Many of you are big fans of the Sourcebooks reprints of Georgette Heyer’s backlist, especially because the quality of the books themselves is stellar. Not only are they printed on some luscious paper, but the covers are gorgeous. I know a few folks who have written me to say that since discovering the reprints through Smart Bitches, they’ve bought several copies as gifts for friends and family. Heyer romances: the gift that keeps on giving!
This week marks the 107th anniversary of her birth (16 August), and to celebrate, we’re hosting a giveaway of rather epic proportions. Details are at the end of the interview.
What interview?
This interview! I was so curious about the design mastermind who is responsible for the cover art that makes the Heyer set so beautiful, and asked Sourcebooks if she’d be willing to do an interview with me. Meet Dawn Pope!
Dawn has been at Sourcebooks for 4 years now, and she’s the Assistant Design Manager. I had a bunch of questions for her, because I wanted to know how these book covers happened.
So many of the covers feature artwork highlighting women, particularly elegant women. It makes the Heyer reprints from Sourcebooks look stylish and unique – and definitely eye catching. I am so curious about the process that goes into creating the covers.
Dawn: Georgette Heyer is known for her heroines; the characters are enduring. We try to find images that represent these women. The cover process on our Heyer romances is ever evolving. I do have to say that this is a collaborative effort between my publisher, Dominique Raccah, and myself. Heyer is her passion and she knows these books inside and out. She knows the characters and the mood of each story. We work very closely on the image research. I start the search bringing in image selections for each title, we review the images, there are ones that work the first time around then there are ones that are a bit more of a challenge.
We have just recently implemented another change in our Heyer covers, wanting take them in a Marie Antoinette direction. We are now starting to use a brighter accent color on the title bar. This is giving the covers a fresh more, contemporary feel, and when paired with the classic paintings, it makes a great package. When working on closing final covers for Cousin Kate, The Corinthian, and The Grand Sophy, is when we first started to rethink our direction. These three covers were changed midseason, to what we think are much stronger, and more representative covers. We are always thinking and rethinking these covers. We want to make sure we have the best cover for each title.
You will see the newer color palettes starting with Arabella, which I have to say, is gorgeous! We also just went back and redid the covers for The Nonesuch, The Talisman Ring, and Cotillion, these will be seen at reprint with much stronger colors and images for a better package.
Where do you find the art, and how do you search for it?
Dawn: I have two fine art stock houses that I work very closely with on the image research for the Heyer titles: Fine Art Photographic Library, and The Bridgeman Art Library. They are both amazing houses to work with and have been fantastic in the creation of these covers, getting me images, clearing licenses and permissions, to even helping in research.
Luckily, most of Heyer romances are set in the British Regency (1811-1820), so the time period is very specific. This narrows my search down quite a bit right from the start. Before I begin my search, when the books are first launched, I am given character and story descriptions, I usually take those and have a brief meeting with my publisher to see what she wants to focus on and portray for each cover. I then take that to my searches. I focus on the main character, so if she has red hair, I like to find paintings with woman and red hair, [and] they have to age appropriate too. If your heroine is 15, you can’t have someone who is 25 on the cover! It is the little details that we focus on that I believe makes our covers so strong.
What types of images do you prefer? Do you look for images that match the story?
Dawn: I prefer to find images with a singular woman on the cover, as we try to highlight the heroine of each story. Now there are some exceptions as in the cover of The Devil’s Cub, coming out in November 2009, where we highlight Vidal, the son of Léonie from These Old Shades (which may just be my favorite cover yet!), coming out in October 2009.
So we are still highlighting a main character, and if that happens to be a male, then we will usually feature a couple. We absolutely try to match the image to the story—that is a must. We use the cover to convey what you are going to be reading. We want you to experience the same emotions from the cover that you will win you read the story. If you see a cover, you will draw a conclusion as to what it is about, and then you read the book. If the story doesn’t match the cover, you could be disappointed. In a way, it would be misleading you, the reader.
I do the best I can to make sure I find the images that fit each story. A great example of this is when I was working to close the final cover of Cousin Kate, I took the cover in for final review, and we were still questioning the image; it just wasn’t working. We decided to see if we could find something better, and in doing the image research for this, came across the images for The Corinthian and The Grand Sophy. As soon as we saw them, we knew they were better. So we made the change and closed the covers. I think we have much stronger, more vibrant eye catching covers. It paid off, and it goes to show it is all about the image.
Have you read the Heyers that you’re designing covers for?
Dawn: Unfortunately, I have not read any of the Heyer romances, they are on my list. It is hard to choose which one to read first… Any suggestions?
When we launch a season of Heyer romances, we usually launch eight at a time, I have about 10-12 weeks before I have to have final covers approved for that season. That eight is in addition to other titles from that season. I just don’t have the time to read them all. And luckily I work very closely with someone who has read all of them, most of them more than once, so she gives me the summary of what scene we want to set for each title. I do promise that someday I will read them… I can’t wait, I know I love the covers!
Do any of these pieces of artwork hang in museums? Have you gone to visit?
Dawn: A lot of the paintings I have used are from private collections, or estates. There are some that are in museums, but none that are in any of the major art museums. But a majority of the pieces I have used are from private collections that are represented by the art houses, like The Bridgeman Art Library and Fine Art Photographic Library, both based out of London. I unfortunately have not been to London, so I have not gotten to experience the finest museums. I had an introduction to Fine Art in College, through my Art History classes, but working on these covers has given me a new appreciation for fine art, and I want to get to see more in the museums than what I have. They have sparked an interest to learn more and enjoy more.
Which of the covers is your favorite?
Dawn: Oh, my favorite? How do I pick… While I think about it, I will give you my top 5: Black Sheep, Cousin Kate, The Corinthian, Arabella, and Beauvallet. But if I absolutely had to choose, it would be the new cover for These Old Shades. The image is one I had seen a while ago, and just haven’t had the cover to use it on. The girl, her expression, and the dress are stunning. The treatment on this cover will be different from the others. It will be just a touch more fancy, as we are using a rose colored metallic ink for the title bar. It is going to be stunning. And did I say I love the image! I hope you all enjoy it as much as I do.
Thank you, Dawn, for the interview – I know you’re super busy so I appreciate your taking the time to answer my nebby questions.
And thanks to the most excellent Danielle and the folks at Sourcebooks, it’s giveaway time! Leave a comment and tell us your very favorite Heyer scene, or the piece of art you’d like to see on a Heyer cover, and you’re entered to win.
We have copies of their next Heyer release, The Grand Sophy to give away – 9 copies, in fact. Plus one grand prize winner will receive a copy of every Heyer book they’ve released this season – 10 in all – plus a Frango Mint Chocolate Trio sampler. Which books? Have a look:
What could be better than a stack of books and a box of chocolates? Not much.
Leave a comment and you’re entered to win. You have 24 hours – ready, set, chocolate and Heyer!
ETA:
Update! I emailed Sourcebooks about the Arrow releases in the UK and Australia, and Dawn replied:
“Arrow is the UK home to Georgette Heyer, and our Sourcebooks editorial team works directly them when it comes to our re-issues of Heyer’s work each season. The Arrow editions of the Heyer Romances are the cleanest and best packaged of the Heyer reprints. We do look at their covers for art direction, and at first we were looking to find those images, but as we have worked our way through our list, we have started to look for more of our own art that we think represent the book and will speak to readers. We do have a copy of every Heyer from Arrow including the mysteries, here in house. As for the mysteries, the only cover that we have kept the same image with the same title is on Behold Here’s Poison, and that was because it was a fantastic cover!!
Since that, we may use some of the same images, but they are different titles. For example, as the commenter pointed out, our Why Shoot a Butler is actually the image from the arrow edition of Envious Casca. I think as readers see more mysteries coming from us and they see the newer romances, they will realize that we are moving in our own direction away from the Arrow editions, but they definitely have been a big inspiration and great partner to work with bringing Heyer to the US!”
I still have yet to read Heyer but that was more about many of her books being hard to find prior to these wonderful editions coming out.
The look so pretty and I am excited about the actual effort that goes into designing the covers.
Those are some gorgeous covers! My local library has purchased a few and they’re a delight to read.
give42: Yes, please give me 42 Georgette Heyer books and 42 pieces of chocolate to go with them!
I have only recently “found” Heyer and so don’t have any specific fav scenes or characters … so far, I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read! And I LOVE the new covers!
— Bonz
SPOILER BLACK SHEEP
SPOILER BLACK SHEEP
SPOILER BLACK SHEEP
SPOILER BLACK SHEEP
SPOILER BLACK SHEEP
SPOILER BLACK SHEEP
SPOILER BLACK SHEEP
SPOILER BLACK SHEEP
SPOILER BLACK SHEEP
One of my favorite scenes is the “abduction” scene is Black Sheep. I love it when Miles says that he is perfectly willing for Abby to make a sacrifice of herself, but he’ll be damned if she makes a sacrifice of him as well.
Update! I emailed Sourcebooks about the Arrow releases in the UK and Australia, and Dawn replied:
“Arrow is the UK home to Georgette Heyer, and our Sourcebooks editorial team works directly them when it comes to our re-issues of Heyer’s work each season. The Arrow editions of the Heyer Romances are the cleanest and best packaged of the Heyer reprints. We do look at their covers for art direction, and at first we were looking to find those images, but as we have worked our way through our list, we have started to look for more of our own art that we think represent the book and will speak to readers. We do have a copy of every Heyer from Arrow including the mysteries, here in house. As for the mysteries, the only cover that we have kept the same image with the same title is on Behold Here’s Poison, and that was because it was a fantastic cover!!
Since that, we may use some of the same images, but they are different titles. For example, as the commenter pointed out, our Why Shoot a Butler is actually the image from the arrow edition of Envious Casca. I think as readers see more mysteries coming from us and they see the newer romances, they will realize that we are moving in our own direction away from the Arrow editions, but they definitely have been a big inspiration and great partner to work with bringing Heyer to the US!”
These covers are beautiful! I love how much thought and research is being done to create them. I haven’t ever read a Georgette Heyer book, but I’m thinking I need to pick one up soon!
I’ve never really been able to get into the Georgian Heyers – maybe I need to try again.
Favorite scenes: the end of The Unknown Ajax (I think the valet needs his own standalone novel!), the scene in Cotillion where Freddy punches out Jack, and the entire short story in Pistols for Two – I think it’s called Hazard – where the hero (Leo?) drunkenly wins the heroine in a card game. That one makes me swoon!
I have never read Heyer. Therefore, I need to win some don’t I? 🙂
I’m going to repeat previous posters but I love the scene in The Devil’s Cub when Mary shoots Vidal and in The Convenient Marriage when Horry convinces Rule to marry her. I just love Heyer!
I’ve only read a very few of Georgette Heyer’s books, but after reading all these comments, my new life’s goal is to read Cotillion.
Although I liked Charity Girl—-except that Cherry is prototypically TSTL and Henrietta, who isn’t, could do far better—-think I prefer Pistols for Two, a collection of short stories. There are an assortment of plots, from cross-purposed lovers—-the hero, that noble idiot, thinks the heroine is being forced to marry him and so tells her he won’t so she can be free, which is the last thing she wants to hear—-to a lady won in a card game. And all with gift-wrapped happy endings! These aren’t uncommon plots now, but I always thought that Heyer got there first.
I will say, though, that the cover of the library’s copy of Pistols (Dutton, 1964) has the butt-ugliest cover art ever. It’s all brushstrokes and the girl’s head protruding from a dueling scene. I didn’t know they had mascara (or wroe quite that much of it at once) and bublegum pink lipstick in Regency times. I don’t have a piece of art in mind for a reissue, but anything will be an improvement.
I actually discovered Heyer via A Blunt Instrument, one of her murder mysteries. I laughed myself silly during that book, and was a rabid fan by the time I got to Death in the Stocks. I remember being utterly thrilled to find out she was a romance writer also, in fact, more famous for that—because I had run through all her mysteries and wanted more.
I’ve been eyeing the new reprints wistfully, but since I’m trying to be virtuous about book buying sprees, have been holding back. Entering a contest though—that’s virtuous enough, right?
want. please?
I want them!!! Just started reading Heyer, and I can’t get enough. Please, please, send me more awesomeness!
Yay, please enter me in the contest! Woohoo! Lovely books and Frango mints!
So far my favorite scene is at the end of Devil’s Cub, when absolutely EVERYONE starts pouring into the inn, during the swordfight. It was pretty wild.
That new Cotillion cover is just the sweetest, funnest, nicest cover. Those three ladies just look so bright and happy and interested and even hilarious, and the colors are so bright and the title bar somehow complements it—it’s a great cover.
How do these covers look so much like Penguin Classics and yet not at all like Penguin Classics? It’s very interesting.
Once upon a time, a male friend questioned my tastes in reading romances. The book I happened to have with me was Heyer’s Masqueraders. “Sit down and shut up,” I said. By the time I finished a dramatic reading of chapter one, he was hooked. “Are they all this good? My god, what have I been missing?”
Choosing a favorite Heyer is like choosing a favorite child.
No one has mentioned A Civil Contract. I always felt that that one would have been better than An Infamous Army to showcase as the consummate historical. The real historical elements enhance the plot and don’t overwhelm it the way the battle descriptions do in Infamous Army. The cautious lord getting reckless and betting everything on his knowledge of the army was perfect. And how can one argue with a realistic HEA that follows a such very mixed marriage?
Hard to pick a favorite scene. It’s either Sophy with the ducklings in The Grand Sophy, or Mary’s supper with the mysterious elderly gentleman in The Devil’s Cub.
One point though regarding the covers: Many of Heyer’s books, like These Old Shades and The Devil’s Cub are actually Georgian era, not Regency. It’s always bothered me a bit when they feature Regency era art or styles.
I’m loving those covers.
I love the culmination of The Unknown Ajax best, watching it all come together.
The three mysteries are my favorites—they convey the mood and time period of the stories beautifully, and above all they are FUN! Of the romances, Lady of Quality is my favorite.
I’m a total sucker for covers like this;they look so lush,like a box of chocolates:)
Interesting enough, Stephen Fry is a big fan of Georgette Heyer-he even admitted it on a BBC special called “Guilty” back in 2007:
The Grand Sophy, Cotillion and The Convenioent Marriage are my favourites.
That would be ‘Convenient’.
Rule and The Nose are my favourites! (Apart from the couple in Cotillion)
I had to sell all my Heyers when I moved house, so I have my fingers crossed on this one.
I recently bought/devoured Arabella, and I must say that the lovely cover added to my enjoyment. I always feel so luxurious when I read regency romances..
My favorite scene is from Black Sheep…SPOILER…at the very end when Miles abducted Abby and she lets him know that she is only objecting to the trip to Gretna Green for form’s sake. Miles immediately pulls over on the road to kiss her amid her protests that people are watching from the hedge! Makes me smile every time.
Thanks for hosting another great contest, Sarah.
Haven’t yet had a chance to read Heyer…but these covers are making me want to dive right in! The chocolate would just be a bonus… 😉
I haven’t read a Heyer in years! The new covers are so tempting, I’ll have to find one, or three or ….
Love them all! I couldn’t pick a favorite scene, but I do love these covers. I think they’ve done a great job of distinguising the mysteries from the romances from the histories. Bravo.
D’oh! I bought The Grand Sophy a week ago, but I think it’s the old Sourcebooks cover! My rotten timing strikes again!
Anyway, that’s the first Heyer I’ve bought, but I also have a copy of Death in the Stocks that I found at a “leave one, take one” bookshelf at a local coffeehouse. Obviously, I need to win a whole boatload of books where the story is as gorgeous as the cover. *g*
As for what images should be used… I have no idea! It looks like a number of Heyer’s mysteries are set in the 20’s, which would require some fantastic Art Deco-style illustrations, hmmm?
I’m thinking I’ll have to make a purchase the next time I’m at Borders. Anyone have a recommendation for my first Heyer?
like someone above i just bought april lady and am pretty sure it’s the old cover! i’m so excited about this, am a huge fan of heyer – black sheep is my favorite!
I love Georgette Heyer so much! It always saddens me that I find so few Americans that know of her; most English girls read her as a rite of passage!
As for my favourite scenes, I’m very torn. I *think* the scene in the barn in Masqueraders, where Prudence keeps trying to do things for herself and her “Mountain” keeps trying to do things for her. Mostly because he acknowledges that he *knows* she can do it for herself and he wouldn’t want her any other way, he just also wants to help her because he loves her. It seems like it epitomises a lot of what makes Heyer’s couples so amazing. The women are so strong and powerful and the men really love that they are.
Also, every time Venetia says “Idiotish”.
…Also every single scene in These Old Shades. There isn’t a moment I don’t love.
I feel like I must be the only person on earth that really liked Sprig Muslin 🙂 I ended up reading a horribly stained, large print version because it was the only thing I could find after catching Heyer fever.
Still, I think my favorite scene is the kiss scene from the Corinthian. I’m smiling just thinking about it.
My favourite… not so much a scene but a moment. By the time I read Cotillion, I’d read enough Heyer to recognise the usual dark-haired rake hero in Jack Westruther and assumed that he was going to be won over by Kitty.
When I realised that, no, Kitty was going to recognise just how wonderful Freddy was, I actually let out a shriek of glee.
Hot mercy, a G. Heyer giveaway? I’m twitching happily in my seat the very idea. But I feel kind of like a tool because I only recognize three of the titles. Clearly my used book stores are failing me, which means I’m made of fail.
Meanwhile, new copies of These Old Shades and Devil’s Cub have totally made the internal wishlist!
These covers are gorgeous. It’s a pity I haven’t read Heyer so I can’t enter.
My English teacher introduced me to Heyer when I was 13 years old. My class was supposed to pick a book from her library, read it in a month, write a summary and answer questions on what we read. The other students chose serious books by Dickens, Twain and even Wilde (we loved reading plays), but I, I took a look arround the library and my eye fell on a forgotten shelf full of Heyer novels.
The first one I read, and my favourite, is Arabella.
There is a scene when she finds out that her brother, Bertram has gotten in serious trouble, he is in debt and to avoid his creditors is hiding out in the poor part of town.
Arabella wants to visit him, but Bertram’s friend, Scunthorpe tries to change her mind:
“You can’t see him!”
“Why can I not?”
“He’s been in the sun a trifle! You see—very understandable thing to do!—shot the cat!”
“Shot the cat?”
“Can’t blame him!” Mr Scunthorpe pleaded. “Wouldn’t have told you, if you hadn’t been so set on seeing him! Felt desperate—shot the cat—felt better—kept on swallowing balls of fire—result, looking as queer as Dick’s hatband, when I saw him!”
“Do you mean that he has been drinking?” demanded Arabella. “What, in heaven’s name, is a ball of fire?”
“Brandy,” said Mr Scunthorpe…
Needless to say, I finished the book in about 2 days, and went back to my teacher with a list of unknown words and phrases.
That was when I fell in love with the Regency period, the language (high and low), the dress, the food…
Heyer’s writing is so detailed that whenever I read one of her books, it felt like I was living & breathing along with her characters.
Huh, now I will have to reread the entire set!
My favorite—horrors—you might as well ask which of my kids is my favorite. I love them all each in their own special way. I must say Fredicka has special charms but then I think of the Devil’s Cub with its rogue of a hero. Sigh! You guys who haven’t read Heyer have a treat for yourselves. It is THE ORIGINAL Regency romance that defines the type. From these books we get some of the elements of all other regencies—beautiful dresses, elegant houses, parties, clever talk, the stock dumb characters who never understand the clever talk, marrying for money, falling in love with a charming innocent, most every plot element of a classic regency came from Heyer.
I just discovered Heyer a few months ago and I am HOOKED. I add one of her books to my regular romance regime every couple of weeks.
How could I pass up a chance for a free book? And these look AMAZING. <3
Wow, those covers really are gorgeous and remind me of my favourite Pride and Prejudice edition I had as a paperback years ago. I love it when publishers try to use period artwork to convey the feel of a story!