Cover Release: Who Is Saint Giovanni?

Everyone's heard that saying: "Don't judge a book by its cover." TOTALLY judge this book by its cover, please. WHY? Because I love it! Ashley Stewart is the amazing artist behind the cover that I'm so proud to share with you today. The cover has traveled a long journey, my friends. Click here to see each leg of its journey. To read more about Who is Saint Giovanni? click here and here.

I can't thank you guys enough for your support, encouragement, and suggestions! About a month or so ago, I published the Book Cover HELP post, and so many of you offered great suggestions. Thank you for that. And a special thanks to Carol Riggs and Kay Holmen who took the initiative to show me their ideas for the cover via email. Although you may not see your ideas in this final cover, I really appreciated and liked your suggestions!!

Starting this coming Monday, the epic blogging adventure will begin. Who Is Saint Giovanni? will appear in weekly installments on the The Lit Express, YouTube, and in a podcast form. All three mediums can be accessed from The Lit Express. In addition, Ashley will be illustrating a new scene from the book every week to accompany each post. If you're curious about my writing style, click here for a sample from another novel I've written. And if you'd like to see more of Ashley's artwork, please check out her website!

Interview with Ashley Stewart

Can you tell us about yourself, Ashley?  I’m just a girl from a small town in Virginia, with a passion for art, and a dream of one day being able to work full time in the field. Right now it’s my hobby (and my freelance side job), but one day I would like to be able to make my living working in book illustration, comics, or anything else I could get involved with!


What’s your background?  I started  by teaching myself how to draw anime, and from there started to take art classes in high school. When it came time to go to college and choose a major I went for a Bachelors Degree in Studio Art.

Why art?
  I love art! It’s my passion- I constantly feel driven to keep improving, to get better and to keep creating art. I’ve always loved being creative and making things- jewelry, crafts, paintings, etc. I can’t imagine not creating art. I also love being able to create stories and share them through my art- I enjoy writing as well, but for me it feels more comfortable to communicate through pictures.

What do you dislike about your work?
  I feel like at times I dislike everything about my work. As an artist, I think it’s common to never quite be satisfied- you’re always thinking “I could do this better next time” or “I need to improve in these areas.” Once I get some distance on a piece and I haven’t looked at it for a while I can go back and see the things I do like about it- but usually all the flaws are the first things I see. They motivate me to keep trying to improve.

What research do you do?  I usually research every little detail I can. I gather together reference for all the things that will be in a picture- for example if it’s a picture of someone on a horse I’ll research horses, horse anatomy, saddles, riding clothes, people riding horses, different horse breeds, etc. The more you research all the parts that go into the picture, the more authenticity you give the final product.

Thanks Ashley! If you guys have any questions for Ashely, feel free to leave them in the comment section. If are in love with her artwork (like I am) and want to hire her for a special project, you can reach her at stormfire1221(at)aol(dot)com.

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For those of you who have hopped over from Tawni's Cover Crazy post @ The Book Worms, WELCOME! (Cover Crazy is a weekly meme hosted by The Book Worms where bloggers share what they love about YA book covers.) SO, what am I loving about this cover??? (Uh, everything, duh!)

• The color scheme reminds me of Florence, Italy, where Who Is Saint Giovanni? takes place. 
• The detail in the stone wall is amazing!
• The swirls behind the text really unifies the top half with the bottom half, and I love how the bottom half looks smooth and clear and leads into a rougher texture.
• The cracks across Giovanni's face make him look mysterious. What do the cracks represent? Why does he look like an old painting?
• I want to know why the girl is jumping off the bridge.
• I want to know why Giovanni has a saint's halo around his head.
• And, I can really go on and on and on!! hehe

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That about sums up everything I have to say about the book cover. I'm really excited for next Monday, and I hope you are, too! OH YEAH! One last thing:

Giveaways!

It's not too late to sign-up for the first round of giveaways. On Tuesday, April 12th, I will be selecting 3 winners from the pool of people who signed up to:

1. Host a Who is Saint Giovanni? button on their blog or website

2. Post about the Who is Saint Giovanni? blogging event

3. Win an advanced reader copy (ARC) 

Each winner will receive a $15 gift card to Amazon.com or Book Depository (your choice). The more you sign up for, the more chances you'll have to win the grand prize: a Kindle Graphite. (One grand prize winner will be selected after the entire novel appears on this blog.)


To sign up, visit the participation & giveaway page here.

I've recently set up an author fanpage on facebook. To support me in my quest to become a successful author, you can click like button below!! :) Thanks guys.

-RANE-
www.raneanderson.com

Guest Blogger: Do you really own your eBooks?

James Anderson

This is our first guest blogger, my big brother, JAMES!! And not only that, but he's also the first MALE blogger on our site. (He says he's gotta represent!) Give him a warm welcome everyone.....here's my brother....Mr. James Anderson...........take it away:

There is a revolution going on, but it is not what you think.  Or maybe, if you are one of the people who are as disappointed with commercial eBooks as I am, it is.  There is a great misconception being propagated in the world of eBooks my friends, and it is the idea of ownership.

And the cruel reality of the eBook marketplace is that you do not in fact own your eBooks. You did read your Amazon Kindle’s User Agreement right?: “Unless otherwise specified, Digital Content is licensed, not sold, to you by the Content Provider [Amazon].”  (Now I am going to single out Amazon here, but all of the big eBook distributors have equally claustrophobic language on their websites.)

The misconception lies in the fact that you buy an eBook.  Buying implies ownership.  There is also the matter of the way Amazon presents Kindle books on its website.  eBooks are “sold by: insert random publisher name here,” and if  I would like to I can “Buy now with [just] 1-click.”  The verbage doesn’t matter however, this all boils down to a long-term rental agreement.

Every day I read blogs raving about eBooks.  People are re-buying the books they already own in print as well as new books all in digital format and for virtually the same price as a print book.  It comes as no surprise that in 2010 Amazon has sold more eBooks than print books.  To these people I ask: What happens 20 or 30 years from now?  Will Amazon and Barnes and Noble still be around housing your digital libraries?  Maybe, but there is a good chance these companies will not be around forever.  And, when they go, so does your library of books (in the current model).  Unless 20 years from now you still carry around your archaic Kindle or Nook from 2011 and never erase its memory.

It all comes down to DRM (Digital Rights Management).  These are the programs that put restrictions on the files you download.  These are the same restriction programs that used to be on mp3 downloads before the music distributors wised up and realized the restrictions only encourage piracy and keeping the prices low and the content free encourages business and discourages piracy.  Has the publishing industry learned nothing from the music industry?

What I find interesting is that Amazon beat iTunes to the punch by releasing DRM-free music first.  And by offering the consumer DRM-free songs, they took market share away from Apple.  Ironically though, Amazon has learned nothing from this, and now sells DRM eBooks.

Not to mention the other downsides of eBooks including the fact you can’t lend them to friends or print them legally.

I am a tech geek.  I wait in moderately long lines for the newest tech gadgets.  I spend way too much money on stuff I don’t need, but desperately want.  I am also an avid reader and writer. And, being from the ADD generation I want everything yesterday.  I am the prime target demographic for eBooks and eReaders, and so far I am not impressed.

To me there is nothing like holding the physical book.  I love that new book smell, the fresh printed inks and various types of paper.  The feel of each textured piece of paper comforts me.  Most of all, I like owning books.  My bookshelves are jam packed with years of collecting.

Like many others who have come before me, I am drawing a line in the sand.  The revolution continues through me in this blog.  May the eBooks be liberated, and may balance return to the force.

What say you?

JA

E-Book Follow-up!

After Linda's post asking what we readers prefer (e-books or traditional paper), I decided to recycle this quote from Kristin Nelson's blog. Ms. Nelson is a literary agent based in Denver, Colorado!

All I can say is whoa. Who turned on the ebook sales? In five years, I’ve never seen numbers like I’m seeing from the past 3 or 4 months. Ereaders were THE gift this holiday season is what I’m thinking. About 6 months ago I said the tipping point was near. I think it’s here.

So there you have it. The words of an industry professional! Uh, I guess I need to buy an Ereader so I can decide what I like best.

The new question to pose is: KINDLE or NOOK?

E-Books or Traditional Paper?

Okay, I've heard all of the reasoning in favor of electronic books. They are lighter in weight, have an ability to enlarge the print and adjust the brightness, and can hold 3,500 books in the space of one. BUT (you knew that was coming) is there a benefit to holding a traditional book as you read, or to having it on your bookshelf?

I've heard people say they'd rather browse Amazon and order an eBook without leaving their home than browse in a bookstore or library. Others have argued that they’d rather feel the book in their hands, but aren’t they feeling the Kindle? Is there a difference for you? Is it comparable to the difference between sitting and talking in the living room with your friends versus seeing them on Skype. Webcam is great but not as satisfying as being in the same room.

Perhaps holding the real object in our hands IS meaningful, and that’s why finger foods are so popular. And, similarly, people may prefer to hold and read a traditional book. Is this true for you? Will there be room in our culture for both? Or do you think eBooks are the wave and traditional books the receding tide?

(image borrowed from:http://mhpbooks.com/mobylives/?p=14258)