What A Great Graphic Artist Can Do For (Or Is It To?) A Writer

How Can Such A Cute Face Cause A Major Rewrite?

You know a great Graphic Artist is a gift from God, but they can also really mess a writer up. The graphic designer who redesigned my Short Mysteries and Tall Tales blog (www.shortmysteriesandtalltales.blogsp...), Jesse Ruiz, and I had so much fun we decided to collaborate on the cover of my next e-book, Chasing Lady Midnight.

Now you all know what the plan was (because I told you). I had posted a free little story, was going to put it into e-book format for convenience for free, and then maybe do a follow-up book later. Jesse and I got together, I told him my idea, he gets an idea on the basic premise for the cover, to which I agree. After a few days he works his magic, shows me the cover and throws a monkey wrench into everything because of his awesome talent!

Now I need to warn you, I’m going to give you a few details, but not tell you the end design. Not because it’s a good cover, but because it is a fantastic cover!

It will be revealed just before the book comes out in the Fall. Trust me, it will be worth the wait.

So how did Jesse singlehandedly turn my story on its head? By making a couple of little additions.

On the cover is Lady Midnight’s alter ego. Fashionably dressed walking a dog. So what? There was no dog in my story! And it’s not just any dog, it’s a basset hound. My favorite breed of dog (I even love Hush Puppy shoes because of them) and the most comical dog on the face of the planet.

Imagine a fashionista (on a budget) who owns a basset hound and whose superhero costume is all black which she hates because it's just too Goth! Brilliant!

But now I have to do a major rewrite! Why? Couldn't I have made her a dog walker or something? No! I fell in love (can you fall in love with a graphic?) which got all my creative juices going! I immediately gave the dog a name (to be revealed later) and then God gives me another idea that has it morph into a superhero cozy mystery with a brilliant choice for a villain and everything!

See what a great cover can do for a writer, or is it to you?

Graphic Artists! They cause nothing but trouble, but in a good way. I think.

Of course Jesse is anxious for the book to be released. It's his first e-book cover and he's really excited about it. But I tell him, you're the one who necessitated a rewrite. So be patient! Because now I’ve got to write a story to live up to this fantastic cover, and trust me, that is not going to be easy.

I think lot of prayer is going to be needed. But isn't always?