COVER YOUR ASSETS
August 15, 2013 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives tagged as artists, covers, graphic artists
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| My most recent cover with Caitlin |
Your book is your biggest asset. You’ve spent months writing, editing, and polishing. Now it’s time to design a cover and that is a critical step in creating a commercially successful novel.
Caitlin Proctor has been my artistic ‘partner in crime’ for my best selling witness series and some of my single title novels. I love working with her for many reasons, not the least of which is that she asks questions about my vision before she starts to design.
I thought I’d turn the tables and ask a few questions of my own. Hopefully, her answers will help you when it’s time to choose a graphic artist.
1) When should an author to contact a graphic artist ?
An artist should welcome consultations at any time. Planning ahead and getting something on the calendar cuts out frustration for both the author and the designer. However, the editing phase is generally a good time to get started.
2) What questions should an author be prepared to answer when talking with an artist?
I like to discuss my process and what deadlines we are working with. After that, I get a book description from authors over the phone so I can hear how they talk about their book. This gives me a feeling for the personality of not only the author but their work as well. Then I send a questionnaire. This covers everything from book size, genre and description, and examples of covers the author likes and dislikes with reasons why. This may feel like homework, but it’s an essential exercise when establishing a working foundation.
3) Do you choose a cover image or should the author have one in mind?
I welcome all ideas for images, and I imagine other designers do also. I may not be able to use the one the author has for technical reasons, but it gives me more direction. There are a lot of factors to consider when choosing images such as; how it fits on the cover, is it vertical or horizontal, what focal point is created, does it play nicely with type etc. If the author’s image doesn’t work, I can usually find a similar one that does.
4) Cost is a concern. Can you break down the steps you take to create a cover and prepare it for publication?
Sometimes it is hard for authors to justify spending the money on a cover. The truth is, the cover is your reader’s first impression of your work. If done professionally, it will create intrigue as well as creditability to your work. If done poorly, your book can be overlooked or dismissed. That’s why I take a lot of thought and time with my covers so the author’s work is well represented. Here are some of the steps to my process:
1) Consultation
2) Questionnaire
3) Research competition in the same genre
4) Paper sketching (symbolism and overall theme).
5) Computer design (images/illustration, text and form).
6) Send up to three comp
7) Author input and choices for cover elements
8) Final cover for digital
9) Back cover input for print
5) Is it beneficial or detrimental for an author to send examples of covers she loves?
I like to see a minimum of 5 covers the author likes and 5 they dislike I ask for the cover images or links to be sent with a bit of input. For example: I love this cover because it is simple and the title jumps out. Or, I like the color choice. Or, I love this image but not this font etc. I think most designers would find this input beneficial.
6) Beyond Malice is one of my favorite covers. Take us through the creation.
Beyond Malice’s cover has a classy vintage feel with modern design elements. The upside down image forces the reader’s eye to travel down. Most of the image color was removed so the knife wound became the focal point. This leads your eyes directly to the title and then travels down to our victim’s eyes. From the time your eyes circle from the knife wound to the title to the victim, a short story has already been told.
To see more of Caitlin’s work:
Cosmo Red-Hot Read from Harlequin: NAKED SUSHI gets a Cover
August 11, 2013 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives tagged as computer programmer, Cosmo, cover, female, glasses, Harlequin, model, Naked Sushi, Red-Hot Reads, spyI’m a Cosmo Cover Girl!!
Well, not really, but I feel like one. The glam cover shoot, the publicity, the magazine ads, and the video:
I love this video — I especially love the Cosmo model with the glasses. Did you see her? When I saw her I said, “That’s my Pepper!!” (She reminds me of my heroine in NAKED SUSHI–she appears about 20 seconds into the video.) She’s a fun, fearless female as befits the Cosmo brand touted in their magazine.
I may not be a Cosmo Cover Girl, but I am a Fun, Fearless Female.
I never would have gotten this far if I wasn’t.
How ’bout you? Are you a fun, fearless female?
—————
NAKED SUSHI (from Harlequin.com RED-HOT READS Page
A Delicious Mistake
One day I’m getting canned from my job as a computer programmer for having wild copy-room sex with a guy I thought was the new game designer. The next, I’m crashing my ex-boss’s business lunch in a creative attempt to get my job back and men are eating sushi off my naked body!
That’s when I realize a) My ex-boss is a hiding corporate secrets b) Hot copy-room guy is an undercover FBI agent c) I would make a kick-ass spy!
Then Special Agent Hottie brings out his cuffs, and things get really interesting…
Copyright © 2013 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited
Cover copy text used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited.
Romance Novel Convention – and Free Book
August 9, 2013 by A Slice of Orange in category Archives tagged as It's Worth It, Kitty Bucholtz, Unexpected SuperheroAdventures in Vegas
Today I’m at the Romance Novel Convention in Las Vegas. It’s been an exciting adventure so far! But not necessarily all good. To start out, our poor little car died four miles from the hotel. FOUR MILES! See the picture on my Facebook Author Page.
By the time I realized that it didn’t just need to cool down, it needed professional help (no comments on that, please!), the local garages had all closed. I’ve been a AAA member since I got my driver’s license, and for the first time in 27 years, they couldn’t help me. I was shocked and starting to get a little panicky because I came to town alone.
But God, my awesome personal superhero, came to my rescue! A couple of friends helped me figure out a game plan and I got to my hotel with a change of clothes and my laptop, leaving the car and all my belongings where they were. The next morning, my brother called me out of the blue (anyone want to rent a Wyndham timeshare in Vegas for Labor Day weekend? He’s got one available that they can’t use) and suddenly my big brother was at my rescue again. I felt like I was 16! It was wonderful!
Rescued!
Several of my friends were praying hard for everything to turn out okay and it did! One sent money to take care of unexpected expenses. My brother told the auto repair facility that he wanted to pay for the car repairs. (I should get the fixed car back any moment! Woo-hoo!!) The AAA guys were super friendly and unloaded all my stuff into their courtesy shuttle and got me and all my boxes of books to my hotel.
And then when the convention started, I immediately met several people that I’m so glad I found! Another Christian woman who is also trying to entertain her readers while keeping her stories in her own world view; a sweet model with the nicest smile who I hope to work with on my next book cover; a really nice, smart woman who started up her own marketing firm for writers; and a woman who makes covers I adore! Plus I’m finally able to take time to get to know another friend a lot better. I’m so excited!
Saturday is the book signing, so if you’ll be in Vegas, stop by the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino on Fremont Street from 11am to 2pm. Then I’ll be at the Author/Reader Meet and Greet from 3 to 5.
Book Signing in Traverse City
I’m excited to announce that I’ve confirmed another book signing! This one will be Saturday, September 7th from 3 to 4pm at Horizon Books in Traverse City, Michigan. This signing will be particularly special because I grew up with my mom taking us to Horizon Books every time we went to town, whether we needed something or not. This is practically a childhood dream come true! (I’d never dared to dream as a child that I could grow up to be an author one day.)
Unexpected Superhero is Free
Remember – and tell all your friends – that Unexpected Superhero will be available for free for five days starting this Saturday, August 10! Woo-hooo!!!
It’s a Kindle exclusive now, so you need a Kindle or a Kindle app. (I found out the new Nook now has a Kindle app on it! And you can download one for your iPad or smart phone as well as your computer.) I hope to have the book loaded up on all the other ebook vendor sites (Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, Sony, iTunes, Kobo, etc.) on Labor Day weekend. It may show up a few days (or weeks, for Apple) later, but keep an eye out for it.
Happy Reading!
Kitty Bucholtz decided to combine her undergraduate degree in business, her years of experience in accounting and finance, and her graduate degree in creative writing to become a writer-turned-independent-publisher. Her first novel, Little Miss Lovesick, came out in 2011. Her new novel, Unexpected Superhero, book one in The Adventures of Lewis & Clarke humorous urban fantasy series, is now available in print and ebook format. Love at the Fluff and Fold, book one in The Strays of Loon Lake romantic comedy series, will be released later this summer. Her short stories can be found in the anthologies Romancing the Pages and Moonlit Encounters, available in both print and ebook formats.
August Already
August 6, 2013 by Linda O. Johnston in category Pets, Romance & Lots of Suspense by Linda O. Johnston tagged as 2013 National RWA Conference, Harlequin, Linda O. Johnston
Is it really August already? Every year goes fast, but this one seems to be particularly quick!
I want to thank our delightful prez, Louisa Bacio, AKA Marie Loggia-Kee, for putting my picture up on her blog post this month on A Slice of Orange. Yes, I was at RWA National in Atlanta and had a wonderful time. I came back inspired, with a whole lot to do, and I’ve dug into it with gusto!
I’m really excited about this month’s meeting, too. If it wasn’t enough to see some of the outstanding Harlequin editors at the national conference, we get to see two of them right here, at OCC, next Saturday. They’ll be discussing Publishing Strategy and Digital Publishing for You–both topics in which I’ve got a lot of interest, and I’m sure many of you do, too.
So… think about how you’re going to spend the rest of this year, and I hope to see you on Saturday!
Linda O. Johnston
http://www.lindaojohnston.com/
OCCRWA August 2013 Online Class: Symbols with Marcy Weydemuller
July 26, 2013 by A Slice of Orange in category ArchivesOCCRWA Proudly Presents: 
August 12 – September 9, 2013
SYMBOLS
with Marcy Weydemuller
About the Class:
Many symbols are universal but can be interpreted in different ways. In one culture white is considered virginal and pure, and in another it represents death. We’ll examine ways we can discover the concepts inherent in our stories and look at how to develop them to bridge divides, or explore the confrontations when they can add depth to our characters or plots. What mythic metaphors resonant like music? What symbolic language do they share? How do they weave their magic into our stories and how can we use them to highlight magical elements in ours?
About the Instructor:
Marcy Weydemuller has twenty years experience writing, mentoring and teaching, both in fiction and non-fiction. She has a BA in History and Sociology, and an MFA in Writing, with a special focus on fantasy and poetry. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators, the Christian Editor Network and Christian Manuscript Critique Service. Her freelance edit services include as a reader feedback, a substantive editor, and as a manuscript analyst. Projects have included historical fiction, YA contemporary, middle-readers—historical and contemporary, suspense-mystery, woman’s romance and memoir.
For enrollment information, please click the link here.
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