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"We need to make books cool again. If you go home with someone & they don't have books, don't fuck 'em."--John Waters

I'm the author of more than twenty novels including SHADOW SEASON, THE COLD SPOT, THE COLDEST MILE, THE MIDNIGHT ROAD, THE DEAD LETTERS, and A CHOIR OF ILL CHILDREN. Look for my next one THE LAST KIND WORDS due out May '12 from Bantam Books. Contact: PicSelf1@aol.com

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

REDEMPTION OF THE SANDMAN


All right, we expect strange and unusual things from the people who worship Jerry Lewis, but I've got to say, the French really get seriously weird when it comes to their cover art. Or at least their cover art of my books. For A CHOIR OF ILL CHILDREN they had had a Raggedy Ann doll holding a hatchet. What that had to do with the book, I have no idea, although I thought it was pretty cool.

Now they give us the French translation of THE DEAD LETTERS, retitled THE REDEMPTION OF THE SANDMAN. This is much more in keeping with my original title THE REPENTANCE OF KILLJOY, which my editor considered to be too oddball. Maybe that's why the French embraced it. In any case, the cover art really caught me left-handed when I first viewed it, but I admit that it's growing on me now. In fact, I completely missed out on why the teeth were so much of a caricature until my French publisher reminded me that my protagonist has fits of rage where he champs on things like the trunk of his car. (Hey, I've written about 400k words of fiction since TDL, I can't remember everything).

So, let me know what you think.

9 comments:

Ricky Lee Grove said...

I like it a lot. Reminds me a bit of Sin City. I think this cover will sell books. I'd buy it.

Anonymous said...

I actually like this version better. Really catches the eye.

Paul D Brazill said...

Really,ahem, cool.

Nick Cato said...

Looks very cool---although a bit more avante garde than the novel.

Deathspiral said...

That is a really cool cover. Now if they could only spell your name right.

Anonymous said...

I like it, Tom. Very cool look.

I have to admit, when I read the title to this post, my first thought was that you might be writing something in the DC/Neil Gaiman SANDMAN universe. I've enjoyed your HELLBOY work a lot, so that idea - for the brief second it lasted - was exciting to me.

Anyway, back on topic, I love the cover.

Tom Piccirilli said...

Yeah, luckily this isn't the finished version. The font will be changed and, hopefully, they'll learn to spell my name correctly.

Thanks for all the generous comments, folks.

Phantom of Pulp said...

Yeah, the Raggedy Ann had nothing to do with the book, but it evoked a feeling, a particular world view (a warped one). I liked it so much I ordered the book from amazon.fr, even though I don't read or speak French.

The French cover of "The Redemption of the Sandman" presents the book as a hardcore crime novel (to me). It may be a way to broaden your readership. The converted will buy it, anyway. It's striking.

Unknown said...

That’s right, this website is one of the top 12,000 most viewed in FUCKING PAKISTAN.
Why? Because they are the “English speaking writers” this fucked up company hires. I have also found evidence that suggests they have other writers in India and the Philippines. I know of a couple of companies that offer real English writers and I thought was one of them. Turns out they’re just a bunch of liars.

The scam is real. They are thieves who could care less about you. Maybe you’ve had a couple decent papers from them. But sleep well knowing that they will take any measure to screw you over.

That’s enough. Rant’s over. Fuck you,

Sincerely,
A VERY PISSED OFF FORMER CUSTOMER

Reviewed by Sean Evans on March 25,2013 – Rating: 1.0
Miserable experience.They ripped me off for $600 for a dissertation and refuse to give me my money back.”
2 THOUGHTS ON “MY REVIEW”
Taylor on June 4, 2013 at 10:52 PM said:
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Reply ↓
admin on June 20, 2013 at 9:42 PM said:
Thanks for your feedback, I’m glad to see that I’m not the only one.