tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post1954695670742760628..comments2024-03-25T09:18:22.829-05:00Comments on Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers: BOOK CLUB FRIDAY--LOIS WINSTON, WRITING AS EMMA CARLYLEANASTASIA POLLACKhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03160162455676799133noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-10622479311675053432013-09-08T19:28:12.877-05:002013-09-08T19:28:12.877-05:00Thanks, June!Thanks, June!Lois Winstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01866423986250423199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-19454986738557270712013-09-08T17:20:00.915-05:002013-09-08T17:20:00.915-05:00Great job, Lois! The cover you created does say ro...Great job, Lois! The cover you created does say romantic suspense much more than your first one.June Shawhttp://www.juneshaw.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-44321049492529720772013-09-08T10:18:00.196-05:002013-09-08T10:18:00.196-05:00Thanks, Claire. In the book Dori is a take-charge ...Thanks, Claire. In the book Dori is a take-charge heroine not used to having help from anyone. She bristle at the thought of Jake "protecting" her. That's why I chose that particular photo. Glad you like it!<br /><br />I'll check into Bamboo. Thanks for mentioning it.Lois Winstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01866423986250423199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-33223403291079835832013-09-08T08:03:05.011-05:002013-09-08T08:03:05.011-05:00I like the new cover, Lois, and think it conveys r...I like the new cover, Lois, and think it conveys romantic suspense more than the first.<br /><br />I like the "off angle" of the models. It looks like she wants to be as engaged in the drama as he is, and puts her into a personal space with him. Good job. <br /><br />If you are artistic as in hand drawing, there are several tools out there to do that directly on the computer. I have an artist client to whom I recommended Bamboo - a small drawing tablet with a USB connection - and she loves it. I don't use it too much, as I'm not really an artist like she is, but I've found it easy to use. You might want to try it if you'd like to go with original art that you can bring into photoshop and add the text. Clamo88https://www.blogger.com/profile/16742188896080634218noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-8959137129650319182013-09-07T19:33:59.847-05:002013-09-07T19:33:59.847-05:00Kris and Karen, thanks for your honest and constru...Kris and Karen, thanks for your honest and constructive criticism. I'll definitely take your comments into consideration.Lois Winstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01866423986250423199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-37645738901785024262013-09-07T13:57:15.191-05:002013-09-07T13:57:15.191-05:00This is just my opinion, so take it for what it...This is just my opinion, so take it for what it's worth, but I'm going to agree with Kris that while the new version definitely says romantic suspense, it doesn't look quite as professional and polished as the older one. <br /><br />As Kris noted, there are too many different fonts and the title font is likely going to be hard to read at smaller sizes. I'm also bothered by the couple's pose. On the plain background, with no context, the angle of their bodies looks awkward. To be honest, they look like a pair of models, posed on a dark background rather than two people in a dangerous situation.<br />Again, that's just my opinion, since you asked, but it's clear that a lot of other people really like the cover.Karen McCulloughhttp://www.kmccullough.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-45726175598999074002013-09-07T11:02:09.354-05:002013-09-07T11:02:09.354-05:00I like the image and it definitely looks more like...I like the image and it definitely looks more like romantic suspense with a touch of humor. I'm afraid that the text at the bottom makes the cover look more amateur, though – too many different fonts. I'd recommend using the same font for both names and the "writing as," *maybe* with one of them italicized.Kris Bockhttp://www.krisbock.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-70166628122100031412013-09-07T07:21:35.985-05:002013-09-07T07:21:35.985-05:00Thanks, Jerri!
Thelma, you've started my day ...Thanks, Jerri!<br /><br />Thelma, you've started my day off with a smile on my face--and a bit of a blush!Lois Winstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01866423986250423199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-13318561478038028442013-09-07T06:58:38.451-05:002013-09-07T06:58:38.451-05:00Superb job on the new cover, Lois! I agree with K....Superb job on the new cover, Lois! I agree with K. Kaska - it is like the Avengers - but the 2013 version - so you are ahead! You are one fantastic woman - the way you plow right into hard new challenges - you inspire me! Thelma Straw in ManhattanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-28940470511247922632013-09-06T23:53:43.574-05:002013-09-06T23:53:43.574-05:00Love the cover! Great job!Love the cover! Great job!Colleen Connallyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12195931651391347529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-33582589609884429372013-09-06T22:06:38.486-05:002013-09-06T22:06:38.486-05:00Alan, if you ever start writing children's boo...Alan, if you ever start writing children's books, maybe those Crayolas and construction paper will come in handy. ;-)<br /><br />Lyndi, don't give up. If I can do it, you can do it.Lois Winstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01866423986250423199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-65344067008066009962013-09-06T21:32:11.520-05:002013-09-06T21:32:11.520-05:00Lois, I definitely agree that the new cover says r...Lois, I definitely agree that the new cover says romantic suspense versus the old cover, which is suspense without the romance. And I am in awe of you learning how to create a cover in a weekend! Wish I could figure it out. I've tried, but it's so confusing. I'm really not a Luddite, but there are some things I just can't master. Maybe some day. You have inspired me to try again. :)Lyndi Lamonthttp://www.lyndilamont.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-1414386968528135542013-09-06T21:26:58.687-05:002013-09-06T21:26:58.687-05:00The second cover most definitely has more of an ai...The second cover most definitely has more of an air of mystery about it...btw, my cover design skills are pretty prehistoric as well...I do know how to handle a box of Crayolas and a piece of construction paper though...<br /><br />Cheers,<br />Alan.DirtyMartinihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06180430462425350855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-41491579723560882812013-09-06T18:32:24.562-05:002013-09-06T18:32:24.562-05:00Thanks, Morgan. That's why I wanted to change ...Thanks, Morgan. That's why I wanted to change it.Lois Winstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01866423986250423199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-41051901586758745412013-09-06T17:03:26.042-05:002013-09-06T17:03:26.042-05:00Both covers are great, but the one you did accurat...Both covers are great, but the one you did accurately depicts your book's genre, and that's important.<br /><br />Morgan MandelMorgan Mandelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10118929301591850918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-15315275806613163062013-09-06T16:14:57.614-05:002013-09-06T16:14:57.614-05:00Thanks, Joanne! Not sure I can handle juggling yet...Thanks, Joanne! Not sure I can handle juggling yet another career.Lois Winstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01866423986250423199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-43342761899239120162013-09-06T15:49:41.679-05:002013-09-06T15:49:41.679-05:00Love your cover, Lois. You've done a great job...Love your cover, Lois. You've done a great job of resurrecting those graphic design skills. Another career in the making?Joanne Guidocciohttp://www.joanneguidoccio.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-63563863014968790252013-09-06T11:41:59.215-05:002013-09-06T11:41:59.215-05:00Thanks, Rose. Glad you like it.Thanks, Rose. Glad you like it.Lois Winstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01866423986250423199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-31592166897455073562013-09-06T10:45:59.080-05:002013-09-06T10:45:59.080-05:00You did such a nice job on that cover. You did such a nice job on that cover. Rose Andersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04429566802562925080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-9020244499277262212013-09-06T10:29:23.270-05:002013-09-06T10:29:23.270-05:00Thanks, Elise. I'm lucky that I have a backgro...Thanks, Elise. I'm lucky that I have a background in design. What I lack are the technical skills that are being taught in art school these days. I've got a lot of catching up to do, and much of it is too overwhelming. You can teach an old dog new tricks, but it takes much more time and patience!<br /><br />As for Twitter, of course there are exceptions, and it looks like you've found a good one. I just get bleary-eyed scrolling through all those tweets in search of something meaningful. Still, I do scroll, hoping to find the hidden gems.Lois Winstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01866423986250423199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-3092574073519138442013-09-06T10:18:30.977-05:002013-09-06T10:18:30.977-05:00I definitely think the new cover is better for rom...I definitely think the new cover is better for romantic suspense. And I definitely envy you your graphic design skills. I would love to be able to change out covers on my books on my own rather than paying a cover designer, but I'm afraid what I would come up with would look like a kindergartner's collage.<br /><br />I have to disagree on Twitter though. I find it very useful. I follow a local person who has more news than any of the news stations. He tweets traffic accidents, police actions, lost pets, you name it. Recently it was the way I found out it was my ISP causing my email problems. Followers tweet him information, which he shares, and questions. If he doesn't know the answer, he retweets the question to see if a follower can fill the rest of us in. The perfect use of social media!Elise M. Stonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12548587381862555229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-59872165395302234092013-09-06T10:01:42.774-05:002013-09-06T10:01:42.774-05:00Thanks, Kathleen! I did master Twitter, but I'...Thanks, Kathleen! I did master Twitter, but I'm not convinced it really matters. I don't know that Twitter is very useful for much of anything. It seems like it's mostly about millions of people shouting 140 characters into a vast void. How many people actual read all those tweets, and does anyone really care?Lois Winstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01866423986250423199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-66982692801055391252013-09-06T09:56:46.223-05:002013-09-06T09:56:46.223-05:00I like the new cover. It reminds me of the Avenger...I like the new cover. It reminds me of the Avengers. I also admire you for learning this knew skill. I'm still trying to figure out how Twitter works. Great job, Lois.Kathleen Kaskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16500241341014235792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-63413023353459061322013-09-06T09:53:19.564-05:002013-09-06T09:53:19.564-05:00Thanks, Sheila. I'd still like to keep a foot ...Thanks, Sheila. I'd still like to keep a foot in both worlds, but the right offer has to come along to get me to sign another traditional contract. There's something very liberating about having control over one's destiny.Lois Winstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01866423986250423199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6348734432793771357.post-74241559418314613962013-09-06T09:44:44.832-05:002013-09-06T09:44:44.832-05:00Completely agree, Lois! And brava for taking this ...Completely agree, Lois! And brava for taking this next step. You're an inspiration to those of us still hanging back in the traditional publishing world, but longing for more control over our public authorly faces. Good post - thanks!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07535695542961577318noreply@blogger.com