Apr 10 2019

Graphic Designer Carol Marques #interview

Please give a warm welcome to artist Carol Marques

Tell us a bit about yourself

Well, I’m a Brazilian artist. I am 23 years old. And I always liked beautiful and artistic things.

Have you always wanted to become a designer/artist?

No. Initially I wanted to be an architect. I started my studies but I ended up losing interest along the way. Parallel to this my twin sister graduated in graphic design and see her in this course interested me a lot. So after her training I started to want to learn from her. And after learning I started to work in the area of graphic design.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

I always try to keep abreast of trends and I’m very interested in digital illustration. I always look for sites with good references of covers, illustrations and photographs.

What are you working on now?

Currently I work with Book Covers, Premades and Custom. I have my group on facebook since July last year.

Do you have any quirks while working?

I do not think so. Apart from the fact that I love working at dawn. I am much more productive throughout the night than in the morning.

Do you have any advice for new artists about the publishing world?

I believe the basics but that is essential. Be truthful, honest. Seek to do your best and always improve the skills. Support other artists and authors. Always be humble.

What are your hopes for the future?

Produce high quality results. Impress my clients. And always support and help those who are starting.

Do you have anything to say to your fans?

I do not think I have fans yet. But I thank all the authors who supported me from the beginning. I have eternal gratitude for the first author who decided to buy a cover of mine. I always want to keep that gratitude for each one. I wish the best for both authors and artists. May our community grow without rivalry. But with understanding, mutual support and high quality!

Links

Facebook

Carol Marques Cover Design

Apr 2 2019

Artist Dani Smith #interview

Please give a warm welcome to my fabulous friend, artist and author Dani Smith

Tell us a bit about yourself

I’m an illustrator and book cover designer focusing on fantasy, horror, and romance themes. I have been creating and publishing my own comics and novels through my boutique publishing and art business, QuickDraw Studios, since 2010. I have been on Top 100 Bestseller lists numerous times, outselling select issues of titles like Hellboy, The Walking Dead, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer in digital format.

I currently am at work with my husband and partner, Alex Julian, on numerous novel and comic projects that are projected for publication in the next year. We live in a little white cottage in San Diego, CA. with our boy Ryker, a terrier mix named Arrow, a fat guinea pig named Freckles, and a sassy black cat named Gabe the Prince of Darkness. Our house is full of murals, nude and pinup art, and rock n’ roll. We are the all-American family. 😉

Have you always wanted to become a designer/blogger?

I knew I was an artist from toddlerhood. I never questioned it, though that may not be the popular or “right” thing to do according to the society in which I live. Sometimes you are just born who you are meant to be in a straightforward fashion, no questions asked. I got into book cover illustration during my 2011 pregnancy with my son, and I have enjoyed it ever since.

My favorite book cover projects are illustrated, though I have also created covers using stock photos for authors, if this is requested. I also love doing interior illustration and character design for authors in the romance, fantasy, sci-fi, and horror genres.

What was your inspiration for your current work?

I have always been inspired by folklore, anthropology, fairy tales, film, and music. Lately I have been creating personal works for my Instagram, @daniquickdraw, that reflect my favorite popular characters or portray Instagram models that I find creatively alluring. These personal works have been immensely popular.

What are you working on now?

I am always working on the next comic book project, most recently the next issue of my bestselling Black Dog and Rebel Rose series, and two illustrated novels, ASYLUM and SHALE CITY. You can see examples of work done for these on my Instagram and Facebook pages fairly regularly.

Do you have any quirks while working?

I love to go “sideways”—that is, I drink strong coffee while also drinking a glass of wine or champagne. The alcohol relaxes me while the caffeine stimulates my creative brain and gets the juices flowing. It’s a really great combination. I love to listen to folklore, true crime, and anthropology podcasts while painting, as well as indie soundtracks on YouTube that fit whatever project I am working on at the moment.

What are your hopes for the future?

I currently have a live action film option on the table in Los Angeles for my most popular comic series, Black Dog and Rebel Rose. It has been a long time in the works, and we have had a few hurdles to jump over as time has gone by, which seems to be a fait accompli for indie films. But I remain hopeful that the project will pan out and be a success. Most recently, my producers are planning to film a teaser trailer featuring the five major characters that will be launched worldwide to promote the funding of the project.

Do you have any advice for new designers about the author world?

Make sure your work is top-notch in quality. Try to stand out from the crowd—discover what is unique about your work and focus on that. Let your light shine and the right folks will find you.

Do you have anything to say to your followers?

I love every single one of you. Without my fans and supporters, I would be nowhere.

Buy links

Strange Days

Boobes: An Adult Coloring Book

Skriker: A Boy and His Beast

Black Dog and Rebel Rose: Chapter One: The Road to Hell

Black Dog and Rebel Rose Revamped

Being Ophelia and Other Poems

Social media links

Dani Smith International Fan Page

Quick Draw Studio

Feb 13 2019

Author Jarica James #interview

Please give a warm welcome to author Jarica James

Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is Jarica, I’m a stay at home mom of two fun and crazy boys. I have a degree in Psychology. I’m an avid reader, gamer and music lover. Bright colors, nature and dogs make me happy. I’m a coffee addict and stay up way too late writing and reading, because I get lost in these worlds so easily.

Have you always wanted to become an author?

When I would get really stressed out in college, writing was my escape. I had around sixty percent of a YA novel written, but once I graduated I kind of forgot about it. Then when I had my second son and had been staying home with the kids for a few years, I really felt like I was losing a piece of my identity from putting so much of myself into my family. So writing once again became my escape in finding my identity again, my ideal ‘me time’. For Mother’s day my husband bought me a laptop and I wrote. When I had two books written I decided to take that leap and publish. The RH community has been beyond amazing and made me feel like my worlds were worthwhile. Now I love sharing them!

What was your inspiration for your current book/series?

I’ve always loved paranormal books, and I had read a few that mentioned reapers, but they weren’t the main focus. So I thought about it and slowly started creating my reaper world. Once it started, I had a dream about the portals and the idea grew even more. I finally sat down and plotted it and the rest is history.

What are you working on now?

My book, Realm of Shadows comes out on February, 16th and is my current project I’m immersed in. It has been so much fun to write, especially since it ended up way off of my outlined plans, and is so much better for it. I can’t wait for readers to get this one. There’s plenty of action, twists and turns, Steamy scenes and fun.

I’m also working on a few other projects right now. My St. Patrick’s day co-write is in the editing stage along with Realm of Shadows. I’m also working on a Reverse Harem Horror book with an author friend and I can’t wait to tell everyone about it. I’m also working on the final book in my Fae Knights Series! I have a few more projects planned for this year, but Fae Knights and the Master Reapers series are priority!

Do you have any quirks while writing?

When writing, I’m the opposite of most people and have to have some level of noise. Whether that’s hopping on discord and chatting with other authors or listening to music. Silence makes me lose focus faster than anything. I’m a multi-tasker at heart.

What are your hopes for the future?

My hope is to be able to turn my ebooks into paperbacks and go to conventions. I love this community so much and I’d love to meet all of the other authors and fangirl a little… okay, a lot! Plus all of the readers have been so fun and supportive! I think it would be a lot of fun!

Do you have any advice for new authors about the publishing world?

Find an author group! My author friends have been the most supportive people in this process. We chat, exchange ideas, help each other out with our stories, and even learn how to do new things, like photoshop. We build each other up and make sure everyone succeeds, and I can’t imagine doing without them.

Do you have anything to say to your fans?

That question alone seems so crazy to me! I never imagined when I started that I would be able to reach as many people as I have. So I have to say THANK YOU! Thank you for supporting me and reading my books. Nothing makes my author heart happier than when someone messages me to discuss a character or plot point. It’s such an amazing feeling to know someone else was able to get a glimpse into the world you created and enjoyed it enough to want to chat about it. Our readers are amazing and I’m so grateful for them and their support and kindness! I love you guys!

Buy links

Author links

Realm of Shadows Blurb

With Drekavac temporarily sealed away, it’s up to Luz and the reapers to rebuild their numbers and protect the souls. A task made difficult when the Reaper Council wants to oppose her at every turn.

But their plans are soon forgotten when a new threat emerges in the form of demonic armies with weapons they’ve never seen before…weapons designed to take down a reaper.

When hope seems lost, they discover the existence of two factions who have similar goals in mind. The order aims to protect the humans and the Sentinels aim to protect the supernaturals. Now they must find a way to coordinate their knowledge and troops in order to save the human race and Earth itself.

Can they save them in time?

Despite all of their strategic planning, they can’t seem to get a step ahead of the demons, revealing the existence of spies in their ranks. Spies that may just cost even more reaper lives. With the war eminent and suspicion in their numbers, they have to find out who to trust and how to survive.

To make matters worse, mysterious and disturbing letters are showing up for her, and after more than one attempt to kidnap her, she learns to take them seriously.

Who is her new tormentor, and what does he want her for?

Can Luz save the humans and her realm, or will this be the end?