Peter James: Novelist and Film Producer: Sneak Preview! Not Dead Enough front cover

Peter's blog

Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Sneak Preview! Not Dead Enough front cover

Readers of this blog get the first sneak preview of the jacket for Not Dead Enough, the next Roy Grace novel due out in June. I've just been going back through the proofs one final time and I can't wait for it to arrive on the shelves! It's a pretty atmospheric cover, I think - what do you reckon?

posted by Peter James at 4:04 AM 24 comments

Comments:

Definitely very atmospheric!
It looks like there is a raging fire in the background.

Really looking forward to reading this Peter - roll on June!

By Jo, at 5:33 AM

Very eye catching, OOhh when your name is bigger than the title it means you are famous indeed!!! (Just checked....your name has always been bigger) Good to keep the cover designs in a similar style...love it.....god will be ages before the book is on sale here....where is that MacMillan rep.

Linda
x

By Anonymous, at 9:02 AM

Hi Joe and Linda

Thanks for these comments! Really glad you like the jacket "theme".

All very best

Peter
X

By Peter James, at 9:20 AM

Hi Peter,

This one looks very sinister.
I have to say, the first cover - dead simple - mislead me: I thought the body had been hidden on the pier! It wasn't until I saw the second book that I realised it was a running theme.

What sort of things are you looking for when you look through the 'proofs'?

Are the publishers at Orion in a bit of a huff that you're with Macmillan now? I ask because it is so hard to find your other books on shelves; I've got them all through good-old-amazon.co.uk. I notice they've copied the design on their re-issues, however, so I presume they've got the rights for a good many years yet. Normally the first sign they loose back catalogues is a bland-plane reissue of books - they did it with James Herbert and Dean Koontz.

Can't wait for June!

best,
Michael, NW3

By Michael, at 2:38 PM

Hi James
I've read both your books starring Roy Grace and they are great, can't wait for 'Not Dead Enough'.
I was just wondering though, are you coming to Scotland while you are on tour? And have you written any other books? I can't find any in the shops
Hanna

By Anonymous, at 3:25 PM

Very sorry I meant to call you Mr James
xx

By Anonymous, at 3:28 PM

Fabulous cover - I assume Brighton pier? As I've said to you before, I really want to see Brighton at some point. The Grace novels only increase my desire to visit!

Matt

By Matt Williams, at 4:40 PM

Hi Anonymous - no offence taken!!! And yes I do hope to come to Scotland - I used to come up a lot - and I would love to come up and do some signings. I am working on a possible joint promotion with William Grant and that may well lead to some events in Scotland. I will of course put up any news on my travel schedule on my blog.

Matt thanks for these kind words. I think you should definitely come down to Brighton. It would suit you well. There are 100,000 vertial drinking spaces here - the largest number per capita in the UK!!!!

Hi Michael - with the proofs I look among other things for glaring errors I may have made in the geography of Brighton. Like all place the city of Brighton and Hove is constantly changing so I have to be very careful with my facts. For instance, in Not Dead Enough, at one point I have a character staring over railings on the promenade down at a boating pool in which there are children in electric powered canoes. Then I suddenly realized that boating pool has been gone for five years and is now a skateboarding rink! Plus I look for continuity errors, and also it is the last possible chance to change any description I don't like - although publishers don't like that kind of change at this stage, because it is expensive.

All best

Peter

By Peter James, at 7:32 PM

I notice most of you commented on not being able to get Peters backlist titles. As they were published by a different publishing house and dont seem to be on their back list catalogue I suggest you enquire at your local bookshop and get them to order them in for you. Especially The Alchemist!! Orion is having big changes here in NZ Peter so hopefully the turn around of stock will be a lot quicker.

Linda

By Anonymous, at 9:56 PM

You already know I love it. What beautiful sky...

I miss the place.

By Homme and Femme, at 9:03 AM

I think it makes a big difference once an author has visited a bookshop.
Before Peter arrived at Borders in Singapore, there was little hope of seeing any of his books on the shelf.
Now they are there and there's no problem at all with ordering them... no more blank stares!

By Jo, at 3:29 PM

Wow, the cover of Not Dead Enough looks amazing -- just wish June would hurry up! I love the Roy Grace books so much. You deserve Author of the year - I have just posted my vote!!

By Helen, at 3:37 PM

The new cover looks really great and I can't wait for the book. This problem of getting hold of your previous books is frustrating. I'm appalled that Brighton bookshops do not stock them. I ordered them from Amazon two weeks ago and have been given a delivery date of 2nd April!!!

By Annie, at 5:17 PM

Of course I'm looking forward to June - and the cover looks terrific. I'm sending this from France where I've found the perfect place to write - Treguier in Brittany. I've voted for you and really hope you get the award. Nice to see all the deserved support you get. Come and have a coffee cognac if you're anywhere near!
Chrissie Franklin

By Chrissie Franklin, at 5:39 PM

Hi Peter

Looking forward to reading it... It will deserve a special trip to the UK when it comes out, rather than wait for the US release (UK books have much better covers too...)

Keep up the good work! Any plans for appearances/signings in New York soon..?

By Nicko, at 5:34 PM

Hi Chrissie

Great to hear from you and thanks sooo much again for all your research help for Not Dead Enough. And will definitely take up the offer of a coffee and cognac - you are in one of the loveliest parts of the world - I'm envious!!!

Hi Nicko, yes I will be in New York April 22nd-27th, during the Edgar Awards and I think I may well be doing a signing at the Mystery Books Store (I think it is called)
As soon as I know I will post on my schedule.

Best

Peter

By Peter James, at 8:30 AM

Hi Peter - bad luck about the book awards but hey - what do they know? I finally received a copy of The Alchemist from Amazon (two month wait) but am told that they cnnot obtain any of your other books. What is the position on this, it's obviously bad for you as a writer and us as readers. Is there an answer?

By Annie - Lewes, at 1:19 PM

Thanks very much for the commiserations, Annie.

Regarding my backlist, Orion have put most of them back out in new jackets. I think they are incorret that there is a two-month wait. Can you let me know which titles you would like and I will ask Orion for the exact position.

By Peter James, at 10:00 PM

Perhaps I shouldn't say this but most of the back titles: Alchemist, Faith, Prophecy, Sweet Heart, Dreamer, etc. can be obtained within a couple of days from Tesco.com
You can now also pre-order 'Not Dead Enough' for delivery on publication from the same site!
Bonnie

By Anonymous, at 4:20 PM

If Tesco are enterprising enough to be ahead of the curve in carrying my backlist on instant delivery, I say all power to them!

By Peter James, at 5:05 PM

I am soooooooooo looking forward to reading ths new book!

On a slightly different matter the blog seems to have shrunk somewhat?

Where's Inspector Grace when you need him? (!)

Jo

By Jo, at 11:09 AM

I got all excited last night 'cos on the Amazon site it said the book was released 17th May - ie today!

But this morning it is back to saying 1st June

It's gonna be a long fortnight and then I'll have to fight with my hubby as to who reads the book first!

By Carole-Anne Clark, at 7:30 AM

Hi Carole-Ane - let me know if you need a referee!!!!

By Peter James, at 4:14 PM

Great work however im slightly concerned by your publishers decision to utilise American English spelling within the book. Organize rather than organise is one example.

By Anonymous, at 6:03 PM