Drawn Cover Art

Over the past few years, I have been blessed with some incredible cover art. To the left is an example, the cover for my newest release A Rose is a Rose. I happen to think that it's a delicious thing to look at and, judging from some reader responses, I'm not alone in this.

Let me also admit that I happen to adore drawn cover art. In my opinion, photographs just don't always make it. Now, I'm not saying that I haven't seen some stunning photo-manipulated covers, because I have. I even have a few. But when given the chance, I'll almost always go for something drawn if I can. To me, for better or for worse, the drawn covers give more of a fictional feel to the story. But then, growing up, my favorite books to read were fantasy stories so I grew up selecting books with gorgeous artwork of fantasy people and places on the covers.

Of course, my books tend to lend themselves to the drawn format. If people get a comic -- meaning comics, not funny papers -- or graphic novel feel from my stories, so much the better. Because that's along the lines of how I think. I think in pictures so I tend to write to describe them and more often than not those pictures aren't the most "realistic". Now, that's hard to explain. It makes sense for the fantasy and paranormal books I've written, but it may not make much sense when thinking about my Heaven Sent series or A Rose is a Rose. Both of those examples are contemporary stories so their characters are realistic in the modern day sense. But I maintain that even when writing contemporary, I'm writing fantasy. I'm writing about things where wouldn't it be cool if it exists. So, even there, the drawn format is much more appropriate for me.

I have been blessed especially by two very talented artists in particular.

PL Nunn of Bishonenworks is one. She's responsible for A Rose is a Rose and my Heaven Sent series as well as a few others. I am extremely proud that the first Heaven Sent cover was her first with Loose Id. When we were discussing cover art, management and I agreed it should have a yaoi feeling, which meant a drawn cover. They took a chance on a suggestion of mine to ask PL if she'd do it. I'd been a fan of her work already and knew that if she did the covers, they'd be unique and stylish and immediately radiate the tone of the series. I was right and she hasn't let me down with any cover she's graced me with.

Anne Cain is the other. Not only is Anne an absolute sweetheart in person, she's an amazingly talented artist. When I saw my first cover from her -- Leashed 2: More than a Bargain -- I was stunned. To this day, I think that cover most perfectly captures the feel of my threesome paranormal series. Then Anne had some fun on her own and drew an image of two of my main dark elves. If you visit my website, it can be seen as one of the headers in the rotating banner. When I saw that, again I was stunned. I fell in love with my own characters again. So, when the print version of the elves came up, I of course asked if Anne could supply the cover. I'm so delighted that wish was granted because the covers for Dark Elves I and II in print are among my favorite book covers ever. Anywhere.

Different authors have different opinions on cover art and that's how it should be. Different stories have different flavors and not all can or should lend themselves to the same format. It's the variation that makes choosing a book exciting and fun. But, for me, more often than not, I'll write for and tend to pick up the covers that sprang from the fingers and imagination of a talented artist.