I hit a milestone yesterday in my publishing career - I got my first glimpse of cover art.

COVER ART. FOR MY BOOK.

It totally wasn't what I pictured at all...and I loved it.

I think a little part of me was initially frightened of the whole cover thing. What if I hated it? What if it was hideous? Authors are powerless (for the most part) when it comes to the cover itself. My editor emailed me and told me it was coming in the mail and to be on the lookout for it, so I've checked my mail incessantly ever since.

I arrived home yesterday to a long, flat package from the editorial assistant (who rocks, btw) and did not open it for about ten minutes. I was too frightened. I really love all the covers that my publisher comes out with, but there's always that fear that you're going to be the one that gets the scary cover, right?

Eventually I gave in and tore open the package and...I love it. LOVE. The character on the cover is not the main character but it's one of the mains. I'd sent photos to my editor, descriptions, and even a sheet of angelic alphabet (one of the characters has a tattoo of a few symbols of the angelic alphabet on his arm) and it's all on there! Swoon!

Of course, all this gushing means nothing at the moment because I can't show anyone. Sorry! It's not final art, just an early version and that means it'll be another 2 or 3 months before I can show off what I have. I'm just super excited because it feels a little more real at the moment!