Blue Hydrangeas
Cover Designer: Marianne Sciucco
Comments about cover design
Blue Hydrangeas is the story of a pair of Cape Cod innkeepers and their struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. Blue hydrangeas flourish on Cape Cod; they’re everywhere! Blue Hydrangeas is the name of my characters’ bed and breakfast. There’s a long driveway that leads to their front door with hydrangea bushes on both sides. I’ve actually gone to Cape Cod and looked for a place like this and found it, many times. My budget was nonexistent so I did the cover myself. I considered dozens of photos of blue hydrangeas but chose this one by Mami Legg from 123RF because it’s simply beautiful and I like the way the flower in the back is blurred; it sort of follows the story. People tell me the cover is stunning. At a street fair I set up a table with a framed 8 x 10 of the cover and people actually crossed the street to see it. Blue hydrangeas have that effect.
Jan Lee says
I love the flower and I love the color blue. My paternal grandparents went thru an Alzheimer’s love story as my grandfather was diagnosed with the disease and had to go live in a nursing home. My grandmolther then came to live with my parents. I lived there for about a year after that. It wasn’t easy as my grandmother was not happy most of the time.
Jeanne says
Love the cover! So fitting for the beautiful novel!
Jeanne says
Love the cover! So fitting for the beautiful lnovel!
Linda Kish says
This is beautiful
Tamie Dearent says
Beautiful cover. I can see why it made it to the final!
Katy Huth Jones says
This cover is stunning. The covers are perfect for the subject matter–blue light shining out of darkness. It makes me want to read the book, for sure!
Katy Huth Jones says
Uh, that should be colors.
Rebecca Willoughby says
What a beautifully designed cover. With a couple of family members that are in the throws of alzheimer’s, I can identify with the darkness surrounding the burst of cool blue color.
Onisha Ellis says
Blue Hydrangeas always remind me of warm summer days. When my mind connects the flowers with Alzheimer’s, I think of summer fading into fall as one watches a loved one slip away until finally winter arrives. It is a beautiful and effective cover.
Patty Wiseman says
They say don’t judge a book by its cover, but this cover really draws you in. The blues are beautiful, makes me want to read it. Beautiful cover, beautiful story.
Anna Drake says
This cover has my vote.
Rachel Zaouche says
This cover is simply incredible. I love the blue hues and the flowers look like diamonds at first glance. Gorgeous 🙂
Christine Feldman says
Great cover! The blue against the black combine to create a striking image. 🙂
Sue Sullivan says
These blue hydrangeas on the cover draw the reader into such a touching story of love and alzheimer’s.
Irma O'Dowd says
Beautiful cover! – You did a wonderful job!
Lisa Enright says
Just beautiful! The colors catch the eye and don’t let go. Just like the story! Great job Marianne!
ShirleyAnn Janulewicz says
I loved the cover because it reminded me of my Grandmother’s flowers, beautiful blue and peaceful. I thought it was an interesting title for a story about Alzheimer’s, but fitting too.. The book was a good read, very true to life. I am proud to be a nurse, and I’ve had many experiences,and I m happy that Marianne, a nurse, was able to write a book about one of her experiences, and create her own cover art that is both pleasing to the eye and gives one a feeling of peace.
Becky Carlow says
This is beautiful. The hydrangeas growing at growing by the New England shore. They seem to thrive in those surroundings. Sunny clear days with endless horizons , salty air, crashing waves, screeching gulls, misty shroud of fog blocking my view with the sound fog horn. The smell of the ocean. These hydrangeas evoke these memories for me.
Bev Guaraldi says
The hydrangeas look glowing in the photo! Amazing images that match the storyline.
Aaron Guaraldi says
This cover is so beautiful! The hydrangeas look stunning against the black background.
Jane D. Sciucco says
A gorgeous cover to attract readers to the equally gorgeous and very special story within. Enjoy!
Elinor Bell says
When Marianne asked me to narrate this marvelous story, I asked her to send a hard copy of the book. Something about holding the book in my hand at the beginning of each recording session and letting those beautiful blue hydrangeas bring me into the world of the story…such a gift. And such richness in the cover as well: the soothing color of blue, the beauty of the flowers themselves, the reflection of the B & B, the sharp vs blurred memories and realities of Alzheimer’s. The cover invites you in. Enter!
Linda O'Donnell says
You can judge a book by it’s cover!
The cover of Blue Hydrangeas by Marianne Sciucco is so befitting
the beautiful story within. Anyone who works with Alzheimer’s patients
can tell you how perfectly Alzheimer’s is portrayed by Marianne. Her book
is a treasure as well as a tribute to the millions who suffer with this devastating
disease.
Diane hennessy says
I love the cover of this book because I love the blue hydrangeas found on Cape Cod. The deep color of them and the soft scent are fabulous. Also the blurred reflection in the background reflects the blurred memories of an Alzheimer’s patient.
meg boyce says
What I love about this cover is the sense of calm it portrays in the face of such a difficult topic such as Alzheimer’s disease. Because of my work with the Alzheimer’s Association I see many book covers and have read several books about the Alzheimer’s disease. This book cover is the beginning of easing you into a difficult topic that needs to be addressed. The book itself is also a wonderful read.
Sue Sullivan says
This beautiful cover absolutely deserves recognition, as does the beautiful story within. The color draws attention – and there isn’t a more lovely color than the blue of blue hydrangeas.
Peggy M McAloon says
Beautiful cover! Congratulations! You have worked so hard and the results are astounding!
Janet Breton says
I love this cover. My maternal grandmother died from complications of Alzheimer’s. So did my Mom and her two sisters. It’s a horrible disease, and it’s terrible sitting her and wondering who will get it in my generation. I fear this as much as I do cancer at this point in my life. To me, the picture of the hydrangeas really shows what Alzheimer’s is like. One minute a person is vibrant and bright, the next minute they’re fading. Worst of all, is watching them when they’ve become whaT looks like an empty shell. They’re still there, sitting next to you, but they don’t know you’re there, and the light has just gone out of their eyes. It’s just unbearably sad and makes you feel so hopeless.
Deborah Carney says
Congratulations! This cover has made it to the finals! Vote for this cover by commenting about what you like about it, and by sharing on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest using the links above. The more shares, the more votes this cover will get!
Winners are determined by number of comments (one or two word comments don’t count) and combined number of shares. Please only share once a day, we don’t want to spam any social media!