Sarah Tomp: “Seeing My Book Cover” – My Best Everything Blog Tour Guest Post + Contest

Today, we are excited to be hosting a stop on the official blog tour for My Best Everything by Sarah Tomp. We’ve got a guest post from Sarah about the first time she saw her book’s cover, plus more about her book & your chance to win a copy! So keep reading for all of these goodies …

I love my cover!

From the start of the process, I knew I was in good hands. My editor, Bethany Strout, had shared some stunning covers created by Tracy Shaw, the designer for my book. They’d also mentioned that the talented Joel Holland was working on the art and lettering. I had faith in their talents, and yet had no idea what to expect.

Early on, I received a couple of cover comps that were lovely in their own ways, but not quite right for my book. We all thought the moonshine element should be part of it, but we didn’t want to be too obvious either. The use of a mason jar was one option.

Mason jars are attractive and evocative, but I felt like I had seen them used quite a bit on covers—and really well. I wasn’t sure how we could make mine feel unique to My Best Everything.

Another image used in those initial comps was one of a truck. A lot of the story happens in, and because of, Mason’s truck. He fixes it for Lulu, teaches her to drive, and they use it to sell their moonshine. It causes trouble with his cousin, Seth. His truck is crucial! And yet, it hadn’t occurred to me that it might be included in the cover.

I received the news on the new cover design in a backward fashion. As I was leaving work one day I saw an email from my agent, Catherine Drayton, saying “My reaction is gorgeous! What about you?” before I read the email from my editor. I was too nervous to open it then, so I drove straight home, a little too fast, but not quite bootlegger style.

They were right! It was gorgeous. And perfect for my story.

It’s a simple design that looks hand-crafted and rustic—elements that would appeal to Lulu and Mason. The title, in its big loopy pink letters, is bursting with hope—and is a nod to Lulu’s best friend, Roni, who I adore.

The woods in the background are shadowed and look simultaneously ominous and romantic. And then, in the sky, that glorious gorgeous moon looms over everything, all bright and shining. And the two figures—Lulu and Mason—sitting close together on the truck, are lit up in the moonshine too.

It’s all about the moonshine, but in the most subtle of ways.

Thanks so much for helping me to celebrate on your blog!

You say it was all meant to be. You and me. The way we met. Our secrets in the woods. Even the way it all exploded. It was simply a matter of fate.

Maybe if you were here to tell me again, to explain it one more time, then maybe I wouldn’t feel so uncertain. But I’m going back to the beginning on my own. To see what happened and why.

Luisa “Lulu” Mendez has just finished her final year of high school in a small Virginia town, determined to move on and leave her job at the local junkyard behind. So when her father loses her college tuition money, Lulu needs a new ticket out.

Desperate for funds, she cooks up the (definitely illegal) plan to make and sell moonshine with her friends, Roni and Bucky. Quickly realizing they’re out of their depth, Lulu turns to Mason: a local boy who’s always seemed like a dead end. As Mason guides Lulu through the secret world of moonshine, it looks like her plan might actually work. But can she leave town before she loses everything – including her heart?

The summer walks the line between toxic and intoxicating. My Best Everything is Lulu’s letter to Mason – though is it an apology, a good-bye, or a love letter?

In stores March 3rd
Find it: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads

Sarah Tomp has a MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts.

My Best Everything, a novel for young adults, will be published March 2015 byLittle, Brown Books.

She is also the author of a picture book; Red, White, and Blue Good-bye   (Walker Books for Young Readers).

Sarah teaches creative writing for University of California San Diego Extension. She reviews books for Bookbrowse.com and co-authors the blog, Writing on the Sidewalk.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

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Blog Tour Schedule

Week One:

• 2/23/2015- Curling Up With A Good Book- Review
• 2/24/2015- Book Soulmates– Interview
• 2/25/2015- Novel Novice– Guest Post
• 2/26/2015- Wholly Books– Review
• 2/27/2015- A Book and a Latte– Interview

Week Two:

• 3/2/2015- Alice Marvels– Guest Post
• 3/3/2015- Bumbles and Fairy-Tales– Review
• 3/4/2015- The Cover Contessa– Interview
• 3/5/2015- Bookhounds ya– Guest Post
• 3/6/2015- Such a Novel Idea– Review