Horn-Horn - first book in a YA quirky small-town fantasy series! Continued work likely.

Horn-Horn

A. D. T. McLellan

A. D. T. McLellan was born in London, but has lived in Melbourne since 1987. He studied literature and music, and earned his Diploma of Arts from Victoria University. He is also a talented musician, performing pop/rock songs under the stage name Tommy Lellan. When he isn’t writing or singing, he’s often found getting verbally abused by hungry seagulls, or tripping over in public.

'Horn-Horn' is the first in a series of Young Adult comedy/fantasy books. It takes place in a very quirky and mysterious seaside town named Horn-Horn, and is about a teenage girl who discovers a little boy in the woods who sports shackles around his wrists and has magical powers. It is equally a flat-out comedy as well as fantasy, with plenty of science-fiction and twists and turns. It is adventurous, scary, hilarious and mysterious all in one. Read more about it at adtmclellan . com

Young readers, ages 13 and up, as well as millennials and people who find they don't fit in most places. Fans of Harry Potter, His Dark Materials, Beetlejuice, Mean Girls, Matilda, and Stephen King.

Don’t know yet

I need a cover for my book ("Horn-Horn" by A. D. T. McLellan). It is currently already published with a nice design already, but I want something a bit brighter and dynamic than what I have now. It is a Young Adult comedy/fantasy book, the first in a series. It is very quirky and magical, and features a teenage girl as the main character, as well as a white moose, a black cat, and a small town with a haunted forest. It is a spooky and mysterious book series. Think Harry Potter meets Beetlejuice. It is a bonkers series and lots of fun. Whatever font/design you use for the actual title ("Horn-Horn") will be used in the future for the series, so it is extra important you take care with this design. Please do not use the attached current book cover logo as inspiration as I would like something completely different/unique. As there are currently two sequels released, I will most likely use the winner to design covers for these books and future releases, too. Suggestions for ideas (only suggestions): A town sign ("Welcome to" above in small writing, then "Horn-Horn" in big writing). Sign needs to have two large ox horns on each side, in front of some bushes with a cliff behind it, and a lighthouse in the distance on another nearby cliff. A white moose in the woods, or a large blonde woman in regal white flowing gowns riding a brown moose and cart. A black cat being chased by a moose, or simply sitting in the background watching things. A clay head made out of orange terracotta, with a beret for a lit, hollow inside with gaping holes for eyes, nose and mouth. A teenage girl lying on the ground from behind, looking up in horror at a giant white moose with blood-soaked fangs and orange eyes, frowning down at her. Looks like a monster. Perhaps to lean into the comedy of the book, a moose could be chasing a teenage girl with long brown hair, who could be chasing a black cat. Not a requirement, but a white moose and black cat are the two main visuals I personally tend into lean into when thinking of a design for this book, as they are integral to the plot. Would love to see ANYTHING different though. Surprise me!

Although a fantasy, I don't want anything cliched (magical balls, elf-like people wielding giant samurais while standing on a rocky mountain with two giant moons passing behind them, etc.) It is moire like Hocus Pocus, as it is extremely contemporary so perhaps lean into the small-town mystery aspect than the fantasy elements. Maybe just a sprinkle of magic to suggest things. Colour is good, but don't go retro eighties or too much colour. I don't want it to look overwhelming, I want it to stand out. Don't show human faces if possible, as I like the reader to decide how characters' faces will look. I've attached the current front and back covers, but please only use them to get an idea of what the story is about, don't use as inspiration (except for moose and cat if you'd like, as they are important to the story).