Lightning Days by Colin Harvey

Did you or your publisher design the cover? Did you get to give any input about the cover design?

It wouldn’t be too much of an exaggeration to say that the cover almost designed itself. My publisher and I were talking generally about cover artists, and I had long been a huge fan of Duncan Long’s (I hadn’t realized for just how long until I looked at the date on the gallery; barely a month after Strange Horizons started, and over seven years ago now…) so when Dindy asked if there was anyone I wanted included in the bidding process, I named him.

When the sample cover turned up – and we hadn’t given any briefing to any of the four artists, just asked for samples of their work – it was spooky; the cover was almost exactly what I’d been visualizing in a very vague sort of way.

So we told Duncan some of the key points of the book, and he changed one of the skulls to a Neanderthal shape, while keeping the other as Homo Sapiens. The star got changed to a portal. OK, so it looks like the wormhole from DS9, but how would you go about representing a rent in the fabric of space-time? Finally, Duncan included some lightning and some James-Bond-type people to represent the hero and heroine, and hey presto! one cover.

Are you happy with the cover?

Very! I forget how much I liked it, until I sat down and looked at it again. That’s the thing about the familiar; it loses its impact until you look at it anew.

Please provide your website link.

http://www.geocities.com/colin_harvey

What is the link to buy your book?

In paperback:

http://www.amazon.com/Lightning-Days-Colin-Harvey/dp/1934041106/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1195632943&sr=1-1

In electronic format:

http://www.fictionwise.com/ebooks/eBook47461.htm

Please send me a copy of your cover along with your answers so the blog readers can see your cover and read your thoughts.

Novels from Swimming Kangaroo Books:

Lightning Days -- SF, Finalist for the USA Book News Awards

The Silk Palace -- "compelling" Library Journal

"Intrigues, betrayals, murders, love affairs, transformations, and

revelations," Bruce Boston, author of The Guardener's Tale

www.geocities.com/colin_harvey www.myspace.com/colin_harvey

Cover of the Year - Asking for Your Vote

I just scanned the covers for Cover of the Year on Erin Aislinn's website and saw a lot of familiar covers - many were on my Judge A Book By its Cover blog last year :)

I invite you to visit http://www.erinaislinn.com/BookCoveroftheYear2007.htm and I hope that you will vote for Lady Lightkeeper which is one of my covers and it is listed as the winning cover for September.

If you prefer the easier route - feel free to email webmail@erinaislinn .com and put "VOTE for Lady Lightkeeper" in the subject line. I appreciate every vote :)

Nikki


Book Promo 101 - NOW AVAILABLE
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"Coastal Suspense with a Touch of Romance"
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A Death in Pilsen by Robert Goldsborough

The cover I'm writing about is for my recently published mystery novel A DEATH IN PILSEN, which is the third in my "Snap"Malek Chicago historical mystery series.

I did not design the cover, nor did my publisher. It was
done by Nathalie Moore, who creates many of Echelon's
covers. I did not have any initial input on the cover,
although it was run by me for approval, which I gave with
unconditional enthusiasm. I love the treatment, because to
me it captures the Noir mood of my story, which is set in
1940s Chicago. I particularly like the stark black-and-white
effect, with the accented use of red on the murder knife.

My Website is www.robertgoldsborough.com

My book, and the other books in this series, THREE STRIKES
YOU'RE DEAD and SHADOW OF THE BOMB, can be ordered through
www.echelonpress.com or through amazon.com


    

Far Above Rubies by Cynthia Polansky

Did you design the cover? no

Did your publisher design the cover? no

Did you get to give any input about the cover design? yes

Is there an interesting story behind the cover design? If so, please share the details. not really. it is just intended to reflect the protagonist. Also, the field of wheat/grasses is intended to show the promise of renewal and growth. Protagonist is standing in this field, looking out ahead, toward the future.

Who is the cover artist? Gwyn Snider

Are you happy with the cover? extremely
Tell us what you think is the best part of the cover. the warm colors

Is there anything else about your cover that we need to know? Feel free to share. all I know is that it draws many compliments from people.

Please provide your website link. www.cynthiapolansky.com

What is the link to buy your book? www.amazon.com (or any bookstore can order it)

Far Above Rubies by Cynthiz Polansky

Did you design the cover? no

Did your publisher design the cover? no

Did you get to give any input about the cover design? yes

Is there an interesting story behind the cover design? If so, please share the details. not really. it is just intended to reflect the protagonist. Also, the field of wheat/grasses is intended to show the promise of renewal and growth. Protagonist is standing in this field, looking out ahead, toward the future.

Who is the cover artist? Gwyn Snider

Are you happy with the cover? extremely
Tell us what you think is the best part of the cover. the warm colors

Is there anything else about your cover that we need to know? Feel free to share. all I know is that it draws many compliments from people.

Please provide your website link. www.cynthiapolansky.com

What is the link to buy your book? www.amazon.com (or any bookstore can order it)

Surviving Serendipity by Jacquelyn Sylvan

Did you design the cover? No, I'm not that talented!

Did your publisher design the cover? They hired someone to design it.

Did you get to give any input about the cover design? Only to say, "Yes, yes, YES!" to the proof.

Is there an interesting story behind the cover design? If so, please share the details. The pocketwatch on the cover is a very artfully veiled reference to an important storyline element...you'll have to read the book to find out, though!

Who is the cover artist? Nathalie Moore.

Are you happy with the cover? Couldn't be happier. It sums up the book very subtly and artistically.

If not, what would you change and why? I wouldn't change a thing. It's perfect!

Tell us what you think is the best part of the cover. I really like how the eyes draw you in...it's a very eye-catching (hee hee) cover.

Is there anything else about your cover that we need to know? Feel free to share.

Please provide your website link. www.sylvaniamania.com

What is the link to buy your book? The book is available from Amazon - www.amazon.com. You can also ask your local Barnes and Noble or Borders to order it for you, if it's not on the shelf!

Nimrod Rising - A Novel By Steven Clark Bradley

Did you design the cover? - Yes, and my son taught me photo shop, yes I admit it!

Who is the cover artist? - I am the artist and had to get the colors just right.

Are you happy with the cover? - Yes, the cover speaks to me of the 4000 years since Nimrod made a pact with darkness and how it was rising and reaching its crescendo in the story. It says that the book tells the story of a final conflict between good and evil just over the horizon, ready to break forth upon the world that no longer looks to good for protection and which finds that the only hope is faith.

Tell us what you think is the best part of the cover. - I think The cover of Nimrod Rising truly reflects the nature of what the story is about. The origins of evil have not just appeared in the days in which we currently live. The history of man is replete with times when evil has reared its ugly head. Today is only exceptional in that it is so wide spread and so well organized. America is embroiled in what could be a never ending struggle against evil, and the cover of Nimrod Rising reflects the growing scourge of terrorism and the age out prediction that a day is coming when we shall have to choose whom we shall serve. Perhaps a good read of this novel will cause introspection and, in some cases, new commitments to the right and the abandonment of the wrong.

To learn much more about Nimrod Rising and Steven Clark Bradley - feel free to visit him at http://www.inspiredauthor.com/promotion/steven-clark-bradley-author-nimrod-rising