What does ‘cozy fantasy’ even mean?
Have you ever heard of a “cozy fantasy”? Neither had I until very recently. But the moment I heard the term, I knew it perfectly captured the essence of the Cupid’s Fall series.
What’s cozy fantasy? Take the small-town, relatable hero of a cozy mystery (think Miss Marple and Murder She Wrote) and add an element of imaginative fiction – magic, supernatural beings, or in my case, Greek gods. The genre often features quirky characters, light world-building, romance (of varying spice levels), and an absence of gratuitous violence. These are feel-good, slice-of-life stories where the good guys usually win by doing the right thing.
It’s time for Cupid’s wardrobe change.
SO – cozy fantasy it is! No more worrying or wondering where to file my modern-day Greek mythology romantic-comedy low fantasy literary romance! YAY! My genre-bending series would finally have a home on its rightful shelf!
Aside from there being no actual shelf, I had just one rather large problem – my four books were already clad in wonderfully romantic-comedy-esque covers. And while they beautifully communicate the whimsical tone I originally wanted to convey, they fail to evoke the magical element inherent in a story about a bunch of gods walking/floating/screwing around on both Mt. Olympus and Earth.
Time to find a cover artist!
Enter Holly Dunn
I’m thrilled to have partnered this time around with graphic artist Holly Dunn, who specializes in gorgeous hand lettering, intricate and colorful scroll designs, and creative art nouveau-inspired imagery.
I encourage you to check out her dazzling book covers and creations on her website. While you’re there, download and enjoy her coloring pages of your favorite mythology characters!
[For the record, my original cover artist and dear friend, Betti Gefecht, has been totally supportive of the redesign but was unable to create the designs herself this time around.]
I was immediately drawn to Holly’s designs, but what clinched the decision for me were the case studies she included on her website. I knew that working with Holly would be an artistic collaboration we would both enjoy. Let’s face it, I like to have my say! But I also deeply appreciate and respect an artist’s gifts.
Our collaborative process
Design scan
I contacted Holly by completing her intake form, which asked for a lot of detail I was very happy to provide: story themes, design elements and plot points. It was an interesting challenge to convey the essence of each book and overall series to someone who had absolutely no inside knowledge of characters or plot.
I shared a dozen or so fantasy covers that evoked the mood I was hoping for – and several of those covers were Holly’s own designs.
After the initial input, I waited for Holly’s interpretation of my stories…
Initial designs
Holly returned three different design concepts of single-color line drawings for direction.
Welp! Right out of the blocks, without any prompting from me (because I’d never thought of it!), Holly had incorporated a brand-new design idea that immediately clicked – an “above and below” area for each book! Readers of the Cupid’s Fall series know there are two simultaneous storylines playing out at all times, one on Earth and one on Mount Olympus (“Mt. O”). That simple (and now obvious) fact had never directly been depicted in the covers.
You’ll see this concept in the final designs. The godly realms include swirly clouds and icons of ancient mythology. The Earth space is more concrete: trees, a house, a pool, mountains, the ground.
Holly’s initial drawings included some truly wonderful depictions of Aphrodite, Ares, Cupid, and Pan. I was sorry to see them go, but I had made the strategic decision not to include any representational figures on these new books – especially Cupid and Pan, who’d already been drawn in cartoon form in the original covers.
Honing the design
Aligned on concept, we next discussed which individual design elements best represented the stories. We had the advantage of working on all four books at the same time, which really helped clarify styles and thematic arcs from book to book.
Holly beautifully infused mythology into the designs with ancient architectural elements such as the wonderful Ionic columns and lushly depicted Aphrodite’s palace. She highlighted the fantasy aspect with her gorgeous drawings of Cupid’s wings, Aphrodite’s dove-drawn chariot, and the gold-tipped arrow rising majestically from Hephaestus’s fiery forge.
A few tweaks later, the line drawings were in great shape. It was time to nail down the all-important lettering.
Lettering
Holly’s early vision was a lovely hand-drawn script to highlight the romance aspect. For me, this landed us a bit too far from the cozy fantasy/mythology feel. By the same token, the original covers’ classical block font did not leave enough room for magic or romance.
Fortunately, Holly had a third route up her creative sleeve – hand-drawn block-style letters with a romantic flourish. At least that’s how I view the final lettering!
One element that was non-negotiable: that stand-out, all-important letter “Q” in each title! Holly accepted this challenge and upped the ante with individualized arrows piercing each title.
Colors
This part was hard! I really wanted the titles to pop, which translates to a big contrast between background and lettering. Once I saw the gold-filled lettering, I knew the background would have to be a deeper shade – of something! We considered black but agreed it was too dark for the whimsical nature of the stories.
I’ve always loved the color progression of the original covers. Holly was able to maintain the series flow from (blue) sky through which Cupid falls to the (gold) posh interior of Ruthie and Zach’s home to the (aqua) pool where Cupid and Pan meet Reed to the (rosy) blooming of mated love between Cupid and Psyche. Yet Holly’s use of richer tones evokes ancient paint colors and sets the backdrop for the dazzling drawings that seem to be lit from behind. A true GLOW UP.
The Covers – Deconstructed
Book 1: First Quiver
High above the mortal realm, floating on the fluffy Great Cloud, sits Aphrodite’s palace, the only home Cupid has ever known, from which he is cruelly thrust at the opening of book one (not that he didn’t earn it!).
Feathers, arrows, and Cupid’s quiver tumble to Earth along with the tragically virginal God of Love. The sturdy trees and the simple line beneath them indicates the solid, firm grounding of Cupid’s new reality.
The arrow running straight through the title brings to mind cause-and-effect. Naughty act >>> punishment. Tiny sparkles lend a magical air to the atmosphere. After all, a god has fallen to Earth!
Book 2: Into the Quiet
Above, Aphrodite’s team of doves burst into flight to draw the goddess’s golden chariot through the Olympian sky. The clamshell used to represent the goddess is reminiscent of Sandro Botticelli’s “Birth of Venus” painting. Presumably, Aphrodite is racing to meet Ares (God of War and Cupid’s bio-dad) for a “strategy session,” but we know the two illicit lovers are up to their ancient tricks.
On Earth, all appears tranquil from the house’s neat facade, but behind the white picket fence lurk secrets and half-truths that are tearing Ruthie & Zach’s marriage apart.
Roses (along with their swirly thorns) symbolize the treachery afoot in both worlds.
Book 3: Quite the Pair
The third book – Pan’s love story – always ends up being zanier than the others and with good reason. When Cupid falls for his BFF, formerly the satyr Pan, all heck breaks loose!
The brilliant fire represent the forge of Hephaestus (God of Fire, estranged husband of Aphrodite and loving stepfather to Cupid), who takes matters into his own hands and crafts a forbidden gold-tipped arrow to help Cupid fulfill his duty. The dark puffs of smoke represent anger shooting from Hephaestus’s ears when he learns he has once again been betrayed by his wife and his brother Ares.
Below, an “Olympic” lap pool represents the setting of many pivotal scenes of this story. Cupid tries swimming to relieve the awful tension of his unbearable desire and love for his BFF Pan, who turns out not to be Q’s to love. Splash!
Book 4: The Quest For Psyche
The series finale brings a parting of clouds and a brilliant burst of sunlight. Could those be Cupid’s wings awaiting his ascent? Does he even want any of his old life back?
On Earth, summer gives way to fall. Cupid’s final mission draws him to the mountainous terrain of Lake Tahoe, where he discovers his reluctant soul mate.
The rose-gold backdrop is the perfect marriage of ancient myth and the present-day embodiment of Cupid & Psyche.
So what do you think about the cozy fantasy covers?
Whether you’ve read the series or not, I’d love to hear how these new covers strike you.
Does this vibe fantasy? Magical realism? Low fantasy? Some other genre I’ve never even heard of yet? Lemme know!
How Do I Get Mine?
Thanks for asking! Click on any cover to find all the paperback and ebook buy links – just please make sure you’ve got the cover version your heart desires in your shopping cart! (And if you don’t, RETURN IT for the right one!)
The new hardcovers will be available later in the year as collector’s editions.
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