I’m proud to announce we’ve defeated the ninjas and brought the cover home! And so, with no further ado, the cover for my debut Shinobi Mystery novel, CLAWS OF THE CAT:
When a samurai is brutally murdered in a Kyoto teahouse, master ninja Hiro Hattori has just three days to find the killer before the dead man’s vengeful son kills both the beautiful geisha accused of the crime and Father Mateo, the Jesuit priest that Hiro has pledged his own life to protect. The investigation plunges Hiro and Father Mateo into the dangerous waters of Kyoto’s floating world, where they quickly learn that everyone from an elusive teahouse owner to the dead man’s dishonored brother has a motive to keep the samurai’s death a mystery.
I couldn’t be more thrilled with the cover art. I’m grateful to my editor, Toni Plummer at St. Martin’s Press, and the St. Martin’s art department for their hard work and this beautiful result.
I’m also indebted to my fabulous friends Tammy Salyer, Julianne Douglas, and Heather Webb. Thank you for offering up your blogs to help hunt down the clues this week!
CLAWS OF THE CAT is available for pre-order at Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com, Powell’s Books, and independent booksellers near you.
Want to know more? There’s updated information on Claws of the Cat at Goodreads!
And now for the CONTEST:
Leave a comment on this blog entry between now and midnight tonight (November 9, 2012) for a chance to win a $20 Barnes & Noble gift card! I’ll draw a commenter’s name at random tomorrow and announce the winner here on Monday’s post. Limit one entry per person (and sorry, Mom – you can’t win!). Eligible comments must be made by real, identifiable people (websites, companies and spambots cannot win, though I give no apologies to the spiders) and cannot include inappropriate content.* Contest is open to international entrants as well as U.S. residents (except where prohibited by law). I reserve the right to confirm the winner is a real person, not a spam comment, before announcing the winner’s identity.
* I am judge, jury and executioner when it comes to The Articles Under Which We Sail. Scurvy dogs, take note.
Beautiful, mysterious cover and intriguing synopsis. I don’t read many books set in Japan (except Memoirs of a Geisha) but this has inspired me to give it a whirl – you must be chuffed!
Thank you so much! I’m hoping the novel appeals to all kinds of action and mystery fans as well as fans of historicals and Asian fiction. If you liked Memoirs, though, you will probably find this interesting – there are geisha in this one too!
Oh, wow! GREAT cover. You must be thrilled. It’s going to look fantastic on my bookshelf. 🙂
Oh! It’s lovely, Susan. It really pops – congrats on the cover god love!
I agree with Deb Linda–it is a gorgeous cover and bet it will look even more radiant in my reading hands! Congrats, Deb sister!
Absolutely brilliant cover. It also got the Full Viking Stamp of Approval, which is a greatly coveted honor! I can’t wait to read. : )
I LOVE this cover! So glad you got a fantastic artist. Very excited for you, Susan!
Thanks for the link love and all the tweets, Piper. I’m grateful for the help getting the word out, and I’m even happier to hear you like the cover!
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Love the cover, Susan! I can see why you’re so excited about it – it’s perfect. I love historical mysteries, and I’m looking forward to this one!
Good luck with the launch!
I’m so glad you like it K.B. – and I’m honored and thrilled that you’re looking forward to the book. I hope you like it!
Dear Susan, I ordered the book ‘cover art unseen’ and am delighted to see this gorgeous, exotic cover! The orchids add a touch of beauty, intrigue and nostalgia that makes this cover one to remember. Your dad would be so proud as I know the rest of your family already is. I can hardly wait for the release next summer. 🙂
All the best to you,
Jane
I’m thrilled you like it, Jane – and I, too, thought of my dad when I saw the cover. He never knew about this novel, but I’m sure that he would be pleased and proud. I’m also delighted because my mom loves green orchids, and since I’m dedicating this one to her, it’s wonderfully appropriate!
Love the cover too! I love historical mysteries, especially those set in Japan. Best wishes for a great debut.
Thank you Shauna. I love Asian historical mystery too, and I’m beyond delighted that I’m going to get to share Hiro and the Shinobi Mysteries with others soon.
This cover is gorgeous and chilling at the same time. I really like it. Craving some green tea now….
Thank you Evonne – and actually, green tea sounds like a fantastic idea. I’m off to brew!
Susan, the cover is gorgeous and intriguing. I am sure it will garner many readers when the book arrives in the book stores next summer. Congratulations and continured success! Rena
Thank you Rena. I hope you and Carl are doing well and that you enjoy the novel, too!
First of all OMG!!!!! this cover totally rocks. Wow. I can’t wait to hold this in my hot little hands. 🙂 Congrats, my friend, on this next step to the reality of your book.
Second of all, I’m recusing myself from your contest, so don’t count my entry. xxoo
Thanks LJ!! I can’t wait to see it for real too.
Susan, this cover is just GORGEOUS! The publisher’s money was well spent with their designer. I want to own a copy just because it’s pretty AND intriguing, never mind a damn good read. Congrats on the next step in this very exciting journey! xoxo
Thanks Heather. And I’m so grateful for your help with the reveal tour. Thank you SO much!!
Ninjas! Ninjas? Ninjas! Does it have bacon? Because I think that’s the only thing that could improve a book about ninjas. Awesome cover!
BACON! I can’t believe I forgot the bacon! I’ll have to work that into another book. Hmm….ninja bacon….
Those claws scared my ordinarily brave little Jack Russell right off my lap! It’s a lovely cover, beautiful play of texture and color. Who wouldn’t want to pick up that book and get lost in that world? Wishing you success!
Thank you so much Rhiann. Hope the pup hopped back up quickly! And thank you so much for the compliment, I’m really glad you like the cover.
Not entering the contest, but just had to stop by to say: AWESOME COVER FOR AN AWESOME NOVEL!! So proud of you, Susan, and wishing you all the best!
Thanks Julianne, and thank you SO much for helping with the cover reveal tour. I really appreciate the support.
OH MY GOSH!!! This is the perfect cover: elegant yet edgy! I don’t think it’s possible to express how excited I am for the release of this novel!
Thanks Marci! I’m glad you’re looking forward to it!
So excited for you! I like the art but mostly I’m just thrilled to see your name on the cover of a book that will sit on my shelf. This is one of the coolest things ever.
Thanks Laura! It’s really exciting – I can hardly believe it’s real.
Thanks for the full reveal, Susan. Wonderful blending of serene beauty and silent danger. Are the claws razor sharp fingertip extensions? I really love both fonts as well. Can’t wait to stop rereading the blurb and read the full novel.
KANPAI!
Good eye, Daryl. The claws are fingertip extensions, known as “neko te,” – which translates “claws of the cat.”
Congratulations! You got a good one. So happy for you!
Thanks Shannon – I actually cried when I saw it, it made me so happy.
The cover fairy blessed this book… Congrats!
Thank you Catherine!!
Got to be honest – I expected a cat 😉 But claws as weapons? I’m okay with that 🙂
Here’s some good news – there IS a cat in it too!
Heather Webb gave you and your book a shout out at the Historical Fiction FB group and I’m so glad she did — your books amazing! I love hist fic set in less commonly seen eras/locales — will be eager to get my hands on this one!
Thanks Audra! I hope you like it!
The cover is stunning! I can’t wait to read this!!
Thanks Kate! I’m delighted to hear you like it!
Wow a gorgeous awesome cover for such an amazing book. So intriguing, so sumptuous. Bravo! Soo happy for you my friend.
I love it! I’m so happy your book is finally gonna be available. 🙂
Wow, I’m in Tokyo right now, it would be awesome to read about this adventure in Kyoto,so close to home! Can’t wait to get it!
What fun! It would definitely be neat to know someone is reading the book in Japan!
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As you know, I adore the cover! Love it!!! And I’m recusing myself from the contest too (well put, poster above me!)
What an intriguing story, with a fabulous cover to boot! I’ll have to put this on my wish list.
I love it :D. Looks fantastic. Love the claws and the feminine looking flowers (symbolic of the beautiful Geisha maybe?). :)) Anyway, the cover came out great. Can’t wait to read your book.
Still beautiful…you and the cover. I keep looking at it Every day. Yes we are all proud and anxiously awaiting the book’ debut.
Love Mom and Spencer
Oh Susan…. I’m completely ashamed of myself for this being so late. But your cover is absolutely unbelievable! It is elegant and lovely. Just like it’s author.. As someone who was fortunate enough to have read Claws of the Cat– I can tell all of you that it is a nail-biting mystery with strong characters that you will fall in love with. Reading CLAWS is taking a journey back in time to a mysterious and beautiful culture. Heck- you can practically smell the cherry blossoms and teak.My friend, I couldn’t be happier for you.. And no one deserves it more!!
OMG. I love it. A great cover for a great story. Cannot wait to see it on the bookstore shelves!!!