What's Wrong with This Picture?

Dust to Dust(First Edition)

My editor, thank goodness, caught the original sketch for the cover of Dust to Dust before it went into production--it was of a cemetery thick with tilting crosses and a Halloween cat. The cover that was used is a bit better. At least the woman is in sweatshirt and jeans rather than a nightgown, and the building in the background is based on a postcard of Jedburgh Abbey, which is down the road from my fictional Rudesburn. I've always thought this cover was too smeary and murky, though.

Dust to Dust (Back-in-Print Edition)

The new cover is a photo of Melrose Abbey in Scotland, which is almost in spitting distance from Rudesburn and is mentioned in the story. Unfortunately the picture was taken on a cloudy day so you only get a hint of the lovely pink/red color of the stone.

The original title of this book was Cold in the Clay, from an old Scottish ballad. "Too cold", said the publisher.