Story of a Book Cover

Having a book translated into foreign languages is probably the most thrilling experience for a writer, the times that make me feel most like an “author”. What a privilege, to be read by people from cultures very different from my own–always tantalizing to imagine what they think of this world I’ve created, Los Angeles in 1980, the punk era, the sensibilities and values. And the book covers too reflect the flavor and taste  of those countries.

Paint it Black began almost simultaneously in English and Dutch. Here’s the big, beautiful American hardbound.

Publisher, Little Brown and Co.

This cover surprised me–I assumed it would be BLACK!. In the UK Virago published it in two smaller formats–the tiny mass market one is adorable.

The Dutch version is also a stunner– Portret in Zwart. Such a cool title — wish I’d thought of it.  The Dutch publisher, De Bezije Bij, is a venerable and interesting house, founded during the resistance in occupied Holland.

Many of the foreign editions used the white cover.  Here, the German hardbound version flips the image to the left and uses a green spine is –publisher, Lubbe Bastei.

The Italians go for modernist–the cover has  cutouts, which become the diagonal-cut flap. Publisher is Il Saggiatore, Milan.

Sweden made this beautiful swath of black. “Saknaden”–it means “Missing.”

 Bokförlaget Forum, publisher.

The Israelis used the leather door into the grandfather’s study for their moody book cover suggestive of the madness in that household. Publisher, Modan.

I love the Romanian punk cover, including the character of Ming, which features in the book.  A little reprise of the girl’s back from white Oleander…

The Lithuanians took it in a different direction–also the girl’s back… but a more 60s graphic look.

publisher, Versus Aureus.

The Polish Paint It Black has a flap that folds out to show the entire image. It also goes with blue instead of white.  Publisher, Bertelsmann, Warsaw.

When the paperback came out in the US, I was happy when it was decided to use the photo from the Dutch version, lightened and reddened, melded to the text design of the white book.

Back Bay Books, publisher.

The Turkish version uses the same cover. Pegasus Yayincilik, publisher.

The Serbian translation, publisher Laguna, used a similar type and tone in the photo, but did a back:

The Australian version keeps the art but turns the red type to white. (don’t know why WordPress keeps inking in weird black marks in the white, but you get the idea).

And the Dutch paperback went with a somber black and white:

What’s next?  A movie tie in cover? French? Russian?  Fingers crossed!

When I have more time, I’ll compile the White Oleanders and Kicks.