Cover Reveal and Interview: Always Orchid by Carol Van Den Hende

Pink orchids on a teal background beside an e-reader that says "COVER REVEAL"

Are you ready to be one of the first to get an exclusive look at Carol Van Den Hende’s Always Orchid? This is the third and final book in the Goodbye, Orchid trilogy, following Orchid Paige on her journey of love, healing, and self-discovery. We Are Bookish has an exclusive reveal of the cover, but first, read our interview with the author.

 

Tell us about your book cover! What was the cover design process like for you?

My career has been in brand marketing, so I had a lot of fun with the design process. My years working with graphics agencies around the world means that I love collaborating with designers. For Goodbye, Orchid, designer Kellie Emery was inspired by the main character’s name, Orchid Paige, and splashed orchids across the front cover. Then, she shattered the orchids to represent the physical and emotional shattering of the characters. Sarah Flood-Baumann built on this to have the petals blossom on my prequel Orchid Blooming and sequel Always Orchid.

It’s been exciting for their work on this series to be recognized by these cover awards: 2023 Book Excellence Award for Best Cover Design, 2021 American Advertising Book Cover Gold Medal Addy – Hampton Roads branch, 2020 Royal Dragonfly 1st Place Cover Design.

All three books feature a hidden design detail. There are orchids depicted on the bottom right corner of every page. Flip through the paperback or hardcover to see the orchids appear to shatter or blossom until you get to the depths of the story, then they visually come together for the emotionally satisfying ending. It’s a flip book feature that you can see here. The Book Excellence Award honored this innovation with a 1st Place Interior Design award! 


What inspired you to write the Goodbye, Orchid trilogy and how does it feel to be closing the chapter on Orchid’s story?

It’s been 10 years since I was first inspired by wounded veterans to start the Goodbye, Orchid series. I’ve lived with these characters for so long that it’s not easy to say goodbye. They’ll stay with me always, as well as the readers that I’ve met along the way. 

It’s been incredibly rewarding to hear from veterans, such as Purple Heart-decorated author Sgt Bryan Anderson, that they feel seen on the pages of my writing. These wonderful reviews help me feel that the Goodbye, Orchid series has accomplished what it set out to do: to inspire hope and empathy!

In three words, what can readers expect from Always Orchid?

Fierce. Heartwarming. Twists!

Cover design is constantly changing and evolving. Is there a current trend in covers that you enjoy? What do you think is the secret to a good book cover?

I write a column for DIY MFA in which I predict book cover trends each year. This year, I highlighted the Pantone Color of the Year, Viva Magenta, a bold hue that connotes strength and joy. Always Orchid is dressed in a shade of magenta, which perfectly captures the characters’ resilience and care. We even selected the color before Pantone’s announcement!

Good book covers need to be both eye-catching and intriguing; finding that balance is a designer’s “secret sauce.” The designer for Always Orchid delivered this beautifully by drawing the viewer into a gorgeous set of orchids and then creating dynamism by exploding petals toward the reader.

What books do you recommend we pick up while we wait for Always Orchid to hit shelves on October 24?

I adored Gabrielle Zevin’s Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow and am now devouring her previous books! 

 

Now, let’s get our first peek at Always Orchid!

Cover Designer: Sarah Flood-Baumann

Here’s the official summary for Always Orchid:

He almost let her go. Her past could tear them apart. But a love like theirs is worth fighting for…

Phoenix Walker will never be the same. Nine months after a heroic act leaves him forever changed, he refuses to hurt Orchid Paige ever again.

Orchid is ready to forgive. Convincing her guy she still loves him, no matter his injuries, she works to rebuild their intimacy. But their move to her family’s ancestral country unveils China’s superstitions against people with disabilities. Worse, their friend’s life has been upended by those prejudices.

Will Phoenix and Orchid find a way to beat the odds and turn discrimination into acceptance?

Always Orchid is the riveting third book in the Goodbye, Orchid contemporary fiction series. If you like relatable characters, surprising twists, and stories that pull on your emotions, then you’ll love award-winning author Carol Van Den Hende’s journey to unconditional acceptance.

CAROL VAN DEN HENDE is the award-winning author of the Goodbye, Orchid series which won 20+ literary awards including the American Fiction Award, Pinnacle Achievement Award, IAN for Best First Novel, two Royal Dragonfly’s, and Kops-Fetherling Award. When she’s not penning stories of resilience and hope, Carol applies her MBA to global marketing and digital strategy (in chocolate, sweet!).

She’s also a public speaker, who’s presented at Writers’ Digest, Women Who Write, IBPA, NJ’s Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, Novelists’ Inc, Rutgers Writers’ Conference and more.

Carol is active in her community, as a Climate Reality Leader, as a Board Trustee, and by raising funds for non-profits like USA Cares.

One secret to her good fortune? Her humorous husband and twins, who prove that love really does conquer all.

Stuff Your Shelves

Kelly Gallucci

Kelly Gallucci is the Executive Editor of We Are Bookish, where she oversees the editorial content, offers book recommendations, and interviews authors and NetGalley members. When she's not working, Kelly can be found color coordinating her bookshelves, eating Chipotle, and watching way too many baking shows.

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