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Secrets of a Cover Artist
Posted by Denise on October 24, 2008 under Books, Contests, Freebies, Guests
I don’t know what writers would do without the creative genius of cover artists like James Griffin. Use a plain brown wrapper with a stick figure on it? You can imagine how thrilled I was to see Jim’s magnificent painting for The Flame and the Shadow. In fact, I came over all teary.
Yes, I know how important the cover is for that first impression in the bookstore, but my emotional reaction was because Jim had actually portrayed the character of Cenda, the fire witch, the way I’d imagined her. What a beautiful gift to give an author - and no mean feat, believe me!
He had all the details right for a start - the salamanders (look carefully, there are three), the red in her hair, the despair in her face. Perfect!
I simply couldn’t imagine how he’d done it, so I did the obvious thing and asked.
And you can too! In fact, we’ll be choosing two lucky commenters - one for a signed ARC of The Flame and the Shadow and another for a $20 Borders gift card. Questions? Comments? Go for it! You get to satisfy your curiosity and enter the contest - all in one fell swoop. 
1. Your covers are true works of art, but thinking about the combination of processes involved makes my head spin. Would you explain how you do it, please? Step by step!
I really appreciate hearing that bit about my covers. It’s what I strive for and it’s wonderful to hear !I do most my covers now on the computer and that’s been the case for about twelve years or so. Up until the big change, I did all my work in oils on canvas or wood panels, often shipping the paintings in specially made packing off to the publisher with the paint still wet! The process took about a month from the time I received a manuscript, sketched out some ideas, waited for approval, sketched some more, set up and did a photo shoot with models in New York, waited for the pictures to be processed, drew up the image on my board, painted it and sent it off. Changes to the painting were few, because the process of shipping the art back and forth took so much time and it was very hard to make major changes to the finished oil painting.
Since the computer crashed onto the scene, many of those processes have been eliminated. I frequently get assignments with a week to finish them in. No physical art gets sent back and forth, there’s no waiting for pictures to be processed, etc. But strangely, changes have become more frequent and more extensive.
So here’s how I go about creating a cover now.
After receiving the usual one paragraph concept with the hero’s and heroine’s hair colors, costumes and settings, I will do what I call a “shoot sketch”. It’s a rough representation of what the cover will look like with the figures roughed in. All around the border of the sketch I add notes about lighting, costume touches, mood and action notes for the models. A shoot is set up at my favorite studio, Shirley Green’s in New York and models are chosen. I usually do a costume sketch for my costumer, Sharon Spiak. The shoot usually takes an hour, unless there are several scenes, but in any case we have to work incredibly fast. This is one of my favorite parts of the process, directing the photo session and at its best it’s like directing a combination of modern dance and a silent movie.
It is almost impossible to get exactly what was in mind, when faced with the reality of being on the set. What I strive for is capture as close as possible to the spirit and look I’m after, being open to letting wonderful surprises happen. Sometimes I throw out my preconceived idea a just go with what’s happening, because it’s better!
Once I have the dvd full of pictures, I use all the skills I learned in painting, plus the computer techniques that have become my paintbox to turn it all into a finished cover. Starting with the photo, I re-sculpt the bodies and faces, sometimes taking parts from one shot and combining them with another, redrawing faces, bodies, hair and costumes, adjusting the colors to push the whole thing towards my vision of what it should be. Once It is all working together and I’m satisfied with the composition, then I “paint” all over it!
It’s not real paint of course, but digital paint. I use a pen tablet, which has a pressure sensitive tip and can be loaded with an infinite range of colors and textures, to do what I used to do with oils and play with the image. This is my other favorite part of the process and I can get really expressive.
With Denise’s cover, The Flame and the Shadow, this part of the painting became essential to bringing out the fiery eroticism in her story.
2. How much information do publishers give you and how prescriptive are they?
I usually get only cursory information about the book from the publishers. Sometimes it’s a sketched out concept that even has type placement, but more often it’s a one line description with the vaguest of detail. With The Flame and the Shadow, I was lucky to receive, along with the concept description, the first chapter of Denise’s book and a beautifully written synopsis of the story. It was very inspiring that by her descriptions I could “see” the heroine in the scene before the fire. More information was a big help here!
3. Did you always want to be a cover artist, and if not, how did it come about?
Actually, I never wanted to be an illustrator. Early on, I bought into the notion that there was a “pure” art and that illustration was a lower form of creativity. Even after becoming one, I still thought illustrators were inferior to so-called “Fine Artists”, whose work hung in galleries and museums. It took many years, but gradually I came to realize that many of my art heroes were in fact, illustrators! Michaelangelo, Raphael and Caravaggio were all commissioned to illustrate mythological or religious scenes. They had to satisfy the wishes of the client and tell the story in imagery in order to make a living. I began to see that my illustrations could be “Fine Art”, if I approached them that way. So now I look at the great illustrators like Norman Rockwell, N.C.Wyeth, Dean Cornwell, Maxwell Parrish, JC Leyendecker and others as being artists of the same caliber as my Renaissance heroes.
I was helped getting into the business by an older illustrator who saw that I was working in Realism and felt I could do book covers. Around the time I graduated from Brooklyn’s Pratt Institute, I was fulfilling my dream of being a starving artist and it wasn’t so good. I was interested in painting realistically and the gallery scene in New York had almost no interest in Realism. I had some pretty discouraging encounters with galleries, so when my friend gave me idea of making a living from my art doing book covers, it was very compelling!
I started out working for peanuts in a genre that was very popular then, but has since disappeared from the shelves, Gothic Novels. You may have seen these in used book stores, where a young woman is usually looking scared in a revealing nightgown, outside an evil mansion. These were quickly being replaced by what we called, “bodice-rippers”, because of the tendency for the heroine’s abundant breasts to almost break free from their confinement in her gown’s bodice. I seemed to have a knack for portraying orgasmic women and well-oiled muscle men doing what they do on romance novels. Though sometimes the situations were silly, I always tried to give the paintings a feeling of something higher than mere lust was going on. So even though the ship the couple was on might be sinking into the stormy ocean, my hero and heroine were discovering a primal joining of mythic man and woman. Or at least they would go down together having the greatest orgasm ever!
4. Do you paint for pleasure? Or perhaps you enjoy other creative endeavours?
Besides renovating a house and creating a new landscape here in Sarasota, I’ve been creating my own work alongside the illustrations ever since I started. The personal work seems to enrich the book covers and vice-versa. Currently, I am working on a series of tropical scenes, inspired by the beautiful Florida light and scenery. A small selection of these can be seen at my new little website: http://jamesgriffin.mosaicglobe.com/ My other website, devoted to mostly illustrations is: http://www.james.griffin.org
A long-running series I’m working on is a group of allegorical images called The Forces Of Nature. These use the ancient practice of having a figure symbolize something abstract, like Liberty or Justice, to name a few well-known examples. I chose to have women embody whatever I thought was a force of nature, like the Tides, the Stars, Death, Life, The seasons, the Sun, Moon, etc. Interestingly when I received the Denise’s cover project I was thinking about Fire as one of the forces to portray, so it fit right in. I loved the idea of the heroine beginning to discover this incredible power, beginning to embrace it and even, to make love to it.
[This is Day, on the right. DR]
5. I’m fascinated by the creative process, the differences and similarities between minds. What triggers your best ideas?
I once got a fortune cooking message that read: ” Beauty is everywhere, but not everyone sees it.” It was profound in a Zen-like, fortune cookie way, but it seemed to be saying that when we don’t see beauty, it’s because of how we’re looking at things. The same is true of inspiration. Sometimes I do come up dry, without any ideas. Those are tough times and I become filled with doubt. Curiously, I’ve come to realize those “dry” periods are just part of the creative process and can often lead, after lots of introspection, to some of my best ideas. So, to paraphrase the cookie message, “Inspiration is everywhere, but not everyone is open to it.”
So much for the Zen portion of this interview! For me, life is just so full of interesting stuff, it’s hard not to find inspiration. What’s hard is believing in my ideas and bringing them to fruition. I know writers go through the same thing, thinking they’re no good and not believing in their ideas. Sometimes those ideas are lousy, but so what? They’re just part of the creative process and those bad ideas are the building blocks of good ones, so bless their lousy little hearts!
One last comment on inspiration. As I was in the painting phase of The Flame and the Shadow, I was thinking about the work of William Blake, whose work has that feeling of a parallel universe, way out out there on the edge of Time. He seemed the right muse for the image.
[The cover of The Dangerous Duke by Christine Wells. Truly gorgeous. Ah, the wisteria… The Duke… DR]
Do you have a question or a comment for Jim? As an artist, do you have cover aspirations? 
As a reader, do you buy books based on their covers? What attracts you in a cover?
Don’t forget your chance to win a signed ARC of The Flame and the Shadow of a $20 Borders gift card! I’ll send along an oversized colour postcard of the cover as well.
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Hi Denise! Hi Jim! Thanks for a fantastic interview. I learned a lot. I love the use of light in Jim’s work. It really lifts the image off the page, doesn’t it? When I saw the cover Jim did for THe Dangerous Duke I almost cried, it was so perfect, better than I’d imagined or hoped for.
Jim, I think a lot of us go through self-doubt and I love that you’ve made peace with yourself over it. Personally, I’ll take realism over the abstract any day!
I was wondering if you had to do much research for your covers–costume, background and so on?
Denise, I’m not surprised you came over all teary when you saw the cover to The Flame and the Shadow. It is truly gorgeous! Definitely frame worthy, lol! I love looking at it!!! Thank you for a fascinating interview with your cover artist Jim.
Hi Jim & Denise, great interview. It was full of interesting information and facts. I didn’t realize how hard it was to illustrate a cover! I absolutely love the cover of The Flame & the Shadow. When I first saw it in one of Denise’s newsletters, I immediately thought that it was one of the best covers I’ve seen. Jim, it is really stunning and I love how the salamanders blend in at first look but slowly bring more of an ethereal sense to the painting than was already there. I don’t really understand abstract so I don’t really like it but I do love realism. Keep up the great attitude about those dry spells. It only should remind you that your human and can’t be creative 24/7. I love the zen part of interview. Have you ever tried writing fortunes for fortune cookies? LOL
Caitlin
BTW, just kidding about the fortune cookies!
Hi Denise and Jim! Thanks for a great and interesting interview, wonderful cover! I seldom buy book by covers, but this one would. And there were so many beautiful covers in the galleries…
I have just two words: Cover Envy.
The art of The Flame and the Shadow is absolutely gorgeous! And yes, I am influenced by covers. I’ve decided against buying fantasy books because the cover art is by a certain popular illustrator who tends to draw people with rather squat proportions. I’ve also bought category romances because the cover art was by Howard Rogers.
That is an absolutely gorgeous cover. I have cover envy, too! I don’t generally buy based on a cover, but I will pick up a book just to gaze at a cover’s beauty. And that’s the biggest battle, right, getting people to pick up the book!
Hi Christine, Thank you for your lovely comments! Great question about research and I’ll bet this is something you do a lot of, too. I am very interested in history and over the years I have amassed a huge picture file and my head is full of millions of bits of historical trivia. It all comes in handy, when you need to know how a man wore his sword and what kind of sword, say, a British naval officer would have worn in 1801, what exactly would a window look like from the inside in a wealthy Boston house C.1775. Great conversation - stoppers! LOL
“Have you ever tried writing fortunes for fortune cookies? LOL”
Caitlin, That might be a new career direction for me!
Everyone, both Christine and I have framed prints of the covers Jim did for us. They’re beeyootiful!
I think one of Jim’s gifts is an eye for detail, for realism if that’s what you want to call it. That’s why I chose Day and of course, The Dangerous Duke to show you. But there were so many others, all gorgeous…
Caitlin, under the lights those salamanders GLOW! They just about leap off the paper.
And yes, I love Jim’s philosophy of lousy ideas! That’s about how I’m feeling at the moment, so it was very opportune.
Eva, I spent hours wandering around Jim’s online galleries. His other work - http://jamesgriffin.mosaicglobe.com/ - is just as interesting, but different. I liked the Florida series. And as for the covers, oh my goodness, what a treasury of romantic images! http://www.james.griffin.org
Hello! My question for Jim is this: Do you have a favorite genre you like to do covers for? It seems to me that you love the fantasy genre. thanks!
Welcome Kathleen! It’s interesting to look at different covers for the same book - different editions, perhaps. Or foreign editions, which are even more interesting. When we were first talking about covers, I looked at Anne Bishop’s Black Jewels trilogy http://www.annebishop.com/books.htm and all the different versions. Fascinating stuff.
Good morning Jim & Denise,
Covers, covers, covers are definitely what make me pick up a book from an unknown author when I’m browsing!!! The Flame & the Shadow cover is gorgeous and even more so when I see what’s behind its creation!! Jim, I love the Day scene I looked at it & thought of home, I’m from NE of Orlando originally & miss riding through the orange groves on our horses!! Denise this is such a cool blog as I had no idea what went into the making of the covers. Some I would love to have in poster size, such as The Flame & the Shadow. Can’t wait for 11/4!!!
Thank you both,
Susan<—NE Georgia, USA
Denise, wonderful interview! I had always wondered about the process of how the artists do the covers and now I have insight into that. It’s an amazing process and more amazing given that it seems the artist is given so little to go off of. Sometimes I get so discouraged when I pick up a book because of the gorgeous cover and then delve into the story to find that the characters don’t reflect what is on the cover. I know its hard to really capture a whole story on the cover but it seems that some artists do better than others as Jim does. I have no doubt that the story will be as moving as the cover!
I will definitely pick up a book if the cover catches my eye, and Jim’s covers are beautiful! I admire artists so much. I would fail “Stickmen Drawing 101″.
When I decided to have a Chinese Crested hairless dog as the logo part of my author brand, I hired a caricaturist to draw it. Now, after visiting Jim’s Web site, I’m going to add “a cover by James Griffin” to my long-term professional wish list!
Congratulations, Denise, on your wonderful cover!
– Marcia James
Wow! This is an active blog! Thank you all for the wonderful compliments on my artwork. I wanted to add one detail to the inspiration department: The model! For this one I used an incredibly beautiful and talented actress/model named Ewa Da Cruz, with whom I’ve worked many times before. My imagination only goes so far and having a model that ‘gets’ my vision and brings it to life is nothing less than inspiring!
Laura K. - You’re right, I do love the Fantasy genre! I haven’t done as many of those as the Romance covers, but we’re working on that! On the bookshelves, it is exciting to see the variety and wild imagery in the Fantasy section. A lot of the covers, though seem to have the usual look and are way too involved with troll-like creatures wielding battle axes over buxom babes in fur lined bikin-armor. Fantasy can be much broader than that, just read Denise’s book, for instance! My favorite Fantasy author from the past is George MacDonald. Check out Phantastes for a dream journey through a young man’s phyche. His books inspired Lewis Carol, C.S. Lewis and so many others.
Susan Bussey, That memory of riding through orange groves sounds magical! The quality of light here in Florida is dazzling and in the Summer, gigantic storm clouds are constantle forming above the water. It’s lovely. Work on that series continues, but I’m not hurrying it. By the way, there are limited edition prints available of many of my covers and personal art. Please contact me at griff@ix.netcom.com, if interested.
Hi. Great and insightful information on the cover design process! The romance section of my favorite bookstore usually displays books with only the spine showing, unless it’s a new book by a popular author or something they wish to push. I don’t really get to see the front first, so I have to hunt by author name. While a cover may attract my attention, if the story summary or random page read-bys (it’s like a drive-by) don’t grab me, I won’t buy. What a great cover WILL do for me, once I get the book, is bring the character(s) into focus and make them more real, rather than just be smokey images of what I think the author may have described. It’s difficult to accurately detail and transmit how we imagine something to look and equally difficult for the recipient to “see it” and create it on their end. It’s a true testament to Jim’s skill when Denise says he portrayed the character the way she imagined. Side comments on the cover: The contrast in the salamanders’ color to Cenda’s skin and hair, makes them appear somewhat alive, like fire when you stare into it for a while. I also like the way the flames seem to start from the material draping her legs upwards, to then engulf the area behind Cenda. There’s a lot of detail in the presentation and it provides a tease for what’s to come! I know I complained to Denise, in a previous entry, that she was downright evil to dangle this morsel out there as early as she did!!! An ARC would surely calm my anxiety.
James and Denise, what a great interview! I really enjoyed it - thanks for sharing all that info with us. James, I have to say the covers you’ve done for Christine Wells (especially The Dangerous Duke which is one of the prettiest covers I’ve ever seen) and for Denise are absolute masterpieces. They’re really lucky to have you working for them - I love that comment you made about trying to convey there was more than lust going on. I’ve been lucky on the cover front too - and the gothic is certainly not dead, James! I think one of my favorite covers though is the lovely one they gave me for the German edition of TEMPT THE DEVIL, VERBOTENE UMARMUNG (Forbidden Embraces). I love the sense of connection between the couple and also the fact that they LOOK like Erith and Olivia.
http://www.amazon.de/Verbotene-Umarmung-Anna-Campbell/dp/3442369177/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1224877032&sr=1-3
Denise, I bet you’re getting excited about the release coming up in a few days. Whoo-hoo! I bet it’s going to be a huge hit!
I love art and enjoy the covers of books sometimes more than the stories inside. I sometimes put a book on my keeper shelf because I do not want to let go of the cover. On the other hand I agree that when the cover does not match the story it is disappointing. It is fascinating to hear how the look came together and how the use of the computer has changed and enhanced the artist’s eye. The ability to shape, alter and reproduce the art colors the relationship. I already have my book on preorder at Amazon and cannot wait to find out Cends’s story. Hopefully Jim will illustrate the whole series.
Hi Denise,
I haven’t read any of your books yet (what an intro!?) but I’m a huge fan of Joey W. Hill and she raves about your work. So, a while back I visited your site and added it to my web favorites. I visit it every now and then reminding myself that I need to purchase an e-book reader to read your stories - but still not enough incentive as I prefer the tree-killing paper variety (not PC -sorry). Recently I discovered your work in print (still haven’t read it) and today I accessed your site and saw Griffin’s book cover and your blog subject. Wowza! Visited Jim’s galleries - golly-gee-willigers, what pretties he creates! Now my Ellora’s Cave shopping cart includes all of your electronic stories and my Amazon cart includes the Kindle. To sum it up and in answer to the question of book-selling covers - HECK YES! A great cover will sell a book (and apparently an e-book reader too). Thanks Denise - Thanks Joey - and finally, Thanks Jim - your cover made me look closer & read more. By the way Jim, I recognized a bunch of your other book covers. Seems I’ve been (unknowingly) fan of yours longer than I’ve been a fan of Joey’s or Denise.
WOW, my puter goes kaput for a loooong while and I get it back up ‘n’ running to find this!!
Hi Denise & Jim! AWESOME cover!! And what a truly interesting interview! Great questions and answers.
I have an artistic child and am always astounded by what she can create. I think she makes it look so easy that when I’ve seen other artist’s work, I’ve never thought of the work and devotion involved in a piece. Jim’s answers to the questions, which were perfect for my curiosity by the way, were so enlightening and informative, that I appreciate the talents of an artist tremendously more!
The only question I can think of is when you create your art, does it relax you or do you get emotionally and mentally involved in a piece?
Fantastic interview, James and Denise. What a fascinating insight into the process. James, your covers are extraordinary.
Hi Denise and Jim, thanks so much! I’m a cover art junkie, as far as appreciating them. My gosh and goodness, that is just a more-than-fabulous cover. Talk about an in with the cover gods, Denise.
Jim, thanks for sharing some of your artistic process. Your work is utterly romantic and gorgeous.
This just keeps getting more interesting all the time!
-Terry, You have opened up a subject I’ve been wondering about, but am pretty ignorant of: The effect of Kindle on book covers. At this point I don’t even know if they give you the cover image, when you buy an e-book. Your comments reassure me a bit that Kindle won’t spell the demise of book cover art. That’s cool that you recognized some of my other covers!
- Kim S. You asked a great question, too, about whether creating my art relaxes me or gets me emotionally and mentally involved. Both actually, and it stresses me out sometimes,too. There seem to be many layers in the creative process, making demands on different kinds of thought at different moments. I alternate between the adult analyst and the child, playing in a joyful state. Some passages are just hard work, but I get emotionally involved in all my pieces, or else they never go anywhere. I guess a good description would be the adult and the child in me playing together.
Your daughter is in the enviable position of being free to do totally uninhibited art. It’s a delight to watch! As an artist grows and ages, he or she makes more demands on the art, the thoughtful mind questions and analyses. There are people to please, a living to make, a whole world of cultural influences to absorb. But If she sticks with it, she will find herself being drawn back to that childhood state of blissful expression, but holding the hand of the adult she has become!
Thanks for your posts!
A seriously gorgeous cover Denise, well done Jim! Really intriguing to read all about the process involved, and thinking it’s about time the cover artists had a bit of glory too! I definately pick up a book if the cover catches my eye, course the blurb has to be pretty spot on as well :o)
Terrific interview guys!! Cover-slut that I am and former graphic artist, I absolutely fell in love with the cover of The Flame and the Shadow. As a bookseller, I can tell you it really helps if your cover stands out from the rest.
I always say to people if I wasn’t doing want I love, I’d be a cover artist…maybe in my next life .
Congrats on a lovely cover and good luck Denise
Wonderful post, Denise. Jim’s work is transporting. I’ve always loved luminous art (and fine illustration certainly qualifies) that ventures into the realm of fantasy. Damn, Denise, no wonder you’re thrilled! No wonder I’m envious!
Hey Jim - YES! I’ve read about the Kindle and it does have the cover downloaded. It’s on the menu as a selection “view cover”. HOWEVER, it is black and white only.
Terry, Black and White??? That sucks! I’m going to have a discussion about what can be done with some art directors, because the Future is coming and we don’t want it to be in black and white, do we??
Hi Jasmine, my friend! Yes, you’re so right, it’s the cover that often attracts us in the first place, especially to a new author. After that, it’s up to the writing, so we just have to do our best!
Everyone, Jasmine is one of the authors in the UNLACED anthology, her story is so hot and sweet. And the cover is incredibly sexy and classy, very feminine. http://www.deniserossetti.com/unlacedcover.html Out 2nd Decmeber! Whoohoo!
Hi Susan B., Lucky you if where you used to live looks anything like Jim’s Day painting. Wouldn’t it be even greater to be as graceful as the woman, let alone as beautiful?!
Welcome Jill! I can say without a shadow of a doubt that with The Flame and the Shadow, Jim got it absolutely right. I love that he was sent a reasonable chunk to read and that it helped kick start the creative process.
Hi Marcia! You and me both on Stickmen 101!
I have all the graphic smarts of a chair leg. *sigh*
No, we surely don’t look forward to black/white future (not
talking politics are we? shudder/flinch) I predict future generations
of e-book readers will have up-grades that include color, so we
can enjoy your wondrous color book covers. I vote that all future color
e-book covers be designed by you! Saying Sayonara from the Lone Star State.
Marina, my friend! No one ever said I was a nice girl. LOL Yep, I’m eveeel.
As for the salamanders, I don’t how Jim did it - special tonings perhaps? - but the salamanders almost literally jump out of the image.The print looks fabulous in my living room with a spot trained on it.
Oh Anna, I can see why you love that German cover. They look so good together. I find the whole idea of foreign covers and what they have to say about different markets so interesting. But I think what I’ve always loved about your covers is that fabulously brooding gothic atmosphere. Truly Regency Noir!
Lindsey, I’d love for Jim to do them all. Not only his gorgeous insightful art, but a consistent treatment. Would be great… Fingers, toes and everything crossed!
Oh, and Lindsey, should have said.
Thanks for preordering. You’re a sweetheart. That’s one sale done and dusted!
Ah, Terry, welcome to the Dark Side. *wicked cackle* And yes, Joey is amazing, isn’t she? I’m delighted to say I wore her down and now she’s my critique partner. I get to read all her stuff before you guys. Not boasting or anything. heh heh
The only two of my books not available in print are TAILSPIN and STRONGMAN. Which makes me very sad, but good things come to she who waits. So I’m waiting… In the meantime, there are free stories on my website here - http://www.deniserossetti.com/stories.html. They’re silly and sexy and very hot, my light entertainment. Enjoy with my blessings!
Nonetheless, there’s a lot of advantages to ebooks - reading in the bath isn’t one of them, sadly. But nothing beats a book you hold in your hands, especially if it’s your “baby” and it has a fabulous cover. Thanks for adding me to your TBR list, Terry, regardless of format. I really appreciate the vote of confidence and I do hope you won’t be disappointed. I like to think I’m getting better as I go along.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the interview. Must admit that I had never realized how much work went into a book cover. I don’t make the decision to purchase by the covers of books, but a cover that catches my eye means I will pick it up and read the back blurb and a random few pages…which may then lead to a sale. The art on The Flame and the Shadow would definitely have me reaching toward the shelf.
Jim I recognized several of your covers as well and I sure hope the Kindle’s do better art work eventually. Probably not this version but sometime down the road. I like the Kindle because they finally have the size nearly right. Still needs a little bit bigger screen but I think Amazon did a pretty good job. I think we will see color in time, just look how far pc’s have come in 30 years or so. A book’s cover works like a face for me; when I see the cover I remember the book. That is why I don’t think cover ARTISTS (note emphasis) are going to be out of a job. And I think paper books are going to be with us for a very long time to come. Perhaps we will see a return of books as works of art with leather & etc.
Jenny, That’s interesting to hear your take on the Kindle. I suspect you’re right, we’re all stimulated by images. I remember when the internet was a slow loading thing that had way fewer images, but look at it now! So let’s hope they can find a way to bring color covers into the Kindle book. I also agree with you that, with all this temporary stuff that flashes past the eyes, there’s a craving for a beautifully made book with fine paper that you can treasure.
Hi Jim,
I too am one who is influenced to by books based on the covers. The more beautiful and compelling the cover, the more likely I am to pick it up and check it out. And I especially love covers that depict well what I am likely to find in the story. I think the cover for “The Flame and the Shadow” is very good. My question is:
Have you ever thought of publishing a book of your work? I’ve seen some of the books that fantasy illistrators have put out and they are wonderful to look through.
Actually, Jim, just popping in to leverage off Meg’s question. What about a calendar of covers, perhaps for a single publisher? Might be a good marketing tool. Or are there legal copyright constraints? I’d buy one!
Denise (and Jim) did you know you are one of feature books on Penguin’s SF & Fantasy web sight? That cover is on the right just tantalizing one to scroll down and get the full effect. http://www.us.penguingroup.com and then follow Special Interest Science Fiction & Fantasy. Way cool … and WOO HOO!!
And I forgot to add those are big names to share space with. I am so pleased for you.
Meg & Denise, I’d love to do a book I’m not sure how to go about it. It’s a great idea, though! As is the calendar. My work has been featured on various calendars over the years, but I’ve forgotten when and who published them. I think I prefer the book idea, or maybe both? Gives me something to think about! Thanks!
Thanks on the heads-up on the Penguin site, Jenny. I knew Flame was there, but the bigger feature and the excerpt are news to me. Gosh. *blinks* That’s good!
Berkley have also asked me to write a “Dear Reader” letter, which I did. Don’t know when, or if, they’ll use it. But I must say, it’s certainly great to have this level of support from the publisher.
And yes, those are big names. Scary names. *gulp*
Kim, it seems to me that Jim and other top-notch cover artists have to be so many things, have so many talents. Just from the process Jim described, painting is only one part of the whole. Amazing!
What an amazing cover! The flames look alive. Very eye catching. If I was in a bookstore, this would definitely be a book I would pick up and check out because of the cover.
Savanna, I know I’ve been incredibly lucky with my covers. It started with GIFT OF THE GODDESS. I still refer to that cover hunk as Mr Gorgeous, to such an extent that many of my readers call him that too.
http://www.deniserossetti.com/giftcover.html
But I sure lucked out with Jim. Yep, cover gods, all right.
Hiya Mel, my friend! Yes, totally agree the artists should have their places in the sun. gotta have their gifts. As I said, I’d fail Stickmen 101.
Lucy, great to hear from you! And so useful to hear from someone on the front line that covers make a difference. Cover-slut! LOL I like that one, ‘cos guess I’m one too. I have visions of Cenda in bookstore windows the length and breadth of Oz and the US. Oh well, I can dream!
Hey there, KZ. Good to see you over here. Transporting is an excellent word to describe what fantasy art does. (You must be a writer!
) It gives you a glimpse of another world. I think that’s why so many fantasy covers have borders like a painting. Flame does.
Hi Little Lamb! You can see why I was fascinated. It’s such a process, so many parts and contributing elements. And truly, I think that’s all an author can ask for - that the cover grabs your attention such that you’ll give the writing a chance. After that, the work has to stand on its own merits!
Welcome Annalisa! There you are, you see! Jim’s cover has done exactly what we want it to. Caught your eye in the bookstore. After that,it’s up to me and the writing. *gulp*
Hi Denise and Jim,
What a brilliant cover for Flame - and all the others. no wonder Denise was teary. We know a cover can make or break a book. The old saying “Never judge a book by its cover” might be very true BUT of course we pick up a gorgeous cover and read the blurb! A good cover is as important as knowing the author’s name that you’re buying.
Thanks for the interview. A great insight into a talented artist!
hugs
Serena, Melbourne, Australia
xx
Great interview Denise - thanks Jim…and Denise’s cover is just fabulous. No wonder she is ecstatic over it. Thanks for letting us glimpse into the world of a cover artist.
cheers
Oh and I just realised Jim I have just finished reading Gossamyr and absolutely love that cover.. also own Seraphim and the Divine by books… all lovely work.
Everyone, It’s early here, but i wanted to jump in and say a huge thank you to all who said such nice things about my work! Most of the time we illustrators work away, without getting a whole lot of feedback. Well, this is certainly a change that gladdens the heart!
Many of you said the cover would make you pick up the the book, and that is exactly what is needed in a cover, followed by supporting the author’s words. I confess to being a “cover slut” too, often selecting a book because it is beautiful or intriguing.
Thank you, Denise for giving me this interview and hugs to all of you who said such kind and interesting things.
Love you, Jim
Wow! What an inspiring interview James and Denise! Thank you so much for sharing this. James you are so inspiring and your work is just AMAZING! I couldn’t imagine the days of having to ship your work back and forth to the publisher. And with the paint still wet, LOL! It must have cost a small fortune. And it’s interesting to see that you actually do a photo shoot with models. You must have quite an extensive stock library. I’m jealous LOL. I would like to do this myself one day (shoot my own stock images) but for the time being I’ll need to trawl through the same sites as every other cover illustrator
I love reading the creative processes of other artists. It gives me the confidence to keep going at what I’m doing.
Oh, and my new mantra is ‘Inspiration is everywhere but not everyone is open to it’ and this now takes pride of place on the top of my computer screen.
Thanks so much!!!
Good to see you, Serena! I agree, a good cover helps so much. For example, I’m convinced that Mr Gorgeous, cover hunk for GIFT OF THE GODDESS http://www.deniserossetti.com/giftcover.html has sold more copies of that book than my purple prose! And I know Jim’s work for THE FLAME AND THE SHADOW will do the same.
Hi Eleni. There you go - another cover fangirl! Isn’t Jim’s work amazing?
Aha! Lyn, I knew you’d find Jim’s approach an inspiration. And you’re right, it’s so good for us to see what’s possible, what’s out there for us to do.
Everyone, Lyn’s an up-and-coming cover artist. Go see her great work! http://taylorwade.blogspot.com/
Denise the artist that did this cover deserves a medal. This cover is so beautiful it looks like a work of art. I’m sure that it brought tears to your eyes like it did too my eyes.
I was surpised to learn you use digital painting-you got great results on the cover colors. I enjoyed reading about the cover art process.
Hi Tameka! You’re right - it is a work of art!
Heya Joye! I’d love to see an expert like Jim in action, wouldn’t you?
Dear Denise & Jim,
First off, I LUV THE flame and the shadow, its simply an ‘awe’ inspiring book! And to Jim, You did an absolutely Wonderful job on the cover. To be dead honest with you, that was the first thing that caught my attention in the book store, the name of it, And the front picture.
I’ve read romance books for about four years and i must say, i cannot put them down. theres only three main things that inspire me in a book; The name, it has to be eye catching, The cover, again, eyecatchingly interesting, and how the author writes, boldly and great detail. I have a very vivd imagination and when i Really get into a book its like the whole world around me just stops and all that is playling is my imagination, its almost as if i’m not reading the book at all. Trust me, I LOVE the experience!!! I too am a writer, i love to write romance. i write alot of poem and im Trying to put together a story. Btw, any advice for putting together a book of poems? If you can help me, Plz do, ive been really wanting to for about 5 years now but am so lost… Please help me.
my email is Queenrose1124@yahoo.com,
Thanks!!
Darlene
Hi and welcome, Darlene. There you are, you see, Jim did his job superbly well - the cover caught your attention. *beams* After that, well, I’m so glad you enjoyed what you read. I love the way a book can take you to another world - it’s the best magic I know.
As for the book of poetry, I’m so sorry, I have no idea, but I’m sure if you do a Google search for poetry blogs and zines, you’ll find a community of poets who can help you. The romance writing community is awesome! Good luck!
Hey Denise & Jim,
THE FLAME & THE SHADOW won the Long Novel best cover at the Romance Writers of Australia conference this year - is there any wonder why? It’s just gorgeous. Jim, are you Denise’s permanent cover artist or are you hired on a book by book basis for her? How does choosing an artist for the book happen? Do you get any say in who you’d like, Denise?
As for buying book based on its cover - I remember buying another author’s book purely based on the cover - it was an historical romance (and had one HOT, HOT, HOT cover,
bare muscular chest, sword wielding guy with a tattoo on his bicep, no face surprisingly, left it all to the reader’s imagination, I guess ), not a genre I usually read but that’s the only one I’ve ever bought this way.
I have to say the cover can play a part in my decision. Some covers just catch the eye (usually because of the hero on the cover
) then I flip to the back to read the blurb. A good blurb usually sells it but if I’m in doubt I’ll then read a couple of the opening pages for that all important hook. Sometimes it can be like a combination stir-fry 
Sometimes, and this is true in the case of your books for me, Denise, you meet an author at conference, hear them speak about their books, hear others speak about them too, and that can be the deciding factor. I’d seen your books advertised in catalogues, curiousity kicked in but I hadn’t committed either way. But when I attended one of your workshops then the author chat session, and heard you speak about GIFT OF THE GODDESS and TAILSPIN - your characters and the world-building involved - that was enough to ramp up my curiousity and commit. So, don’t underestimate the value of face-to-face meetings. It can be as powerful as a good cover or blurb.
As for what hair colour works - I tend to go for dark to deep red, blonds are rare (although I have to admit I looked twice - or ten times - at Brad Pitt as Achilles in Troy and Scott Speedman in Underworld
).
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