Charlie Donlea

The Many Faces of Some Choose Darkness

Updated: Jun 27, 2019

As Some Choose Darkness is released around the world, each country and publisher will reveal their cover design. Here are a few of my favorites.

First, in the US alone there have been two covers for the book. The first was rejected, but made it far enough into the production process that the image is still out there in a few corners of the Internet.

Some Choose Darkness

First Draft US

When a book is in development and a publishing house is starting its promotion, one of the first steps is to introduce the novel to booksellers to get their opinion on the synopsis, the logline, and the cover. Especially the cover! The artwork that drapes the cover of a novel is a carefully plotted storyline all to itself. The cover is what draws a reader’s attention. It’s what gets a reader to grab the book off the shelf and read the synopsis. So, the cover has to be perfect. It has to be eye catching. It has to match the trends of the season. Or, better yet, it has to lead the charge.

The art department at my US publishing house had designed a fabulous cover for Some Choose Darkness before they nixed it after receiving negative feedback from booksellers. Here it is (right)

Some Choose Darkness

US Final Hardcover

28 May 2019

Available Now

For the record, I couldn’t be happier with the final cover. The booksellers love it, and so do I. I hope you do, too. (left)

The story takes place in Chicago, but also includes rural areas around the city including Starved Rock, a state park about two hours outside of Chicago. The tranquil but chilling backdrop of Starved Rock plays such a significant role in the story that the amazing and clever cover design offers a snippet of the things that take place there.

Like a pebble dropped in a pond, the events that transpire in Starved Rock will create ripples that go on forever and ever...

Now, a couple cover from overseas.

Australian Cover

The Woman in Darkness

Available Now!

The Australian version has a different cover and title than the US version. In Australia the book was released as THE WOMAN IN DARKNESS. It’s the same book for those of you inquiring, and many of you have, hoping that I had put out yet another book in 2019. I wish I could write that fast but my last name is Donlea, not Patterson. In the publishing world, different countries (and different publishers) warrant different titles and cover art to fit with their buyer audience.

“Woman” in titles is still very popular in Australia, and so...a title change.

Brazilian Cover

Uma mulher na escuridão

Available Now!

In Brazil, the title translates to…The Woman in Darkness, same as Australia. I was in Brazil last year as part of my book tour, and I discovered that Brazilian readers are passionate about their thrillers.

I’m proud to be part of Faro Editorial—a smaller, start-up publisher that’s been killing it since they were founded. With Faro’s brilliant publicity team, my books have sold hundreds of thousands of copies.

Striking covers like this helps.