Happy New Year: Welcome to The Year of ‘The Gathering of the Lost’
Exactly a year ago today I posted:
“New Year’s Day 2011–and I have finished the manuscript for the second novel in The Wall of Night series—working title The Gathering of the Lost.”
I am sure you’re already aware that there’s a long lead time between initially completing the manuscript and a book being published—and I’ve kept you ‘posted’ on some of those steps this year.
Now with publication dates of 27 March (USA) and 7 April (UK/AUS/NZ) respectively, 2012 is definitely shaping up to be ‘The Year of The Gathering of the Lost‘ as that most wonderful of things: actual book-out-there-in-the-world, rather than manuscript which (to paraphrase Catherine the Great of Russia) only I, my mice, and my editors get to see …
So as part of welcoming both 2012 and The Gathering of the Lost, today I am delighted to do the—drum roll!—Big Cover Reveal for the US (Harper Voyager) edition of the book. And here it is, in all it’s glory, with the cover art by well known Fantasy artist, Greg Bridges.
For the full wrap-around detail, check this out:
And Now It’s Celebration Time!
To celebrate the cover release and the New Year I have some cover flats to give away. A cover flat is the ‘wrap around’ (front, back and spine) version of the cover you see immediately above—only in this case it also contains the back cover synopsis for the book as well!
So, 5 cover flats, all signed by me, to absolutely anywhere in the world—all you have to do is post a comment on this New Year’s Day post before midnight NZ time on January 2nd, 2012 (doesn’t it feel amazing to be writing that!), sharing your feedback on the cover, to be eligible. As always, if there’s more than 5 comments we’ll go to a draw by Random Number Integer, with the result posted on January 3.
That’s an awesome cover (why would anyone prefer e-books?) – and can’t wait for the book.
I like the US cover. There is something about dawn and dusk that just appeals to the senses.
I just hope the NZ cover will be as appealing (or more so).
Happy New Year !
The sun peeking through the darkness of the trees.
Very cool. Can’t wait for the NZ cover. And the Dutch and German ones.
happy New Year!!!
What a gorgeous cover, the use of light and shadow is enchanting!
2012 – it does feel crazy saying that one =) Happy new year
The cover is simply stunning. I can’t wait to read the novel.
Oooh, that’s beautiful! You have the best luck with covers, Helen! That is just gorgeous.
I’ve also entered over at the Supernatural Underground . It is stunning! Congrats on another great cover. I love the highlighting of the yellow tones. Definitely not as dark and haunting at the first book. Does this reflect the overall tone of the story?
I love the cover Helen. The trees and the cloud ‘draw’ in the riders on horseback, and it emphasises the sub title ‘The wall of the Night’. The sun is trying to break through, but something dark is keeping it back.
May 2012 be just as rewarding for you in your literary endeavours, and may you keep safe and sound.
I love it that your cover has a natural feel – it’s gorgeous!
Thank you all for your very positive feedback for the cover of “The Gathering of the Lost”—I love it, too! 😀
Also, I apologise for the delay in replying to all your comments—I decided to take a wee break away from all the earthquakes, which also meant being off internet, but am back now and will be back ‘on air’ (so to speak) again.
Sharon, re your comment and question, “Definitely not as dark and haunting at the first book. Does this reflect the overall tone of the story?” The dark and haunting elements are still there, but I believe the overall answer is “yes.” Given what happened at the conclusion of “HEIR” and what I have also written here on the blog from time to time, I believe it is no spoiler to say that considerable parts of the action take place in regions of Haarth that are a long way from the Wall, and as that mountain fastness recedes physically, so does the immediacy of the Derai’s dark and unrelenting doom … The rest though shall have to unfold with the reading of the book. 🙂
June, re the UK/AUS/NZ cover, I have only seen a ‘first draft’ but believe the final is also ‘close’ now; it is very different in conception but I also liked that first version very much and hope readers here will, too.
Lovely cover, Helen. Thanks for sharing it.
Hi Ripley, glad you like!