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!”
new commenter here.
My favorite scene—well, all of _Friday’s Child_ is like a favorite scene to me, but the final hilarious scene at the inn where all hell breaks loose and all plot lines are wound up is probably my favorite. Especially when Mr. Tarleton tells Ferdie who Nemesis really is.
I love the cover art for _The Corinthian_ but it seems wrong to me somehow—the heroine of that book is *never* in a dress…
captcha – become49. Because I need to gain 10 years overnight, eh?
I have to ditto what so many of you picked for your favorite scenes: The end of The Grand Sophy. It simply delightful.
I have never read Heyer, but I discovered so many great authors while lurking here I know I won’t be disappointed. I loved the gorgeous cover for The Corinthian, and I looked up the plot on Amazon to discover it has my favorite plot device – THE ROAD TRIP! Nothing beats the feeling you get reading a good book for the 1st time.
good god these are lovely! I hope to win the whole collection!
Gorgeous covers. As others have said it is nice that she is getting a new audience. I have enjoyed her mysteries also. She has such a beautiful way with language.
Well, I have only read one Georgette Heyer book, but so many people here praise them. Sadly, I don’t remember the name of the book or the artwork on the cover. This, then, is my favorite Georgette Heyer scene: I’m sitting in my bed, with my ten prize books fanned about me. I’m trying to decide which one to read first, but the covers are so beautiful, it’s hard to decide!
Wow, seeing all the covers together really hit home what a great job they did. I’ve actually sent a fan email to a cover designer before, so my nerdy ass really enjoyed this interview. 🙂 If anyone enjoys the star treatment, it’s Heyer.
The covers look fantastic. May have to buy a few trophy copies. I already own nearly every title.
comment word: Some79 – some 79 titles?
I’ve not yet read any Heyer, but my library system has a few old editions as well as a growing crop of the rereleases. I cannot decide which to read first.
I am a newbie to Georgette Heyer. My introduction was the Corinthian. It is wonder that It coming out with a new cover! I love the whole but if I had to pick a favorite part, It is when Penn dressed as a boy is trying to convince a drunken Sir Richard not to accompany her on flight. Sir Richard is being pressured to propose to Melissa, “the iceberg”. When Penn tells him that no one will know what has become of him if he leaves with her. He repeats ” no one will know what has become of me. No one- My girl you no longer have a choice I am going.” The best line is when Melissa’s brother tell Richard not to marry his sister, “Run Ricky Run!, If you marry her I’ll sponge off you the rest of my days.” and when Penn says her cousin has a face like a fish (hake). I laughed through the whole book. I am looking for to the new cover.
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I’m with Cassie above. My favorite scene is in the Convenient Marriage where Horry offers herself to Rule in the place of her sister, and says, “I have the nose!”
I’m in the middle of my first Heyer book, Sylvester, and enjoying it immensely.
My favorite scene is when Sylvester walks in to the inn and sees Phoebe looking down at him. I could picture her shocked face.
I remember reading a Heyer (possibly Devil’s Club.. but the memory is vague) at my Grandmother’s house one summer. I had to sneak it out every day and back in before night so she didn’t know I was raiding her romance collection. I was 11 or 12. After she passed, her Heyer collection mysteriously disappeared… I think my aunt has it now. That is a fond memory though.
I have just started to get Heyer from my library. I can’t believe I went so long without knowing about her. I have to say, I love these covers – pretty and elegant.
Love Heyer and adore the new packaging! Haven’t purchased one yet, so winning would be a great kickstart!
When I attended the Denver Publishing Institute years ago, Dominique Raccah was one of the speakers. She was such an inspiration and a dynamic speaker!
P.S. my birthday is Saturday and a Heyer collection and box of chocolates would be the BEST present ever!
I’ve never read Georgette Heyer before, but I love the covers.
Wow, these are just gorgeous! Would love to revisit GH with the sparkly new covers!
I love the new Sourcebook covers and I agree that the color title ribbon really adds something to the cover! I’ve been collecting a few of my favorites, handling delicately just in case there is a Heyer reprint drought after Sourcebooks is done with all her books. And i love how the current reprint uses nice quality paper. Heyers aren’t just read once and tossed aside. They’re usually reread.
Oh, my. I’m crossing my fingers for myself!
These covers really are gorgeous, I saw them in the store the other day. These editions are perfect for Heyer fans who want to collect high-quality versions.
As for suggestions of starting Heyers – perhaps the Grandy Sophy? I loved that, I think it was my first Heyer. I also adore Cotillion.
I’ve been on SUCH a huge Georgette Heyer kick lately, and was just discussing the very phenomena of the most excellent covers on the reissues! Synchronicity!
I don’t know that I can limit myself to a single favorite moment, but I just adore Beau Brummel in Regency Buck – advising the heroine, Judith, to be daring and generally confounding the accepted concept of him as some prissy panty-waist dandy. I rather wish he had been the hero… *le sigh*
The first Heyer romance I ever read was The Grand Sophy, in my friend Tatiana’s bathroom, about 10 years ago. I’ve been an addict ever since. 🙂
Heyer brings me out of lurkdom as well, which is hardly surprising since she has on several ocassions pushed me, introvert that I am, to initiate conversations with strangers in bookstores and libraries.
I started reading Heyer in my teens and I have been rereading her ever since. Choosing a favorite scene in one book would be difficult; choosing one from among all her books is impossible. But among those I particularly love are the scene in Frederica where Alverstoke has the good sense to realize Frederica is too concerned with her young brother to be ready for a declaration of love, Venetia and Damorel’s first meeting when they banter using quotes from Shakespeare, and the scene in The Nonesuch in which Ancilla thinks “Waldo’s wretched brats” are his bastards.
Most of my copies of Heyer’s books were published in the 60s. I really need new copies.
All my copies of Heyer’s are handmedowns from my mother and her sisters – mostly pan titles with really cheesy covers. These are a big improvement!
My favorite scene is at the end of The Grand Sophy, with the geese. Sophy is probably my favorite Heyer heroine!
But am I the only one who loves False Colours? But… Kit Fancot!
I’m so glad someone linked here from Ravelry. I’ve heard of the Grand Sophy, but I’ve never read any Heyer. Think I might pester my librarian for a few interlibrary loans! Love the site!
I would love to read some of these beautiful editions!
I love Heyer!! So does the romance-reading Daughter, who may or may not find the time and internet access to comment here for herself. If I win, I’ll share.
The new editions are a definite splurge for me; anytime Borders sends me a 40% off coupon, I’m right there getting another beautiful Sourcebooks’ Heyer. But I don’t have anywhere near all of them yet, so I would LOVE to win this!
Buffleheaded baconbrain! Contemptible clodpole!
Ah, hm. Sorry.
Sign me up 🙂
i just started buying heyer when the new covers caught my eye – so they’ve done an excellent job with them! i knew she was someone i wanted to read after hearing her mentioned on this site and i luuuurve the two i’ve read “the grand sophy” and “frederica.” heyer’s characterization is just so amazing. i especially love how well drawn frederica’s sister and brothers are. you really get a sense of why family is so important to her. i love pretty much every speech that felix makes but i think jessamy’s bicycle crash is my favourite non-romance scene.
I love that cover for Devil’s Cub-in fact, I love them all
Although I haven’t read anything by Heyer yet (can’t wait to though—sounds like she’s right up my alley) I think a cover by one of the beautiful works by John Vettriano would be perfect. “Dance me to the end” or “Mad Dogs” would be lovely.
I know I must have read some Heyer somewhere, somewhen, but I can’t remember! Just read the dedication page on Duchess by Night last night, and it had made me determined to find some to read. Please enter me in this drawing! It will give me a good start 🙂
Man, so many morning people!
I keep meaning to read a Heyer, but a prejudice against non-mass-market books and not knowing where to start has stopped me. Nothing so motivating as free!
My favorite scene is from Sylvester…
Sylvester’s little nephew has been kidnapped by his narcissistic mother and hapless stepfather and the little boy is threatening his step-father with dire consequences:
“Uncle Vester will grind your bones for his bread!”
Or maybe it’s the scene, from the beginning of my first ever Heyer novel, The Reluctant Widow, when Elinor Rochdale thinks she’s interviewing for the job of governess for a little boy but the interviewer is looking for something entirely different…
“Good heavens, he is not- he surely can not be- deranged, sir?”
“No, he is quite sane…It is brandy, not madness, to which the greater part of his propensity for evil is attributable.”
10 pages into this book, and I knew I was going to have read every Heyer book I could get my hands on…
I have been reading and collecting Heyer’s books for years now. I have been replacing all of my old yellowed paperbacks with the beautiful Sourcebooks editions. Thank you Sourcebooks for making these wonderful books available for a whole new generation of readers! My very favorite Heyer is Venetia. Who could not love a rake like Lord Damerel?
I adore the new Heyer covers almost as much as I adore the print inside them! 🙂 I’m thrilled that Sourcebooks is making these available for relatively new Heyer fans, like myself. Especially when they are such gorgeous copies that I can’t help but put them on a prominent shelf in my living room for all to admire!
My favorite scene has to be in These Old Shades, where Leonie, being kidnapped by her father, the villainous Marquis, calls him a “pig-person”. I don’t think it’d be right for a cover, though. I think that probably one of the Versailles scenes would be better for that book, with Leonie, still in disguise as Leon, at the Duc of Avon’s heels.
I’m not sure which scenes to choose! I loved Black Sheep and a scene that sticks in my mind for some reason (doesn’t even involve the heroine) is one from Charity Girl when Desford is telling off his brother for wearing a ridiculous outfit. It reminds me of Wodehouse and cracks me up every time.
And Viscount Lynton in A Civil Contract is actually one of my favourite heroes.
Captcha – thats98 – that’s not quite 98 reasons why I love Georgette Heyer.