Art that you create to promote your work or inspire you while you write doesn't have to be elaborate or complicated. Half the covers I've made are just background photos with a title and byline. The idea is to have fun with it and create something that reflects what you see in your head as well as what you write on the page.
If you've got some art you'd like to share, post a link in comments (and please, be sure to note if it's not work-safe.)
You read my mind - I was just searching your site yesterday to find examples of the ebook cover art you posted about earlier in the week.
ReplyDeleteI've been working on my blog header and navigation images. They're all photoshopped together from about five different stock images, four different brush shapes, and a special font.
It took me ALL weekend, but I'm pretty much in love with how it turned out. It's the first time I've done artwork on the computer that I'm proud to show people.
Check it out and let me know what you think (work safe).
http://jamiethornton.wordpress.com/
I'd say you have a second career lined up if you want it.
ReplyDeleteLove the "Realm" and "Epic" covers.
uh... ya know... I don't think I've read all of these.
ReplyDeleteAre they still around somewhere?
Jamie wrote: Check it out and let me know what you think (work safe).
ReplyDeleteI like the header a lot. You've put together great elements with fetching colors that give a whimsical feel to the page. The segmented composition is interesting and unique; usually page banners are one big block of imagery. Nice work, Jamie.
Raine wrote: I'd say you have a second career lined up if you want it.
ReplyDeleteLol. Thank you for the kind compliment, ma'am, but in the art department I am strictly an avid amateur.
Shiloh wrote: uh... ya know... I don't think I've read all of these.
ReplyDeleteI know you haven't, unless you've broken into my house and stole copies. ;)
Are they still around somewhere?
Let's see: Deimos, A Diversity of Houses, Do or Die, Illumination, John & Marcia, Midnight Blues, Night of the Chameleon, Left Behind & Loving It, Sink or Swim, and Wanted are all available over there on the sidebar. All of the quilting and marketing worshop books were handed out in print form at various conferences, business meetings and schools where I've given talks, but I don't think I ever put any of them on the internet. The poetry collections are all not-for-public-consumption collections I put together for myself, my family and a few close real life friends (and yeah, I know how selfish that sounds, but while I'm fine with putting my fiction out there for everyone to dissect, my poetry is intensely personal and strictly off-limits.)
I'm looking for Wanted. Why don't I see Wanted?
ReplyDeleteEgads. You have stuff hidden in your house?????
Hmmmmm....
Shiloh wrote: I'm looking for Wanted. Why don't I see Wanted?
ReplyDeleteBecause the link was invisible! Ha. It's there now, along with a link to Willing.
Egads. You have stuff hidden in your house?????
Oh, sure. Another fifty or sixty unpublished/privately published books, all my writer for hire top secret stuff, seven hundred plus short stories and god knows how much poetry. When I retire, we're going to have a great big bonfire, burn everything that isn't published, and roast hot dogs over it. :)
Oh the can of worms you have opened and the wee beasties you've let loose. . .
ReplyDeleteAre *Dress Blues* and *You Will Never Silence Me* available?
(For the answer, I'll send birds to clean up: Bodega Bay is right around the corner.)
Oh, sure. Another fifty or sixty unpublished/privately published books, all my writer for hire top secret stuff, seven hundred plus short stories and god knows how much poetry. When I retire, we're going to have a great big bonfire, burn everything that isn't published, and roast hot dogs over it. :)
ReplyDeletesputtering.... speechless...secretly planning a heist.
Hey thanks. The best part after creating it was realizing it looked close to what I'd originally imagined.
ReplyDeleteMaybe that's a common anxiety in most artistic endeavors? I know I've felt that my stories on paper are not as good as what I'd imagined in my head. Though I'm hoping that's because I'm still rather new at all this. After so many years as a writing pro, do you feel your stories on paper are as good, worse, or better than you first imagined them? Just curious.
Shawn wrote: Are *Dress Blues* and *You Will Never Silence Me* available?
ReplyDeleteSorry, no.
Jamie wrote: After so many years as a writing pro, do you feel your stories on paper are as good, worse, or better than you first imagined them? Just curious.
ReplyDeleteDepends on the book and what happens to it during the process of publication.
Some stories challenge you and your writing abilities on so many levels that writing them is a constant battle to make it work on the page. When you have a book like that I think there's always some lingering doubt that you've nailed your original vision, whatever the end result. Perhaps because it's so clear in your mind but so difficult to get on the page.
Blade Dancer was like that for me. I fought through that book every inch of the way because it was such a huge story in my head, and there were so many things to juggle. When I finished it I was so exhausted I just threw it in a box and sent it to NY without my usual three day obsessive reread. That said, I also think it's some of my best work, so could be the doubt and struggle is worth it.
Evermore, for example, was first pitched according to my vision of the story. The editor asked me to make some changes, which I agreed to and in turn significantly altered the final product. I liked what I got in the end, and the editor was certainly happy with it, but the book was no longer exactly what I had envisioned. That's the sort of compromise you sometimes have to make as a pro.
Overall, I try not to think too much about how I'm writing. I never think about it while I'm actively writing. I save that for the editing stage, when it comes in handy.
Lynn this is one of those dumb questions you probably get tired of answering so forgive me but how many books a year do you write?
ReplyDeleteFeeling curious
Amie wrote: Lynn this is one of those dumb questions you probably get tired of answering so forgive me but how many books a year do you write?
ReplyDeleteIt varies but usually between six and eight. My record to date is nine. That's not counting personal and promotional projects I do on the side. :)
I officially feel like a slacker *ggg*
ReplyDeleteTwo sigs I did for NaNo's past: http://pllogan.wordpress.com/2008/02/01/picture-this/
ReplyDeleteFunny thing is I have images in my mind for all my novels, getting them translated onto the page has been the issue.
It varies but usually between six and eight. My record to date is nine.
ReplyDeleteI also feel like a complete and utter slacker...And I'm about to slack some more, 'cause PBW added links to two more free stories--woohoo!
I used Dreamstime images for all of the headers on my website. Cost to me for the redesign= $4 and all of my free time for a week. Royalty free images = best thing since sliced bread and/or free fonts. Also used one for the the cover of my free ebook.
all links are work-safe.
Well I'm an artist, not an author..but here's an image I did for a book my mom's trying to get published: link
ReplyDelete(my portfolio is here: hanna-sandvig.com)
Perhaps you could do an ebook of your original Evermore vision?
ReplyDeletePlease :)