Ta-DAH!!!
Deep breath.
Here goes.
This is the cover of my next book, Bigger Than a Bread Box. MY NEXT BOOK! A wonderful man (I’m assuming, we haven’t met) named Steve James made it! (If he is not wonderful, he is certainly talented.)
I have been referring to this book as “The book that tore me in half all year” and also, “The book that might send me back into therapy.” Because in order to write it I had to dive back into the hardest years of my own life– the years my parents split up. The end result was me weeping into some vindaloo while my mom patted my head and said, “Honey, it’s been thirty years now.”
I guess you never get over some things…
Before I wrote this book, I asked my parents for something resembling permission. They granted it, because they are generous, good people, and they support my writing, and have faith in me. I’m lucky like that. But I want to make clear that the entire book is fictional. Only the emotions are remembered. The story is made up.
Except for the magic part. Obviously.
When I try to explain what this book is about, I say, “It is about divorce, and love, and family, and seagulls, and Baltimore, and Atlanta, and homesickness, and siblings, and friends, and magical vintage bread boxes, and a Bruce Springsteen song.”
Though really, at the end of the day, everything is about a Bruce Springsteen song, isn’t it?
Do you like it? It’s very different from my other covers (and my other books too) What do you think? I’m deeply nervous, and equally excited!
If you want to read it, you can add it to your Goodreads list, so you don’t forget!
(as thought I’d let you. Ha!)
January 10th, 2011 at 3:52 pm
Congratulations! I eagerly await it! Such a charming cover.
January 10th, 2011 at 3:58 pm
Very mysterious! The cover begs you to ask questions and see answers. Although we of course shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, I’m sure this cover will hook lots of readers in.
January 10th, 2011 at 3:58 pm
It’s an absolutely gorgeous cover! You’ve got me really looking forward to this book.
January 10th, 2011 at 4:00 pm
I LOVE it, Laurel! It’s eyecatching (no pun intended) and wonderful and implies magic all at the same time!
January 10th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
It’s beautiful, Laurel! Very striking!
January 10th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
OH Laurel you are amazing! Always moving forward in big ways. Congrats! Beautiful title and cover! You are INSPIRING! oxoxox
January 10th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
Beautiful cover, Laurel — and very enticing, to this reader at least. Looking forward to reading it!
January 10th, 2011 at 4:42 pm
Finally! I’ve been waiting for a book about magical bread boxes and Bruce Springsteen.
Congratulations on the book and the cover!
January 10th, 2011 at 4:44 pm
I love it! It reminds me a lot of the Andrew Clements covers – starting with Frindle, The School Story, and so on.
The pink, almost-purple of the room, and the inside of the bread box really makes her green eye stand out.
January 10th, 2011 at 5:00 pm
It’s gorgeous!! Congrats!
January 10th, 2011 at 5:04 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Vania S and LaurelSnyder, EMB Flip. EMB Flip said: Ta-DAH!!!: Deep breath. Here goes. This is the cover of my next book, Bigger Than a Bread Box. MY NEXT BOOK! I … http://bit.ly/hu5xdM [...]
January 10th, 2011 at 5:09 pm
Beautiful cover Laurel.
I really like the bedroom detail in the background too.
Thanks for sharing the story behind the story.
All the best,
Rob
January 10th, 2011 at 5:09 pm
Congratulations Laurel! I am so intrigued! The cover pulls you in…
January 10th, 2011 at 5:24 pm
Regarding cover: I’d pick it out of a crowd.
Regarding the story: I can’t wait to read it, though I’m sure I’ll weep through it. My life was profoundly affected by my parents’ divorce even though they split up when I was 2 or 3. It was surviving the life after with all of its inherent complications and emotions… and *differentness*. Anyway. You were indeed brave to plumb those depths. I hate waiting… though I’m sure you hate it more.
January 10th, 2011 at 5:55 pm
I LOVE It…look at that look of apprehension! Great title too…makes me want to figure out the mystery. Sorry it made you cry & so glad your mom was there to pat your head and bring you to the present day.
January 10th, 2011 at 5:56 pm
Crikey! That is one pretty cover! I can’t wait to read it!
January 10th, 2011 at 6:24 pm
Very intriguing cover, and the story is sure to be outside the box (ironically) as all your stories are!
January 10th, 2011 at 6:25 pm
I don’t know why we don’t talk more! I’m dying. You’re like me except your book is out and mine is in my computer.
You do know I am obsessed with Bruce Springsteen and that, piggy-backing on the phrase used by the above poster, MY life has been profoundly affected by him.
The cover is gorgeous. Love it. Love Bruce. And like Bruce says: “Talk to me…until the night is over…”
-Pamela
January 10th, 2011 at 7:17 pm
Perty!
January 10th, 2011 at 9:21 pm
Mazal tov!!! I’m soooooo proud and more than anything excited for you. This is voice is so sadly needed. Thank you Laurel! As Polli would say, Huzzah!
January 10th, 2011 at 11:47 pm
Laurel, it is a truly magnificent cover…wow! I will be eager to read the book. I so worry about how a divorce of their parents will continue through the years to affect my children, especially my daughter who was thirteen at the time. I am so glad you have written this story.
January 11th, 2011 at 9:41 am
Congrats on the new book! The cover looks fantastic.
Who illustrated it? As an illustrator, I always like to know.
)
January 11th, 2011 at 9:54 am
It looks gorgeous. I can’t wait to read it!
January 11th, 2011 at 10:38 am
Love.
January 11th, 2011 at 10:47 am
Laurel, it is mysterious and fantastic… and PERFECT! Congratulations!
January 11th, 2011 at 10:18 pm
Jiminy crickets, it’s AMAZING. Utterly grab-inducing.
I can’t wait to read the book. Sounds beautiful & captivating.
January 12th, 2011 at 10:47 am
thinking of you today with the ice down there in the news. we have a foot and a half of snow today and josephine is home with a fever, so we are cozied up. Cover looks good – but they should have gone with me.
January 12th, 2011 at 11:40 am
Thanks! I (of course) wish they had gone with you, but I like it a ton anyway. I really hope we can do a book together.
Glad you’re cosied. Sorry about the fever!
Love, L
January 12th, 2011 at 7:27 pm
Great cover! Happy Birthday, again.
January 13th, 2011 at 11:11 pm
I can definitely “sell” that cover at my library…and your synopsis sounds intriguing! Looking forward to it! (fyi, Penny Dreadful is checking out VERY WELL at my library, although I haven’t booktalked it at all…now that I’m back from ALA Midwinter I hope to read and blog my copy soon!)
January 14th, 2011 at 1:30 am
[...] This Peek at Laurel Snyder’s next book cover. My copy of her latest book, Penny Dreadful, got trapped in English snowstorms and has been on its way for approximately forever, but I adore her writing (even if it kind of makes me want to throw in the towel, with all its deceptive simplicity) and can’t wait to read her next book! Wouldn’t you pass out from glee if this was your cover? [...]
January 15th, 2011 at 8:53 am
I love it! It will make kids want to look in with the MC and see what she’s looking at. Congrats! And good point about Bruce Springsteen, too.
February 4th, 2011 at 5:59 am
Very nice! I will definitely look forward to this one, but it will be a long wait, since it’s not even on Follett’s site yet. And good luck with your poet hat. It’s a good time of year to get to be a grown up a little!
December 29th, 2011 at 5:45 pm
[...] Author: Laurel Snyder Cover art by Steve James Random House. 2011. Read this blog entry “Ta-DAH!!!” by Laurel on the day she introduced the cover art to her [...]
December 30th, 2011 at 10:12 pm
[...] Author: Laurel Snyder Cover art by Steve James Random House. 2011. Read this blog entry “Ta-DAH!!!” by Laurel on the day she introduced the cover art to her blog. [...]