Monday, July 22, 2013

Cover Lovin' and Progress


Writing News

First I just need to tell you what a wild trip this is. Anybody who has never contemplated a serial really should think about it. Maybe it is because it reminds me a little of my fan fiction writing days, where I posted regularly to meet the demand of my readers. It was fast paced and pushed me to keep at it.

And while my books haven't been actually PUBLISHED yet on this, I have a schedule that will definitely keep me cranking. Got my first case of feedback on Friday—at least one person thinks I am 90% on track—there was a character in need of a bit more dimension, but one of five PoV characters isn't a bad record. I can do it!

I finished the first draft of book two yesterday, so will spend the week trying to knock THAT into shape while I also hammer out what it is I want to include in Book 3.

So the NEWS is this:

First four books, all titled:

Ill Omens  (with first readers)
In Short Supply (currently editing--the pre-reader version)
So This is War (currently plotting and a wee bit of writing)
Fight or Flight

These four make a 'set' if you will that is the equivalent to the first in a trilogy, except that each also has a sub-story/theme that gets mostly tied up so the reader can move to the next theme.

NEXT (this is where we all get to squee a bit)


I have my 2nd cover!!!!!

My cover designer is my buddy Joris—I know you've all heard me talk about him. He's very talented, has worked with me on each of these—I generally have SOME idea for the broad idea... I think on the SET one, the SHOT was me and Joris added that very cool country below with the people falling off the United States.

The first for the serial, I requested a dead seagull—it is representative of the 'omens' if you will, and is what the reader gets the very first chapter.

And now you can see the second... that poor sad tomato plant with the fruit just dying on the vine... don't you wonder why? Huh? Don't ya?

So if you need a cover done, you definitely want to head over and look at his portfolio.

And he blogged yesterday about how he went about all these!

And while we're at it... I started a Facebook Author page this week for me as Hart Johnson... if any of you are at Facebook...

Please like me!

15 comments:

Diana Wilder said...

I imagine your emotions are rather like those described by Dorothy Sayers ('Mind of the Maker') felt by an author who is gripped by an idea and MUST follow it! Way to go - and gorgeous cover #2. Ominous but beautiful. I did check out Joris' work - splendid!

Diana at About Myself By Myself
(Hey! I remembered my signature this time!)

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Love the covers! And I love how you explore your creativity through different formats and genres! Can't wait to hear more about the serial experiment.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

New cover is great, Hart!

T. Powell Coltrin said...

All great news! I love the covers.

Old Kitty said...

Awwwww these are fab book covers - thoroughly NAKED!! And I love that you are using your gorgeous name!!! Hart!!! Johnson!! Yay! Take care
x

Anonymous said...

Actually, Tami, for A Shot in the Light you only ever gave me a title and an outline, I came up with the image ;)

I'm so happy for you that it's getting along so well!! We need to talk about the new covers ;)

~Sia McKye~ said...

Ah, so that's a tomato plant. I wasn't sure. I didn't enlarge it. Covers look good. Stark and thought provoking.

You're amazing with all this activity. I can see where this style would be a push to the writer.

Sia McKye OVER COFFEE

Sarah Ahiers said...

The covers look great, and i really like how they go together as a set

Cherie Reich said...

Wonderful covers! Can't wait to read the serial! :)

L. Diane Wolfe said...

The covers all look great together.

Southpaw said...

Oh, "ill" Omens not "3" Omens - stupid sanserif font!

Love the covers.

Carol Kilgore said...

I'm working on a trilogy now, but I think it would make me crazy to try to do it in serial form. Good luck and have fun with it!

Cool covers :)

Helena said...

The covers are lovely and definitely grab my attention. And hey, if serials were good enough for Charles Dickens, they should be good enough for anyone to try.

Shelley Munro said...

You sound so excited about this project. It's good to see. :)
Love the new cover.

Unknown said...

How convenient! I was wondering the who dunnit of your covers...

~Just Jill