I recently wowed you with DIE FOR ME’s fabulous cover. But about a month ago I was raving on Facebook about the amazing typography in my galley pass. As I mentioned, I have a huge crush on my book’s capitol “Q”s, as seen here in all of its elegant, stretchy glory.

But I didn’t give you an example of the awesome text created specifically for DIE FOR ME’s cover, title page, and all of the chapter headings. Ray Shappell created each letter individually to fit in with the spooky-looking “water” theme that HC has planned to tie together my books’ covers.

Example 1: check out the title page (and take a look at the two “E”s with different reflections):

Excuse me for a moment while I GEEK OUT!!! I know…they’re just letters. But some really talented typographer spent hours creating them. May I give you another example to further prove my supreme geekness?

Two individually crafted “O”s. And not a one of the letters the same as in the title. I’ve never met Ray Shappell, but if I did I think I might just lunge in for a kiss. Because however psychotic this whole typography rant might sound to you, there is a reason for my enthusiasm.

I spent years selling paintings. And often, I would buy a beautiful hundred-plus-year-old painting that had been fitted with a nasty frame by the previous owner who wanted the painting to match their, say, 1970s living-room furniture—paying no regard to the composition itself.

I would pry the frame off, pay a visit to an antique frame dealer I knew in Brooklyn, and choose something that complimented the period and style of the piece. Something that wouldn’t out-glam the painting itself, of course, but that would provide a type of back-light for the composition’s concept and display the innate beauty of the work.

And that is why, when I see the care and creativity that HarperCollins (and the oh-so-kissable Ray Shappell) have put into framing my book—in a way that is not only sensitive to its content but formulated to literally spell out my story in the most flattering way possible—I get all hyper and teary and proud of this incredible team effort to bring you something beautiful.

Here’s to geeking out over letters—and to all of the little things in life that sometimes add up to knock you off your feet.

I’m thrilled to tell you that my UK publisher will be *drumroll* … Little, Brown!

Specifically, the DIE FOR ME series will published by Atom, which is the YA imprint of Little, Brown Book Group, and which is known, amongst many other stellar things, for being the UK publisher of Stephenie Meyer’s TWILIGHT series.

And upon that note, my new editor, Samantha Smith, happened to mention the following during the negotiations:

“…speaking of fond, I think Vincent is giving Edward a serious run for his money in the hearts of the Little, Brown ladies!”

That compliment alone is enough to keep me smiling for weeks.

Atom will release DIE FOR ME in the UK on the same day that HarperTeen publishes it in the U.S. (May 2011), for an international English release. I’m so honored!

I was the worst procrastinator in school: always waiting until the last minute to cram for tests or write a paper. But I got things done because I wanted that A. After finishing school, I always worked for someone else, so procrastination wasn’t an issue – my boss was looking over my shoulder, so of course I got things done on time. I was a high achiever due to my total psychological dependence on praise. Caramel is my favorite thing on earth…but even IT is superseded by someone patting me on the back and saying, “Wow, Amy! Amazing job!”

I’ve always written, but only started doing it on a regular basis around five years ago when I moved to France. I had a blog that I posted to EVERY DAY for three years, then every few days after that. And do you know what my motivation was? Reader comments. I’m a comment whore.

I wrote because people responded to my writing. And when people sent me heartfelt emails saying that something I wrote had touched them to the core or made them laugh or cry – I swear that was better than caramel. On a beach. Served on a platter by a scantily dressed cabana boy. Who just happens to be the spitting image of Robert Pattinson.

Um…where was I?

Oh yeah…can I write in a social vacuum? No. Do I write a journal that no one ever sees? No way. (Although I sorely wish I did.) So how have I motivated myself to write three entire full-length books without having hundreds of people patting me on the back every few minutes? How do I close myself into my little isolated office and pump out 83,000 words without a whole cheering squad of readers rah-rah-ing me on?

Um, I can’t. I did once, with my first manuscript, which hasn’t been published. It was hard to motivate myself, and took more than a year to write. I did leak excerpts to my blog readers, who were very enthusiastic and reassured me that it wasn’t total crap. And once it was done, an agent snapped it up in no time, which was also extremely reassuring.

With my next attempt (DIE FOR ME), I couldn’t procrastinate. I had three months of summer vacation before I had to return to teaching horribly uninterested university students a language they couldn’t give a flip about. I was not cut out for teaching people old enough to sit on each other’s laps and make out while I attempted to teach them prepositions. So this book was my ticket out of a job that gave me stomachaches every single morning. Let me tell you THAT was a good motivator.

But, knowing my Achilles heel, I knew I needed more. I needed constant feedback. When a friend offered to read my book in installments as I wrote it, I jumped at the chance. Long-suffering Claudia opened my emails every day and cheered me on as I went. I will never forget—about five chapters in—when she wrote me saying, “I REALLY think you’re on to something here!” And that encouragement helped carry me through.

Around the same time, I began reading to my husband at lunch. (We both work from home and usually eat together.) Although he squirmed a bit during the kissing scenes, he bravely listened through the whole thing. With him, the moment I best remember was a scene near the end. I was reading to him from my computer as he drove the car and he was so shocked by something that one of my characters did that he almost drove off the road. Making my cool, unflappable husband react like that felt like a victory.

Not everyone can have a longsuffering friend like Claudia. Or a partner who has the time and energy to listen to rough drafts. And not everyone needs continual feedback to serve as motivation. Hopefully most of you are able to pat yourselves on the back and your motivation can come from within.

But for those of you who need an extra boost, I suggest finding your own formula. Try NaNoWriMo, or organize your own production-based contest with a few friends, and encourage each other as you write. Find short and long-term rewards. For each chapter written, take a bike ride or walk somewhere with particularly interesting things to see along the way (eye candy). For five chapters, go see a movie (brain candy). For ten, treat yourself: buy a new dress or hat or let yourself eat something you normally wouldn’t dare. For me, that would be a box of salty French caramels (candy candy).

You don’t need motivators to write? Great. I am in awe. You do? Find something your soul desires: approval, a dress, or caramels served by Robert Pattinson’s twin brother wearing a Speedo. Find it, make it your motivation, and then work your way towards those magical two words: “The End”.

Here it is!! The cover of DIE FOR ME, in all it’s amazing, dark, spooky glory!

Yes, that’s Pont Neuf behind Kate, and Pont des Arts just visible behind that. Is it allowed to have a crush on your book cover? Because I’m a bit head-over-heels.

The jacket art was done by Karen Pearson/MergelLeftReps, Inc. and the jacket design by Ray Shappell. And, as you know from a previous post, the model is Michelle Cartwright from APM Model Management. Bravo to one and all!

And here is the text from the back:

which, I know is fuzzy, but it’s really reflective so hard to photograph! And here’s the inner flap copy:

Et voila! I am so excited, I can’t even tell you. Okay, yes I can. I AM SO EXCITED!!! Are you?

The DIE FOR ME cover reveal is coming very soon. To prepare you for its awesomeness, I want you to do something. (Except YA fans-you already know what YA covers look like.)

To familiarize yourself with the genre, please google “young adult paranormal book covers” and click “images”. Go 5 pages, and you’ll get an idea of covers for the genre. Mostly photographs. Of teenage girls. Dramatic. Very dark. Are you ready??