Horizons Review

Got home to find this lovely review I hadn't seen yet.  Nice way to end my birthday:)

http://www.rainbowbookreviews.com/book-reviews/horizons-horizons-1-by-mickie-b-ashling-at-dreamspinner-press

Winner!

The winner of last month's contest is Suze.  Please comment on this post and leave your email address to claim your prize. 

Behind The Cover Art-Catt Ford

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 would you rather have a photo? 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'd love to help 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.

I'm very excited to feature Catt Ford as this month's cover artist.

Can you tell us a little bit about Catt Ford that isn’t on your official bio?

I’ve been an art director for many years. I used to run and swing dance, until heel spurs and stress fractures interrupted. I am shy and retiring. I have a quiet voice and most people comment that it makes them feel calmer when I come into a room. This amuses me as I am apparently successfully concealing the turmoil within. I love drag queens and gay men in general.

Aside from being a well-known cover artist, you’re also a writer. Which career came first?


Thank you for saying I’m well-known. I didn’t know that. They came simultaneously. When I first submitted a book, I asked if I could do my own cover and Elizabeth graciously agreed. Then Mara, the art director, being swamped, asked if I could help her out by doing a few more and I was launched.

     
 

How do find time to do both ?

With great difficulty. LOL. Photoshop and writing use different parts of the brain and sometimes when you’re in one groove, it’s difficult to switch over. But there are stories that demand to be written and cover deadlines to meet.


Which side of you is more dominant?


It’s a constant struggle.


I was drawn to your work when I saw the cover for A Strong Hand. Tell us how that beautiful cover came to be.


That was sheer dumb luck. I found the photo on a stock site. It’s just beautiful and all I had to do was not spoil it.

Do you have a degree in graphic or fine arts?


I have a BSA in Visual Arts.


What is the most interesting thing you’ve done in the name of research?


Probably go to a live event of the PBR. TV flattens things out and you don’t realize how huge and powerful the bulls are until you see them live. Or how tiny and vulnerable the cowboys look up on top of them. It was very exciting to be in the arena and I was so thankful no one got hurt. I hate that part. I would love to travel but my parents’ health problems make it difficult to get away.


Are there any artists out there who have inspired or influenced you in any way?


Definitely Paul Richmond and Anne Cain.

   
 

Which of your covers is your favorite and why?

I love A Strong Hand because it’s enticing and not obvious. Turkey in the Snow is a cover I did for Amy Lane. It was supposed to be a photo cover but all the turkeys looked like vultures. I decided to illustrate it because I thought the story needed something more tender and poignant and the flow of watercolor was perfect for it. Captive by Scarlet Blackwell because it’s subtle. Requiem for a Dream by Lori Hawkins because it’s so noir. Solid Core of Alpha for Amy Lane because it’s weird. The Lonely War for Alan Chin because it’s surreal. The Last Concubine because it was nearly impossible to find photos but came out so beautiful. The Untold Want because of the expressions on the models and the simplicity. Bullheaded because it’s funny. There are many more.

Does any genre appeal to you or are you strictly m/m?


It depends on the visual. One of my first jobs, other than babysitting, was at my local library, as a book page, shelving and retrieving books. I got very tired of the het romance novel covers and many current covers haven’t really moved on from the old bodice rippers. However, so many covers have moved into a more conceptual arena that I’d never just say I don’t care for the entirety of any genre. Even textbooks are getting much more interesting than they used to be.

Do you prefer drawn or Photoshop covers?


I love both, although I am informed by a reliable source that photo covers sell better. The challenge is different with both. When an artist does a drawn or painted cover, the only restrictions are their imagination. When I’m doing a photoshop cover, I don’t have access to a photographer and models whom I can art direct into the pose I want. It’s a totally different challenge to look through hundreds of stock photos and craft them into something that will work. With an illustrated cover, you go into it forward, while with a stock photo cover, you kind of work backward with what you can find. It means you have to keep an open mind and be alert to possibilities because you may not find what you envisioned. I LOVE the cover Paul Richmond did for my story Bully for You. That’s one that we could never have been able to execute with stock photos.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?


Writing

I’ve noticed a lot of your recent work is in the interesting world of bull riders. Care to expand on that?


I am an actual card-carrying herdie. LOL. I am a registered fan of the PBR, the Professional Bull Riders Association, and I watch it both on TV and online. It all started when I was recovering from fractures in both feet and couldn’t dance. I happened to see a PBR event on TV one day and got fascinated in just how those guys managed to stay on top of a bull. Bulls are large and strong; bull riders tend to be short and skinny. It’s kind of like learning choreography; the more I watched the more I realized it’s just like dancing, a question of balance, movement and counter moves. Then I started becoming a fan of specific riders and then I noticed the bullfighters and I was hooked. I even have favorite bulls now!

Book covers, like fashion, are trendy. What have you noticed out there lately?

I have noticed far more conceptual covers in all genres out there recently. Instead of illustrating a specific scene from a story, or giving literal depictions of the characters, artists are conveying the mood and emotion of a book in other ways. A prime example of this is the cover Anne Cain did for CZ Snow, A Visible Friend. It conveys emotion, lets the reader know immediately the subject and mood of the story and is very eye-catching. It’s an exquisite cover.

              Do you have any advice for artists who are thinking of getting into this field?


Take the author’s request into careful consideration. They know their own book best and it’s wonderful when you can make them happy. But also try other approaches. Sometimes you can’t find the right stock to execute what the author asked for and you have to give them what they didn’t know they wanted. Even if you don’t agree with their request, try to make it as beautiful as possible.

                                    Where do you see yourself five years from now?


In front of my computer writing. Or doing covers


Contact information:

http://catt-ford.livejournal.com/

catlover2x@gmail.com



Horizons take 2

Some lovely reviews for the second edition of Horizons.  I'm so glad that new readers are getting a chance to meet these guys.

http://thenovelapproachreviews.com/2013/07/10/after-some-rr-a-re-write-and-re-edit-that-is-mickie-b-ashling-gives-us-a-reissue-of-horizons/

http://mmgoodbookreviews.wordpress.com/2013/07/12/horizons-by-mickie-b-ashling/

http://reviewsbyamoslassen.com/?p=23612

Horizons Blog Tour

The second edition of Horizons will release on Wednesday, July 10.  Stop by and comment on any of the listed blogs for a chance to win a free copy of the novel.  Horizons was first published in 2009 and generated the spin-off novels Taste and Daddio.  This new version has been completely re-edited.

July 2-10 http://www.stumblingoverchaos.com/archives/24361 Stumbling Over Chaos 1
July 6th- http://elisa-rolle.livejournal.com/  Elisa Rolle
July 9th- http://sidlove.wordpress.com/  Sid Love
July 10th- http://www.edenwinters.com/Eden Winters-
July 11th- http://joyfullyjay.com/ Joyfully Jay
July 12th-http://www.longandshortreviews.com Long and Short Reviews
July 12th- http://dawnsreadingnook.blogspot.com Dawn's Reading Nook
July 13th-http://sharinglinksandwisdom.blogspot.com/ Emily Wells
July 14th- http://www.simpleloveofreading.blogspot.comA Simple love of Reading
July 17th-http://www.guyslikeromancetoo.blogspot.com Guys Like Romance too
July 22nd-http://pantsoffreviews.blogspot.com Pants off Reviews

Contest!

The 2nd edition of Horizons is due to release on Wednesday, July 10.  There will be several chances to win a free copy of this new and improved version and the first one starts tomorrow (7/2) over at Chris' blog.  Follow the link to join.

                         http://www.stumblingoverchaos.com/archives/24361

Happily Ever After Sale!

Dreamspinner Press is having a big sale to celebrate the wedding of one of our favorite cover artists, Paul Richmond and his beloved, Dennis.  Stop by and check out the great prices! A portion of the sales will be donated to Marriage Evolved.

Here's the link to the store: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/

The lucky commenter for last months cover artist post is Penumbra.  Please leave your contact info on this post so I can forward the Dreamspinner gift voucher.  Thanks for stopping by! 

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'd love to help 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 Allie Cooper as this months featured cover artist.

You’re a relative newcomer in the cover art scene so a bit of a mystery to most of us.  Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Ever since I was a kid I liked to draw. I remember drawing pictures for my friends in school and I always thought that one day I would write children’s books and illustrate them. It wasn’t until I was out of college (the first time) that I thought about doing graphic design work. So that’s what I’m going to school for now. I’ve been married for 9 years and I have two young dogs that and a full time office job that keep me on my toes.

How did you get into this field?

A longtime friend has been editing/proofing and heard about authors needing covers for their books and asked if it would be something I would have an interest in doing and, of course, I said yes.  So he’s put me in touch with the clients I’ve worked with so far.

Do you have a degree in graphic or fine arts?

Not yet. I’m still working on it. I go to school part-time so it will be a couple more years, but I love learning something new every day that I can use to create.

Are there any cover artists out there who have inspired or influenced your work in any way?

I’m not familiar with many other cover artists. I am incredibly new to this field, so I’m still trying to get a feel for the whole thing.

Does any genre appeal to you or are you strictly m/m?

I’m interested in any genre. Like I said before, I always thought I would illustrate children’s books, so I’m happy to work on book covers for any genre as long as I am able to let the creative juices flow.

Do you prefer drawn or photo shopped covers?

I have literally been working with Photoshop for 17 years, so I am incredibly comfortable with the program and with graphic design of any kind. However, I am also a visual artist, so that appeals to me, as well. I think there are merits for both. Photoshop is easier to throw something together quickly, whereas hand crafted covers can be very specific to an idea.

Most of us wear several hats.What are some of yours?

Wife, dog-mom, aunt, artist, student, teacher, writer, cook and friend.

People often ask me where I draw the inspiration for my stories and my standard answer is “everywhere.” Where does your inspiration come from?  Is it the book blurb, the writer’s specs, or none of the above?

Generally I take inspiration both from the book’s subject and from the writer’s ideas for what they want. My goal is to create a beautiful cover that the writer loves and thinks fits their book perfectly.

Would you like to do this full time if you had the option?

I would love it. Eventually I will work on my graphic design full time, whether it be book covers, logo work, websites or something else. I’m happiest when I’m creating.

Book covers, like fashion, are trendy.  What have you noticed out there lately?

The good, the bad and the ugly. I’ve seen spectacular book covers that draw the eye, that are understated and subtle and get the idea of the book across beautifully. But unfortunately, I’ve also noticed that some seem to have been put together by someone who does not have an eye for design. I’ve noticed that typography and fonts seem to be taking precedence over illustrations and images, too. Typography is so important and I love to see book covers that can be read on a thumbnail or from far away.

Would you like to see something different?  If so, what?

I think that minimalistic styles are underrated and should be used more often. It often doesn’t take much more than a great title to peak the reader’s interest. Accompanied by a simple image or illustration, the title in a fantastic type would look spectacular.

Where do you see yourself five years from now?

Designing full time, creating works of art that writers are proud to have attached to their books.

Here are some of the preliminary designs that were offered to the author before the final was picked.

You can contact Allie here:
Allie Cooper
www.alliecooper.net
allie@alliecooper.net

Praise for Fire Horse

I was extremely pleased to see another lovely review for Fire Horse, my contemporary  romance set in the rarefied world of polo. Read it in full here:

http://www.reviewsbyjessewave.com/2013/06/11/fire-horse/#more-91621

Coming Soon!

I'm very excited to announce that a new and improved edition of Horizons will release in July.  Here's the first look at the cover art by the wonderful and talented Reese Dante.    Horizons is the novel that launched the spin-off Taste and Daddio.  Stay tuned for giveaways and contests in the next few weeks.