Giveaway!

Here a chance to win a free copy of my upcoming novel, Fire Horse.  Leave a comment over at Stumbling Over Chaos and your name goes into the drawing.

Here's the link to this most interesting blog: http://www.stumblingoverchaos.com/archives/23141

Coming Soon!

I'm so excited to share the gorgeous cover Anne Cain created for my upcoming release, Fire Horse.  The novel will be available on April 12 and should be appearing in the Coming Soon section at Dreamspinner Press within 24 hours. More announcements to follow..

 Blurb:

Preston Fawkes is ten the first time he meets fifteen-year-old Konrad Schnell at the San Antonio Polo Club.  Captivated by the mystique surrounding the sport of kings, Pres vows to learn the game at the hands of his newly acquired friend and mentor.  The hero worship soon grows into something deeper, but the friends are separated when Preston goes off to boarding school in England. 

The relationship that follows is riddled with challenges―their age gap, physical distance, and parental pressure taking precedence over feelings yet to be explored.  Although their bond goes deep, they deal with the reality of their situation differently: Preston is open and fearless while Konrad is reticent and all too aware of the social implications of making a public stand. 

Their paths intersect and twine, binding them as tightly as a cowboy’s lasso, but fate may alter their plans.  How will love overcome the divots in the turf as they gallop toward the future—one where obstacles no longer stand in their way?

"Fire Horse" is now on the Dreamspinner Press' Coming Soon page: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/upcoming_products.php

Winner!

The lucky winner of last month's cover artist post is Jianni Carlo.  Please email me at
mickie.ashling@gmail.com to claim your prize.  The $25.00 Dreamspinner Press gift certificate will be added to your bookshelf.  If you don't have an account, you need to create one. Thanks for participating in Lex Valentine's post!

Behind The Cover Art

How often have you seen this comment by readers? “I was drawn to the book because of the beautiful cover.” Or sometimes, you see this. “The story was great, but I almost didn’t pick it up because of the ugly cover!”

Writers labor over a manuscript for weeks, months, and sometimes, years. Once it’s accepted by a publisher, their “baby” goes through several processes before it finally hits the shelves. One of the most stressful of these steps is choosing a book cover. First, you have to decide which artist will be able to bring your vision to life. Do you want it drawn or Photoshopped? Do you have a preference for colors? Should there be nudity, or should we take a more subtle approach? What type of background did you envision? What do your main characters look like? Did you wish to convey passionate love or not? The questions are endless, and most writers provide more information than necessary. It takes a skilled artist to sift through the jumble of words and pull out the key elements of the story to create the perfect cover to showcase our work.

Join me in acknowledging the men and women who provide their expertise to make our cover art the best it can be. Other than the initial round of applause when a book releases, they don’t get enough kudos, and I'm hoping to change that. Each month I’m going to showcase a new cover artist to give them the online time they deserve. It’ll also serve as an opportunity for you, the reader, writer, publisher, and aspiring artist, to pick their brain. Feel free to comment and ask questions. At the end of each month, one winner will be drawn from the list of visitors to win a $25.00 gift certificate from Dreamspinner Press or another special prize.


It's my pleasure to present Paul Richmond as this months featured cover artist.

1.  How did you get started in the cover art business?

In 2009, my friend Jane Seville asked if I would be interested in illustrating the cover for her upcoming novel, Zero at the Bone. At that time, I was just starting to exhibit some of my LGBT-themed paintings, and I was eager to branch out into illustration because that was my major in school. I had a blast doing her cover and was thrilled when Dreamspinner Press invited me to do more. Now here we are today, over 200 covers later…

2.  When I finished writing my historical, Mayon, you came to mind for the cover.  I wanted something different and unique to my story, but I was worried that I’d have little input because you would be drawing and not photo shopping.  Now, I know that’s not true, but I’d like you to share your method with our readers so anyone contemplating a drawn cover can rest assured that there is wiggle room.

Wiggle room is actually one of the biggest advantages of drawn covers. And I’m an expert wiggler! Since I am making it from scratch rather than relying on what I can find on stock photo sites, it allows for a more customized look. This works really well for certain themes and genres, especially historical and fantasy novels. I always do a sketch first based on the author’s spec and then run it by them for input before I start rendering it. That way I can be sure to get it just right.

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3.  Are your covers painted on canvas and then transferred to the computer through techno magic?  How does it work?  

Yep, techno magic! LOL! Actually, I have a variety of techniques I use. Some are traditional like paint on canvas, and others are entirely digital. I’m always much more interested in the story being told than what technique I’m using to tell it, so I will mix it up or combine things as needed until I get the right look. Throw in a little “abcracadabra, presto-chango” and that’s how a Paul Richmond cover is born!

4.   Without naming names, have you ever thrown up your hands, and screamed FORGETABOUTIT in the privacy of your studio?  How do you deal with a diva author who demands what you can’t or don’t want to deliver?  Just curious...

 

As much as I worship Cher and Madonna, I’m also grateful that Dreamspinner promotes a very collaborative environment with little room for diva tantrums.  I’ve worked with a number of publishers over the years, and I have never encountered one that values author input as much as Dreamspinner does. So many publishers don’t even consult with authors at all, whereas we bend over backwards to try and make sure we are representing each author’s novel in the best possible light. Covers do help sell novels, so it benefits everyone ultimately. And it is a back and forth process because we have certain insights about what will sell a book, and that may differ from what the author initially envisioned. But to answer your question, even the most challenging experiences I’ve had with authors aren’t nearly as bad as the best of days when I worked as a corporate drone in a gray cloth-lined cubicle for a mainstream publisher. So you won’t ever hear me complaining!

5.  Is there any truth to the rumor that drawn covers don’t attract the buyers as well as the photo-shopped ones?  If so, why?

Sometimes photo-based covers do sell better, but it really comes down to what will best represent the novel. I do both kinds of covers myself, and there are times when I have suggested switching from one to the other based on the subject matter.

6.  Many of us know Paul Richmond, artist extraordinaire, and current Associate Art Director at Dreamspinner Press, but not too many know Paul, the staunch advocate of LGBT rights.  Tell us about the current charity/project that’s near and dear to your heart.  Feel free to add links if  reader would like to learn more. 

My partner, Dennis, and I have recently gotten involved with an organization called Marriage Evolved. We will be one of 25 couples going to Washington DC with them in June to get married on the steps of the US Supreme Court. It’s part of a grassroots movement to raise awareness about the importance of marriage equality here in our home state of Ohio as well as on a national level. When we return to Columbus, we will be participating in a variety of events throughout Pride weekend including the parade and a special cake-cutting ceremony with one of our favorite drag queens! Who could ask for a more memorable wedding?  If you’d like to learn more about it and contribute to the cause, visit http://cbusoflove.com. You can also read our wedding bio there. 

7.   Would you like to share any recent awards that made your day.

 

I’m always honored to have any of my covers recognized in the Rainbow Awards, especially with so many incredible artists working in this genre now. It also makes my day to see how many of our other fabulous Dreamspinner artists are represented there too. I know how hard they all work throughout the year, so it’s wonderful to see their talents appreciated. I am so inspired by the amazing group of people I get to work with on a daily basis! Rainbow Awards time is also fun for me because I get to see the little undie-flashing mascot I painted for Elisa pop up all over the place.

8.  Do you continue to paint and sell your art in studios or have you given that up to devote your time to Dreamspinner Press? 

I definitely still paint. I did take some time off after my latest show in July because I wanted to focus on my new role as the Associate Art Director for Dreamspinner, and also because Dennis and I just bought a house. But I have a million ideas stored up and will be back in front of the easel in no time!

9.  If you’re still painting, who carries most of your work?  Where are they located?

I’m represented by the Lyman-Eyer Gallery in Provincetown: 

 http://www.lymaneyerart.com/

     10.  Can you freelance?  How would a self-published author commission a cover?

I certainly could freelance, but my work keeps me so busy that I’m not taking on any additional cover commissions at this time. If you’d like me to do your cover, my advice is submit your novel to Dreamspinner. 

11. Where do you see yourself five years from now?

Hopefully doing what I’m doing right now! I love the variety of projects that come my way through Dreamspinner. They are a company with so much integrity and I’m a very lucky boy to be a part of it. I’m also growing quite accustomed to the luxury of working at home. Casual Friday used to mean wearing jeans, now it can mean no-pants day! I hope to continue growing as an artist, trying new creative adventures, and enjoying the married life with the man of my dreams. Oh, and maybe I’d like to try my hand at writing one of these novels that I spend so much time illustrating.

Website: www.paulrichmondstudio.com

Email: paul@dreamspinnerpress.com

 

Many thanks to Paul for taking the time to share his artwork and his process.  He has generously donated a limited-edition giclee print of the cover art he did for "Woke Up In A Strange Place". The lucky winner will be announced in thirty days.

 Here's a link with all the details about the print: http://paulrichmond.bigcartel.com/product/woke-up-in-a-strange-place-print


If you are a cover artist and would like to be featured on this blog, please email me at mickie.ashling@gmail.com

Coming Soon!

Orizzonti serie: Libro 2

Quello che sarebbe dovuto essere un breve interludio diventa qualcosa di più profondo quando Lil Lampert incontra Grier Dilorio alla Degustazione di Chicago. Lil è in città a far visita ai suoi buoni amici Jody Williams e Clark Stevens, e non aveva intenzione di rimorchiare un uomo più giovane e scoprire un reciproco interesse per l’architettura, il design d’interni, e una perversione sessuale unica che fa tornare Lil per saperne di più.

In apparenza, Grier è la quintessenza del “bad boy” che ama la velocità, i tatuaggi e la pelle; ma Lil scopre lentamente un altro lato della sua personalità: altruista, responsabile e tenero, soprattutto con Luca, il figlio che ha dovuto rinnegare. Con l’amore e il sostegno di Lil, Grier prenderà una decisione chiave per aprire la porta a un possibile futuro insieme, un futuro che include la paternità, qualcosa che Lil ha sognato ma non ha mai osato esplorare.

I'm very pleased to announce that my novel Taste will be available in Italian on March 12.  The book is available for pre-order here:

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/upcoming_products.php

Behind The Cover Art

How often have you seen this comment by readers? “I was drawn to the book because of the beautiful cover.” Or sometimes, you see this. “The story was great, but I almost didn’t pick it up because of the ugly cover!”

Writers labor over a manuscript for weeks, months, and sometimes, years. Once it’s accepted by a publisher, their “baby” goes through several processes before it finally hits the shelves. One of the most stressful of these steps is choosing a book cover. First, you have to decide which artist will be able to bring your vision to life. Do you want it drawn or Photoshopped? Do you have a preference for colors? Should there be nudity, or should we take a more subtle approach? What type of background did you envision? What do your main characters look like? Did you wish to convey passionate love or not? The questions are endless, and most writers provide more information than necessary. It takes a skilled artist to sift through the jumble of words and pull out the key elements of the story to create the perfect cover to showcase our work.

Join me in acknowledging the men and women who provide their expertise to make our cover art the best it can be. Other than the initial round of applause when a book releases, they don’t get enough kudos, and I'm hoping to change that. Each month I’m going to showcase a new cover artist to give them the online time they deserve. It’ll also serve as an opportunity for you, the reader, writer, publisher, and aspiring artist, to pick their brain. Feel free to comment and ask questions. At the end of each month, one winner will be drawn from the list of visitors to win a $25.00 gift certificate from Dreamspinner Press.

It's my pleasure to present Lex Valentine as my next featured cover artist.


Can you tell us something about Lex Valentine that I wouldn’t find in an official bio?

I can’t draw at all. My father was a wonderful artist with pen and ink and he did the most delicate, beautiful watercolor paintings…but the only thing I can draw that looks reasonably correct is a bunch of balloons.

How did you get started in the business?

I’ve been making myself web graphics like banners and buttons since the 90’s. I don’t really remember how I got started doing that, but when I started writing online, I started making graphics for that website and for the little freebie ebooks from it. When I sold my first book to Jupiter Gardens Press (Pink Petal Books) I ended up making the cover for it. I don’t remember if Mary asked me if I could or if I offered, but that was the official start of my cover art career.
 
Do you feel that a degree in graphic arts is essential to this sort of work?

No. If that were the case I wouldn’t be doing it since my degree is in Biological Anthropology!

Most artists, be they writers, singers, or painters are at a loss to explain where their ideas come from.  They either flow or they don’t, and when the well dries up, it’s terrifying.  How do you cope with a blank canvas when you’re on a dead line? 

The only time I’ve ever had writer’s block was after my parents died. With cover art, that never happens because what the authors tell me about their book is what inspires the cover. The better they are at describing their characters and the tone and setting of their book the better I can conjure up a cover.

Are you influenced by trends? Fifty Shades of Grey started a rash of covers that all looked similar.  How do you say no when an author wants something trendy and you want something unique?

I try to give authors what they want even if it’s not that pleasing to me. I want them to be happy with their cover. I know what it’s like to be an author and have a cover I don’t like. So it’s not really about my art, it’s about what the author wants.


Is there wiggle room if the writer doesn’t like the first draft?   Do you get offended if an author asks for a change?

Whether it’s for a publisher or for a self-publish endeavor, I always give authors some room for change. I have to limit that obviously otherwise with some authors I would be changing their cover 50 times which is cost prohibitive. I don’t get offended with most small changes. What does bother me is when an author asks for ABC, I give them ABC and then they change what they want and ask for XYZ. 

Do you have an alter ego?  If so, what other hats do you wear?

I do have alter egos. I am a published author and my EDJ is in IT and Accounting. I used to have a tax preparer’s license too but I’ve let that lapse. As Winterheart Design I do cover art, graphics, book trailers and websites.


Which side of you is more dominant?

These days, the creative side of me is more dominant, the side that writes and does cover art.


Have you ever received any requests as a cover artist that you’ve found particularly challenging?

All the time! But honestly, interpreting each cover art form is a challenge. Some authors say too much. Others not enough. And then there are those who insist on certain elements, a particular look…that can all be challenging. The most challenging thing is when authors have visualized their character as a specific person, usually a celebrity of some sort. It’s really hard to find a stock image model who will live up to that author’s vision of their character when they’re so vested in the celebrity as the face of the character.


Are you committed to a specific publisher or do your free lance?

I work primarily for MLR Press and its imprints (Passion in Print, Featherweight), Jupiter Gardens Press, and MuseItUp Publishing as well as freelance.


Do you have a “wish list” for writers, i.e. how can we make your job easier?

Not really. I mostly just wish authors understood that there are limitations to everything we do with regard to cover art. We don’t read minds nor can we see the visions in authors’ heads. If they don’t describe the character or the setting in a way that we can “see” it, they aren’t going to get what they’re visualizing. Also, the scenes they want depicted are subject to the images we can find to create them. Sometimes we’re really limited especially with anything historical, sci fi or fantasy. And knowing that, they need to be somewhat flexible. The more inflexible they are regarding their cover, the less they are going to like the end result.


Are there any special awards that you’d like to share?

I’ve been nominated for EPIC’s Ariana Award in cover art numerous times but I actually won in 2011. It was an amazing feeling to open the box and pull out the award!


Where do you see yourself five years from now?

Hopefully, living in the back of beyond in the mountains with my DH and my cats, no EDJ, just doing Winterheart Design stuff and writing.

How does one get in touch with you?

Anyone interested in cover art, graphics or websites can fill out the contact form on Winterheart Design’s website.

Winterheart Design – http://winterheart.com
Lex Valentine – http://lexvalentine.com
Facebook – http://facebook.com/cemeterywinter
Twitter – http://twitter.com/lexvalentine

Winner!

The winner of the gift certificate for the Reese Dante post is tinnean.  Please contact me at mickie.ashling at gmail dot com to claim your prize.

Lex Valentine will be my next featured cover artist.  The post will go live next Friday so stay tuned!

If you are a cover artist who would like to be featured on this blog, feel free to contact me at the above mentioned email.

Mayon Reviewed

I was so pleased to see that Mayon received 4 hearts from Maya over at Hearts On Fire Reviews.

You can read the entire review here: http://heartsonfirereviews.com/?p=17712

Winner!

The winner of the gift certificate from last month's drawing is Juliana-"oceanakers at aol dot com. Please contact me for your prize. Thank you for commenting on Dan Skinner's Post! P.S. If you are a cover artist and would like to be featured in my monthly post, please contact me at mickie.ashling at gmail dot com. You don't have to work for any specific publisher. The only requirement is that you have one book cover on a published novel.

Behind the Cover Art-Reese Dante

How often have you seen this comment by readers? “I was drawn to the book because of the beautiful cover.” Or sometimes, you see this. “The story was great, but I almost didn’t pick it up because of the ugly cover!”

 Writers labor over a manuscript for weeks, months, and sometimes, years. Once it’s accepted by a publisher, their “baby” goes through several processes before it finally hits the shelves. One of the most stressful of these steps is choosing a book cover. First, you have to decide which artist will be able to bring your vision to life. Do you want it drawn or Photoshopped? Do you have a preference for colors? Should there be nudity, or should we take a more subtle approach? What type of background did you envision? What do your main characters look like? Did you wish to convey passionate love or not? The questions are endless, and most writers provide more information than necessary. It takes a skilled artist to sift through the jumble of words and pull out the key elements of the story to create the perfect cover to showcase our work.

Join me in acknowledging the men and women who provide their expertise to make our cover art the best it can be. Other than the initial round of applause when a book releases, they don’t get enough kudos, and I'm hoping to change that. Each month I’m going to showcase a new cover artist to give them the online time they deserve. It’ll also serve as an opportunity for you, the reader, writer, publisher, and aspiring artist, to pick their brain. Feel free to comment and ask questions. At the end of each month, one winner will be drawn from the list of visitors to win a $25.00 gift certificate from Dreamspinner Press.

 It is my pleasure to present Reese Dante as my second featured cover artist. I've had the honor to work with her on two of my novels, Taste and Momentos: Mick's Journey and it was a pleasure from start to finish. Here are the list of questions Reese was gracious  enough to answer for me.

                                       

What credentials would one need to get into the business of cover art?

First, thank you for taking the time to interview me :) and thanks to everyone who is taking the time to read this. As far as necessary credentials, this varies based on who is responding to the question. Some will claim a formal art education is a requirement while others seek years of experience. In my opinion, a sampling of work provides a quick overview of the artist’s sense of style and creativity. My portfolio and the early design awards for those covers provided me with sufficient basis to build my client list and contact publishers for future work.

    

How did you get your start?

I have a friend who writes poetry and he asked me to design the cover for his book. That was officially my first book cover project. Literally, within two weeks of completing the design, I’m chatting with a friend of mine, Leiland, who was ready to publish his first m/m romance story and needed a cover. He asked if I was interested. I couldn’t jump on it fast enough. It was a great creative outlet for me and I couldn’t stop smiling the entire time. He went on to write more books and I went on to design more covers for him. After a few months, he somehow convinced me to come out of the designing closet and offer to design covers for others. I did and here I am now :)

Is this a full-time job or do you wear several hats like most of us?

I’m very blessed to have enough work to focus on design full-time. After spending endless years in a high stress office day job, I’m incredibly thankful to have the opportunity to finally do something I love so much.

"The difference between a great design and a lousy one is in the meshing of the thousand details that either fit or don’t, and the spirit of the passionate intellect that has tied them together, or tried.” I came across this quote recently and thought of you. The thing that struck me the first time we worked together on a book cover was your attention to detail. Care to expand on that?

Thank you :) That’s an amazing quote. My biggest pet peeve: when the cover doesn’t match the character in the story. To avoid this, I make it a point of trying to gather as much detail as possible. I’m extraordinarily picky about my work and my attention to detail can be a bit overwhelming. I often joke with my authors regarding my ‘interrogation’. If there’s a tattoo, I want details regarding where it’s located, how far it extends, colors, styling, etc. If there’s a necklace, I need to know what type, metal, pendant, etc. If hairstyle is important, I usually request a sample image. If I’m tattooing foreign words, you bet I’ve researched endlessly to ensure I’m not adding some symbol that is offensive. I’d hate to accidentally flip off someone in a foreign language. There is a method to my madness. I believe the details, however subtle, will bring the character and story to life in the design.

One of my characters in Taste had an armful of ink and I automatically asked if you’d be available to do the cover. What is it about tattoos that appeal to you? 

 

First, thank you for writing Taste. That was my first color tattoo design  I’ve actually received an email from a reader who wanted to get a tattoo sleeve to match. I was incredibly flattered. Tattoos, aside from being hot as hell, are a form of expression. I think that might be part of the appeal, they are like a design within a design when they’re on cover art. They fascinate me :) so I enjoy spending the time on the detail, especially the larger or complex pieces. I go beyond superimposing a design onto the model’s skin. That works for really small tattoos, but, IMO, the larger ones tend to look flat if you do this. I tinker endlessly to make it look natural. If the muscle/arm flexes, then the tattoo will shift as if it were actually on his skin. Sometimes, the details are so small and probably overlooked by most, but I’m picky as hell about my work. In my mind, if you look at the design and think the tattoo was part of the original model’s image, then it worked.

Is there any request you’ve ever received that was particularly challenging?

I think designs where I tackle something new ‘to me’ is a welcomed challenge – my first tattoo, my first angel, etc. It’s also one of the most exciting things about working on cover art – the ability to try something new and learn along the way.

Let’s talk about stock shots. I’m not crazy about them because I don’t like seeing the image of one my characters on another cover. Is there anyway to get around that?

Sadly, most cover artists have limited resources and budgets. Most of the stock I see (and use) are from microstock sites because they make it affordable to use images in cover projects. Unfortunately, it’s a necessary evil. However, I try to change the guys up a little when I can so the models look a little different – anything from small details to full head or hair swaps. I also work with photographers when possible to purchase and/or license images. However, this can get rather pricey and can be restrictive regarding usage.

 
Are you committed to a specific publisher or can anyone hire you?

I am a freelance artist and I’m grateful to have relationships with several publishers at this time. I am the Art Director at Silver Publishing and do freelance work for both Dreamspinnner Press and Riptide. Additionally, I take freelance work from self-published authors and other types of projects when time permits.

 Do you have a “wish list” for writers, i.e. how can we make your job easier?

Two things: information and creative freedom. Information is critical. Unfortunately, due to the amount of covers I complete, I don’t get a chance to read the stories before I design the cover. I rely on the cover spec and the mild interrogation I conduct via an email exchange (when permitted) to get a better handle on the characters, plot, mood and other details. Sometimes, an author will give me a specific concept for a design. This is often helpful in providing direction regarding the author’s preference. However, when the specific idea is a requirement, this usually hinders creativity. I tend to work best when I’m given the information then set free to create the design.

Awards are always gratifying, but some mean more than others. Would you like to share any you’ve received that you’re especially proud of?

As cheesy as this might sound, an author’s squee when they get a design they feel is perfect for their story is probably the most gratifying. To me, that type of appreciation is always rewarding. As far as actual ‘awards’ recognized in the genre and industry, I’ve received a few accolades I’m especially proud of. I think the most notable would be the two Rainbow Awards because they are voted by authors, readers, and peers – as were the LRC Best Cover Artist and Best Cover awards. The EPIC Ariana Awards gave me two pretty plaques I’m able to display in my office that still make me smile. Placing twice in the Annual Cover Café also made me especially proud since they consider cover art from digital and mass market presses across all genres.

How would one get in touch with you?

I can be reached via my website “Contact Me” page, Facebook or Twitter. Don’t be shy, I do respond.

rdante [at] reesedante [dot] com
http://www.reesedante.com/ https://www.facebook.com
reesedante http://twitter.com/reesedante

Behind the Cover Art

Now that the holidays are over, I wanted to remind everyone that you have a week to enter the drawing for the $25.00 gift certificate by commenting on the Cover Art post featuring Dan Skinner. The next featured artist is Reese Dante. Here are two covers she designed for me and I show them off whenever I get a chance. Her post should go live next weekend.