I have a special surprise for you folks today! My friend, Sarah Brentyn, has not one but two beautifully redesigned and elegant covers to share with you! But I’ll let her tell you the full story of how they came to be. And here she is:
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I Don’t Know How Art Works
To me, art is magic. And I mean that literally. Obviously, figuratively, too, since all creative endeavors are magical. But it’s…I don’t know…weird. I just don’t get it.
Having these covers made was a long process. I asked many, numerous, countless, repetitive, stupid questions along the way. It wasn’t pretty. Like “How do you get the picture from your notebook to the computer screen?” And “What do you mean?” And, “How is that going to turn from a…line thingy…into a shaded flower?” And “What do you mean?” And “How are you going to make that lighter without making the other part darker?” And “What do you mean?” Fortunately, the artist I worked with is a saint with a great deal of patience. (Or, just as likely, sent kind inquiries and tolerant responses while screaming obscenities I couldn’t hear. Yeah. That’s super possible.)
I’m going to give you the sanitized version of how this all went down. (Believe me, this is for your own good.)
I didn’t know what I wanted.
Or, rather, I knew exactly what I wanted but had no idea how to express it. I don’t speak art.
So, when I tried to explain the idea, it sounded like Dr. Seuss on a bad day:
“I’d love to have a fringlehop around the juglifine. A circle ‘round the difentoot with wiscott and some bine.”
She asked if I could show her what I meant. That went well. It was like a two-year-old shoving a crayon scribble at you and expectantly waiting for applause for the amoeba-shaped blob that is obviously a cat.
After that, came more, ridiculous, relentless questions. Like “Can you move the thing over to where the other thing is?” And “What do you mean?” And “How about if that thing is closer to the other thing?” And “What do you mean?”
There was also a great deal of, “I don’t know how art works.” It became my mantra.
When the artwork was done, we needed to distress it. The images were too clean and pretty for my dark writing. Did I want the background distressed or the image itself? And what type of distressing? That, my friends, is another story.
For now, enjoy the beautiful artwork by the talented (and ever-patient) Loni Townsend. I hope you like the fresh, new look for my books!
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Artist Loni Townsend: Wife. Mother. Ninja. Squirrel.
Shoutout to the lovely Allie Potts for getting these covers into print-ready form so I could have my precious paperbacks (and for creating beautiful 3D images).
~~~
And … tada! Here are Sarah’s freshly redesigned covers for your viewing pleasure. Personally, I think they are gorgeous! Elegant and refined, and positively stunning. I suspect most of you will agree.
Now I ask you, was I right? I love both of these covers so much, I’d buy them just to put on easels on my bookshelves. But an even better reason would be because the writing is so very good. It’s a Win-Win! Check out these Blurbs!
Hinting At Shadows BLURB:
No One Escapes Life Unscathed
Delve into the deeper reaches of the human condition and the darkness that lives there.
A girl haunted by her sister’s drowning.
A boy desperate for his father’s affection.
A woman forced to make a devastating decision.
A man trapped by his obsessions.
Experience tales of love, loss, murder, and madness through this collection of flash and micro fiction. Take a peek behind the smile of a stranger. Get a glimpse inside the heart of a friend. Scratch the surface and discover what is hidden beneath.
These stories will open your mind, tug at your thoughts, and allow you to explore the possibility that, even in the brightest moments, something is Hinting at Shadows.
Buy Hinting at Shadows HERE
(It’s now on SALE for just $.99!)
On the Edge of a Raindrop BLURB:
When You’re on the Edge, It’s Easy to Fall
These are stories of lives on the edge.
A girl tortured by the world within her.
A boy powerless to escape his home.
A mother doomed to live with her greatest mistake.
A man lost in a maze of grief.
Each raindrop provides a microscopic mirror of ourselves and those around us. But we can’t always trust what we see. The distorted images disorient the mind, altering our view of reality.
This second collection of flash and micro fiction explores the depths of the human condition and the fragile surface of our perceptions. Dive into these tales of darkness and discover what life is like On the Edge of a Raindrop.
Buy On the Edge of a Raindrop HERE
~~~
Author Sarah Brentyn
I wrote my first story when I was nine years old and never looked back. My work has appeared both in print and online in lit mags, newsletters, websites, newspapers, and anthologies. I have a master’s degree in writing and have taught all ages, from Kindergarteners to adults. When other girls dreamt of being a ballerina, I dreamt of scribbling my thoughts in a notebook and turning them into a book. I bleed ink.
You can Reach Sarah on Social Media here:
Website: Sarah Brentyn
Blog: Lemon Shark | Lemon Shark Reef
Great cover art! No one knows how much effort goes into making these covers. Glad you found someone you could work with. Thanks for sharing this story with us, Marcia.
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So glad you enjoyed it, Darlene. I love the clean, elegant look of these, and can totally sympathize with Sarah’s story. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by today! 🙂
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I did find someone I could work with. Or, rather, I found someone who could work with me. 😉 Thanks, Darlene! 💖
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Wonderful new covers, Sarah! Sounds like you went on quite the journey. Best of luck with all your books 🙂
Marcia, thanks for sharing 🙂
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I agree, Harmony. I think they will definitely standout in “the crowd.” Glad you enjoyed Sarah’s story, too. Thanks so much for stopping by. 🙂
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Thanks, Harmony! 💖 Yes, it was a journey but enough time has passed I can laugh about it. It was kind of funny, tbh.
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Loved this, Marcia. I went across to Amazon here and have bought Hinting at Shadows for a miserly .77p
Thanks!
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Oh, so glad you picked up a copy, Trish. It’s a great deal, for sure. Hope you enjoy the stories within, too. And thanks for letting us know! 🙂
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Thanks so much for picking up a copy. 💖 I hope you enjoy it! Have a lovely week!
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Lovely covers, Sarah. I’ve become fond of reading short fiction. Adding these to my ever growing TBR! Congratulations and a big thanks to Marcia for hosting.
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It was a great pleasure to have Sarah here for the first time. (Hint: she’ll be returning for a couple more interesting and entertaining posts in the weeks ahead). And glad you plan to check these books out, too. Thanks for stopping by, Joan! 🙂
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Aw, thank you, Joan. I appreciate the feedback. So nice to hear others like these covers. And also nice to hear you’re reading short fiction. It’s a form I love but it’s not for everyone. I hope, if you give these a try, you enjoy them! 💖
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I had to laugh at the bit about crayons and a cat drawing. Fun post, and the covers turned out great!
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I love Sarah’s sense of humor, Priscilla, and am glad her tale made you laugh. I agree on the lovely covers, too. Thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂
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Thanks, Priscilla. 💖 I’m so happy your like the covers! (And I wish the cat drawing was an exaggeration but, seriously, I’m very, very bad at anything relating to art.)
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Who cares about the terminology? You got your point across, and the covers are striking. Best wishes!
Thanks, Marcia.
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Terminology, schmerminology! But the story sure made me laugh. And I agree 100% about the covers. Love them. So it was a real pleasure to have Sarah share them with us today. Thanks for stopping by, Staci! 🙂
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That’s true. I do feel I tortured the poor artist with my Dr. Seuss-ish terms but, yes, I did get my point across eventually.
I am so happy you think they’re striking. I went with what I love, not what was marketable so it’s really nice to hear. Thanks, Staci! 💖
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I think there’s a lot to be said for emotion driving people’s choices. If it moves you, it’s probably going to move a lot of other people, too. Well done, Sarah.
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I hope so. 🥰 Thanks, Staci.
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Reblogged this on Author Don Massenzio and commented:
Head over to Marcia Meara’s blog for Guest Day Tuesday featuring Sarah Brentyn
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Thanks so much for sharing, Don! As always, it is greatly appreciated!! 🙂
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You’re welcome.
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Thank you for sharing this, Don. 🙂 💖 Cheers!
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You’re welcome.
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I think the covers are fabulous! And that post (especially the Seuss-like part) was hysterical.
Wishing Sarah plenty of new sales and all the best with her books!
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I agree with both of those comments, Mae. I laughed throughout that wonderful post, but the Seuss thingie really was hysterical, wasn’t it? The good news is, Sarah will be visiting us a at least a couple more times during the weeks ahead, so stay tuned!
And thanks so much for stopping by today! 🙂
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It was, looking back and with some time passed, a pretty funny experience. 😉
So glad you like the covers, Mae. I wasn’t quite sure how they’d be received. Thanks for the wonderful feedback and wishes! 💖
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All the best, Sarah. I love the artwork. My interactions with artists were similar. I finally settled on one specific person and let him come up with the art based upon my vague representations. We work well together these days.
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Thanks for stopping by today, Craig, and for sharing your experiences, too. Your guy does GREAT work for you, perfect for your stories! 🙂
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So nice to hear I’m not alone in the trying-to-interact-with-artists. 🙂 It was a weird experience. I just don’t know the terms. Glad I found someone willing to deal with that and happy you found an artist you work well with. It’s awesome when our visions become reality. Thanks, Craig!
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Great post, Sally and Sarah! I love Sarah’s voice and will definitely check out her short stories. And the two covers are firefly! 😍
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Glad you liked them, Yvette! I thought they were gorgeous, too! 🙂 Thanks for stopping by today!
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Thanks, Yvette! 💖 Thrilled you like the covers. And, if you decide to grab a copy, I hope you enjoy it. Cheers!
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Wonderful new covers, Sarah. I can only imagine the time and talent required to create beautiful covers. Thank you, Marcia, for sharing. ❤️
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It was a big pleasure to share these gorgeous covers and Sarah’s hilarious post today, Gwen. And so nice to see you here, too! 🙂 ❤
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I does, indeed, take time and talent to create covers. Especially when you’re as picky as I am. 😉 So happy you like them. Thanks, Gwen! 💖
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Oh, Marcia, this post is beautiful! Thank you so much for allowing me to guest post and for showcasing my new covers. So grateful for you, lovely, and happy to be here. 💖
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It was MY pleasure to have you visit is, Sarah, especially with such lovely cover reveals. I knew folks would enjoy seeing them, and reading your very funny comments, too. 😀 And you are welcome to visit us here any time you have news to share of any kind. 🙂 ❤
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Aw, thanks, again. It was a process and also a fair bit of uncertainty with the no-white-background rule of book cover design. I went with what I loved, not what was “right” so…a bit of a gamble. I’m grateful for every bit of positive feedback (of which you’ve given plenty). So appreciate you, lovely lady. 💖🥰
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Awww, shucks! Thanks! 🤗 And I bucked the system on covers somewhat, myself. There are a few types hugely popular right now that instantly turn me away before I even know what the story’s about. Though many other popular styles work beautifully for me, I just wanted something very distinctive for mine, and happily my good friend and cover designer extraordinaire says we share a brain. I tell her once, she has a mock up back to me within a day, and it’s generally pretty much just as I pictured it. I sometimes ask her to tweak a color slightly, or move an object a wee bit, but that’s all. And often, I don’t even need that. Am I lucky, or what?
Truthfully, no cover appeals to every single buyer, so we are left with three options as I see it:
1) Go with the flow and do what’s commercially hot.
2) Be a total rebel, and do what we personally prefer.
3) Compromise, and try for that very tricky happy medium.
I think you’re going to find that white background or not, most folks will love your new covers, and they will definitely stand out on a crowded bookshelf. (And isn’t that the whole purpose of fancy covers, anyway?) Wishing you huge success with the future sales of these! 🙂 ❤
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You have gorgeous and distinctive covers, to be sure. I’ve always loved your covers. (And, yes, you are lucky to have that relationship!)
1) I’ve never been good at going with the flow and don’t cater to what’s commercially hot.
2) I’m not a TOTAL rebel, but I definitely do what I prefer.
3) Compromise is good in theory, but that happy medium is, indeed, very tricky.
I guess I went with the second option. We’ll see what happens. 💖 Thanks, again, for everything!
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Couldn’t have said it better, myself, Sarah. (Even from the accumulated wisdom of my advanced age!! 😀 😀 😀 )
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🙄😂
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Heh. Sarah, I’m sure it didn’t help that I don’t know how to talk to people! I’m just glad we were able to get you covers that lived up to what you wanted.
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Well, you guys sure did manage that, Loni. They are gorgeous! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
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It’s funny, no? (Too soon?) 😉 We definitely got the covers I’d envisioned. Your artwork is stunning! Thank you, again! 💖
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Lovely covers and story behind them 🙂 I picked up my copy of Hinting at Shadows.
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Glad you enjoyed the post, Denise! I was very pleased to share it today, and happy that you’ve grabbed a copy of Hinting at Shadows, too! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
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Thanks so much, Denise! 💖 I really hope you enjoy it!
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I love Sarah’s humor. And it’s clear that she had a vision despite her insistence that she didn’t know how to get there. Beautiful artwork from Loni. Congrats to Sarah on the gorgeous covers! Great guest post, Marcia.
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So glad you enjoyed it, Diana. I think the covers are fantastic, too, and I’m glad you like them, as well. Thanks so much for stopping by today! 🙂
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❤
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What humor? 🙂 Yes, I did have a vision. So glad we wound up getting there in the end despite my Dr. Suess-ish directions. Thanks so much, Diana! 💖
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😀
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Oh those are gorgeous covers! Very eye-catching and yes, they would look great just as art work for the sake of it.
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My thoughts, exactly, Debby! Just stunning in their simplicity and design. I can’t wait to get my print versions. They’ll look so pretty on my shelves! Thanks so much for stopping by today! 🙂
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The artist did a lovely job on these and I’m thrilled every time someone responds well to the images. 💖 Thank you so much, Deborah!
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No need to speak ART – it is a language all it’s own.
Nevertheless, your covers turned out to be beautiful – and I love the spareness of the background. Yes, they are elegant.
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Glad you agree, Lynda! I think so, too. And thanks so much for stopping by today! 🙂
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It is, indeed, a language all its own. Interesting… I was advised not to go with the simplistic/spare, white background but I love that, too. 💖 Thanks, Lynda!
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I absolutely love how these hint at distressed beauty, or is it beauty distressed? You could use either phrase to describe the contents of both collections. Hopefully, the new covers will capture the reader’s eyes they deserve.
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I’m with you, Allie. I hope readers head straight on over to check these out, as I know they won’t be sorry. Thanks so much for stopping by today!. 🙂
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Distressed beauty or beauty distressed. Both are fitting for the covers and writing. (I hope so, too!) Thanks, again, Allie. I love my paperbacks! 💖
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Great covers, Sarah. I can identify your process of creating these covers. I went through a similar process with my illustrator who did the illustrations of my children’s book. Your collections of short and micro fictions sounds wonderful. Thank you, Marcia.
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My pleasure to have Sarah here, Miriam. She’s a talented, very funny gal, and I enjoyed sharing her post on TWS. Such beautiful new covers! Thanks so much for stopping by, too! 🙂
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You’re welcome, Marcia. How are you doing? 🙂
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Pretty good, thanks, except for being swamped and way behind again. I’m starting to think that’s going to be a permanent way of life for me, so I better get used to it! Hope all is well with you?
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In a sense, being busy is good. Do you still do the presentations? I’m fine and spending more time visiting my toddler and baby grandkids.
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Two every month, one at Enterprise Museum and one at DeBary Hall Historic site. And the audiences are growing each time, at capacity levels right now. I love doing them, but putting each new program together takes an unbelievable amount of time. Thankfully, I can recycle them periodically, so that helps. My grandkids don’t live nearby, sadly, or I’d be doing a lot of that, too.
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Ah. I can only imagine the process of someone illustrating a book. Wow. Thanks, Miriam! 💖 If you decide to pick up a copy, I hope you enjoy it!
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Yes, Sarah, the communication back and forth was amazing. Wishing you many sales! ❤
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Thank you! 💖
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Wonderful new covers Sarah and really eye catching… I will share in the blogger daily …hugsx
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Aw, thank you, Sally. That’s lovely! 💖
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Oh yes, the fun of creating cover art. I’m there once again in a quandry for my latest book collecting moss lol. Okay, I loveeeeeeeeeeee these. And I love that they create a branding with what’s inside the book. Readers will relate to them as Sarah Brentyn books. ❤ xx
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I love them, too, Debby. So elegant and eye-catching. Thanks for stopping by to let Sarah know your thoughts, and good luck on your own “cover quandary.” 🙂
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Thanks Marsh 🙂 x
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The fun, indeed. It was a mess. 😉 I’m so happy you love the covers! I didn’t mean to brand. How did I brand. I clearly still don’t understand that word. But I like “Sarah Brentyn Books” so I’m happy. Thanks, Debby! 💖
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Lol, you are so funny. Your book covers have a theme now, so branding. ❤
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Ah. They match and make a set = brand? It was mainly my OCD but, hell, I’ll take it! 🙂
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Yes, take it! 🙂 xx
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These are fabulous covers with super great titles and poetic images. Beautiful! ❤
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I even love the choice of fonts, Carol. 🙂 Just SO pretty, all the way around! Thanks for stopping by to share your thoughts, too! 🙂
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You’re welcome, Marcia. 🙂
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Oh, that’s so nice to hear. Covers, titles, and poetic images. A hat trick! Thanks, Carol. 💖
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I got such a kick out of reading Sarah’s process of working with a book cover artist. My brief to an artist would be “I want you to design a cover that feels like this, but I can’t put the feeling into words.” I love the two covers, particularly how they have the same look and feel.
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So glad you enjoyed this post, Liz. I thought Sarah slayed it! (Well, it slayed me, anyway. I laughed pretty darn hard!) And I agree with you on the covers. They are truly beautiful, elegant, refined, and all those other good adjectives. Thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂
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Glad you got a kick out of it. It was definitely a process–and funny, now that enough time has passed. 😉 And I’m thrilled you love the covers. My goal was a simplistic design but also a huge reason for doing this was to have them be a clear set. Thanks, Liz! 💖
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You’re most welcome, Sarah! Allie Potts succeeded admirably.
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