Before I give the answer, I'll explain why they're different. The one on the left was printed before the one on the right. My publisher, Moon Books, always sends a few samples to authors months before the official publication date. When I got my copies I spotted something I wanted changed, and the editor was absolutely lovely about doing that. I later got sent another complementary author copy, printed the way I wanted.
Have you spotted the difference yet?
If you want me to tell you now, read on...
Here's the answer...
The photograph of flowers throughout the seasons is one way up on the first book, but the other way up on the second. I took the picture and submitted it to the designer with the honeysuckle at the top and the ivy leaves at the bottom because that was how I wanted it to appear on the cover. The designer presumably felt it was better reversed.
I can understand why they might have thought that. Pagan Wheel of the Year charts usually show Yule at the top and Summer Solstice at the bottom. I don't know, but I suspect this way of thinking might be influenced by analogue clocks with round faces that have 12 at the top indicating midnight and the start of a new day (or a new revolution of the hour hand at noon). It would be a bit like Winter Solstice representing the final festival of the old year before the start of the new one.
However, if you look at the Wheel of Fortune on a tarot card it has the happiest, lightest spot at the top. That was my inspiration when I took the photo for the book cover. Personally, I don't believe a wheel has to have a set position of top and bottom as it's round, so either cover design works perfectly well in that respect. My book is about "rounding" the Wheel of the Year, after all. It's more that I prefer the look of the second design.
I thought I'd share this little puzzle as we are currently approaching the spring equinox, when day and night are equal length and it's a time of balance. I think they both look OK - but that first small printing is now the rare version!
Which do you prefer?
You can view Pagan Portals - Rounding the Wheel of the Year on Amazon and also search for any of my Pagan Portals titles as well as my Gothic novel Erosion on Moon Book's website: https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/moon-books/
Note: I earn commission from some links. This helps subsidise my blog at no extra cost to readers.
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http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2023/10/video-of-my-talk-on-rounding-wheel-of.html
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http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/02/rounding-year-snowdrops-finally.html
http://www.badwitch.co.uk/2024/02/rounding-year-camelia-forsythia-blossom.html
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