

The cover for THREE DARK CROWNS is definitely one of our all time favs. It’s elegant, deadly, and perfectly represents our three favorite triplet-queens. Today we’ve got an exclusive Q&A with the designer of the covers for the series, Aurora Parlagreco, who shares behind the scenes info about her design inspiration, the creation process, and even shares some early drafts of THREE DARK CROWNS covers from the cutting room floor! Read on below for the inside scoop!

Can you tell us a little bit about your process for designing covers?

For each new book, I begin by getting a feel for the content and tone of a story. I receive a Cover Summary that includes plot and character descriptions as well as a list of competitive titles showing where the book fits into the existing market. I’ll read an early draft of the manuscript and pull out details for inspiration. Then I start brainstorming! I look at images and artist samples online for further inspiration, sketch out ideas, and put together a presentation of different cover directions. I meet with the editor and together we determine which concept will best represent the story and appeal to readers. We share sketches with our sales and marketing team to get their thoughts, and from there we create a final cover!

Did you have design ideas in mind for future books in the series when you created the Three Dark Crowns cover?

Since a lot of the imagery depends so heavily on the title, it is difficult to anticipate what future books could look like. However, I did know that I would want to incorporate the girl’s gifts into each remaining cover along with an object that represented what they were fighting for.

What was your inspiration for the design for these covers?

I was instantly hooked as soon as I started reading Three Dark Crowns and I wanted to create a cover that was both dark and beautiful, just like the world of Fennbirn. There is so much detail and imagery that I was able to pull for inspiration, from the detailed descriptions of each sister’s home to the dangerous relationships they have with one another. I also looked at various representations of royalty, from medieval times to Game of Thrones.

Did you talk to the author before starting to design the covers? If so what was that conversation like?

In addition to plot details, editors include any initial ideas an author may have in the book’s Cover Summary. While I didn’t speak with Kendare directly, she was sent a sketch for approval once we settled on a concept and was very positive and supportive throughout the process! We were able to check in with her while creating the cover and map art to make sure any details were accurate in representing the world she had created.

Any design ideas you considered but ended up not pursuing that you can tell us about?

From the start, I knew it was important to represent the three sisters on the cover. While we ended up doing this with crowns, I explored some ideas using human elements, including portraits and hair. The imagery representing the girls’ gifts was always present, though I originally had the elements weaving together rather than focusing on them individually.

What tools and programs did you use to create the covers for this series?

I started out by taking notes and sketching while reading through the first draft of the book. I then moved to the computer to create some rough concepts using Photoshop and InDesign. The final art was created digitally by the very talented John Dismukes.

Do you have a favorite crown? Or was one crown your favorite to create?

It was fun to imagine how each of the elements would work on a crown, but the snake crown was the coolest to see realized! It perfectly represents the danger and deception in the story.

Any ideas you have that you are hoping to incorporate or carry through to future covers for this series?

I love how the flowers, snakes, and flames on One Dark Throne begin to intertwine and I would like to keep exploring that. I think it is makes for a compelling image and shows how the sisters’ relationship evolves- perhaps they will intertwine further or begin to destroy one another as the story continues.

Can you tell us how you incorporated the gifts from the series into the throne on the cover of One Dark Throne?

Even though the gifts on the throne surround one object rather than three, I still wanted each element to occupy its own space under or above each word. In order to keep the whole throne visually interesting, I began to have the elements interact so that each part of the chair had some new detail for readers to notice. The end result allows for a nice progression over the covers as the sisters become increasingly tied to each other’s stories and their elements intertwine more and more.

How did you get into cover design?

I have always loved to read and draw, and when I interned at HarperCollins the summer before my senior year of college, I knew I had found the perfect fit! I got my BFA in Communication Design from Carnegie Mellon University, along with minors in Photography and English, and was lucky enough to start in the Children’s Design group full time after graduation.

And finally, which sister are you rooting for?

I’m Team Arsinoe all the way! 🙂

AHHH THE COVER DESIGNER IS TEAM ARSIONE?! Respect. Follow Aurora on Twitter for more cover design goodies!

Now that you’ve heard all about the kick-ass cover designer, check out some early versions of the Three Dark Crowns cover below!





Sketch by John Dismukes



Sketch by John Dismukes

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Which early cover sketch do you like best? Tell us in the comments below!

Up Next: Let’s Play A Game Of Would You Rather: Three Dark Crowns Edition!

