Cover Reveal: Nutcracked by Susan Adrian

Happy Monday, everyone! Today, I have the immense pleasure of hosting the exclusive cover reveal for Nutcracked, which is the forthcoming middle grade debut from my friend and author, Susan Adrian. Coming to a bookstore and library near you September 26th, 2017 from Random House, Nutcracked is a fantastical re-telling of The Nutcracker that follows the story of Georgie, a girl whose dreams of being cast as Clara and entering the world of The Nutcracker are realized in ways she never could have imagined possible. Susan has been gracious enough to collaborate with me on several events here on Pop! Goes The Reader over the years, and while I have loved all her contributions, I was particularly fond of her ‘Tis The Season piece back in 2015, in which she talked about what The Nutcracker meant to her. (You can read that post here!) I’ve been looking forward to Nutcracked ever since, and I feel so lucky to have been given the opportunity to share the book’s cover with you today. The cover of Nutcracked was illustrated by the phenomenally talented Stevie Lewis, who I believe has created one of the most whimsical, magical and beautiful middle grade book covers I’ve seen in recent memory. Please read on to learn more about this enchanting 2017 release, including an exclusive cover reveal and a personal note from the author about the novel’s origins and inspiration.

This book is very special to me – I was Clara in The Nutcracker when I was 13, and while my adventures weren’t the same as Georgie’s, it was a huge part of my life. This is also my debut middle-grade, which is such an exciting step for me. So when I opened the email from my editor with the cover, I held my breath…and then I absolutely squealed. It’s perfect. It’s so beautiful and shiny and evocative of the holiday season, and Georgie just shines, holding her Nutcracker. It’s everything the book is about, and it just fits so perfectly. I couldn’t be happier. It’s just been hard to wait to share it with everyone!

About Susan Adrian

Susan Adrian is a fourth-generation Californian who now lives in the beautiful Big Sky country of Montana. She began ballet late — at age eight — but got to fulfill her dream of playing Clara in The Nutcracker when she was thirteen, before joining the Sacramento Ballet Company. Later she got a degree in English from the University of California, Davis. These days she’s settled in as a writer, scientific editor, and mom. When she’s not with her family, she keeps busy researching crazy stuff, traveling, and writing more books. She still sees The Nutcracker every year she can, and tries really hard not to act out all the parts.

Author Links: Website ● Twitter ● Facebook ● Tumblr ● Goodreads

Title Nutcracked
Author Susan Adrian
Pages N/A
Intended Target Audience Middle Grade
To Be Published September 26th, 2017 by Random House
Find It On Goodreads ● Amazon.com

Since her grandfather first took her to see The Nutcracker, Georgie has dreamed of being cast as Clara in her ballet company’s annual Christmas production of The Nutcracker. When it actually happens, it’s not at all as she’d hoped. Her best friend won’t talk to her, her grandfather is in the hospital, and every time she holds her teacher’s antique nutcracker in her arms while she dances, she goes somewhere else. Somewhere dangerous. Somewhere with massive Christmas trees, a three-headed mouse king, and row of toy soldiers bigger than her. With advice from a new friend, and a chance to mend bridges with her BFF, can she help the Nutcracker prince break the spell before the curtain goes up?