In her debut novel People Are Talking, Amanda Eisenberg introduces readers to Mallory Shepard, an author trying to figure out the plot of her second novel while attending a wedding filled with broken relationships that aren’t ready to be mended. As six former friends and flames reunite in an overcrowded rental space, tensions rise, and old confrontations break the new norm.
Eisenberg has spent her career writing about healthcare access and sexual misconduct for outlets like Politico, InStyle, and the Washington Post and her debut novel is available for pre-order now. People Are Talking will be published by Three Rooms Press on April 22, 2025.
Debutiful is proud to give readers a first look at the intriguing cover of People Are Talking, designed by Kat Georges. See the cover below and get a behind-the-scenes look at how the cover came to be with a short Q&A with author Amanda Eisenberg.
The cover was designed by Kate Georges.
While writing the book, did you have any ideas for what you wanted the cover to look like?
Throughout the writing process I’d go to my local McNally Jackson and peruse the shelves for cover inspiration. I have an album on my phone of covers I like and found that a few similar things consistently draw me in.
Can you explain what the design process was like once you started working with your publishing team?
I met with my publishing team to talk about the covers I like and the elements that could be replicated for my book cover. I showed them this list of books that I liked. I loved the humor of The Wedding People, blue and green shades, and a script font (there’s a plot about handwritten notes, so it seemed apt). My designer knocked it out of the park with the cover. My first thought when I saw it was how beautiful the cover looked.
What was it like seeing your finalized cover for the first time?
I’m sure I started gawking at my phone when I opened the email with my cover in it. I sent it to my mom and then called her so we could celebrate together!
How does the cover work to convey what the contents of the book are?
Mal, one of my protagonists, is trying to pump her ex-college friends for information about an incident that tore their group apart. She’s recording calls and taking notes. Dani, our other protagonist, is also plotting to bring the group back together — while furthering her political ambitions along the way. There’s a lot of scheming happening over the phone.