Category: 2021

[Cover design by Robin Ludwig Design Inc.
www.gobookcoverdesign.com ]

Most of you probably know that I’ve been struggling with the cover design for IBwaD (It Began with a Dream). I love designing my own covers, but, honestly, I’m not a professional. I’ve reached the point where I’ve been pushed to acknowledge that my own designs look too amateur. Effectively, they’re holding my books back. So, I’ve been in the process of scouting cover artists to redo / create these covers for me. I made six prototypes covers for IBwaD, but none of them tested well.

I came across the website I linked to above via another author’s blog post. I fell (to use the idiom) head over heels for one of the premade covers. It fits Domes (WIP) phenomenally well. You’ll see that cover next year. After scrolling through her designs more thoroughly, I picked the above design for IBwaD. After making so many of my own prototypes, it’s harder for me to mentally take a step back and give that degree of creative authority to someone else for IBwaD. That being said, this design fits the themes of the book. It also fits a good number of scenes. I do appreciate it. And I am excited to finally reveal the official cover! 🙂

But it’s another level of humility to acknowledge that my own designs were not able to do enough for this book. I’ll leave the prototypes where you can already find them on the site. I’m actually considering doing a separate post to walk you all through the process and how I came to this decision. I’ve also resolved to redesign my former covers. I’m working with a different artist for Into the Unknown. I’m debating using another of Robin’s designs for Will to Speak (or maybe doing a custom one). Victim is up in the air right now.

This book release has been a wild ride. It was supposed to be out in May (whoops). I want to get it out before November, so hopefully it’ll be released in the next few days. Everything else has been done for a while now – I just needed more time for the cover.

Book launch in 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . .

What is this review? Why would you copy a four star review and give me five stars? Am I going to get one of those extorting DMs later? Like “pay me or I’ll make it a one star”? Or is this a bot? Please don’t penalize me for it Amazon.

Just. . . . Why?

Ignore this post if you’re not interesting in watching me fail at navigating wordpress. It’s essentially housekeeping.

I added a new page today to make my site inclusive of the painting I do on Youtube. The problem? It seems to have disappeared into the ether. I have a link:

Artwork

The wordpress program recognizes it. Maybe the page will appear on its own? I hope so. I also went through and put my pages in order, but that seems to have no effect on how they display. I’m too tired for this today. . . . . . . . .

For fun 🙂

Or for the why not of it?

Disclaimer: I did not create Maze (Mazikeen). I’ve been watching Lucifer on Netflix.

Here goes:

 

(Setting: random dive bar)

Maze looked up from reading my twitter feed. I was already weary of the harsh look on her face.

“Did you really do that? Ask a bunch of drunks how to fill in plot holes?” She demanded.

“Yes. I did that sometimes when I lived abroad.” I explained, wondering how Linda must feel. Admittedly, maybe that wasn’t normal human behavior. Some of my human friends also think it’s strange that I find it so easy to approach people. Maze looked like she was rolling her tongue, chewing mildly on the inside of her lip.

“So, how’d you do it?” She asked.

“Well, I don’t drink.” I started, getting ready to explain–

“Yeah, I noticed.” She interrupted, eying my cranberry juice. I tried not to hold that against her as I resumed:

“So, I pay attention to people’s energy in how they carry themselves. For example, yours screams that you don’t want to be messed with. And, if I did mess with you, that I’d regret it.”

“Yeah, that’s right.” She agreed, nodding with a subtle, demonic grin.

“Well, I pick a group, or person, with very amicable energy. Then I absorb that feeling and approach them with some type of lead in or introduction. From there, I would basically just pitch the problem scenario and see what they say.” I explained, confident that I’d handled it well enough. Maze was nodding at me like an ardent sage.

“I want to do that.” She decided. I raised both eyebrows and gave her my best surprised face.

“You?” I asked.

“Yeah, sure.” She shrugged. “Why not?”

“Uh. . .”

“My show has plenty of plot holes.” She took a big swig from her drink and slammed it back on the table. I watched her storm theatrically (in a hyper-masculine manner) away from where I sat. She approached a group of college-aged brits.

“I’m absorbing your energies.” She declared loudly, domineering her shoulders and stance like a drunk dude-bro. “And I have a problem.”

I facepalmed in the background.

Almost, Maze. Almost.