tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7021364414249897766.post725032569464629790..comments2023-10-18T09:12:17.911-07:00Comments on Rick R. Reed Reality: Evolution of a Cover A DEMON INSIDERick R. Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06200655067546158333noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7021364414249897766.post-74751152293350373972010-04-11T23:15:01.447-07:002010-04-11T23:15:01.447-07:00I thought the new book was some sort of dual pack ...I thought the new book was some sort of dual pack with "My Hero" because I recognized it right away. I never forget a hot guy. LOLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7021364414249897766.post-1637889154735161112010-04-10T21:20:57.042-07:002010-04-10T21:20:57.042-07:00Boy, if I didn't love Alex so much I'd hat...Boy, if I didn't love Alex so much I'd hate her. How much talent is one person supposed to have??? The cover you chose is perfect,Rick, and I thought your description of the process was very interesting. I know from past experience that not all publishers or all artists are that amenable to working WITH the author instead of just doing their own thing. Alex is a jewel. Shhh, don't tell her I said that or she'll get a swelled head.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7021364414249897766.post-24024182379479182632010-04-09T06:27:47.851-07:002010-04-09T06:27:47.851-07:00What's funny is when I saw your cover, I almos...What's funny is when I saw your cover, I almost sent you a note saying that's the same stock as My Hero because I recognized it immediately. I wouldn't have guessed no one would recognize the first book with that cover model since it's been around for a while from Queer Mojo/Rebel Satori. Different publishers and genres kind of (urban fantasy vs. horror) but both are gay literature. <br /><br />That's not to say it can't be used of course and the cover of My Hero was a big reason I chose that book too. I do agree there is a real lack of good stock pictures and that's why there are so many similar covers used. Thanks for the insight! I was curious if you knew about the other cover.Kassahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11492731096086969911noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7021364414249897766.post-81891019839824602992010-04-08T17:32:49.089-07:002010-04-08T17:32:49.089-07:00Great cover! Isn't Alex wonderful? She is th...Great cover! Isn't Alex wonderful? She is the only cover artist I've worked with who actually LISTENS to what you say, and makes changes accordingly. If I ever win the lottery, I'm going to buy her one of those stock-shot CDs...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7021364414249897766.post-58983320131973343262010-04-08T14:19:38.621-07:002010-04-08T14:19:38.621-07:00I would have gone with the guy coming out of the s...I would have gone with the guy coming out of the smoke, but this looks good too.Amber Greenhttp://www.shapeshiftersinlust.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7021364414249897766.post-2229907211707437572010-04-08T12:12:11.511-07:002010-04-08T12:12:11.511-07:00As both a graphic designer and an author, I can re...As both a graphic designer and an author, I can really appreciate both sides of this. In my humble (but somewhat educated opinion), you went with the right cover. I might have included the second guy in the darker space below, indicating that he might better belong to that nether realm (and I even kinda liked the broken photograph). Job well done.Cullan Hudsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16465098080944236025noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7021364414249897766.post-29388720537829213202010-04-08T11:58:29.858-07:002010-04-08T11:58:29.858-07:00I love the cover, the stock photo use here makes i...I love the cover, the stock photo use here makes it stand out rather than feel like one has seen it too many times before. Great job! I look forward to reading this.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04443736284850057306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7021364414249897766.post-86142490072896723062010-04-08T11:56:52.315-07:002010-04-08T11:56:52.315-07:00On one of those Misadventures posts, Jordan Castil...On one of those Misadventures posts, Jordan Castillo Price commented that part of the problem is not enough good stock photos of men.<br /><br />I have enough material for months and months more on that series...Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12959009113795804133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7021364414249897766.post-32051460555664276042010-04-08T11:36:30.445-07:002010-04-08T11:36:30.445-07:00It's interesting to see the process laid out l...It's interesting to see the process laid out like this. But I'm rendered a bit speechless by ZAM's lovely words :)<br /><br />As an author myself, I know that after all that work and imagination and patience and thought that goes into writing the thing, it's absolutely soul destroying if you don't get a cover you can't at least live with (preferably love!) So I'm very happy that you are happy with it. That's the aim of the game for me as far as cover art goes.<br /><br />Laura's right, of course, that there are all sorts of limitations on cover art that authors don't necessarily think of - and getting dramatic pictures is one of the biggest. It's probably not surprising that the really good pictures get chosen more than once.<br /><br />Chris' Misadventures in Stock Photography blog is fascinating. I hoped I'd get away from the problem of reusing pictures by staying away from the photos of hunks, but it didn't seem to work that way :)Alex Beecrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08846917051472819570noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7021364414249897766.post-59746117870436655992010-04-08T09:57:42.899-07:002010-04-08T09:57:42.899-07:00Cover designs for print books have different needs...Cover designs for print books have different needs than ebooks. The title should be visible even when the books are stacked on staired racks if possible. That's why all print covers have the most important thing at the very top--either the title or the best selling author's name. Ebooks are so much more flexible in design because they will never see a shelf or promotion table and have their covers obscured by another book. The design process is limited by what is available at a reasonable cost at a royalty free photo site. It's a tough job for any artists to capture the essence of a book in a glimpse.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14568263664182155579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7021364414249897766.post-38284722288638316182010-04-08T09:57:36.239-07:002010-04-08T09:57:36.239-07:00That is a wonderful cover. I wouldn't be hones...That is a wonderful cover. I wouldn't be honest if I didn't say that cover art is a very traumatic thing for me. I often leave it to the pros because I feel that they know best what sells, and the one time I made a suggestion it wasn't a wise choice. (Not telling what though)<br /><br />So I say bravo for you and of course, a big league Brava for my lovely and talented Alex, birthday sister that she is, because I've known for a long time that she's a triple threat, Great writer, talented artist, and practically too darned nice to be real!Lauralynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13892461646062579712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7021364414249897766.post-21542159284348252752010-04-08T09:37:56.693-07:002010-04-08T09:37:56.693-07:00LOVE it! Really eye-catching and the composition a...LOVE it! Really eye-catching and the composition alone makes me want to read it.James Huskinshttp://yancydunkle.home.comcast.net/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7021364414249897766.post-57788389038256787432010-04-08T09:35:05.768-07:002010-04-08T09:35:05.768-07:00Cover art can be quite the bone of contention betw...Cover art can be quite the bone of contention between an author and an artist. It sounds like and appears that you were lucky to have Alex.<br /><br />The cover is exquisite. Looking at it I get the feeling that the man is listening to a voice only he can hear. One that emanates from the house itself, a voice that is seducing him to a dark place. <br /><br />Being both artist and writer I believe you chose the best cover. It's haunting and seductive.Jesse Foxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17862133332555299152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7021364414249897766.post-14071303658378645692010-04-08T09:27:23.963-07:002010-04-08T09:27:23.963-07:00I like the one you went with! How stock photos are...I like the one you went with! How stock photos are used and reused is fascinating - I actually have a weekly series called <a href="http://www.stumblingoverchaos.com/archives/tag/misadventures" rel="nofollow">Misadventures in Stock Photography</a> on my blog.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12959009113795804133noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7021364414249897766.post-82543238759350013242010-04-08T08:43:36.290-07:002010-04-08T08:43:36.290-07:00I think you went with the right one. I like the fi...I think you went with the right one. I like the first one best. It's creepy and screams haunted house without being over the top. <br /><br />The story sounds great, btw. I look forward to reading it. :DAmanda Younghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17631269469790529611noreply@blogger.com