The Official Site of Author Y S Lee » photo shoot http://yslee.com Author of the Agency mystery trilogy Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:00:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 en hourly 1 The Body at the Tower http://yslee.com/2010/05/the-body-at-the-tower/ http://yslee.com/2010/05/the-body-at-the-tower/#comments Thu, 06 May 2010 11:00:28 +0000 Ying http://yslee.com/?p=751 It’s now 3 months before the release of the second Agency novel, The Body at the Tower, and that means I’m finally allowed to show you the cover! Without further ado:

This cover, like the first, was designed by Caroline Lawrence at Candlewick. When she commissioned a photo shoot for Spy’s cover, she photographed a second outfit for this novel, too. Caroline read both novels carefully and based both cover scenes – and the model’s outfits – on scenes from the books.

There’s been some discussion in the YA blogosphere about the way MQ looks – whether or not the model is an accurate choice. Without getting too spoiler-ish, I want to confirm that the model, Amber Ahlquist, definitely could be Mary Quinn. (Those of you who’ve read Spy know what I mean, right? If you want more info, email me!) Candlewick’s attention to detail here is amazing: they got MQ right and their stylist is an expert in Victorian costume. They went all out, friends, and I love them for  it.

Here are some shots from the second half of the cover shoot. I’ve been sitting on these for MONTHS (8, to be precise) and am so excited finally to share them with you!

The foundation garments are the same, but this gown is a lot fancier than the first. Fancy = huge crinoline. Fancy also = more layers (and more weight). I have no idea how many layers she's wearing here, but this is finally the top layer of the dress. It comes in two parts. Like a proper Victorian lady, model Amber Ahlquist does not button her own dress. Finally on-set! The background will come from a stock photo.

As before, the talent in New York consisted of:

Crystal Thompson, wardrobe stylist (and I’ll say it again: she works on 30 Rock and Gossip Girl!)

Souraya Hamdi, makeup artist (also of 30 Rock)

Scott Nobles, photographer

David Gardiner, photographer’s assistant

I still find it strange that all these people I’ve never met have worked so hard on my books. It’s a humbling and glorious feeling, and I’m so grateful to them all.

This week in reviews:

Librarian Jennifer Hendzlik had low expectations but concludes, “Mary is a strong female lead that could stand head to head with any of Tamora Pierce’s fierce woman characters and the twists, turns and yes, even a love interest will keep readers engaged on many levels. I was expecting ok and I got wow instead.”

Reviewing for the Guelph Mercury, YA novelist Jean Mills says, “readers will love the intrigue and hints of romance in this mystery set in nineteenth-century London, where privileged young ladies wore lace and poured tea, while their less-fortunate counterparts struggled to survive. Marriage proposals, pickpockets, tea parties and pirates — A Spy in the House delivers a rollicking read.”

]]> http://yslee.com/2010/05/the-body-at-the-tower/feed/ 18 Spy: the American cover http://yslee.com/2009/12/spy-the-american-cover/ http://yslee.com/2009/12/spy-the-american-cover/#comments Thu, 17 Dec 2009 11:00:05 +0000 Ying http://yslee.com/?p=380 Occasionally, I worry that all I do in this blog is squee about the Agency’s cover art. If you share that concern, you will be sadly disappointed because this week, I’m at it again.

Candlewick Press has just sent me the cover for A Spy in the House, which will be published on March 9, 2010 as a hardcover. Remember the images from that photo shoot I posted a few weeks ago? Well, here’s the final product from the hands of the amazing Caroline Lawrence. And I love it.

I love it.

I love it.

I hope you do, too.

A Spy in the House - US cover

A Spy in the House - US cover

]]> http://yslee.com/2009/12/spy-the-american-cover/feed/ 10 Agency photo shoot! http://yslee.com/2009/10/agency-photo-shoot/ http://yslee.com/2009/10/agency-photo-shoot/#comments Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:14:43 +0000 Ying http://yslee.com/?p=208 I literally did cartwheels when Deb Wayshak, my editor at Candlewick (she’s a novelist, too – prolific and critically acclaimed and thus, y’know, not intimidating AT ALL) told me they’d commissioned a photo shoot for the US edition of SPY. While I love the elegant, glowing UK cover, I was so curious to see how other people imagined Mary Quinn. The final cover is not quite ready for the world but its designer, Caroline Lawrence, took some behind-the-scenes snapshots of the cover shoot so that we could all participate, too.

The model is Amber Ahlquist of Click Model, wearing typically elaborate undergarments. Wardrobe stylist Crystal Thompson is an authority on all decades and details of Victorian costume. Corsets were often tight enough to rearrange one's internal organs. Hopefully that's not what's happening here. The dress goes on. Victorian ladies always had help dressing, if they could afford it. Both stylist Crystal Thompson and makeup artist Souraya Hamdi also work on 30 Rock. They do, they do! That puts me at one degree of separation from Tina Fey! Buttons: they’re tricky. Also funny. So, what do you think of the face of Mary Quinn? (Background: a New York fire escape.) Victorian hair spray I wonder how many hours this took. Must ask Caroline. I love this shot. Mary Quinn also time-travels! Photographer Scott Nobles and his assistant, David Gardiner, shooting the cover.

Have you recovered yet? I haven’t. Remember, you have just under 3 weeks left to enter to win a copy of SPY.

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