We are so excited to reveal the cover of Lena and Rae by Kim Church, which will be published on March 23, 2027 by Dzanc Books. Read on for more about the process of designing this beautiful cover!
Lena and Rae is a moving story of love, loyalty, and sisterhood set in North Carolina during violent labor struggles in the cotton mills where Lena and Rae, leaving the two young women on opposite sides of the picket line. You can pre-order your copy here.
From Author Kim Church
What elements were you hoping for with this cover?
I wanted the cover to feature the title characters — this is their story — but in an abstracted way that would allow readers to form their own impressions.
When Michelle, publisher at Dzanc, asked me for examples of book covers that appealed, I went to Steinbeck — I think of Lena and Rae as a sort of feminist Steinbeck story. There are a gazillion editions of Steinbeck; the Penguin Classics covers are my favorite. They have a vintage printmaking feel: blocks of color with crisp edges, silhouetted figures. I showed Michelle and she said, I think I know the perfect illustrator, and sent me to Martina’s work. Oh yes, I said.
What do you love most about where the design landed?
Everything. The silhouettes suit the period of the novel and steal nothing from the reader. I love the road leading to who-knows-where. The distant smokestacks. I love the surround, as if we’re peering into another world. I love the font — both bold and feminine. I love the colors — rich greens and golds, that warm orange — evocative of a North Carolina mountain cove but also somehow exotic.
Did anything surprise you about the process of cover design?
I was surprised and honored that Michelle invited me and my agent, Emma, into the process. I was surprised (though I shouldn’t have been) and impressed by how visual a thinker Michelle is, and by Martina’s openness to input. I was surprised how quickly the cover came together — much sooner than expected. But my biggest surprise came after the sketch was done and Martina laid in color. I was not expecting this palette. It stunned me. It still does, every time I look at it. I want to wrap these colors around me. My grandmother Church, my inspiration for Lena, would have loved these colors for a quilt.
From Designer Martina Pellechia
What was your process like for this cover?
Working with Dzanc Books was a really exciting experience for me. They were one of the first publishing houses outside Italy to give me the opportunity to collaborate internationally, which meant a lot to me. It was also a great chance to see my style appreciated in a different market and to connect with people working in other creative fields.
Beyond their professionalism and kindness, I really enjoyed creating this cover. I was given a lot of creative freedom after a short briefing with some general ideas and themes, which allowed me to really explore the concept in my own way.
What is your favorite element?
I especially enjoyed incorporating the bucolic elements. Whenever the subject allows for it, I love bringing a slightly pastoral or nature-inspired feeling into my illustrations, so that was probably one of my favorite parts of the cover. I also really enjoyed working on the color palette. I usually try not to use more than three main colors, as I like to keep the overall result harmonious, simple, and elegant.
For book covers, I also tend to gravitate toward a slightly retro feeling, often using strong silhouettes and large areas of shadow. I think that visual language worked particularly well for this project.
Southern Review of Books 