The Cover Collection–Stop By for Inspiration!

by Joanna Aislinn

Hi all! Hope you fared a relaxing and/or productive weekend and got to do something special. I was thrilled to have found a nearby tennis court clear of snow, ice and puddles, where I played a couple of sets. Of course I lost (that’s just the way of it). Definitely had a rusty day (haven’t been out there since the fall), but I do find happiness in the spring-like weather swinging away at a little green ball.

Rowsy   Rowsy kittens

These photos are for Tess. On the left is my Rowsy, who lived at least 22 years. Under the tabby gray was evidence of calico mix. It certainly showed in her kitties. 

Special welcome to Robbie! She found me via a pingback at NYTBSA Bob Mayer’s blog (How cool is THAT?!) to a guest-post I wrote a while back for author Babette James, when indie publishing was starting to really make its mark.

Promise to work really hard to keep the rest of this quick. (The other writing-related/workshop projects are lined up and waiting patiently. And hubby is looking forward to the egg-wrap I normally make for him on the weekends. )

A couple of posts ago I talked about some inspiring articles at author Joe Bunting’s blog, The Write Practice. Recently, guest blogger, author Carlos Cooper, talked about how perusing pre-made cover art for ideas and inspiration led him to buying a cover that caught his interest and inspired a book to go with it. Since I’ve done well so far with applying some of what I’ve read at Joe’s excellent stop-on-the-web for writers, I figured I’d go for it.

Like Carlos, I did a search. Landed at UK-based The Cover Collection and immediately fell in love with a cover under the Romance tab. Lined up to pay the ridiculously reasonable costs—via PayPal—for ebook and CreateSpace covers for the follow up to my debut novel. BTW, the latter is a print-book front-only option TCC offers to help authors save $$. Older Son is savvy enough to do spine and back cover work.

Virtually met and began interacting with Debbie. She has been utterly WONDERFUL helping me customize the stunning cover I bought. (I promise the images appear to breathe.) She is very generous with her time, open to suggestions and somehow, totally “gets” what moves me visually. One of the versions she made for the sequel—based on my requests—resulted in big-time pay dirt: perfect theme/story-related cover art for my debut, No Matter Why!

So, two lovely covers-in-the-works later, I am taking steps in the direction I’ve wanted to go all along. No cover reveals today; we’re still working on them. (Yes, very patient Debbie is kind enough to put up with me. ;).

So I suppose this is short enough a post for me. (Please feel welcome to differ and say so, lol. No offense taken, pinky swear!) I know, there were a lot of links here. (That’s what happens when you drop in at Jami Gold’s virtual-web stop.) For those of you daring enough to check out each one and somehow wind up back here—you far more focused than I.

Hope this has been as inspiring for you as for me. Thanks for indulging me.

Have a great week,

Joanna

14 thoughts on “The Cover Collection–Stop By for Inspiration!”

  1. Thanks, Joanna, for the lovely photo on the left. Drat the one on the other side didn’t cooperate. Love the markings on Rowsy. Twenty-two years is a good life for a furry friend! 😛

    Like

    1. You’re welcome, Tess. Not sure if you tried this, but clicking on that tiny square in the center of the bigger (blank) square should enable you to see the picture. I’ll have to figure out how to fix that later. H

      Like

        1. Ok. If I rectify the problem, I’ll give u a shout out. Give u a break from all that preparation 😉

          Like

  3. Working on being accountable to me and taking those steps one at a time. Sometimes, I feel like I’m slogging around with lead boots. Take care and thnx again!

    Like

    1. I’m thinking those sites were there all along, but the rise of self/indie publishing created a much greater demand. I almost had one picked out elsewhere, but I’ll go with the timing wasn’t right. And, as I said, Debbie seems much more generous with her time and revisions. It’s also cool to see the different ways other artists express their creativity.

      FYI, Create Space also has software and templates to DIY for free. Cool for someone with that kind of savvy and vision.

      Thnx, Carrie!

      Like

  6. Yep. That and ‘more’ but all in the right time. Wish I could manage more than one writing project at a time. Once I win that lottery and have more time… 😉

    Like

  7. @Tess:you are too funny. Just make sure to get everything to room temperature before you need to use it 😉

    Like

  8. Pingback: Krista’s ‘Brilliant Disguise’ Prompted Me in Multiple Ways | Joanna Aislinn's Blog--Love, Life Lessons and Then Some

Comments are closed.