Dorothy Grant published a short series of articles on her blog that I would like to draw your attention to. She’s the brilliant, quieter half, of the man responsible for one of the best new series of Space Operas coming out right now, Peter Grant. I’ve reviewed his work a few times, and will keep… Read More Anatomy of a Book Cover
I have known pretty much from the beginning that the cover artwork I created for Trickster Noir wasn’t the final edition. I did the eyes because I needed to have a cover for the Dean Wesley Smith cover design workshop I was going through, and my first option, an image of Bella, was beyond my… Read More Cover Art: Trickster Noir
Mirror-posted at ASM I have permission from the talented Gina Marie Wylie to use one of her covers to illustrate a before-and-after of an ebook cover, taking it from amateur, to professional, in a few easy steps. I am using Gimp 2.8 on a Mac, Gimp is freeware, and the last upgrade makes it almost… Read More Cover Layout Tutorial
I didn’t read anything this week, again. I had intended to, and I did do a review on Monday, since I read last week… what is my life coming to? I used to read several books a day. Then there was a book here and there, or a stolen hour in the bathtub with a… Read More Artwork and thoughts
So I finished it. Woohoo! I’ll start working on a scene I know needs shoring up, doing a pass for major problems, and then it will go to Beta readers. Finally, it will go to an editor before returning for formatting and final covering. Then, marketing and release. It’s a long process, but it could… Read More Trickster Noir: Snippet 3
I’m very proud to be giving my grandmother, La Vaughn Kemnow, a little assistance with her memoir of life on an Alaskan Homestead in the 1950s. I had no idea of the story of my mother’s childhood, and this has been a poignant labor, converting the interior and cover files for publication. I don’t know… Read More Alaska Bush Mother Art
I’ve been playing around with GIMP. With mixed success. And I need to write, so today you get some digital art from my efforts!
I am writing a LOT, for me, going for 4000 words again today, I did it yesterday! Problem is I keep getting distracted by things like the dog, and baking, and… Why, yes, I am trying to write a difficult scene, why do you ask? I also got distracted by this blog, which you have… Read More I am Writing
Writers! Are you blue, depressed, down in the mouth? Are you feeling like you have just written the worst compilation of words ever known in the universe? Well, worry no more! Now, you can take one look at this tome, and know that in comparison your treatise is a shining example of literary merit! Behold…
I love used book stores. I have never really been attracted to new book stores, for a couple of reasons. As a child and teen, I couldn’t afford to pay cover price for a book. I think the only books I ever had brand new was the complete LM Montgomery set in paperback that was… Read More Beautiful America: Pulp Fiction
I’m not sure if this qualifies as a nuts-and-bolts post, or a “what I have been up to this morning!” I spent a good part of my morning formatting and uploading files for Pixie Noir, hoping to hit the proposed publication date in a more-or-less timely fashion. I am working with Createspace again for this,… Read More Back Covers
I’m very excited, I have a draft of the cover for you all to look at! It’s likely going to be tweaked before final release, but do let me know what you think! (Be honest, remember, this is for posterity…) Only a couple more snippets before you can buy the whole thing and gobble it… Read More Pixie Noir: Snippet 9