The designer forgot my middle initial.
And my name and the word “novel” will be a bit bigger.
A little tinkering will go down between now and July 4th.
But for the most part, this is what we’re working with.
Introducing…
Update: Here’s another version simmering:
Dear readers: You know what to do. Hit me in the comments. Tell me what you think. Be honest. Simon and Schuster is talking about raised foil lettering (!!!) and good placement. I sort of understand now why they changed the title.
I have to admit. I’m still not crazy about the title Platinum.
But I love this cover.
Do you?
[Props to Erica Kennedy, whoever designed my book was obviously influenced by Kennedy’s BLING which she helped to design]
This is scary. I almost chickened out on this post. I don’t take criticism well. But hell, I’m about to go through the torture of book reviews. I better be able to handle someone telling me my title and cover art sucks.
I’m listening…
Aliya S. King 
December 2, 2009 at 9:11 am
The cover art is definitely eye catching and the foil lettering will make it “pop” even more. I love it!
December 2, 2009 at 9:25 am
I LOVE IT!! ; )
*Also love this entries title. Great stuff Aliya.
December 2, 2009 at 9:26 am
Ooops — meant to type “this entry’s title.” Pardon the typo — need coffee. ; )
December 2, 2009 at 9:27 am
Just realized that you and Staceyann Chin have the same publisher. Ha! And the cover looks great. ;-)
December 2, 2009 at 9:34 am
the cover is amazing and a true eye catcher for even those of us that dont read that often lol….love it girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 2, 2009 at 9:35 am
Wow! That’s hot. I can’t wait to learn the connection between the new title and the story. I’m so excited for you!
December 2, 2009 at 9:41 am
LOVES IT!!! i’m a graphic designer too… very eye catching!!!!
December 2, 2009 at 9:47 am
Visually, it’s amazing! I just wish I knew what your book was about to make the connection…congrats!!
December 2, 2009 at 9:51 am
It’s very intriguing, Aliya.
December 2, 2009 at 9:53 am
The cover is great; making the changes will make it hot. I like the original title but seeing this cover makes it easier for me to accept the new title lol. I’m anticipating the release! Congratulations.
December 2, 2009 at 10:27 am
I like! It was just what I thought it was. I like how the title is vertical, instead of horizontal. The way your name stands out in hot pink, it makes me wonder who you are. It could just be the girl in me.
Glad you like it!
December 2, 2009 at 10:31 am
The visuals are HOT, but the title itself still makes me think Street Lit. I wanna know how they came to this title (i know it’s catchy & prob easier to market than “…Tea,” but “No Tea For the Fever” just sounded SO DOPE to me! Oh well. I’m buying it either way!)
December 2, 2009 at 11:15 am
^^ what she said.
i haven’t been up to date w/ your blog lately, but when I saw this I thought it was the cover for frank lucas’s book. I didn’t know you changed the title of your book :(
This cover did scream street lit. to me. I just LOVED “Not Tea For The Soul” anytime I saw your name or thought about your blog that title would pop in my head. It was like you already branded that title w/ your name.
For some reason I think about the music industry when I see the word / title “Platinum.” Maybe that’s what the book is about? hmm idk. Either way the graphic design on the cover is well done and I can’t wait to purchase your book :)
December 2, 2009 at 11:16 am
edit
“No Tea For The Soul”
December 2, 2009 at 11:24 am
The cover is great. I can see this catching many eyes in the bookstore, especially with the raised foil lettering!
December 2, 2009 at 11:46 am
I like it. The raised foil lettering is going to be dope.
I wish I knew *exactly* why they decided ‘Platinum’ was a better fit because I absolutely LURVE ‘No Tea For The Fever’ but…it is what it is.
Congratulations!
December 2, 2009 at 11:57 am
“No Tea For The Fever”
December 2, 2009 at 12:04 pm
LOVE it. A lot! Muy seductive.
December 2, 2009 at 12:06 pm
I’m not in love with the cover but it’s definitely eye catching and the vertical design is cool.
December 2, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Like the vertical design. Very eye catching.
December 2, 2009 at 12:09 pm
It is eye catching…and if I didn’t follow your blog, I would classify it at street lit. I’m def buying because I enjoy your work, and now to see how they came up with the new name. BTW, I love your title “No Tea for the Fever.” :-)
December 2, 2009 at 12:21 pm
– Swap your name, and “A Novel”
– Make “A Novel” the size of your name in this picture
– Make your name 2-3 points larger.
Looks great! Congrats!
December 2, 2009 at 12:22 pm
I love the cover! Eye catching. The smokiness coupled with the vertical lettering is great.
December 2, 2009 at 12:25 pm
i love the cover.. mostly. it’s gonna look crazy hot when they’re all bundled together on a display. the vertical is dope. the smoke is crazy.
the title evokes “the industry” which is i recall, is the setting.
i don’t like the pink in your name and “a novel” i want it white or something. the pink just doesn’t match up for me in the overall scheme of it.
so happy for you. you have no idea how bad I want to know what this moment is like for myself.
December 2, 2009 at 12:25 pm
I really dislike the type choice for your name and the purple color. It’s very difficult to read, and doesn’t pop enough from the background.
Is the book about drugs? That’s the first thing I thought about when I saw the smokey haze around the name…
December 2, 2009 at 2:07 pm
I am SO proud of you!
December 2, 2009 at 2:15 pm
I like the cover, don’t like the title. I think it screams street lit, not great American novel. And the raised foiled letters I think would be even worse–like a rapper with a bunch of chains on, or five-inch fingernails studded in rhinestones. And I like both of those things–the blinged out rappers and the nails. They have their place. It’s just all about what image you want to protray, or what imaged you’re being forced to protray as the publishers have determined that they’re going to market to a certain audience.
I liked No Tea for the Fever. That sounds like the title of a great American novel. I must admit, I was disheartened when I read that they were changing your title. It’s like they are pigeonholing black readers into the street genre, and discrediting the notion that black writers just may appeal to a broader audience.
But then again, maybe I’m being too narrowminded in terms of my views of what a great American Novel is. Why can’t street lit be a great American novel?
Overall though it doesn’t really matter what’s on the cover. It’s all a hustle. Better this cover than no cover at all, no book at all. And that’s what this blog and the book tour, and word of mouth is for–and of course great content.
Can’t wait to read it!
December 2, 2009 at 2:32 pm
I like the title alot actuallly! Platinum makes it sound really cool. But I think the color purple for your name doesnt pop to well, so maybe you should do a different color like light blue.
December 2, 2009 at 3:18 pm
I love how the cover is eye catching and attention grabbing but I absolutely hate the title it just makes me think of street lit. No Tea for the Fever was waaaaaay better.
December 2, 2009 at 3:45 pm
I liked No Tea for the Fever. That sounds like the title of a great American novel.
Yes, and a title that I can work with when I write to Oprah!!! LOL, sorry. They are making my job harder. :-p
December 2, 2009 at 4:46 pm
I dig the cover. It’s catchy. The smokey effect is sweeeet. ;-)
As for the title, I don’t like it because it reminds me too much of your colleague’s (Erica Kennedy) book. It seems as if Simon & Schuster is trying to obtain the same success as Bling with a similar title and book cover. Eh, marketing.
December 2, 2009 at 5:05 pm
I guess…i know you’ve already explained enough in your blog about why they thought it was best to change the title, but “No Tea For The Fever” had that memorable feel to it…i thought it was classic
December 2, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Don’t mind me, guys. I’m just gonna go jump off a ledge now.
December 2, 2009 at 5:58 pm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platinum_(TV_series)
December 2, 2009 at 6:16 pm
@Aliya
Hahahaha. I really LOLed at that. Your writing will transcend whatever package it’s wrapped in. You are not your book title! And anyone who is familar with your work knows that.
sidenote: Before I “met” you, I honestly thought the reason your name showed up so many times in my fav mags was because you knew somebody, haha. I remember telling my friend, “OMG! She’s really talented and thorough!”
I was proven wrong, and I’m sure the same will happen to those who are close-minded going in.
December 2, 2009 at 8:27 pm
Love it!
December 2, 2009 at 8:39 pm
not feelin the cover.
liked “no tea for the fever” too, but also understand a bit about marketing and image making, even when it comes to writers.
not image making on your part, on your publisher’s part.
the cover looks too smokey to me, and i think i would prefer the “platinum” title more to to the left, not in the center, and your name (with the “s”, of course) bigger and more centered.
i’m interested in seeing the binding on the side.
ok just my 2. sheesh. i’m just proud that you finished the book. you, to me, have achieved that holy grail of writing success, motherhood, wifehood. congratulations!
December 2, 2009 at 10:03 pm
Congratulations Aliya!
Remember you have the full picture. You know what the book is about and how the cover art embodies the spirit of the book.
IMHO I kind of agree with cherryl252washere and would either a) Place Platinum on the far left with your name at the bottom right (perhaps with “a novel by” just above) or b) place Platinum on the far right at the edge of the book. Not sure about how to place your name and still make it prominent. The pink font color didn’t appeal to me at first, but it makes your name stand out so I guess it serves its purpose. Someone mentioned a light blue font maybe an ice blue would compliment Platinum as it stands.
@Shoulda kept the old title you totally filled in the blank. I wondered why Platinum seemed so familiar.
December 2, 2009 at 11:36 pm
2nd version is nicer. “Aliya S. King” should be lowered a bit, and definitely in a different color – say light grey with a slight black shadow so that the grey doesn’t blend in with the smoking hot “PLATINUM.”
Also, “A Novel” and “Aliya S. King” would probably look better in a different type; I’m thinking something like “TRAJAN.”
Just my critiques. Congrats, can’t wait to copp it!
December 2, 2009 at 11:38 pm
oh yeah, but forgot to say the design overall is KILLING it!
December 3, 2009 at 12:10 am
i’m really into the artistic presentation of this book. i disagree with the comment about it being a reminder of urban lit or and drugs. i don’t get that at all. i get mysterious. raised foil? good placement? sounds to be like the publisher is putting great stock in your title, which is great. when is the book par-tay?!
and not sure how true it is, but i’ve heard/read/hear that covers with black folks on the cover don’t sell well. so sad. we shall overcome.
December 3, 2009 at 1:38 am
I must admit i’d buy the book based on JUST the cover!
Love it!
I prefer the first one with the blue, b/w one doesnt really do it for me.. and neither would the raised foil..
Good Luck!
December 3, 2009 at 10:12 am
Hey Aliya,
I am so excited and will still host a book signing event (who do I contact to set that up???). Any whoo…I don’t like the title…I loved the No Tea for the Fever…It spoke volumes to me. But do what you must I’m still purchasing multiple copies.
Love, Blessings, Prayers!
Thurse-
December 3, 2009 at 2:36 pm
The cover is dope, it seems way off from no tea for the fever. But i’m sure theres a rhyme and reason for it. Can’t wait.
December 3, 2009 at 3:11 pm
I LIKE IT! Makes me wanna’ buy it!
December 3, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Damn! I thought I would never got to this dialogue box to input my 2 cents. I LOVE IT! I love the title (really is the stuff of titles that fly off the shelf) and the presentation is premo. I dig the blue over the white, but they both work. If its a graphic designer, he/she should be able to add your ‘S’ without issue.
HOT DAMN! I’m sweating you just a lil’ bit.
December 3, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Also, raised foil is ok. The cover pops and that’s a large part of what attracts the eyes in bookstores. If you’ve got a god looking cover, nice placement, and a compelling description of the story inside the cover, you’re well on your way to walking home with that reader!
December 3, 2009 at 6:29 pm
Visually eye-catching. I’ve read some of your work in magazines, looking forward to a full-length novel. :-)
December 3, 2009 at 10:22 pm
Change it back to “No Tea for the Fever”!!! “Platinum” sounds like a hood book but I know your writing is much deeper than that.
“No Tea for the Fever”
“No Tea for the Fever”
“No Tea for the Fever”
“No Tea for the Fever”
“No Tea for the Fever”
“No Tea for the Fever”
“No Tea for the Fever”
December 7, 2009 at 7:12 pm
I like No Tea for the Fever personally. But the design of this cover is hot but just does not say Aliya to me.
December 7, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Hello… random few-times blog reader here. And a glance at the comments.. at first look the title Platinum makes me think “street lit” as well (which I am not a fan of). But I would likely pick up this book and read the back cover description to be sure. I really like the “platinum” design with the smoke and vertical alignment. I do not like the purple “A Novel” and “Aliya S King.” It’s random and maybe picky, but the color purple and maybe the font just cheapen the look of the book (perhaps make it seem more “street lit” since it looks cheaper?) I would perhaps go with a different color.. maybe a orangey yellow? And also explore different fonts, perhaps something that looks more like fancy cursive script (although that may be cliche).
December 7, 2009 at 10:48 pm
“I think Wendy would like the book” – Famous quote from [Name Redacted].
I agree 110%.
December 9, 2009 at 8:50 am
That cover is hot!
September 5, 2017 at 8:35 am
I’m now on windows based system so I have the opportunity to check your Rapid Reporter.
September 5, 2017 at 8:36 am
We have been together for 10yrs but I tested positive and we not using condoms. How come he is testing negative.
September 5, 2017 at 8:37 am
Unfortunately no, at least not in an easy way. It’s designed like fixed-width theme, it has to be rerworked for float width.
September 5, 2017 at 8:37 am
I wonder if you can omit the peanut butter or replace with chocolate?
September 22, 2017 at 7:51 pm
I like it!..it’s you the cover and magazine will be a smash we just got to present it to the readers to get a review and stats on how many readers enjoy the articles mostly your’s so we take a peak in on you and what your up to;so we can get to know you as a whole …..Aaron..
October 18, 2017 at 12:31 pm
download the lord is my shepherd by whitney
No Tea For The PLATINUM | Aliya S. King
April 27, 2018 at 7:16 am
Updated contrive call:
http://kristi.go.telrock.net