Graphic Design Graphic design... first thing I have to say about this is that I absolutely SUCK at it. I find myself to be a pretty creative person, but my eye for visual art is severely lacking. That's not to say that I don't have ideas, concepts, etc, but I heavenly rely on my wonderfully talented friend and graphics gal extraordinaire, LJ Anderson, owner of Mayhem Cover Creations She has this knack for just knowing what I'm talking about. I'm sure there are times she just rolls her eyes when working with me--I admit, I'm a handful of neurotic batshittery--but she always, always brings to life what I cannot articulate. She's got the gift. I wouldn't trust my work with anyone else. I think we have a good balance. We're also friends, so that helps. We have an easy communication, and as I said before, I just trust her. I know that whatever she does, it will be brilliant. It's a very exciting part of the writing process... the chosing and developing of a book cover. It's a huge deal. Many will say you can't judge a book by the cover, but I call bullshit. If you don't believe me, I dare you to check out this tumblr page. http://lousybookcovers.tumblr.com/ I am currently working on quite a few projects, and just like anything else, I get in a rut. There is so much to do, aside of actually writing the damn book. You have all this planning to do ahead of time--promotions, book covers, graphic teasers, etc. A lot of times, you can find me flailing around behind my computer like a freaking upside down beetle because shit... what the hell do I do first! This week, I was in a rather slumpy rut. Just sort of meh about everything. Life, writing, work, book sales, etc. Just about everything caused me to frown. And then, this miraculous thing happened. My wonderful friend LJ posted a book cover she'd made, something to put on her site as a pre-made and it was like the skies opened and gummy bears started singing pour some sugar on me. Yeah. Like that. It was the perfect cover for my WIP, Summer Girls, which is a tentative title at the moment, but it fits the premise and I'm using it until my brain can sort everything out. I mean, seriously. Nothing could be more perfect. Of course, I am only about thissss far along with this book, and I really need to focus on the third book in my Jayne series--as well as find a cover for that sucker--but shit. I couldn't let it go and it well and truly made my fucking day. And then, as we were talking the next day, we spoke about the book cover for the series and low and behold, she came right through again. I had literally looked through about eighty-bazillion pictures on stock sites and nothing really gave me the feels. I have to have the feels. The picture does it for me. Usually, I have to have the picture and the idea comes next. So there it was, she handed it to me all neat and tidy and that is why I will never, ever trust another to team up with on my little publishing adventure. I feel like I have the dream team, and that makes everything about my adventure just that much sweeter. If you are an author and you're looking for a hot cover, be sure to check out my girl. You won't be sorry. A true professional, quick and efficient and most of all, fucking talented. 
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