Meet Fiona Jayde - cover artist extraordinaire!

How did you get your start in Graphic Design?

FJ:  I’ve always wanted to be an illustrator – my inspiration was fantasy cover art by Michael Whelan. Later, I fell in love with fantasy artists like Boris Vallejo and Luis Royo. Problem is, I couldn’t draw.  I went to art school and still I can’t draw a stick figure. I can paint landscapes a la Bob Ross, but even those are questionable.

When I was in art school, I discovered that I could make images on the computer and somehow my pencil clumsy hands could do wonders with a computer mouseJ I started learning more about web design, graphic design etc, all under the banner of “art”. And I discovered that I don’t need skills with a pencil to achieve my dream of producing fantasy covers. I still wish I could draw though.

What are your favorite sort of covers to do? (erotic, fantasy, etc.)

FJ: My favorite covers are edgy moody dark fantasy/sci fi. Give me a hero and a pair of wings and I’ll be happy J Give me a setting where I have to make things blow up or drip with bubbles (or blood, I’m not picky), and I’m in heaven. Give me something metal, and I’ll make it shine (and that can be a pair of handcuffs or a gun… like I said, I’m not picky) I love high contrast colorful dramatic images that draw the eye.

You’re now one of our house cover designers. Do you remember the first project you did for Decadent Publishing? (you can also elaborate into the other stuff you’ve done for us, like the RT magazine layouts)

FJ: I believe the first cover I did for Decadent was Long Hard Ride. I still remember trying to find the perfect cannon with Keta Diablo.  I think I didn’t officially become a house cover designer until I did wings for Deena Ramiel for her Angel series (Deena – when am I getting more angels to play with ???), and we formed a beautiful friendship J

What are a few of your best or favorite Decadent Publishing covers? (we’ll post an image and URL)

FJ: My favorite covers are the ones where I get feedback along the lines of “the staff was speechless for full five minutes”. Hell yeah, I’ll take that compliment!

I already mentioned my winged angels for the Brethren series by Deena Ramiel. A couple more are:

Handcuffs & Silk

The Middlesex Suite (I was afraid Facebook was going to ban that image when it was uploaded!)

I also love the Absinthe series images I’ve done for Azura Ice:

And of course, we can’t forget the awesome Run Devil Run covers (and can I just say I behaved like a mature adult and didn’t giggle like an idiot when I met my cover models? That’s my story and I’m sticking to it)

Do you have other creative outlets besides designing? (good place to talk about your own books!)

FJ: Oh man, what creative outlet don’t I have? I’m a writer as well (and by the way, I hate doing my own covers because I’m my own worst client). When I do drag my rear away from the computer, I paint happy little landscapes a  la Bob Ross,  play a mean F Blues Boogie on the keys (I just bought a gorgeous old upright and already  have a story brewing about it), and I practice martial arts when my long-suffering hubby manages to drag me to class.

Have you won awards for your covers?

FJ: Brethren Trinity was #2 favorite cover at You Gotta Read Reviews. And one of my covers – A Captain’s Order, A Duke’s Command  won favorite historical cover at the Australian Romance Writers Association.

What would you advise authors in terms of communicating their vision to you in creating cover art?

FJ: Authors are my first line of defense in understanding the mood and feel of the book. Give me adjectives that visually describe what your book is about – a dark angsty feel is something I can visualize, while  “a book about revenge” isn’t quite as graphic.

And then,  the best thing an author can do is leave me to my own devices. Authors are emotionally invested in their works – as they should be – and don’t see the marketability aspect. It doesn’t matter that the heroine’s cheekbones/jaw line is different than the stock image, or that a certain scene is the “key” in the book. My job – as is the job of every cover artist – is to create a compelling commercial piece that will show the reader what the book is about and make the reader want to find out more. (This is why I can’t do my own covers, by the way, because I can’t unhinge myself from my own emotional investment to let my non-verbal artistic side come out and play)

Find out more about Fiona, her artwork and her books at FionaJayde.com

The Middlesex Suite ~ see what all the fuss is about!

 

by Gwendolyn Page (for Gwendolyn Page)

Today I’m interviewing myself about my new release The Middlesex Suite, which is out, today. I’m a bit nervous about this self-interview, because I never know what hardball questions might come out of left field. Wow, that’s a screwed up metaphor my esteemed and beloved editor ought to jump on. Maybe she won’t see this. Anyway, on with the interview.

So, Gwendolyn, your first Decadent release—out today—how does it feel?

Amazing, Gwendolyn, it’s like finally giving birth after months of expectancy. My baby will finally emerge into the world. Waiting is frustrating, but eventually it comes out.

Ha. So you’re now it’s slap-the-bottom time. Then I suppose you look down to see if it’s a boy or a girl, eh?

Funny you should put it quite that way.

Why? What do you mean?

Well, let’s just say it has a lot to do with the story. Not to give anything away, but the whole matter of sex is central to the plot.

Yeah, well, it does fall into the erotic romance genre, right? So of course sex is central to the plot.

Sure, but maybe I should say gender. It’s about sex and it’s about gender, too.

Gender genre?

Wow, Gwen, even I wouldn’t stoop to a pun like that. And that’s saying something.

Sorry. But I suppose that’s why The Middlesex Suite is one of the pioneer works in Decadent’s GLBT 1NightStand series.

That’s right. Only…

Only what? It’s a GLBT story, right?

Without question. Definitely. Absolutely. With the understanding that no one in the story is actually G, L, B, or T.

Come again?

Not touching that one, Gwen.

I mean, explain what you mean. That doesn’t make any sense.

Sorry, you’re just going to have to read it for yourself. I’m not giving away my Shyamalan-esque twist.

Dudette, you evoke MNS. Two words: The Happening.

Okay, point taken. Let’s say then early Shyamalan.

We’re getting off subject here, Gwenny. Maybe you’d better just give us a blurb.

Okay. I tried to start it with “In a world where…” but you’ll just have to read it with your best announcer’s voice, okay?

How do you divide two sexes by three people—and end up with a One Night Stand?

For three to be company, somebody has to cross the bi-barrier. That’s why Chad and Linda had called it quits—neither one would take the plunge. Their dream of three-way love was doomed by the facts of life: when it comes to sex, there are only two choices.

Enter the mysterious Madame Evangeline, who has arranged for each the perfect blind date, on the same night, same city—same hotel suite. When a beautiful blonde Jeri knocks on their door they still can’t do the math, but is there more to her than meets the eye? Is that their long-awaited solution in her pocket, or is she just happy to see them?

Okay, you got my attention. Can I trouble you for an excerpt now?

No trouble at all. Here you go:

“I don't think that bed is quite big enough for four."

"No, I agree, I think three would be the top limit."

"We're not going to get into that again, Chad. I assure you."

"Sorry, I...."

Before he could make any excuses a knock sounded at the door. They both spun toward it, then stared wide-eyed at each other.

"Well, it's for one of us, anyway."

Chad opened it. Yes, this is more like it. Much.

Long blonde hair, strawberry blonde, in fact.Angelic face.Killer figure.Bosom to die for. Obviously, my date.

"Hello," he said.

"Hello."

"Please do come in. I'm Chad."

"Jeri. Jeri Lehr."

He scrambled to offer an explanation for the other woman in the room.

"Jeri, this is Linda. She's...." He hesitated. Ex-fiancée would have been the most accurate. "A friend. She's just waiting here, actually. She is expecting a date of her own."

"Very good to meet you, Linda." Jeri extended her hand. "You look ravishing.”

Taking Jeri's hand Linda blushed and managed to mutter “Thank you.”

Chad knew Linda could hardly miss the come on in Jeri’s eyes and the way she continued to hold her hand. How will she respond to another woman’s attentions?

Linda swallowed and took a step back, though without averting her eyes from Jeri’s gaze. "I won't be in your way long, I trust. I expect my date to come knocking any minute. Then we'll be on our way."

"Linda," Jeri answered calmly. "I'm your date."

There you have it, Gwendolyn Page, her new GBLT 1NightStand novelette out today, The Middlesex Suite. Available from Decadent Publishing.

Thank you, Gwen.

No, thank you, Gwen.

10Q TUESDAY WITH Gwendolyn Page!

 How did you start your writing career? I remember writing stories when I was nine or ten.  The one I can remember was set during the stone age.  In my early teens I wrote little science-fiction stories, and I think my first mistake was showing them to my friends (LOL).  I don’t think I had a lot of self confidence in my youth, and I was susceptible to ridicule.  So a few negative comments went a long way. 

That and having to write for school put me off a long time, built in me an absolute trepidation of writing.  So the first writer’s skill I perfected was an uncanny ability to procrastinate.  I found a master’s program that did not involve a thesis, because knowing me, I’d put it off to the last minute and try to get it done in an all-nighter.

All the while I “wrote” in my head, characters and plots and timelines.  These were “daydreams,” which I never connected seriously with the idea of writing fiction.  At the same time, people told me I was a good writer, and would ask me to rewrite letters to make them more diplomatic, or come up with a phrase that had rhythm and appeal.

I ventured out with some blogging, and found it fun, personally rewarding, and—surprisingly—well received by the phonebooth full of people who read it.  (Note: “phonebooth” refers to an obsolete structure from the last millennium, notable for its lack of roominess.)

One day it hit me.  I was in a bookstore and I looked up and down the shelf at the absolute crap that was being sold—for cash money.  I said to myself, “Self, you can write crap.”  And myself said to me, “Damn right I can.”  And the rest is history.

Who is your favorite author?  I made the “mistake” of picking up Patrick O’Brian’s Master and Commander, because I had seen the movie.  I say “mistake” because I did not come up for air again until I had finished his entire Jack Aubrey series.  That’s twenty sizable novels.  Took me half a year, because I was “chain smoking” them one after another.  If I finished Desolation Island at lunch, I had to buy The Fortune of War before dinner.  Good thing I’m not obsessive-compulsive (LOL).  That was six months of sheer pleasure.  The books are action-adventure certainly, but his writing is splendid, full of humor and passion.  He actually has a sound similar to—of all people—Jane Austen.

What was your first sale as an author?  I saw a notice for what I later learned was flash fiction, a very short erotic story that was to be recorded.  The idea was “hands-free” audio erotica for women.  They never explained the “hands-free” part to me, but I guess it’s so you can listen and still do the dishes, right?

Anyway, I received the grand sum of ten smackeroos in my Pay Pal account, and I was a professional!  They did record it, by the way, and it was amazing.  They did a fabulous job.  Even I wanted to “wash dishes” while listening, if you know what I mean.

Plotter or Pantser? Why?  Pantser.  Though I have been known to lay out ideas for future books.  However, when actually writing I’m following only a general idea of where I am going.  And I have been amazed at how that veers from my original intent.  Wow!  Things just sort of develop, fall into place while I’m writing, connections, motivations, scenes.  My creativity doesn’t really get going until I’m in the thick of it.

That’s the way I am.  Ask me what I’ve got planned for the weekend, and I’ll have to tell you the following Monday.

Do you listen to music while writing? If so what?  I do, much of the time.  I’ve never really known how to describe what music I like.  I enjoy film scores.  I would have loved to compose music for movies, if only I had some gifting in that area.  (I don’t), but I do love it.  I recently discovered Pandora, and I’ve been blown away.  You type the name of some music you like and it predicts what else you will like.  I put in Lord of the Rings because I think Howard Shore’s work there is brilliant.  And it has fulfilled its promise.  It comes up not only with other scores, such as Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard, but many other artists I didn’t previously know.

 How do you develop your plots and your characters? Do you use any set formula?  Ha!  Remember that “daydream” thing?  This stuff has been percolating (that’s an ancient method of brewing coffee) for decades, and I’ve got characters and material enough to last the rest of my life and more.  There’s no method or formula.  It just happens in my head.  Fortunately, there’s enough empty space up there for several hundreds of people to live, because my characters span multiple generation.

My novelette for the 1NightStand series, The Middlesex Suite, came about partly through the parameters set by the creators of it, but I tossed at least three elements from my “daydreams” in it. 

What book are you reading now? Ken Follet’s The Pillars of the Earth.  I’ve had it in the back of my mind to read for a long time.  It’s the first book I’ve read by e-reader, and I’m surprised how much I like the technology.  The book is excellent.  I haven’t read much Follet, maybe two books over the last few decades.  I read On Wings of Eagles, which is not really fiction, because I actually know a couple of people who appear in it.  I read Lie Down With Lions, I think because my roommate at the time had it lying around.  It has pretty explicit sex scenes in it, by the way.  So does The Pillars of the Earth.  (Do I get a cut for all the new sales you’ll get now, Ken?)

If you were to write a series of novels, what would it be about?  Ha!  You caught me.  I actually have a series of novels in my head, trying desperately to get out.  I’d categorize it as Erotic Romantic Adventure.  It involves a pivotal time in Earth’s history, late twentieth / early twenty-first centuries (for starters).  The main McGuffin is the discovery of “electroerotic energy,” which is not exactly the “Force” from Star Wars, but you get something of the idea.  There’s a little X-men, a pinch of 2001, a helping of Star Trek, and a whole buncha Emmanuelle.

What are your favorite TV shows?  LOST, absolutely number one.  Televisual genius.  Imaginative, mysterious, romantic, personally moving, otherworldly, great characters.  Then there is Michael Giacchino’s score—breathtaking.

Battlestar Galactica (the recent one).  Also fabulous music.

House.

Do you have any suggestions for beginning writers? If so, what are they?  Don’t be put off by lack of self-confidence.  If you have the desire, do it.  Who cares if it isn’t that good.  You’ll get better.  The only way to be a good writer is to be a poor one first. 

Take the Nanowrimo challenge next November.  It’s a lot of fun and in the end you’ll have written a novel.

Read. Read. Read. 

Find a writing community to join, hang with, chat with, learn from.   With the internet it’s easy now.  Figure out what kind of writing you like, what genres, and google until you’ve found publishers, groups, authors and then make First Contact.  Then Live Long and Prosper.

Show & Tell Saturday with Gwendolyn Page

                                                     

What is a “seminal idea”? It has nothing to do with sex (not this time at least, but you’ve got to love the suggestivity of certain words?)

What I mean here by seminal idea is a pregnant concept that gives birth to ongoing creativity.  It was the seminal idea involved that first attracted me to Decadent Publishing’s “One Night Stands” series.  My contribution is the forthcoming novelette The Middlesex Suite.  If you’re picking up some of that “suggestivity” in my title, you’re tracking with me.

 “One Night Stand” is a series of a particular kind—call it a type of anthology.  Rather than the work of a single author and an ongoing protagonist, the series invites multiple authors to participate in the process, providing just enough basic structure to spur the imagination.  This is what a seminal idea does.

As a lifelong cinematophile (including “TV-ophile”), I love to bump into one of these gems.  I have a few examples that come to mind from both the big and small screen.

Classic seminal idea: The Fugitive.  This 60’s TV series had an elegantly simple premise: a freak accident frees Dr. Richard Kimble, wrongly convicted of murder, who must avoid recapture long enough to find the real murderer, the elusive “one armed man.”

I liked the 1993 Harrison Ford film “remake,” but I have to say spending this seminal concept on a one-shot project seems like an exercise in missing the point.  The TV Kimble spent four seasons needing “to hide in lonely desperation, to change his identity, to toil at many jobs.” As a result the series told an ongoing narrative, yet each episode was a story to itself, the cast of supporting players changing each week.  The set up was a gold mine for creative minds to explore a plethora of scenarios.

Another example that springs to mind is the Mission Impossible film series (1996, 2000, 2006), which has been of variable quality, but is notable for one intriguing element: each installment was intentionally given to a different director, each noted for his distinct style: respectively Brian de Palma, John Woo, J.J. Abrams (yes!).  As a result, the series has basic continuity, but also significant stylistic variation, each auteur tossing in his individual flavors.

For a third example, perhaps the closest analog to the “One Night Stand” anthology-style series, I have to beg forgiveness for tapping into cheesy 1970s television but… “Da plane, da plane!”  Yes, I am citing Fantasy Island.  As unwatchable as it might be for  many today, the underlying concept was a classic seminal idea.  Here each particular “fantasy,” two or three per weekly episode, could be a world to itself, with virtually unlimited variety in the story it tells.  Add a central, mysterious, even preternatural host, and the series can veer in almost any direction.

This is the quality that show shares with “One Night Stands”: just enough definition, a canvas to paint on—one single night, and just enough freedom, a mysterious “how does she do it?” hostess, providing an open door to the fantastic.  The result, I am predicting, will be exciting—and I have not yet read any installments but my own.  

For my part, I accepted the open invitation by borrowing a character and concept from my own imaginary world, the basis for a planned series of novels, the first of which is nearing completion.  That brings me back to the suggestivity of the name Middlesex, which historically comes from the middle Saxon region of Great Britain, but which today invites a double entendre which just begs to be played with, don’t you agree?

So the “One Night Stand” series may be something like a large central hall off of which a large number of doors open, each to a different world.  One may be contemporary romance, another sci-fi, another urban fantasy, another maybe steampunk, you name it.

So I’d like to invite you to keep an eye out for my own little effort, The Middlesex Suite, and as well, in days to come, open that door and explore what else that world has to offer.