Jun 16 2019

Graphic Designer 2nd Life Design #interview

Please give a warm welcome to graphic designer Thomas from 2nd Life Design

Tell us a bit about yourself?

“It started out as an exercise and became an addiction.” – Jack Reacher

Hi everyone, I’m Thomas Moore. I live in Fulton, NY near Lake Ontario. I am married to author E. M. Moore and I began doing book covers as a way to reduce expenses. My wife is a prolific writer and she needed new covers on a regular basis, so I started doing them. One of the first covers I did for her was for her story Reawakened: The Chronicles of Cas. Eventually, I found that I really enjoyed doing the covers and decided to offer my skills to other authors. That’s when I started 2nd Life Designs. I called it 2nd Life because I already had a day job teaching martial arts. Graphic design has become another passion of mine. I create covers, do print and Ebook formatting, design bookmarks, banners, swag, you name it. I want to be able to help with anything an author might need.

Have you always wanted to become an artist/designer?

I’ve always enjoyed graphic design, but usually how it related to my martial arts business. Creating custom designs for T-shirts and Logos, but when Erin began writing it sent me in a new subset of graphic design.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

When I do custom work, I get inspiration from the author’s blurb. When making premade covers, I get inspired by my favorite movies and tv shows: Supernatural, In Search of Monsters, The Order, Ancient Aliens, Beautiful Creatures…I could go on forever. I love the paranormal! My wife and I go to Salem, Mass as much as we possibly can. 😎

What are you working on now?

I’m currently working on a few different projects. I am formatting my wife’s Ravana Clan Vampire Series to put into an omnibus and creating a new cover for it. I usually do two premade covers a week and I’m also working on a commission for a custom cover that is the second in a series.

Do you have any quirks while working?

Absolutely! I work with my dog sleeping next to me and I listen to Pandora’s Classical Commute radio. Something about the big orchestra sound gets me feeling creative. My dog doesn’t even look up.

What are your hopes for the future?

I hope to be the cover designer that authors think of first when they want the perfect cover for their story. I would absolutely love for one of my covers to be featured on the NY Times Bestseller list. Just sayin’ 😜

Do you have anything to say to your fans?

Fans? I have fans? 😊

I would say thank you so much for appreciating what I do. It takes hours of painstaking work to create this art and seeing an author and their readers giddy with their new “pretty” makes it all worth it.

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Jun 12 2019

Kamayama Designs #interview

Please give a warm welcome to Kamayama Design

Tell us a bit about yourself

My name is Melody and I’m originally from Hawai’i. I’ve bounced back and forth between Washington and the islands many times since most of my family resides there. My favorite color is red and favorite animal is a shark—yes, I’m serious. I got to see a baby one in the wild and Kamaole 3. It’s one of my favorite memories to date.

Have you always wanted to become a designer/artist?

Yes and no. I’ve always loved drawing and the arts. I do chibi commissions on the side because regular commissions are a ton of work and I want to be a in a better spot before I offer those. After a low spot in my life, I focused in on writing and was graced to become part of a community that also wanted my chibis. I then branched into designing out of necessity for my own covers. Immediately, I got positive responses from people. So, I continued and, since I had a very minor background in graphic design, it helped.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

Most times, I look through unsplash.com. I know the ins and outs of licenses and I know what I can and can’t use free and paid images for. Mainly, most of my stock comes from Adobe. I don’t use shutterstock because of how restrictive they are for what you can use it for.

But back to the main question, my inspiration comes from just browsing. Sometimes and idea pops into my head and I have to search for all the components, but it’s mainly from beautiful photography.

What are you working on now?

TONS. A lot of the ones I have revolve around magic. There’s a shamaness. I have a couple fairy and fae ones. And if I’m being honest, I have a lot of ones on the backburner. Like…main image but nothing to go with it.

Do you have any quirks while working?

I either, and this goes with writing, have to have complete silence or non-stop pumped up music. Preferably no words.

What are your hopes for the futur?

I would like to have all my premades that I’ve already made, sold. Then, once that’s done, I would like to possibly open up customs to everyone. It all hinges upon my writing and the demand for the covers. If more people want customs from me, I’ll consider it. Right now, they’re on a case by case basis. I think Jodie Lynne is the only one who’s been approved.

Do you have anything to say to your followers?

Thanks guys! I didn’t realize I had any out there, but hi! I appreciate the support!

⬆️ Made for Jade Waltz ⬆️

Facebook

Kamayama Weebly

Kamayama Design

May 23 2019

Graphic Designer Dark & Stormy Knight Design #interview

Please give a warm welcome to designer Christopher Coyle – Dark & Stormy Knight Design

Tell us a bit about yourself

I’m a graphic designer who moonlights as an indie romance writer, with a background in fantasy roleplaying games. I’m a moody Gemini who tends to embrace Zen, who’s traveled the world and loves life, embraces differences and celebrates the strange and unusual.

I primarily design covers for romance authors, and I try and create a distinct, unique take on their book with covers that aren’t necessarily “to market,” but will hopefully stand out from the others. I work closely with the author, collaboratively, from beginning to end, to try and bring their characters to life.

If I find stock photos that randomly inspire me, then I create “premades” based on that inspiration. They might not necessarily be designed around what’s currently popular, or “on trend,” but covers that make me happy – and hopefully inspire authors out there to create a story around that cover!

Have you always wanted to become a designer/artist?

If I wasn’t writing, I was doodling. Growing up, I wanted to be a comic book writer & artist, but I always seemed to focus more on one side than the other. If I focused on my writing, I let my art slip away; if I focused on art, my writing suffered. Going into graphic design, opposed to art, let’s me juggle the two a lot more effectively…so, I guess, yes. I like to tell stories, whether through speaking, the written word, or through an image.

Where do you find inspiration for your work?

It’s a bit of a cop-out answer, but the truth really is that I find inspiration in just about everything. Sometimes, it’s just a random stock photo that sparks an idea, or I’ll have gorged on alien romances so suddenly I need to design an alien cover.

Usually, though, if I’m working on a commission, then I draw inspiration from the author – I ask what covers they like, what their character(s) look like, what mood/theme their book is, and let their inspiration guide me. Some authors prefer to give me more leeway, which I’m comfortable with, and I take my job very seriously.

As a designer, my primary job is to make the author happy. I want them to hold that cover in their hand, and be just as happy with it years from now as they are the moment I show them the final draft.

What are you working on now?

Oh, I’m not sure I’m allowed to drop names!

Sandra R. Neeley was one of the first authors I started doing commissions for, and I’ve done her Whispers of the Bayou series (book 3 is finished, coming soon, hint hint), as well as her science fiction book, Haven, and her Riley’s Pride series of shifter romances!

I have been working on the covers for Wendie Nordgren’s Space Merchants series, which I love working on because it’s “romantic” science fiction, so it’s mixing softer tones with a sci-fi environment!

A few new authors have approached me to do their first books, which is an incredible honor! I love working with new authors, watching them take the world by storm!

Do you have any quirks while working?

I listen to audiobooks while designing. It’s a bit weird, but I’m an avid audiobook listener, so when I’m designing, I’ll usually fire up Audible and re-listen to one of my favorites; which, depending on my mood, can be anything from Julie Garwood or David Eddings through Kresley Cole and Thea Harrison…

I won’t tell you how many Audible audiobooks I own, but let’s just say that I’m a sucker for Whispersync on Amazon!

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

Don’t be afraid of embracing your own distinct style.

Watch YouTube tutorials!

Experiment! Constantly challenge yourself to learn and try something new!

What are your hopes for the future?

I just want to keep creating covers! So, hit me up!

Do you have anything to say to your fans?

Wait? I have fans? Haha! For those authors who have entrusted their book babies to me, I absolutely adore you. You humble me, and from the bottom of my wee heart, thank you for trusting me!

Contact links

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Dark & Stormy Knight Design

Facebook Group (where premades are posted)

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

Feb 1 2019

#Review of Covened by Ann Swan

I received this copy as an ARC.

I’ve been looking forward to reading this book so much. Finally I got my grubby little hands on it and it was totally worth the wait.

This book had me giggeling/snorting through the whole book. I could totally follow the #BigGirlProblems and having once been a pug owner I could appreciate Mrs. Pig and her brand of love/craziness. Throw in some hot dudes, magic and enough intrigue to choke a cow and you have a 5 star book. Now I just have to survive until Cursed comes out.

I really look forward to the next book in the series. This debut author does not disappoint.

Buy link

Amazon

Author links

Amazon author profile

Facebook

Ann Swan’s Birds and B’s

Website

Jul 1 2013

Cover reveal ~ Savage Rose ~

Here is the cover for my next poetry collection. It was made by the awesome

~ Aeternum Designs ~

http://www.aeternumdesigns.com

Grief, love, pain, imagination and appreciation for the little things in life. Those are some of the topics the author embraces in this poetry collection, mixed with photo art to enhance the feel of the poetry.

Hailstorm

In an hourglass

Counting down

Hail by hail

In a steady tempo

Far and beyond

It’s all the same

One by one

They drop through

Life’s hourglass

Counting the years

In light-speed