Vivalook!

Okay, so today I want to share something special with you all. A new site called Vivalook. Some of you might know this already, but for those who don't, my oldest has been interested in graphic design for quite awhile now. And because art has always been something that fascinates me I decided to interview her for TWW.




Thanks for being here! First, I want to know how you became interested in this particular field?



Well, it all started because my dad had put photoshop on the family laptop, which I've sort of claimed. I began exploring it and editing
my pictures for Myspace, and some of my friends who'd seen my work.

Where did that lead you?

When Dad saw some of my pictures he told me that people would pay to get their pictures retouched, etc.. He also said that people can't always figure out how to use photoshop. This kind of shocked me. I'd just assumed everyone who had a book cover or banner or just a picture done had done it themselves or someone very professional did it for them. So, he helped me set up a website and helped me organize all the things I am going to be doing.

For some people, creating a banner or retouching a picture is a time consuming endeavour. What is it about this sort of work that you like?

I enjoy doing it so much because it's like another way of expressing yourself. Plus, I'm 16 and I need a car, lol.

Is there something specific you enjoy doing the most? Is it the retouching, like changing the eye color or hair color, or is it something else?

I like starting from scratch. Like when I make a banner I'm using photoshop more, I'm not getting help from other pictures. It's sort of like taking a blank canvas and making it into something unique.

And what part of graphic design do you want to learn to do better?

I'd like to get better at animation and flash. There are a lot more options with animation and flash. It's not as limiting.

Thanks for answering my questions. I can't wait to see all the things you create in the future!

Thanks for reading! I hope I hear from you! :)

You can see Vivalook's portfolio here Also, be sure to check the Vivalok site often as more pictures will be added daily!

"I don't even look at the cover"

The title of this post is what my oldest daughter said to me when I told her I couldn't wait to see a cover for my upcoming book "Body Rush", which comes out June next year. I personally LOVE getting new covers. It's a real thrill to see that image, it makes it real.

But when Kati said she doesn't care what's on a cover, it's the blurb that counts, it got me to thinking. Do you think this is a new generation thing? I mean, teenagers are all about gadgets. Cell phones and iPods. I'm pretty sure a lot of the books they read is based partly on the fact that their friend recommended it. When I asked her 'doesn't an appealing cover make you want to pick up the book and find out what it's about?' she sort of shrugged and said, 'Not really. It could be plain as dirt with only the title and the author's name and it would be fine with me.'

I had to stop and think back over the many MANY books I've read and I can honestly say there weren't that many that had plain covers. A few of Nora Roberts, a few Sandra Browns. But those were authors I bought because they were auto-buys, so in those cases the covers mattered little. Most of the authors I read these days have covers that made me want to know more. In fact, one of my newest favorite authors (who shall not be named) had such a horrid cover that it took one of reader friends to practically shove the book at me before I would even read it. She swore I'd love it. Finally, even though I hated the cover, I read the darn thing. Of course, I loved it!

So, I'm not like my daughter, I guess. Seems I AM a cover snob. That's not a good thing either. LOL Maybe it's because I like art in general. I don't know. But it's a sad, sad day to realize I'm not quite as open-minded as my kid.

Thankfully, this old dog CAN learn new tricks. From this day forward I vow to be a bit less picky. I'm going to make it a new rule for myself. Right underneath 'eat less chocolate' I'll be sure to read at least one book a week that has a plain/ugly/strange/ cover.

After all, it's always the unremarkable that ends up being...remarkable. :)

Gottcha Covered

Today I'm sharing one of my own covers for Gottcha Covered Saturday. I love, love, love it! It's the best feeling in the world to get a new cover that you love. My fantastic cover artist, Anne Caine did perfect keeping with the theme of the first book in this series, Satisfy Me. The water and trees in the background are just how I envisioned Last Chance, the tiny Southern Oregon town where the books take place. The couple are sexy and passionate, Just how Lindy and Ethan are in the story.

What do ya think?

Gottcha Covered

We're back with more covers that caught our eye this week!


Anne's pick



Author: Jessa Slade http://jessaslade.wordpress.com/

Publisher: Signet Eclipse


My comment: I’ve never read this author before, but the hunk on the cover along with the tagline: “in a world where evil has broken free, she is the chosen prey”, sure grabbed my attention. It made me want to read the blurb, which is the whole point! Is this a new paranormal author for me? We shall see!


Kelley's Pick






This cover intrigues me. From the picture, I can't really tell what the book is about so it makes me want to read the blurb and find out.

Gottcha Covered

We're starting something new here at Three Wicked Writers that I'm really excited about. On Saturdays we'll be posting covers we found while browsing around that we really like. Cover art can be so beautiful, or sexy. Nine times out of ten its the first thing that draws you to a book so we'll going to honor some of the really awesome cover art out there.


Kelley's Pick


I don't know what it is about this cover that I like so much. It's simple yet beautiful. I love the cover and I know by looking at it, exactly what's in store for me. Love the wolf, the moon, and of course the hot male chest! LOL

Cover Artist: April Martinez
Publisher: Liquid Silver Books



Anne's Pick



The author is: Mary Winter http://www.marywinter.com/

Cover artist: Valerie Tibbs, Tibbs Design http://tibbsdesign.com/



Why I picked it: The polar bear. This time it wasn’t the hunk that drew me, lol. That gorgeous polar bear made me want to read the blurb and isn’t that the idea? One of the things readers don’t realize is that the finished product is the result of a lot of hard work on the part of the artist. Most covers go through a few stages before everyone is satisfied with the final product. Valerie shared a few of the earlier versions of this cover with me and the really funny thing is, I liked one of the earlier mockups better than the final version. LOL In the end, we each have our own likes and dislikes when it comes to art.

something new -- and an excerpt!

I've got a sinus cold. Add that to the other things going on in my life right now and I'm simply not in a super perky mood today. Instead, I thought I'd talk about cover art. Above is the cover for my newest release through Samhain Publishing, Tempting Grace. Scott Carpenter designed it and I absolutely fell in love. However, I noticed the other day that a few readers are making fun of it. That's okay, to each his own. I even laughed a little myself when I read one of the comments.

Still, it got me thinking. What is it about a cover that makes a reader either give it two thumbs up or two thumbs down? A cover is a work of art. It's the first thing readers will see when they go browsing for books. You NEED a good, eye-catching cover. It's the finishing touch to all your hard work. It also makes it all seem real finally.

Here at Three Wicked Writers we're planning something new. Every Saturday each of us will be sharing one cover that we love. Gotcha Covered Saturdays won't be a contest. More like, our picks of the week. So, stay tuned for that!

In the meantime, here's an excerpt from Tempting Grace. Grace meets Jackson for the first time in this scene:

EXCERPT:

“You sure you won’t play at least one more game? I’ll be easy on you.”

Blade laughed and swiped at the sweat on his brow. “That competitive streak is going to get you in a world of trouble one of these days, Jackson.”

Grace watched her cousin and one of Merrick’s employees play a game of HORSE. She’d never seen anyone smoke Blade in basketball before. She eyed the newcomer, noting the tall frame and muscular body clad in nothing but a pair of khaki shorts. He’d taken off his shirt and currently used it as a sweat rag. He looked delicious. She wouldn’t mind being the sweat rag. Sliding over his chest and rock hard abs would be a delight.

“My competitive streak is nothing compared to yours. We both know I never would have gotten you to agree to three games if you hadn’t wanted to beat me so much.”

Blade guzzled his bottled water and swiped his hand over his mouth. “I figure someone needs to put you in your place. Might as well be me.”

“Yeah, too bad it didn’t work for you.” Jackson dribbled the ball a few times before throwing it in the vicinity of the basket.

Grace was concentrated on the way Jackson sucked down his own bottle of water. Geez, even that normal act seemed sexy as hell. Then it hit her. Literally. She’d been balanced on the edge of the rail of the porch. The momentum behind the ball knocked her off her precarious perch, and she fell right on her ass. Had she been paying any attention to the ball, she would have noticed it coming straight at her.

“Shit,” she mumbled.

Blade and Jackson both rushed to her side. Blade helped her up, concern on his face. “You okay, brat?”

She didn’t want to look at Jackson. She already felt like the biggest fool. “Fine, just bruised my ego a bit, I think.”

“Sorry about that,” Jackson said. “I wasn’t paying attention.”

She made a point of brushing off her jean shorts. “No big. I’ve taken worse playing football with this slug.” She pointed to Blade.

When she finally allowed herself to glance over at Jackson, she knew two things. One, he was way more of a hunk close up. Two, he was going to be really hard to ignore now that she’d gotten a good healthy look at him.

Jackson held out his hand. “Jackson Hill. I work for Merrick.”

Grace took it and smiled. “I know who you are. I’m Grace Vaughn, the annoying younger cousin.”

“And I’m out of here,” Blade grumbled. “I need to find some air conditioning.”

“You’re getting old and soft. Better watch it, I think I see a pot belly in your future,” she teased Blade, though it was the furthest thing from the truth. Blade was all muscle. She secretly thought fat cells were merely too afraid to venture anywhere near him.

“You like to play with fire, don’t you, Gracie?”

Oh, hell, he had a really nice voice. Deep, mysterious, full of wicked promise. “It’s Grace, and Blade’s a big boy, he can handle some razzing.”

“I agree,” he murmured. He fell silent, staring at her as if imagining things. Naughty things. Grace had the urge to yank at the hem of her black tank top to cover her exposed abdomen. The tank and shorts had seemed like a good idea for a hot July family get together. The way Jackson licked his lips and kept glancing at her belly and legs made her wish she’d worn a sweatshirt and jeans.

“I’ve never seen you at one of the Vaughn picnics,” she said in an attempt at normalcy. “Why is that?”

He sat on the edge of the porch and crossed his arms over his chest. “I wasn’t invited until now. Merrick and I have gotten to be pretty good friends, though.”

“Golf?”

He chuckled, which was oh-so-yummy. “Yeah. Merrick and I both love it.”

“Male bonding, how cute,” she said, hoping to shake his calm demeanor.

He looked over at the basketball sitting on the porch floor, bent and picked it up. “Do you like to play, Gracie?”

She refused to enjoy the way he said her name. No one called her Gracie. She’d always hated it. Jackson made it sound sinful. “I play some, yeah.”

“Feel up to playing a game with me?”

The double-entendre wasn’t lost on her or her libido. “Your timing is off. I was about to leave when you smacked me in the face with that thing.”

He suddenly stood and cupped her chin. When he turned her head to the left and right, Grace was too stunned to move. Apparently satisfied, he smiled. “You’re too pretty to be bruised.”

“Thanks,” she said. Escape. She had to escape. The man was lethal and way out of her league. She liked simple guys. Guys she could easily handle. Jackson was neither. She started around him. “It was nice meeting you,” she tossed over her shoulder.

“Maybe one of these days you’ll play with me, Gracie.”

His words caught her, and she froze. It took all her strength to get her feet moving again. She didn’t think she breathed until she sat behind the wheel. Grace looked down at her hands and they actually shook. “He’s just a guy, quit acting like such a girl,” she chastised herself.

It was a good five minutes before she could pull the keys out of her pocket and start the car. His words played over and over in her head.
***

Hope you enjoyed it! :)
Available Now

Birth of the Hellbitch

Know how Clark Kent was this mild mannered reporter...glasses and his tie tied nice and tight? And then he'd hear the call of someone in distress and jump into the nearest phone booth and go all super-powery on everyone? I'd like to say that I've been like HIM lately but actually, I've been more like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Good guy/bad guy...er...in my case Good GIRL/Bad Girl.

Normally, I'm the most even keeled person around. Usually cheerful with a positive attitude. Don't know if it's the hot Texas heat or rampaging mood swings from being 'a woman of a certain age'. Probably a little of both. On Monday, I began the week in writing mode. The pages were flowing and the plot was nicely unfolding and then Tuesday hit. I was weepy, depressed, downright sad. Everything that was said hit me wrong and well, I just wanted to be left ALONE.

Well, THAT short-lived episode finally passed and I thought..whooo, I'm back to my old self.

Yesterday, HELLBITCH was born. Um...where did she come from? This was a woman who snapped at everyone, whined, complained, griped and basically wanted to tear the throat from anyone who looked at her. Was this woman in the mirror ME??? Oh Holy Shit! I've never been one who terrorized others with bad or sad moods so I kind of retreated to my little writer's cubby hole and stayed clear of everyone.

I must have needed just a wee bit of solitude because after about three hours of alone time, I felt just fine. Maybe we all need some of that just to decompress. Odd thing though, last night I was talking it out with friends and suddenly a story worked it's way into my head. Aha. Lightbulb moment. Was it the act of just calming down that sent this story bulleting in my direction? Or was is coming down from a rough period of wild mood swings? Who knows. I'm going to go with it.

In Other News: Just got the cover for Ringo's Ride, the third book is my High Plains Shifters series. This will release at Ellora's Cave soon. I'm still waiting on a release date. In the meantime, here's the cover and a little blurb.

Ringo’s Ride
Regina Carlysle

Book 3 in the High Plains Shifters series but may be read as a stand-alone story.

Rayne dreamed of the day Ringo would claim her as his mate changing her into the lycan she is meant to be. One touch from his hands burns her with a flame hot enough to scorch the Texas plains. But the moody lycan has made it clear he doesn’t want her. That’s just too damn bad! The sexy latino lycan belongs to her and she aims to claim him no matter what it takes.

Ringo hides the pain of his tortured past behind a menacing sneer. Learning that Rayne is meant to be his mate is unwelcome news. She deserves better than to be saddled with a man with his checkered past. It isn’t until she is taken from him that he knows she is the only woman who can heal his battered soul.

Cover Confessions

Um. Hello.
My name is Regina and I'm a cover slut.
Wonder if they have a 12-step program for book cover addicts? Ya think? Heck, better sign me up quick because I'm a gonner over new covers. From the moment I started writing in 1992, I imagined what a book cover for a particular story of mine might look like. Is that completely nuts? Yep. I think so. I actually have manuscripts that will never see the light of day. They are shoved under my bed with the dust bunnies but, oddly enough, they all have fully formed COVERS in my HEAD.

At the end of last week, I got really LUCKY. Once AGAIN! I asked the Ellora's Cave cover gods for a hot man and woman, naked or nearly naked, a bit of tartan plaid and an ancient castle and this is what I got. Yes, I tend to be a bit spartan in my cover requests. I keep it simple and only add a few odd items for them to play with. It works for me and I've never been disappointed in an Ellora's Cave cover. Granted, my hero doesn't look a bit Scottish but he IS indeed, dark and luscious. Oddly, I never mentioned a rough looking table but I got one. How on earth did they know there is a very sexy scene in this book that features a table just like this one? Highland Beast comes out April 29 and I'm anxious to see if everyone else like the cover as much as I do.

Was talking with Anne and Kell yesterday about covers. Those we liked and those that could've been better. Kelley was nice enough to send me one of HER favorites. I have to agree with her that the cover for Lotus Blossom Chronicles: Book Three is gorgeous. Kelly admitted she naturally LOVES the great chest along with the soft, yummy green color and the scrollwork designs at the top and bottom of the cover. Oh yeah...I would judge this book by the cover and snap it up. It's a recent release at Parker Publishing and you can buy it HERE!

It's funny. For some writers, I'm sure the big thrill is making another sale. Maybe it's release day! I figure it depends on the person. But for me, the big thrill comes when I open my email to find a nice little note from the cover department. My heart pounds and I hold my BREATH!



Yesterday I got another wonderful surprise. Tempting Turquoise, an anthology that includes Elaine Lowe, Amy Ruttan (a very good friend of Three Wicked Writers) and Moi! My Feral Moon, a paranormal/shifter menage is sharing company with two other great stories. You can pick it up on the Jasmine-Jade or Ellora's Cave home page. And speaking of covers...um...I think this is beautiful, don't you?

What about a cover catches your eye? For me, it color. I love love love color. Of course, an uber hunka hunka burnin' love pretty much does the trick, too. Women? I don't care so much about women on the cover. For me it's all about the guy. I'll usually ask for just the man or the couple (barely clothed, of course) but seldom just a woman. As far as body parts, I'm not picky. I like em all. Legs, arms, chests, abs, backs, hands. I don't particularly care as long as they are beautiful. If I request a man for a cover, I always always stress...no baby faces please! No rounded features or fellas who look like they just graduated from high school two months ago. Give me a man. Make it hot. And make me drool. That works for me everytime.

Yes, I'm a cover slut. Sign me up for that 12-step program fast!

Look at that cover!

As an author I wait on pins and needles to get covers for my books. Will I love it? Will I hate it? Will it jive with the story? Will it attract a readers eye? All those question jumble my brain until finally I click the inbox button and see a waiting email from my publisher. I nervously download the attachment and wait for the document to open. When the box pops up I get to exhale a sigh of relief. Another cover I love!

I've been lucky enough not to ever have a cover that I dislike. Lately, I've had even better luck because the cover artist for Parker Publishing is in my eyes the cover goddess. I feel so blessed with the gorgeous covers I've received because like it or not but covers can make you or break you. Of course the good writing is key but the cover is what will make readers pick up your book. A gorgeous cover stands out on the shelf or the website, it draws the readers eyes like moth to flame.

IMO if a reader doesn't know an authors name, the cover is the single thing that will make them pick up the book or skip it. A great title is key too, an interesting blurb but if the cover turns the reader off are they even going to pick up the book to read that blurb you struggled over? Probably not. Its so easy to say don't judge a book by its cover and maybe we don't judge the book because of it, maybe the reader picks up the book anyway reads the blurb and realizes that a really great story probably rests inside that cover but covers are the first impression. You know what they say...you never have a second chance to make a first impression (I'm loaded with sayings today aren't I). That cover is a readers first impression.

So what brought this all up you ask? My cover goddess sent me some of the most AMAZING covers this week. I'm sharing a couple of them with you today. The Lotus Blossom Chronicles contains my novella, The Art of Love and Unexpected Mr. Right is book two in the Fridays at Luciano's series. I'm blowing my head up a bit over here but aren't they gorgeous? Squee! I couldn't be happier.





What kind of covers attract you? If you don't know an author is the cover what draws your attention to a new book?

Oh, and one last really fun bit of news. We're having a Wild and Wicked Pajama Party tonight at Night Owl Romance. After a fun discussion on her personal blog Regina realized that a lot of times the West Coasters miss out on the chats because of the times. We decided to remedy that. Join the Three Wicked Writers along with Cindy Spencer Pape and Anny Cook for a night of HOT excerpts, great conversations and whatever else we decide to pull out of our pajama sleeves tonight from 10:00 PM - 1:00 AM Eastern time (7-10 PM Pacific). We'll see your there.