The Good Daughter book cover
Posted by amrapajalic77 on 22 October, 2008
It’s all coming together. I’ve received the book cover from my publisher Text and it’s awesome. I’m also including the blurb that is going to be featured in the December catalogue. It will be cut short but I’m putting the whole thing here.
Initially I had a pick of 3 possible covers. This was the one that I liked the most. The editor was leaning to my 2nd preference but after a cover meeting this is the one that everyone settled on and I’m wrapped. I really think it captures Sabiha well and gives an indication of the flavour of my book.
Fifteen-year-old Sabiha has a lot to deal with. Her Bosnian family migrated before the Balkan Wars—but she was born in Australia and feels like a local. She has to put up with her mother’s mental health isssues, her interfering aunt, her mother’s new boyfriend, her live-in grandfather and his chess buddy, not to mention her arrogant cousin Adnan. They all want to marry her off, have her become a strict Muslim and speak Bosnian.
Her friend Dina is Bosnian too but she’s got a different take on her identity. And Sabiha’s Australian friends are not always friendly. She gets bullied by girlfriends and is anxious about boyfriends, when she just wants to fit in—and read stories (and maybe write one…) But two boys, Brian and Jesse, become her allies in the battle to survive her family feuds and her social life.
Any Young Adult audience is bound to enjoy Sabiha’s first fumbles with boys, her hilarious conversations about virginity, homosexuality and her religion, amidst the constant dramas of teenage friendship.
The Good Daughter is a coming-of-age novel written with sensitivity and humour. It confronts head-on the problems of cultural identity in the day-to-day lives of teenagers. Amra Pajalic has a wonderful ear for idiomatic dialogue and the dramatic moment.
AMRA PAJALIC is a young writer with a big future. The Good Daughter was shortlisted in the 2007 Victorian Premier’s Awards for Best Unpublished Manuscript by an Emerging Writer. She has published a number of short stories and won several awards for them. Amra lives in the western suburbs of Melbourne where she grew up. She is working on a sequel to The Good Daughter.
Lee said
Nice one. Very happy for you. It’s been fun watching all of this unfold.
gabriellel66 said
OMG, that’s gorgeous! I’m so happy for you!
simmone said
hey – i love it! and it’s really happening – you must be so pleased – the model is really intriguing – she looks tough and a little bit sarky…
Sandra Ruttan said
This is so cool! You have The Good Daughter, and my friend Russel in Scotland is debuting with The Good Son!
Fantastic cover!
Amra Pajalic said
Thanks Lee and Gabrielle. I’ve been enjoying the journey so far.
Thanks Simmone. That’s what I loved about the cover too.
Sandra-That is so cool about Russel. We have the same mindset when it comes to titles.
Josephine Damian said
Oooh, Amra, they did three covers and gave you a choice? I hear it’s one cover and take it leave it…. you’re lucky to have a choice and be happy about it.
Really compelling cover…
Bet you’re counting the days until you deliver that baby in the same way I’m counting the days until grad school is finally over?
Amra Pajalic said
Hey Josephine-I’ve had some conversations with other writers, especially in my genre, and I am really lucky with my publisher. They are so wonderful to work with and always giving me the opportunity to provide feedback. It’s a partnership rather than a dictatorship.
In terms of the baby-I can’t fucking wait. You know how some women dread labour. I am so ready to go there. I have 9 weeks to go and I’m rabid with impatience. Still throwing up on a regular basis and am constantly getting some crappy ailment to go with pregnancy. Let’s just say that even the thought of parenthood and caring for a tiny baby doesn’t phase me at this point. It’s been so hard being pregnant that I’m ready for parenthood.
Kez said
great cover, Amra! I think it will will really hook lots of interest when its sitting on the book shelves
and to be able to pick the cover you like…I’m envious!
keri
Amra Pajalic said
Thanks Keri. I’m getting excited now.
Jamie Ford said
Sweet cover. Nice write-up as well.
ShoeGirl said
Amra, It is SO COOL to see how far you’ve come with this novel since I started reading your blog. Yay! Congratulations!
Fiona said
Just finished the book, was amazing
love the ending
amrapajalic77 said
Thanks Fiona. I’m so happy to hear from readers. It makes my day.
Cheers
Amra