Sarah's Bookshelves Live

In podcast episode 154, we’re diving into the world of book cover design with Karen Horton, graphic designer and former Art Director at Henry Holt. Karen takes us behind the scenes of the process of book cover design, who makes key book cover related decisions, and the role of marketing budgets and author’s reputation in this process. Plus, Karen shares her book recommendations!

This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!).

CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog.

• The high-level book cover design process.
• When and why publishers reach out to designers before a book’s launch proposal.
• The dynamics of deciding which books a designer works on.
• Freelance vs In-house: Factors that determine who gets to design the top titles.
• The lesser-known “silent auction” approach some publishers adopt.
• Whether book cover designers really read the whole book.
• Who holds the final decision about a book cover.
• The author’s role in the decision-making process and the factors that impact how that can play out.
• How marketing budgets and an author’s reputation influence design choices.
• The influence of ongoing design trends and when publishers decide to break away from them.

Two OLD Books She Loves

• A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:11]
• The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:04]

Two NEW Books She Loves

• Thicker Than Water by Kerry Washington | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:36]
• We Were Once a Family by Roxanna Asgarian | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:45]

One Book She DIDN’T Love

• A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole | Amazon | Bookshop.org[42:46]

NEW RELEASE She’s Excited About

• The Cemetery of Untold Stories by Julia Alvarez (April 2, 2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:12]
• Other Books Mentioned:
  • Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett [46:56]

Last 5-Star Book Karen Read

• A Living Remedy by Nicole Chung | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:25]

• Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent [15:34]
• Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus [26:45]
• Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld [31:04]
• Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert [31:17]
• When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain [32:11]
• Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid [32:20]
• The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller [32:25]
• The Push by Ashley Audrain [32:32]
• The Whispers by Ashley Audrain [33:00]
• The Mothers by Brit Bennett [34:49]
• The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett [34:50]

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In Episode 163, Sara Hildreth, from @FictionMatters and co-host of the podcast Novel Pairings, returns for her third appearance on our show as our expert for Classics & Retellings 101. Sara guides us through the sometimes intimidating world of timeless reads in an accessible way. She busted some myths about classics and changed my mind about some elements of the classics. And, she has a great approach to find the perfect retelling of your favorite classics for your next read.

This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!).

CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog.

• Sara explores the definitions of a classic and a modern classic book.
• We talk about separating the American literature canon from the idea of a classic.
• Sara talks about being free to define classics on personal terms.
• The idea of a book being labeled a “future classic.”
• Now-famous books that went unnoticed initially when they were released.
• Sara’s personal reading motivations.
• Common issues people have when trying to tackle classic books.
• Notable quirks of many classics that were first published as serials.
• Tips and advice for approaching older books.
• Addressing the pressure surrounding reading or revisiting classics.
• Examples of nonfiction classics.
• Legal considerations for all those retellings.
• The rise of retellings as a trend with today’s audience.
• The difference between retellings and fan fiction.
• Sara’s recommendations for accessible classic literature.
• A different approach to finding the right retelling for your reading.

Please note: Sara mistakenly mentions during the discussion that The Great Gatsbydid not come into popularity until its distribution to soldiers during World War I, when this actually occurred during World War II.

Two OLD Books She Loves — Classics

• The Custom of the Country by Edith Wharton | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:43]
• Passing by Nella Larson | Amazon | Bookshop.org [53:12]
• Other Books Mentioned
  • The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton [50:58]
  • The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton [50:59]
  • Roman Fever and Other Stories by Edith Wharton [51:03]
  • The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett [55:44]

Two NEW Books She Loves — Retellings

• Anna K by Jenny Lee | Amazon | Bookshop.org [57:35]
• The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vho | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:00:28]
• Other Books Mentioned
  • Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy [59:01]
  • Gossip Girl by Cecily von Ziegesar [59:53]
  • Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan [59:58]

One Book She DIDN’T Love — Classic

• Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain | Amazon | Bookshop.org[1:03:25]

One NEW RELEASE She’s Excited About — Retelling and Classic Pairing

• The Garden by Claire Beams (April 9, 2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:05:12]
• Other Books Mentioned
  • The Illness Lesson by Claire Beams [1:05:37]
  • Little Women by Louisa May Alcott [1:05:41]
  • The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett [1:06:21]
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