IWSG Post Day and Anthology Contest Winners!

It’s time for another group posting of the Insecure Writer’s Support Group! Time to release our fears to the world – or offer encouragement to those who are feeling neurotic. If you’d like to join us, click on the tab above and sign up. We post the first Wednesday of every month. I encourage everyone to visit at least a dozen new blogs and leave a comment. Your words might be the encouragement someone needs.

The awesome co-hosts today are L.G. Keltner, Denise Covey, Sheri Larsen, J.Q. Rose, Chemist Ken, and Michelle Wallace!

Today we announce the winners of the IWSG Anthology Contest! And they are…

The Mirror People by Crystal Collier

Ground Zero by Michael Abayomi

The Seventeen by Hart Johnson

Rainers by Sandra Cox

EVER-TON by Yolanda Renee

WIN by Sylvia Ney

Haunted by Melanie Schultz

Folds in Life and Death by Cherie Reich

Scrying the Plane by Tamara Narayan

Felix Was Here by L.G. Keltner

And as the number one pick overall, L.G. Keltner’s Felix Was Here will be included in the anthology title.

Big thanks to our judges – Laura Maisano, Russell Connor, Candace Havens, Dawn Frederick, Alice Speilburg, Michelle Johnson, Kendare Blake, and Lydia Moëd

Plus thanks to my awesome IWSG admins who read every story - Lynda Young Michelle Wallace, Joylene Nowell Butler, Susan Gourley/Kelley, L. Diane Wolfe, and Joy Campbell.

And thanks to everyone who entered! There were some amazing stories, which made our job of narrowing them down for the judges even tougher.

The anthology will be published later this year by Freedom Fox Press. We’ll keep you posted!

Where to Find a Great Book Cover Artist

They say don’t judge a book by its cover–but we do. The cover art has to grab our attention while conveying the tone of the story or a scene from the narrative. And if the cover falls short, we won’t go any further.

Publishers have staff illustrators or freelance artists they use. But if you self-publish your book, you’ll have to find an artist on your own. (Unless you’re already a professional artist and understand cover design.) How do you decide which one? And what type of artwork works best?

M. Pax’s artist is Erin Dameron-Hill, a graphic artist who uses stock art.

M. Pax also offered this advice:
My advice for hiring anyone - personally talk to the authors who have used the artist. I mean, send an email and ask. Just because an author gives a credit, doesn't mean he/she was pleased. I think talking to other authors is the best way to find a graphic artist. If you see something you like, contact the author.

Some artists incorporate computer animation into their covers. Gwen Gardner uses Corona Zschusschen, a Dutch artist.

Others use more traditional means, often with stunning results. Cherie Reich called upon Laura Sava to do her latest cover.







 

Ultimately, you want your cover to look as professional as those produced by a traditional publisher. And if you select a good artist who can accurately capture your vision, it will. Below are three covers–one by a self-published author, one by a small press, and one by a large press. Would you know which one is which?

Now, where do you find a cover artist? Below are websites that list numerous artists and illustrators. And don’t forget to check with other authors for their recommendations. Find an artist with a good reputation, produces quality covers, and who can successfully capture the spirit of your book!

The Kentucky Indie Writers

Book Marketing Bestsellers

Illustration Web

Duncan Long

Karen Woodward

Best Children’s Books

ParaPublishing

Children’s Illustrators

Picture Book Artists

Ebook Crossroads

Book Central Station

Reedsy

Deviant Art

Wikipedia