From: Penny Love Struck
First of all I would like to say I love your work. I enjoy the way your descriptions are so plainly realistic. I see things in the same way, or rather I find myself feeling the same way in certain situations (in other words it all seems very believable); however, I actually wrote you to ask about the photograph on the cover of The Blue Place. I recognized that the woman in the photograph looked a lot like or in fact is Kam Heskin. I know this seems a little random, but I am sure you haven’t been able to find an answer before, right? I hope that at least you can sympathize with me. It is driving me crazy, I have tried to look it up but I can’t find it anywhere… I just need to know to know. Unfortunately I have no other pressing subjects to broach or inquire about. I hope this hasn’t taken up too much or your time or annoyed you to madness. Thanks ever so much, pLs
I’ve been asked this question a hundred times over the last twelve years and, sadly, my answer remains the same: I don’t know who the model is, I don’t have her phone number, and I can’t get her email address.
Having said all that, Kam Heskin certainly looks like a possibility. But your guess is as good as mine.
It’s odd, I haven’t published an Aud novel for three years, but I’ve had a surge in email about TBP (and Stay and Always)–including yet another enquiry from a Humongous Huggywood Agency regarding film/TV rights. It must be spring…
Nicola Griffith 
God damn it is a nice cover though.
It is.
I contacted the photographer – Tim Francis – and asked if he knew the name of the model for the cover of The Blue Place. His response:
Hi,
The shoot was a long time ago, and the girl was with Willy here in New York City.
best,
Tim
Okay, then. So any guesses?
Kam Heskin was actually with Wilhelmina Models Agency in NY around the time that the cover would've been shot. I'm sure that someone at WMA would know (or know how to find out). Got any friends with WMA?
No, no friends (that I know of) at WMA. It will have to remain a mystery for now. But a fun one. Thanks for ferreting out the info.
TBP would be such an incredible movie! Hell, all of your books could make great cinema. I'd give a kidney (not mine) to see Ammonite on the big screen :)
I'm sure Hollywood would do a great job on TBP! First, they'd turn Aud into a guy so that audiences could identify with her better. (Failing that, they'd make her straight. Angelina Jolie could play here, and Julia — changed to Jules — would be Brad Pitt.) They'd film it in LA because crossing the country to film in Atlanta (let alone Norway!) would be too expensive. And voila! another masterpiece of the cinema.
To complete the ridiculousness, I vote for Clint Eastwood in the starring role.
Perfect! And Julia wouldn't die at the end. That's such a downer. Hollywood doesn't like downers. For example:
“Thus, for example, Melissa Roddy, a Los Angeles film-maker with inside information from the Charlie Wilson production team, notes that the film's happy ending came about because Tom Hanks, a co-producer as well as the leading actor, 'just can't deal with this 9/11 thing.'”
It is Kam Heskin. Here is the original photo…
http://www.sendspace.com/file/4zaxiv
Wow, it looks pretty different there. And she has feet! (Well, boots…) Many thanks.