Wednesday Writing — Images

Posted on by Teagan Riordain Geneviene

Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Girl hood red ruins fantasy Enrique Meseguer Pixabay
Enrique Meseguer at Pixabay

Welcome to my sanctuary.  Don’t be mislead by that dark foreboding image.  There’s nothing scary here today.  This post is about writing — sort of…  Over my 9+ years of blogging, a few people have admitted that they “Only look at the pictures.”  I try not to let that bother me, because I put a lot of work into choosing, arranging, and often creating the images I use.

Last week, a longtime friend (who particularly likes the covers I make for Dead of Winter) asked if I could teach him the way I make images.

“It’s complicated…” I said, not meaning to flatly refuse him.  “I use three different kinds of software, go back and forth, and…  If I were smart enough, I could probably do it all in PhotoShop, but this works for me.”

Then yesterday (as I write this post) I started a cover concept for the tenth installment of Dead of Winter.  I decided to show him the parts, with a little bit of explanation. (No, this won’t be a how-to.)

CROP DoW-10 concept parts

Looking at the breakdown image I put together, I suddenly realized that the way I make images is tied to the same part of my brain that makes stories from “random reader things” — my three things method of storytelling.  When a reader gives me a “thing,” and its image pops into my head, the story begins.  (If I can’t conjure up an image, the thing stays in my story matrix until I can see it.)  Likewise, I look at a number of images, and zero in on the parts of each one that I imagine in my book cover.

I guess, in this case, my “things” were Emlyn, staff, eye, and a background that fits my usual look.  To give multiple covers a similar yet different look, I stick with a certain style for the backgrounds.  This one may or may not be the final cover, but that’s not the point of this post.  Here’s a very rough draft of this concept.  If I keep it, there are still hours of work to do, adjusting colors, contrast, lighting, and shadows, getting the book cover size right, and finally cleaning up edges.

Draft concept for Journey 10, by Teagan
Draft concept for Journey 10, by Teagan

Speaking of designing, yesterday I had a fun visit with the marvelous designer Valentina Cirasola for her Autumn with an Author series.  I think she is the only person who thirsts for color as much as I do.  Here are some of her books.

Valentina books 2021
Books by Valentina Cirasola

We discussed my writing process. I tried to give answers that were as good as Valentina’s insightful questions. I hope you’ll click over and join us.

♦♦♦

The September issue, Dead of Winter: Journey 9, Doors of Attunement is live.  Emlyn and her traveling companions, and the others they meet would love for you to come along.  Either way, friendly comments are welcome. 

Wishing you an easy coast down the other side of this midweek hump.  Hugs on the wing!

♦♦♦

Dead of Winter: Journey 9, Doors of Attunement

Dead of Winter: Journey 9, Doors of Attunement, by Teagan Riordain Geneviene
Dead of Winter: Journey 9, Doors of Attunement

Dead of Winter — All the Journeys

Universal Purchase Links

Journey 9, Doors of Attunement

Kindle:  relinks.me/B09F8Y5DML

Paperback:  relinks.me/B09F1BB9RW

Journey 8, The Lost Library

Kindle:  relinks.me/B09C6MPTYT

Paperback:  relinks.me/B09C34XR7P

Journey 7, Revenant Pass

Kindle:  relinks.me/B098MS8P48

Paperback:  relinks.me/B098GV1G5V

Journey 6, The Fluting Fell

Kindle:  relinks.me/B096CPJNSX

Paperback: relinks.me/B096CPJNSX

Journey 5, Llyn Pistyll Falls

Kindle:  relinks.me/B09431TD6G

Paperback:  relinks.me/B0942KC471

Journey 4, The Old Road

Kindle:  relinks.me/B092G5LB7R

Paperback:  relinks.me/B092M51Y88

Journey 3, the Fever Field

Kindle: elinks.me/B08XTNZ9M8 

Paperback:  relinks.me/B08XXY3JXF

Kobo:  Dead of Winter: Journey 3, the Fever Field eBook by Teagan Riordain Geneviene – 1230004609599 | Rakuten Kobo United States

Journey 2, Penllyn

Kindle:  relinks.me/B08VMNSF97

Paperback:  relinks.me/B08VLMR2KD

Kobo:  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/dead-of-winter-journey-2-penllyn

Journey 1, Forlorn Peak

Kindle:  relinks.me/B08RBBVRGX

Paperback:  relinks.me/B08R7RH4F5

Kobo:  Dead of Winter: Journey 1, Forlorn Peak eBook by Teagan Geneviene – 1230004446033 | Rakuten Kobo United States

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This is a work of fiction.  Characters, names, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

Copyright © 2021 by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

All rights reserved. 

No part of this work may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without permission.  Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights.

All images are either the property of the author or provided by free sources, unless stated otherwise.

 

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80 thoughts on “Wednesday Writing — Images”

    1. You’re so kind, Deborah. I’ve seen some of the PhotoShop work you’ve posted — and you do things with it that I could never manage. The admiration is mutual.
      I had an idea that expanded on this cover, and now I’m happy with it. Although I can’t do a cover reveal yet, because I haven’t figured out the title for this Journey! LOL. Hugs on the wing!

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    1. You are so kind, Muriel — thank you. ❤ I enjoy making the images, and they help me too. I was suddenly inspired and added two characters to the background of this one. It is no longer just a "concept". It will be the cover for Journey 10. Stay safe and well. Hugs on the wing!

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        1. You’re so kind. No more about finances than most people. It’s from C-PTSD. A lifetime came to a head a few years ago. I had to leave work. I moved across the country, trying to “heal.” But there have been many setbacks. However, I have a wonderful therapist, and still hope to one day get myself together. Stay safe and well. ❤

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          1. Sorry Teagan, am happy you are in therapy. In North California we lived in a street full of veterans, and I have seen in their daily life how PTSD is such a pervasive condition, which does not heal with time. So, be encouraged, as long as there is progress, there is hope!!

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            1. You are right… it does seem slow, endless. Then I realized that I’ve made huge progress with one particular (very bad) thing. So, even though it feels like I have not gotten any better at all (actually even worse with anxiety and agoraphobia), the fact that I’ve improved so much on that unmentioned thing, is worth celebrating.
              Take care. Be happy and sassy!

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              1. All the best to you, Teagan – stay with therapy – with a good therapist you can overcome this thing:) (You probably know that I”m semi retired Psy. D,) The semi makes me very happy, lol.

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  7. Hi Teagan, this is very interesting. I also make my fondant figures in parts in a similar way. I get this completely. I am going over to visit Valentina now. I am late this week. Michael’s operation yesterday went a bit pear shaped and he ended up in ICU overnight. He came out this afternoon and is still requiring a lot of care.

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    1. Oh gosh, Robbie. I didn’t realize. How traumatic for you both. I’m so sorry. I haven’t been online much in quite a few days, so I didn’t realize he was having another procedure. I’m sending all my very best thoughts. I love your fondant figures. Hugs on the wing! ❤

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    1. Haha. Crystal would not appreciate the “walk the cat” idea, Michael. Although she’s happily snoring right now. 🐱
      There’s no such thing as late here. It’s always a pleasure to see you. Relaxing is not something I’m good at, but I will try. Stay safe and well. Hugs winging back to you.

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  11. Between your technique and Diana’s comment, I’m going to try something.. not a book cover, but a composite image.
    Lol! I’ve tried before, but always end up just drawing the darn thing!
    Congratulations on Journey 9! {{hugs}}
    Okay, heading to Valentina’s!

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    1. Haha! That sounds like me, Resa. Not the drawing, but going with what comes naturally to me. I tried to learn to read music (take piano lessons) two different times when I was young. It was so much like math (to me), and so much easier to plunk-around the keyboard my way.
      Regardless, I’m happy that you are inspired. I hope you’ll share the results — whatever method you use for your composite. Hugs on the wing!

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  12. You know how artists develop their own styles—I think that’s also happened with your covers. It’s pretty cool to have your own style that others begin to recognize.

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  13. I make images about the same way you do, I think. I do all mine in Word though. It has some limitations but I know how to do it, so it’s easy for me. Like you, there is tons of tweaking. But it’s always nice to have collected the basic ones. I love the way your covers all work together. 🙂

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    1. Hi Diana, Yes, it sounds like you do have a similar process. These days Word can do a lot. I don’t use it for images, but I do part of mine in PowerPoint, and SnagIt Editor, and PhotoShop.
      I appreciate your feedback on the covers. I couldn’t pull myself together to edit Dead of Winter again today, but I had a sudden inspiration about this cover. So I spent the afternoon improving the image I shared and adding 2 characters to its background. LOL, now I need to know the name of the Journey! o_O

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        1. I’ve been astonished by how much the price has come down. I don’t buy subscriptions — just the disk or the one-time download. Also I don’t have the full-on thing. I get PhotoShop Elements. Take a look at Amazon. It’s even less than it was a few years ago.
          Although, if you have a system that works for you… PhotoShop is far, far from being intuitive or easy to use. I had to order the latest Elements version for my new computer. I don’t have it yet, and I shudder to think what horrors await. LOL.

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    1. You’re too kind, John — but thank you. I expect every step could be done in PhotoShop… but I found my easier-for-me work arounds. Unfortunately I had to get a new version of Photoshop for the new computer. We’ll see if it’s as much of a monster as the one I have — or even worse! o_O Thanks for your encouragement. Hugs on the wing!

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  23. I always like your images. I know some of the things you must do in PhotoShop, and I am in awe of your capability with that product, I have used it for years, and I’m still searching for answers more often than admiring my work. When I get to the point that I need a book cover, I know where to go,

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    1. Thanks for your feedback, Priscilla. (And for the email.) It’s a bit different from the others, having just Emlyn without any other characters. However, it’s getting a good response here, so I’m likely to keep it. Oh! I just had an idea… Hugs on the wing!

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  26. I always love it when I get an insight into anybody’s creative process, and even more so when I see how they apply it to the visual arts, something I have very little understanding of and no skill for. Fascinating! I read your post over at Valentina’s blog, and I recommend it as well. You have me very intrigued about the ending now! Thanks, Teagan!

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