't do"). At times the omniscient narrator can feel overly precious, but the fast-paced, episodic story, accompanied by Auxier's occasional pen-and-ink drawings, is inventive, unpredictable, and—like its hero—nimble. --Publishers Weekly, (vol 258, issue 27).




 Gifts by Ursula Le Guin.

When a young man in the Uplands blinds himself rather than use his gift of "unmaking"--a violent talent shared by members of his family--he upsets the precarious balance of power among rival, feuding families, each of which has a strange and deadly talent of its own.







Following Christopher Creed by Carol Plum-Ucci.

Legally-blind college reporter Mike Mavic hopes to get a story about a body found in Steepleton, believed to be that of long-missing tee Christopher Creed, but finds something odd about the town, including Justin Creed's obsessive drive to learn what really happened to his older brother. (Sequel to The Body of Christopher Creed).






Girl, Stolen by April Henry.

Bad: 16-year-old Cheyenne is sick with pneumonia. Badder: while her mother runs into the pharmacy, a young man steals the car, not realizing that Cheyenne is in the backseat. Worst: getting out of this situation is going to be even harder than expected, because Cheyenne is blind. This constant one-upping of the threat level is what gives Henry’s thriller its hurtling, downhill velocity. And, as it turns out, Cheyenne’s father is rich, which turns the accidental kidnapping into a ransom situation. But the plot is actually of secondary concern; the relationship between Cheyenne and the only kidnapper who is kind to her, a teen named Griffin, constitutes the novel’s central push and pull. Is there a genuine understanding and affection brewing between these two damaged teens? Or is this a case of Stockholm syndrome? Henry is particularly deft at portraying the vacillating level of trust between the two, and her research on living with blindness pays dividends in authenticity. Fairly predictable, but thoroughly exciting. -- Kraus, Daniel, Booklist (vol 107, number 2, p64).




 Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller by Sarah Elizabeth Miller.

Filled with the tension, animosity, and determination that Annie Sullivan felt upon meeting Helen Keller, this novel portrays that most important month in their relationship, March 1887. The story is told through Annie's voice, and it begins as she travels by train from Boston to Tuscumbia, AL. The child she has been hired to teach is both deaf and blind, and there is only one previous case study that suggests that the six-year-old will ever be able to learn. As the story unfolds, readers see that strong-willed Annie is just the person to take on this formidable task. Her anger at Helen for her contrary ways is matched only by her disgust at the Kellers for allowing the girl to control everyone in the family and have her way. The incident during which Helen breaks a tooth in Annie's mouth with a well-placed punch is vividly recounted, and readers have great sympathy for the teacher's desire to get even. In spite of her own temper, the fierce love Annie feels, almost immediately, for Helen, is evident throughout. Although the flashbacks describing Annie's life before she arrived at the Kellers' interferes at times with the story's momentum, this excellent novel is compelling reading even for those familiar with the Keller/Sullivan experience. Children encountering them for the first time will feel an overwhelming sense of wonder and delight when Annie helps Helen make a communication breakthrough.—Wendy Smith-D'Arezzo, Loyola College, Baltimore, MD, School Library Journal (vol 53, issue 7, p107).