Musings of Two Creative Minds

     As usual I started experimenting with a basic quick sketch of what I had in mind. I knew right from the start that I wanted to incorporate the title into the image for this one, especially since it was our more traditional two word titles. Naturally I aimed for an actual door, knowing it would be fairly easy to incorporate the word "door" into the wood grain.      From there I started testing out different color schemes for the wood grain itself. But then I started asking myself, how would a door that had been exposed to the elements for almost two centuries look? So I did some Googling, to find images to get a better idea of what such a door might look like. Here's a few of the examples I found:      So now I had a basis to build upon. Yet I also felt that whatever I created should have good strong colors that still gave that weathered yet somewhat foreboding feel. So I pulled out my soft pastels and started laying d...

When it came time to work on the cover for "The Vampyre Blogs - I: Coming Home" I was finding myself coming up against a wall as far as cover art ideas went.  The other books had been relatively easy because of their two word titles: "The Bridge" and "The Ship". But this time the title was much longer, so I needed to come up with something different. Since we were using the word 'blogs' as part of the title, I thought about incorporating a computer or laptop into the picture.  So I experimented with Adobe Photoshop and came up with this image: While very effective in many respects, some people told me they missed seeing my original artwork on the cover. Many said it helped make our books stand out more.  So I began wracking my brains for a a new cover style and wasn't coming up with much. Mind you, at this point we had not even started writing the novel and decided not to worry about it.  I figured once the story was written I'...

As some of you may or may not know, besides being an author I'm also an artist.  I work mainly with soft pastels and charcoal, and have designed and painted the covers for three of our books. Now I  do not consider myself a 'professional' cover designer, but I've also seen artwork on books that many times had very little to do with what goes on in the story. And as one of the two authors who knows the story inside and out, and as an artist who had taken awards in various art shows over the years, I felt I was qualified enough to give it a shot. Especially when I had a specific image in mind that would incorporate the title of the book into the artwork itself. "It should be a piece of cake," I told myself. I suspect a number of you already have an idea of what came next. Our old friend the "Learning Curve" decided to make his presence known. First there were the experimental designs I knew right from the start that I liked the title being pa...

          With 2018 drawing to a close, I’m sure a lot of us are reflecting on what’s happened in each of our lives as well as wondering about what 2019 holds. For me 2018 was a strange year of revelations, new opportunities, as well as upheavals. Two bouts with bronchitis, the second one becoming pneumonia, really took a lot out of me and my vacation time from work. I was supposed to be off this last week and not returning until January 2 nd . Our 1 st anthology “The Vampyre Blogs – One Day At a Time” had been slated to be released in late September/early October but didn’t see the light of day until early this month (not a great time to push a new book, not when the big publishers are pushing a bunch of titles they’ve been holding back in time for the holidays). However, things will pick up. I know this from past experience, so I’m not too worried. However, the big question of course is what can you all expect from us in the coming year? Well,...

REVIEW BY ALLAN KRUMMENACKER 5 - STARS   "Serving up a deliciously creepy read..." This is the first book I've read of Miss Remiel's and I have to say she did not disappoint. Camille Dutton is a fascinating protagonist who finds herself on an island community where she' is expected to simply work at the local library. "I'm a book waitress..." she keeps telling people. Nothing more, nothing less. She doesn't consider herself amazing or unusual. But she soon finds herself being slowly surrounded by people who seem oddly fascinated by her. Even some of the books in the library seem to have taken an odd interest in her like set of "The Devil's Handbook" which seemingly falls off the shelf of their own volition. Then there's the strange yet fascinating gentleman named Derek Gallagher, who like her is not native to the island.  But his purpose for being there is not a new start, but to delve into a strange series of ...

5.0 out of 5 stars NATHAN IS THE MAN! December 4, 2018 "OH WHAT CAN I SAY, I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED IT READING IT AGAIN" Come and see for yourself what everyone is talking about and grab a copy for yourself for just $3.99.  And while you're at it, buy one for someone in your life who enjoys a good paranormal/science fiction anthology. Amazon US Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KMN78B2 And for our friends up in Canada and over in the United Kingdom here are some more links: Amazon UK Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07KMN78B2 Amazon Canada Link: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07KMN78B2

****OUR ANTHOLOGY HAS RECEIVED IT'S FIRST REVIEWS AND THEY ARE 4 AND 5 STARS**** 4 STARS -  "A great read!" 5 STARS - " A well written story collection revealing Nathan's past. Excellent!" Come see what other readers are saying and take a 'Sneak Peek" for yourself by clicking the link below, and maybe check out the other books in our Para-Earth Series.  Amazon US Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KMN78B2 Amazon UK Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07KMN78B2 Amazon Canada Link: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B07KMN78B2 *NOTE: Signed Trade Paperbacks will be available soon, in plenty of time for Christmas*