Can I just start this post by saying I love the cover of my book? I love when a plan comes together and all the elements I hoped for and dreamed up in my head are there and better than I imagined. The NC cover makes me smile and I hope it brings a smile to readers too.

The cover was a fun process. I knew I wanted a couple in Central Park. I was open to hand holding or not, but I wanted to have a certain vibe and I just hadn’t seen it as I was searching through images. I considered asking friends in NYC to find a couple and drag them to Central Park and take the photos, but the next search I did – BAM! I saw it. This was the image and it just felt like I was seeing my two Charlies come to life. I just had to use it. The man and woman were how I visualized them in height to each other, the clothes they would wear, and I love the fall background in Central Park. The colors are so great in that photo.

But with that wonderful image, it wasn’t perfect quite yet. For one, the girl was wearing Uggs. Don’t get me wrong. I love Uggs and I thought the outfit was really cute with the Uggs, but it wasn’t my Charlie girl. She’s got a casual sophistication to her, and although she would probably own a pair Uggs, they wouldn’t be worn with a skirt. So I had a wonderful artist create the black flats I preferred her wearing, but it looked drawn, so the final artist’s idea was to take a picture of my feet wearing my flats. So, you guessed it. Charlie girl’s mid-shin and down to her shoes are all me. A little sneaky secret I’m sharing with you today. There were also a few people in the background and a little trash on the path that we made disappear. hehe

I had the uber-talented cover designer Jada D’Lee take the image then and perfect it. The slight effects on the image are subtle to us, but it took a real artist’s eye to know how to enhance the overall photo without it looking to ‘done up.’ She made everything so much richer and pop. She also found the perfect shade of red, I now call Naturally, Charlie red on the banner. It wasn't too matchy-matchy to the coat, but a few shades off, which I love. The fonts and the whole look just came together after many phone calls and a lot of emails, but she had the vision with me and it was such a cool experience to share with her.

To see the book cover for the first time and know that that is what you hoped for and more is such an exciting and surreal experience. I’m fortunate to be surrounded by such talented and skilled artists.

I just finished the Texas Book Festival and had several people comment what a stunning cover Naturally, Charlie has. Jada D’Lee was there, and I was so proud to introduce her. They asked her to sign the copies they purchased too. I love that!

Jada D’Lee owns So Red the Rose Designs and designs covers for The Writer’s Coffee Shop.

I hope with this peak into the conception to cover details that you’ll give the words behind the cover a read. Naturally, Charlie is available today.