covers

Someone Else on My Blog is Feeling Pretty!

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So last week I revealed that someone got a bit of a nip-tuck, which happened while I was commissioning art for the Aunty Ida sequel. And after I got that beautiful artwork, I sent Ralf Jürgen Kraft, the artist, the finished cover.

He had a few suggestions. And they were gorgeous.

In all that, someone got a little bit left out. And I didn’t want anyone to feel left out, so Aunty Ida’s Full-Service Mental Institution (by Invitation Only) got a bit of a sprucer as well. I can’t believe I’ve managed not to share this for so long, but I wanted to save it until I was ready to show you the cover for the new book. Well, we’re nearly there, so here is Aunty Ida, all refreshed:
Ida1
The cover isn’t live yet on Amazon, that might take a day or two, but I couldn’t stand to keep it to myself even a little longer. I think that it shows a very valuable lesson: leave the arting to the artists.
I was lucky to find Ralf, who really gets my quirky, offbeat, slightly unsettling and kind of weird aesthetic. Of course the first piece I bought from him, the image in the cover above, pretty much summed up the book, and that was as stock art. Now I have him to specifically brainstorm for the book itself.
Wait until you see the sequel cover. It’s amazing.
I am sure there are authors out there who get it right out of the gate, but for me, this cover business has been quite a process, mostly trial and error. Hopefully, now, I’ve finally got it.
Check out  Her Cousin Much Removed,  The Great Paradox and the Innies and Outies of Time Management and Aunty Ida’s Full-Service Mental Institution (by Invitation Only). Sign up for my spamless newsletter. And download Better Living Through GRAVY and Other Oddities, it’s free!

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Somebody Got Plastic Surgery

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Nope, it’s not me. One of my covers went under the knife and it’s time for the big cover reveal! So which one was it?

It’s The Great Paradox and the Innies and Outies of Time Management. Paradox, as I fondly call it, has had may nips and tucks over the years, as the feeling of the book is tough to convey. Like all of my science-fiction, it’s funny and it’s a little off-kilter, and it’s been a tough one to get right.

Its previous cover was nice, I thought, and for a very bargain price, the cover designer used some stock art I had already bought. But I don’t think it gave you a sense of the book, though it did get the whole, extremely long title in there nicely.

I don’t know what my thing is about long titles.

Anyway here is the previous cover for Paradox:

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It’s not bad, but it wasn’t perfect, either. It was a great job for the price, though.

But then I found Ralf Jürgen Kraft, whose art I purchased for Aunty Ida’s Full-Service Mental Institution (by Invitation Only) through a stock site. And when I say “found,” I mean scoured the internet until I found his website using Extreme Googling, only to discover the site was in German. Still, I managed to figure out where to get his contact information, and I’m thrilled I did.

I originally contacted Ralf about a commission for the book I’m announcing tomorrow, and he did such a good job, I was signing Paradox up for the full works before I knew it.

And imaginary drum roll in your head, please, here is Paradox‘s brand-new cover:

Paradox Ralf Kraft

All of the artwork is original, and the concept is entirely Ralf’s. The new cover should be live in just a little while, so get it while it’s shiny. Thanks, Ralf, for a great job.

Check out  Her Cousin Much Removed (only $0.99 for a limited time),  The Great Paradox and the Innies and Outies of Time Management and Aunty Ida’s Full-Service Mental Institution (by Invitation Only).

 Sign up for my spamless newsletter. And download Better Living Through GRAVY and Other Oddities, it’s free!

 

Covering Covers, or the Eternal Struggle

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Just a reminder, my cozy mystery, Her Cousin, Much Removed is a bargain-priced $0.99 on a Kindle Countdown Deal, so get it before the hours tick away. Too late for Delenda, but for that you’ll have to read the book.

So one of the eternal issues in being an indie writer is your book’s face, and by that, of course, I mean the cover. One of my books got a face lift, which when you think about it, is a very strange combination of words, but that’s not the point. I’ll be sharing the new cover with you tomorrow.

It’s difficult to find the right balance, one that fits your idea of the book, and one that will attract eyeballs, all while on a budget. Because we are all on a budget, aren’t we? And if you’re not, please contact me to let me know your secrets, because that’s good too.

I’ve spent a lot of time with covers, I’ve had various forms and versions, and a ton of trial and even more error. Will the new cover do it? We’ll have to see.

While I’ve worked with artists before, mostly with design and stock art, this time, the artist did everything. He even created the concept, as I could not figure out a way to convey the feeling of the book. I think he did an amazing job, but you’ll just have to come back tomorrow and see what you think.

For the other indie authors out there, have you worked with cover artists? What has been your experience? Have you cultivated a relationship with an artist? Do you do your own art?

Check out   The Great Paradox and the Innies and Outies of Time Management and Aunty Ida’s Full-Service Mental Institution (by Invitation Only).

 Sign up for my spamless newsletter. And download Better Living Through GRAVY and Other Oddities, it’s free!

 

 

30 Days of No Gossip? Don’t Know If I Could…

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I haven’t done a book post in a while, so why today? Author Stephanie Faris stopped by on her blog hop celebrating the reveal of her new cover:

 

 

 

 

Cute, right? Well, the new book’s not available until 2015–crazy to write that date and yet have it be so close–so I figured I’d feature her first book with an equally adorable cover. Could you go 30 days without gossip? I hate to admit it, but I’d probably have a hard time. Maybe this one’s not just for ages 9-13.

30 Days of No Gossipby Stephanie Faris. Amazon for $5.98. Can a middle school gossip queen change her ways, or will she lose her BFF for good? Find out in this M!X original novel.

Maddie Evans prides herself on being the gossip queen of Troy Middle School. She is the first person her classmates go to when they need the latest news on the ins-and-outs of TMS—and Maddie never disappoints.

Her best friend since birth, Vi, isn’t crazy about Maddie’s penchant for passing on rumors, but it’s never been an issue in their friendship. Until the day Maddie lets slip who Vi is crushing on—in front of her crush.

Vi is furious, and she confronts Maddie with an ultimatum: no gossip for 30 days, or twelve years of sisterhood goes down the drain.

Maddie agrees, but only a week into the challenge, she gets one of the juiciest pieces of gossip EVER—something that could affect the future of the school. Will she be able to keep her mouth shut and tame her ways? Or will she be left standing alone with no one to hear her stories?

Check out Her Cousin Much Removed, it’s FREE today!

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