I am always curious how an author choses their cover. I find the cover for Accidental Paradise by Eric Grandy simple yet intriguing. I invited Eric to share his thoughts.

What you love about the cover and why it fits the book.

The cover for “Accidental Paradise” is much like the plot, both simple and complex. What starts out as an innocent search for the idyllic vacation spot for my protagonist, movie star LaVern Whitaker, evolves into a fight for survival for her and her adopted small town. The images in the lenses, the Hollywood sign and the country house, are the essential elements that connect her to both.

The image is of a young and attractive Black woman, and the unsmiling, partially obscured face lends a touch of mystery. Is it LaVern or is it a stock photo? The reader gets to decide. It also looks misleadingly innocent, like she isn’t the determined protector she turns out to be. The eye-catching cover demands your attention, much like movie idol LaVern when she’s out in public. The sunglasses are symbolic of LaVern’s initial attempts to hide her true identity.    

ACCIDENTAL PARADISE by Eric Grandy

GENRE: Coming of Age

BLURB

Natural talent, hard work, and a childhood friend help LaVern Whitaker find her calling as an actress.  When her life becomes overwhelming, they discover a small town where her true identity can remain unknown and she can stay out of the spotlight.  The more she visits her secret getaway, the more deeply she feels connected to the history, the lifestyle, and the people.  Could this place be her home away from home, or become the home she has dreamed of?  Or will sinister forces rip it all away?

EXCERPT

“Make me a promise, Shaundra. Promise me we will always be best friends.”

“I promise, Peaches.”

LaVern stood up and said she had better head back. “Are you coming over tomorrow?”

“Hell yeah.”

Both girls had a hardy laugh at that one.

As Freeman and Jackie watched their daughter recross the street, they noticed a more delighted and relieved child than the one who left a few minutes earlier.

The girls resumed their old routine of talking and gossiping in LaVern’s bedroom. Shaundra asked more questions about her new school; how did she like going to school with White kids? Did she hang out with the other Black students? How was she treated? LaVern did her best to answer; No, she wasn’t completely accepted by everyone, she wasn’t friends with all the Black kids, she still felt very self-conscious being one of a few Black students in an all-White school, sometimes she felt very alone but she had made a few friends.

“My daddy said it would take a little while, that I would get used to it. He said I would get a better education.”

“Well, you’re already smart Peaches. You’ll be smart no matter what school you go to.”

“Well, it is harder than 139, but I’m doing OK.

“I know you, Peaches. If you say you doing OK, I know you killin’ it.”

LaVern looked down at her feet. “Well, I’m doing alright.”

But the Big Dog was right. She was killing it.

 

AUTHOR Bio and Links

Eric Grandy was born and raised in Baltimore City and graduated from City College. After he graduated from Essex Community College, he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs and played six years for that team. He went on to a variety of jobs: photographer, lab manager, driver for DHL and warehouse manager. After retirement, he decided to devote himself to writing, producing several short stories and Accidental Paradise, his debut novel.

Grandy still lives in Baltimore with his wife Rhonda and his daughter Marti.

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