Posted on 11 Comments

Donal Ryan’s “Flores Extrañas” (Strange Flowers)

Donal Ryan's "Strange Flowers" (Flores extranses).

I am delighted to have another of my painting adapted for a novel cover by an Irish writer. This time my painting “Cottage on Bunbeg Harbour” (2019) has been used for the Spanish translation of  Donal Ryan’s “Strange Flowers” or rather “Flores Extrañas”. I have started reading the original and I am  thoroughly enjoying it. It was a best-seller and won An Post Irish Novel of the Year 2020 & was longlisted for the International Dublin Literary Award too!

Here below, is my original painting so you can see how it has been adapted by the publishers.

Bunbeg Cottage Donegal Ireland
Cottage on Harbour Road, Bunbeg_Emma Cownie (Private Collection)

Here is the proposed cover below; the white background is in the house style of the Spanish publishers. I think it looks really impressive.

Donal Ryan's "Strange Flowers" (Flores extranses).
Donal Ryan’s “Strange Flowers” (Flores Extranas).

Reviews of Strange Flowers can be read below (I haven’t read them yet as I dont want to ruin any surprises)

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/sep/02/strange-flowers-by-donal-ryan-review-a-compassionate-tale-of-homecoming

https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/436335/strange-flowers-by-ryan-donal/9781784163044

Not a long way to go

Other book covers using my work:-  

Claire Keegan’s “Foster” – read more here

Eugene Vesey, “Opposite Worlds” – back cover – read more here  

11 thoughts on “Donal Ryan’s “Flores Extrañas” (Strange Flowers)

  1. How wonderful Emma! It looks great, congratulations!

    1. Thank you so much Katherine

  2. Cangratulations & so well deserved.

    1. Thank you so much Cindy

  3. Congratulations! I love this illustration. I feel like I could walk right into it.

    1. Thank you Annabelle. The painting was pretty small (25x30cm) so it was quite easy to include so much detail. I particularly liked painting the greenery. I enjoy painting hedges for some reason.

  4. Congratulations Emma, that is wonderful to see your work used for these novels!

    1. Thank you, Leonie. I am delighted to have my work associated with these writers work. Its quite an honour.

  5. That’s super, Emma. Congratulations to you and to the writer.

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