2009: The Year Of The Fan continues with another token of appreciation for you amazing, supportive readers.
With muchly thanks to the brilliant folks at St. Martin’s Press — including my editor Michael Homler, publisher Matthew Shear and especially designer Phil Pascuzzo and executive art director Michael Storrings — I’m proud to present the “print edition” cover for 7th Son: Descent.
The trade paperback original will be released this fall (no street date yet, but you’ll be the first to know once I do), and St. Martin’s has approved my ambitious online promotion celebrating the book’s debut. More on that in a moment. Let’s get to the good stuff already.
According to editor Michael Homler, the cover will likely feature “metallic inks,” making the novel pop like a road flare on the bookshelves. This thing looks like it was brought back from the future, it’s so slick.
Homler told me: “Our sales force and our publisher really loves this one. I love it too, and think with the (ink) effects, it’s going to be even more stunning. We strive to have things that don’t look like everything else that’s out there.”
The creative team of Pascuzzo and Storrings did just that, and knocked it out of the park. I believe this dynamic, ultra-modern cover will evoke killer curiosity with shoppers, and encourage them to pick it up, turn it over, read the back cover….
…and as you fans know, once they do that, it’s all over but the shoutin’. 
The front cover will also likely feature a blurb from New York Times bestselling novelist Scott Sigler: “(Hutchins’s) high-tech nightmares leap off the page and lodge in your brain like a literary headshot. Brilliant.”
The support St. Martin’s is showing for 7th Son: Descent is nothing short of stunning. This design — and other marketing initiatives the company will release in the mainstream marketplace — show an absolute commitment to the book’s success. I’m thrilled and humbled by St. Martin’s support, and can’t wait to share news of those initiatives in the months ahead.
Of course, I am absolutely committed to Descent’s success, and — equally important — to entertaining you during this year … YOUR year … The Year Of The Fan. Last week, St. Martin’s approved my online promotion plan to celebrate Descent’s release, which includes:
- A “book trailer” the likes of which has never been seen in publishing
- Easy-to-distribute promo e-cards, posters and web widgets, so you can help build the Beta Clone Army
- An innovative seven-part prequel story serialized across seven different blogs
- A “digital EP” of folk-rock music sung and performed by 7th Son character John Smith (Yes, you’ll hear the John Smith perform)
- A seven-story prequel anthology called 7 Days, which documents the week leading up the Beta clones’ abduction seen in Descent (Each episode focuses on an individual clone)
- A new “Print Edition” audio version of 7th Son: Descent, distributed as a free podcast novel
- Exclusive prizes for superfans who pre-order Descent
- And more…
…and it’s all for you, my friends. And it’ll all be free. Consider this a heartfelt thank you for your relentless support and cheers during the past three years — and for your support this fall, as Descent hits bookstores everywhere. Thank you.
Before I go, I want to share another image — this one, of an “advance reader’s copy” of my supernatural thriller that will be released on June 9, Personal Effects: Dark Art. I received this in the mail today:
That photo, right there, is proof that what you do as fans makes an impact. That’s my book. I wrote that. And now, it’s no longer words on a screen — it’s a tangible thing, a real thing, and you made that happen. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
It’s going to be an awesome 2009. Will you join me for the ride?
–J.C.
That’s awesome! where do I get my ticket?
They look awesome! 2009 is going to be awesome.
That is awesome! Only one complaint – your name should be bigger! : )
i can’t stop crying. i am so fucking proud of you.
Shur is purdy!
I pre-ordered Dark Arts a while back. When will Descent be ready for pre-order?
That looks -sweet-. Can’t wait to be able to own a copy, man.
Um, I know you didn’t design it yourself J.C., but I still feel bad about posting my reaction to this cover;
Meh.
Sorry.
It just didn’t pop for me.
Looks great! I can only imagine how awesome it must feel.
Can’t wait to see it on the shelf!
Now that’s a beautiful birthday present.
Rock on, Hutch!
All aboard!
It looks great. Congratulations, you deserve it.
I’ll be buying my copy on day one.
The cover looks great! I look forward to seeing it in the bookstores.
Oh HELL yes! It doesn’t just rock, it’s positively igneous. As befits the non-stop, heart-thumping,identity-stealing,nuke-blasting thrill-ride that is Seventh Son. You’re in the big leagues, my friend, and no one deserves it more. Just tell me where to pre-order.
I think the cover is definitely going to stand out from all the other books on the shelf! That hue of blue is certainly eye-catching and I think the metallic print will look great! I can’t wait to see it in person! Yay!! Congratulations, J.C.!!!
Very Nice! It will look all shiny and brilliant on my podcast-authors shelf!
Not what I was imagining – but I love it… especially if it has metallic ink.. Very wicked.
Congratulations, J.C.! This is indeed a nice cover. Ya know, I think I like your designs better though – the whole double helix thing. Of course, I don’t know how they could work the metallic ink into the podcast art design and the ink WILL really make this cover pop.
I’m so happy for you on the release (under any cover) and can’t wait to have copies in my grubby little hands!
It is slick and missing a colon (punct. hic, I’m better now).
When do we pre order?
Amazing! I know you’re proud and I know we’re all happy for you. I look forward to adding this to my collection.
Dude…you ROCK! Congratulations on both the cover (which in itself rocks) and the hard copy of Dark Arts. I want both now! Though they will be sitting on my shelf until I make it through Anathem…
Seriously, it couldn’t happen to someone who deserves it more.
That is a sexy cover that will get attention and sell books. very very cool.
And dude. Holding your ARCs in your hands. How cool is that?
Looks like a teaser poster for a movie. When can I get one?
Woa! That is stunning. I saw your message on twitter and thought your avatar was the cover (oopsie!). Seriously this cover is beautiful.
I must have gone catatonic again. I will order your June release at amazon.com next month when I have more $$$. How’d I miss THAT? (Because you are so kind, you won’t answer)
I really enjoy following your success. Great fun.
I hope you are getting a tour like Sigler humh, to SF? you’d better get your Baby Face out this way. I’ll be right there at the signing, YEAH!
You are too hot to handle baby! The covers are SMOKIN’ and I can’t wait to get my copies. Congratulations and let me know if you need anything!
I can’t wait to see how far you take us this year JC. Your work is amazing and I can’t wait to do my small part in promoting 7S1. Beta Clone #263 is ready to receive orders. I comply.
Congrats J.C.!
Lord knows you’ve worked hard for this …it’s amazing to see it coming to fruition. The cover is awesome and having seen some of the metallic inks you spoke about on books at Borders, I know it will look even more brilliant on the shelves.
Holy hell, man! AWESOME! I love the cover and I’m looking forward to all this Hutchins-7th-Son goodness (and PE:Dark Art, too, BTW…wow, June’s a long way off). ROCK ON!
The logo looks a little bit over futuristic, but the cover looks good overal, I miss the more classic look from the podcast logo.
Excited for Personal Effects: Dark Art
The Ministry is awaiting orders…
The Beta Clones are ready to march…
The word is almost ready to be spread…
The world is not ready for what will hit it.
I have*NO DOUBT* that you will be on the NYT bestsellers list too – your storytelling is frigging brilliant!
It’s AWESOME to see this! It’s great that more people will now get to enjoy the story and that you will get even more exposure…well done!
Congrats, JC. I’m ready to pick up my copy.
Sweet!
You can count Two Guys Tech in as being supporters.
Widgets, pre-orders, and hopefully you’ll come to Denver or Colorado Springs for your Book Tour. We had like 72 people show up for Sigler’s book tour, I bet you can beat that.
I feel like a hitman who just got handed a photo of his next target. Now I know what to look for when I go book shopping for every single person I know this fall.
Simply amazing… congratulations J.C.!
I have to say it took a moment for the cover to grow on me. After reading the detail of the metallic look I came around to embracing it and see it being the staple look for the book series. I am guessing after the success of Descent St. Martin’s Press will want to publish the second and third books. I would imagine them using the same type of high tech cover only different colors, patterns or something. I can’t wait to buy the book and have it in my hands so I can kick back in my reading chair and submerse myself into the 7th Son trilogy starting with Descent.
Walter Woodruff
To be brutally honest, I don’t care what the cover looks like, I’m buying multiple copies for us and for gifts. My biggest worry is whether or not I’ll be able to get them signed before Christmas!
That said, I do like the new cover design. Very sexy and sci-fi! While I would prefer some of the elements from your awesome design on the new one, I have no clue what makes books jump off the shelves for buyers in stores. I defer to the marketing department on that one.
Personal Effects is pre-ordered, CANNOT wait to read it and figure out who to gift that to, as well!
Please let Chooch and I know what we can do to help, you know we’ll run your promos on our two shows and give all the link-love possible!
Big congrats to you, all the recognition is well deserved! The world and characters you created are rich and compelling to an addictive level!
Sweet! I expected something a little more sinister, but it’s cool. Even if it looked like the White Album, I’d buy it. This proves it’s really happening. I’ll be able to buy it at a bookstore. Go Alpha, Go.
I feel like a Hittman too. Oh, wait.
Congrats, JC. It’s great to see New Media merging with Old Media, and watching your success.
I love ya like a bro, dude, but that cover just doesn’t do it for me. It doesn’t say anything about the contents to me. Maybe the sparkly colors will bring people in but I would have preferred some kind of bad ass painting featuring clones or cloning technology or something. Sorry for the negativity. I will buy it regardless, I’m just afraid new readers who see it will have the same reaction as I and be put off because they don’t know how awesome the story is.