René Allen ~ Author: Book Covers

Showing posts with label Book Covers. Show all posts

Saturday, November 4, 2017

Novelist at work at writing 50,000 words!

Novelist at work at writing 50,000 words!

BLOG SESSION

November 4th, 2017

Good Afternoon Novelists ~ It is Saturday, November 4th, 2017 and we are all working on our fantastic Novels this month. As you all know, this is National Novel Writing Month, and we are excited about getting another Novel written this year.

We have been discussing the various literary genres that we are all choosing from in terms of the selection of the subject matter and area our Novel will be based on. Many Writers head for the area of Fiction, but there are so many other areas that we have to choose from. Check out our previous Blog Sessions to see a few of the genres we have covered already...

BLOG SESSIONS: (click on links to view)...

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

We're online participating in...NaNoWriMo!

We're online participating in...

NaNoWriMo!

BLOG SESSION

November 1st, 2017

Good Morning Blog Readers, Writers, Followers, Visitors, and all NaNoWriMo Participants!

It is November 1st, 2017, and it is that time of the year again to join in with other Writers, Authors, Journalists, Poets, Short Story Writers, Fiction Writers, Novelists, and other creative Writers who are online writing this month!

If you are thinking about writing your next Novel, or you are an aspiring author and you'd like to try your hand at writing your 1st Novel online with other Writers, then now is the time to do so.

National Novel Writing Month is on now!

Fellow Writers, this is the month that we get online and write our next Novel that is near and dear to our hearts. Whatever your genre, be it Fiction, Fantasy, Chick Lit, Epic, Tragedy, Comedy, Creative Non-Fiction, Drama, Horror Fiction, Literary Realism, Romance, Tragic Comedy, Mythology, Classic, Legend, Folklore, Crime/Detective, Fable, Fairy Tale, Fan Fiction, Fiction Narrative, Historical Fiction, Horror, Humor, Legend, Magical Realism, Meta Fiction, Mystery, Mythology, Mythopoeia, Picture Book, Realistic Fiction, Science Fiction, Short Story, Suspense/Thriller, Tall Tale, Western, Biography, Autobiography, Essay, Owner's Manual, Journalism, Lab Report, Memoir, Narrative Non-Fiction, Personal Narrative, Reference Book, Self-Help Book, Speech, Textbook, Instruction Manual, Adventure Novel, Imaginary Voyage, Political Fiction, Political Thriller, Pulp Fiction, Religious Fiction, Contemporary Christian Fiction, Islamic Fiction, Jewish Fiction, Saga, Family Saga, Paranormal, Alien Adventure, Mythic, Urban Fantasy, Supernatural, Didactic, Commentary, Diary, Journal, Manuscript, Poetry, Religious Text, Prophecy, Revelation, Biblical Theology, or a Scientific Writing . . . the possibilities are endless!

What do you do now? Get on over to NaNoWriMo.org and get started! Just click on the link and sign up if you have not done so already. Get familiar with the Site by looking at the information contained in the links on the Site Frontal Page. Then, check out the Forums because you will find topics that will interest you. Once you get into the Forums area, you'll find Official Stuff like Special Offers and Greetings from NaNo Sponsors. You'll also find insight on Book Covers in 30 days ~ which is something that all Novelists should check out. We all need Book Covers for our Novels. In fact, a friend named Francine Langlois was kind enough to help me long ago with the artistic design of the cover that I will be using for the Novel that I am working on for NaNoWriMo this month. If you are an artist or Graphic Designer, you can get started working on your Book Cover. It is a great thing to have artistic friends!

NaNoWriMo

News Guy

There is an area for whatever Genre you are writing your Novel in ~ Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Mainstream & Realistic Fiction . . . you'll find what you're looking for in the Forums, and if in doubt about anything, just ask for help and someone will be sure to help you out!

You'll also find an area for NaNo Tips & Strategies with all kinds of fun stuff like Plot Doctoring, Character Café, and an area called NaNo Prep where you can find out more about outlining your Novel and other tasks to get you going.

There is also an area for Newbies to learn more about NaNoWriMo, so if you are new to this Novel writing process, fear not, help is available.

No matter what age you are, you'll find an area on the Site just for you. There is a Young Writers Program that you can find out more about once you dig into the Site. You'll also find an area for Teens, 20s, 30s & 40s, and 50+. There is also a Mess Hall for those who are on active duty, serving overseas, or for you if you happen to be a military spouse writing while your spouse or significant other is deployed. There's so much MORE!...

You'll just have to go on over to the NaNoWriMo Site to get started ~ Once inside, signed up and signed in, you will officially become a NaNoWriMo November 2017 Participant!

Oh Boy ~ I'm so E X C I T E D!

~ See you on NaNoWriMo ~

OUR NEXT BLOG SESSION:

NOVEMBER 2017

F R I E N D S

Until Our Next Blog Session ~ Write ...

BIG HUGS!

Peace, Love & Light

By René Allen

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Book Cover Design

BLOG SESSION

July 2017

Good Afternoon Blog Readers, Followers & Visitors!

Today, we will be discussing Book Cover Design. For all Writers, Authors, Novelists, Aspiring Authors, Emerging Authors, Poets, and Creative Writers, we are going to take a moment to focus on Book Cover Design.

If you are writing a Novel or a Book of any kind, one of the things that you need to have in mind is your Book Cover. How will it look? How will it be designed? What color or colors will you chose? What Style Book Binding would you like to see your book wrapped in? Is your book better suited for Hard-Cover or soft-cover? Are you going to gear your book to be an e-book?

Those are some of the questions you should write down in your Journal for today's notes.

Journal Notes

If you have your Journal out, the first thing you should make a note of for today is what you'd like to have on your Novel or Book Cover. It would be a good idea to go to the Library or Book Store and check out some of the Book Covers. You can also look at the Book Covers that you have at home or those online to get an idea of the Styles that you like.

For instance, take a look at the following Book without any design inserted on it . . .

Book Example without Artistic Book Cover Design

Visually speaking, make a note of the spine of the Book, then imagine the same book in a different color. Then imagine the same book without the ridges on the spine.

Take a look at the following example . . .

Book Example without Artistic Book Cover Design

Notice the red color that is inside the bottom right corner of the back Book Cover. The little details about Books that people may not realize catches the eye -- are the very details that draw attention, and are the attraction that captures buyers seeking to purchase good Books.

It has been said that you cannot judge a book by its cover, but I'd have to say otherwise. Many people purchase books because of the visually attractive Book Covers!

I personally gravitate to books that have beautifully designed Book Covers. If you are a visual person, then you are probably the same way--you like attractive Book Covers. There is a book that I purchased by Katherine Neville entitled, "The Eight" . . .

Out of all of the Book Covers above of "The Eight" by Katherine Neville, which Book Cover do you think I chose? It is the same book with a different cover (smiles ~ I believe ~ there could be something a little different in each one ~ who knows?). Well, just for the record, I chose the third one from the top . . .

Book Covers make a difference!

Think about your Book Cover. There are Book Cover Designers that design and create Book Covers for a living. You may possibly be a good Book Cover Designer if you are an Artist!

We'll be back with another interesting

Topic of Discussion!

Until then Friends ~

Keep Writing!

Peace, Love & Light,

René

Friday, April 14, 2017

April 14th, 2017

Continuation of HouseCapades!

Good Morning everyone ~ today you will find the continuation of my Romantic Short Story entitled, "HouseCapades" by René Allen from the Anthology TWISTED SHORTIES II - A.F. Stewart, Editor, and Pam Brittain, Chief Compiler.

If you have been following along, the Short Story is continuing for the 7th Installation. You can view HouseCapades from the beginning here on the Blog by viewing the six previous posts.

Your comments & thoughts are always welcomed here on the Blog!

_______________________________________________________________________

Twisted Shorties II

HouseCapades

By René Allen

VINETTE ONE ~ Unaccustomed Business

[ BLOG - continuation of Story ] . . .

*Red type denotes last paragraph where we left off . . .

As they both went to press the “down” button to the elevator, they realized that there was only one button, and it said, “Will.”

They both looked at the words, and together, in unison, sad, "What?"

Laughing, Quinton looked at Sheila, “I sure hope my Crocodile luggage is in that elevator, Sheila.”

"Oh, that's right! I forgot that you left it in there," she said to him.

Without hesitation, Quinton pushed the button that said, “Will.”

The elevator door opened, and there stood Quinton's Crocodile luggage right where he had left it.

“Whew! Okay, at least that is where it should be,” Sheila told him as they both stepped inside the elevator. “Okay, I'm pressing the button that says, 'FOYER,' ” Sheila told Quinton. The elevator started moving, but they could not tell if it was going up or down. It was just making a sound as if it was in operation.

Quinton was unsure as to what would happen next. And Sheila was baffled by that room they had just left.

The elevator stopped, and the door opened once again to reveal the same room they had left a minute ago. But the strange thing was that the rose petals were now pink instead of red. Everything else seemed to be the same. The bed and its ornate redwood frame, the window and its draperies, the carpeting, and even the embroidered king and queen hummingbirds on the sheer silk window dressing.

“Weird. Okay, let's try the elevator again,” Quinton told Sheila as he took her by the hand, turned her around, and led her into the elevator. When he went to push the button once inside, he only had one choice, “YOU.” “Alright, this is getting stranger and stranger. Look at this button, Sheila.” Quinton pointed to the elevator button, and found his heart racing in the process.

“Definitely getting weirder and weirder, Quinton. I own this house, and I've never seen anything like this before. Granted, I know there have been some strange

happenings in this house, but nothing like this.” Calm, but weirded out, Sheila turned to Quinton, “I'm going to push the button now, Quinton.” She pushed the button real quick, as if she were expecting the button to disappear altogether if she didn't hurry.

Again, the elevator door shut, and the elevator started making the same sound it did before. It was like it was moving, but still, they could not tell if they were going up or down.

Once the elevator door opened, they looked out before they stepped out, to discover that they were now on the roof of the house. Except, Sheila was thinking, there was no flat roof on her house. 1010HouseCapade Blvd had a Spanish tiled roof, not a flat roof complete with Olympic sized swimming pool and deck chairs all around it. Quinton also noticed a bar with about ten bar stools. When they looked up, the sky was without cloud or hint of grey. It was bright blue, and exotic birds were flying around chirping, squealing, and squawking. But, they both had the same funny feeling in their bellies at the same exact moment...

...TO BE CONTINUED...

_________________________________________________________________________________

See you all back here for more of HouseCapades!

Get your Journals out, because we're going to be learning more about Short Stories and Book Covers at the end of this Romantic Short Story...

Peace, Love & Light,

René

Saturday, April 8, 2017

APRIL 8th, 2017

As promised, I am sharing my Short Story from the Anthology TWISTED SHORTIES II - A.F. Stewart, Editor, and Pam Brittain, Chief Compiler.

Short Intro to Twisted Shorties II:

"They're baaack...

Yes, the Gather writers have returned, melding their creative talents once again for the anthology, Twisted Shorties II. Their strange minds have crafted stories and poems that are romantic, zany, creepy, and even out of this world. So enter into a new book of fun filled fiction."

_____________________________________

My short story is one of the short stories contained in the wonderful Compilation that makes up a delightful read of many Authors that have different writing styles that you will find inspirational. The entire Anthology can be found on Smashwords.com.

The complete Licensed version: Anthology - Twisted Shorties II can be found on Smashwords by clicking on the blue link above.

All of the Authors within Twisted Shorties II are from a Writing Site from back in the day called Gather.

I am sharing my personal Short Story for your reading pleasure, and for the purpose of my dear friend, Artist Francine Langlois, who will be putting her hand to creating a Book Cover for my Short Story, entitled ... "HouseCapades".

My Short Story will be shared in several Blog posts so that you may continue reading at your own speed. Your comments, questions and thoughts are welcomed, and you may share them here on the Blog in the Comments section.

Here we go! . . .

Twisted Shorties II

HouseCapades

By René Allen

VINETTE ONE ~ Unaccustomed Business

Sheila Chesney was always a little apprehensive about going to 1010 HouseCapade Blvd. Her entire being began to quake the closer she got to the house of unaccustomed business. That's what she called her “out of the blue stays” at 1010 – ”unaccustomed business.” The home was full of sealed wall secrets. They were ever present, yet always surprising when unwrapped. She found herself finding new feelings emerge from her soul within each room of the house.

No more doodling – she told herself. She must get going, because she was sure

someone and something was awaiting her at 1010. Some new adventure of the year was ready to pop out at her and stir her to higher aspirations. Sheila knew it, welcomed it, and longed for it. Her marriage had been dead from the start. She didn't know why she had ever married a man devoid of passion. Carter Chesney was such a dud. He had taken her name, not the other way around – like normal traditional married people did. He was greedy, and wanted in on her monies. Sheila's family was wealthy, and he played the 'I love you dearly' role long enough to get into her family's good graces. Then once he had made it to the altar and the vows were complete, he breezed through the wedding reception appearing to be the most sought after man in the world. But, in reality, he was nothing more than a man with a failed plan complete with erectile dysfunction, as their honeymoon so proved. Sheila discovered that Carter could do nothing sexually to please a woman, frankly, because he really had no desire for a woman – erectile dysfunction aside. The real Carter jumped out at her immediately on their honeymoon with a sour note that still resonated many years later.

As she got off Gather Expressway Exit 12, she started heading for the Destiny Subdivision which was located between Chance and Fate Streets. Everything about 1010 HouseCapade Blvd. reminded her of a Vincent Price movie – updated for the 2014 year she was just about to step fully into.

It was February 1st, 2014, and she was looking forward to Valentine's Day. She

didn't know why she was looking forward to it though. Her marriage had been on the rocks for about 10 years, and she wasn't even fifty yet. Sheila had no children, no grandchildren, and no reason to have any at this point in her life. She could barely stand to be in the same room with her husband, which is why she was about to climb the front stairs of 1010 HouseCapade Blvd. Not only to get away from her husband's presence, but to clear her mind and relax her soul.

The house had been left to the Chesney family by one of her great aunts – Mildred Chesney. Mildred had no children, and had divorced her husband, Morgan, who had left her with extensive property holdings. 1010 was just one of the many homes that she had acquired from her divorce. Each of Mildred Chesney's nieces and nephews had been willed a home. There were ten nieces and nephews, and ironically, all of the properties were numbered with addresses that seemed to be in line with the proper niece or nephew.

Sheila Chesney was born on October 10th, at 10:00 am. Therefore, she was willed 1010 HouseCapade Blvd, because not only did the address seem to line up with her, but the street name was fitting for her according to her aunt Mildred. She had always told her that she was born to live a life of escapades. And so it was that this big mansion of a home was left to her care.

...TO BE CONTINUED...

_____________________________________________________________

See you all back here for more of HouseCapades, and I can't wait until you and my dear friend Francine read the entire Short Story!

Peace, Love & Light,

René

Saturday, November 4, 2017

Novelist at work at writing 50,000 words!

Wednesday, November 1, 2017

We're online participating in...NaNoWriMo!

Thursday, July 20, 2017

Book Cover Design

Friday, April 14, 2017

Saturday, April 8, 2017

Artistic Minds®