COVER Reveal!

The Star of Persia, Esther’s Story—

Has a COVER!

I’m often asked how my covers are designed or who is chosen to be on the model on the cover and do I have anything to say about all of this. My answers?

1. The designer at Revell, first Cheryl Van Andel (for most of my books) and recently Gayle Raymer for the last three, including Star of Persia. (Cheryl retired and Gayle took her place.)
2. When I begin a new book, I find pictures that I think best fit how I see the characters. These may be famous models or actors of the nationality I need. Those photos cannot be used, of course, nor do those people ever pose for my covers. They are, however, given to Revell so they have an idea of what I envision. They choose the model and either do a photo shoot or find the right stock photo for the book. (Most of them are photo shoots.)
3. Oops. I kind of answered this one, except that sometimes I am asked my opinion on clothing or headpieces or earrings, etc. They want to know what I’d like to see and what fits the time period if they don’t know, but ultimately Revell has the final design say.

That said, I had no idea what to expect when Gayle went to work on this cover. She assured me they wanted a Persian look, and I waited to see what she came up with. And let me just say this…all we could say (my agent and me) when we saw it was “Wow!”

Are you ready to see it?

Here she is –

Esther in all her Jewish Persian glory!

The Star of Persia!

BACK COVER COPY:

In an effort to complete a war his father had planned to win, King Xerxes calls every governor, satrap, and official in his vast kingdom to his palace in Susa to strategize and feast. When they finally leave, he decides on one more week of frivolity, which ends in the banishment of his favorite wife, something he never intended to do. But when he discovers Esther, Xerxes is sure he has a second chance at happiness.

In her wildest dreams, Esther could never have imagined that she would end up as queen of Persia. Yet she knows better than to become complacent. Another of Xerxes’s wives is vying for position, and his closest advisor has a deep and dangerous grudge against Esther’s adoptive father. Caught in the middle of palace politics, Esther will find herself in an impossible position: risk her life or consign her people to annihilation.

With her impeccable research and her imaginative flair, Jill Eileen Smith brings to life the romantic, suspenseful, and beloved story of Esther, queen of Persia.

RELEASE DATE: MARCH 3, 2020

Isn’t this cover amazing? I’m in awe. And can’t wait to hold it and see the back photos and share her story with you all. Thank you for requesting this book be written. I didn’t think I would or could ever tackle Esther’s story because her story has been told so many times. And mine isn’t better than any others—just hopefully different enough to be engaging!

Edits on this book should begin within a month or two. I sincerely hope you are as excited as I am and look forward to promoting it more in the days to come.

~Shalom and God bless

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