Today I have an AWESOME post for you! I had a chance to interview the ever amazingly creative Photographer and Designer REGINA WAMBA from Mae I Designs!!!
She's created some of the best and most beautiful book covers that we all LOVE and I'm excited to see what she creates on into the future. Check out some behind the scenes info from Regina and her photo shoot and design process for author Kristie Cook's The Book of the Phoenix Series!
Author: Kristie Cook
Publisher: Ang'dora Productions, LLC, (March 2014)
Add to: Goodreads
Pre-order here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository, Amazon UK
NOTE: This is a "New Adult" novel. Due to mature content this title is recommended for ages 17+
Synopsis: As members of the Phoenix, Jeric and Leni are thrust into their new lives, expected to lead Earth’s Guardians. But Leni struggles with trusting her own soul, and Jeric is more concerned about keeping Leni safe than meeting others’ demands. When Darkness swarms Lake Haven, they embark on their first mission with little preparation and no idea which soul the Dark hunts.
Born and raised in Lake Haven, Bex hopes to escape her small-town life, ideally in the arms of her soul mate. She knows he exists, and her heart aches with the need to find him. When her long-lost mama calls to announce she's knockin' on death's door, Bex reluctantly makes the trip to see the uncaring bitch (bless her heart), only to be knocked off her feet by the sexy and charming Dr. Mason Hayes. Is he really The One?
Leni’s soul felt an instant connection to Bex, but if Bex found her soul mate, she isn’t their mission. So who is, and why does Leni instinctively feel drawn to her? Can Leni even trust her intuition? And will Jeric step up and lead when the time comes orcontinue to hold them back?
If they don't learn to trust themselves and each other quickly, Darkness will claim them all…along with the rest of Earth’s souls.
Introduction from author Kristie Cook
Hi Lisa--thanks for all that you’re doing to help promote The Space Beyond. I’m so excited about the beautiful covers that Regina Wamba of Mae I Design & Photography has created for the series, and can’t wait to hear more about her thoughts on designing these beauties.
As many of you are aware, we came out with a revised cover for The Space Between a few months ago. I loved the original cover that Regina designed, but my publisher and I decided to revise things for a few different reasons. The first was that we used a stock photo for the models. Since stock photos aren’t exclusive, the same image started to appear on other book covers. In addition, we had received reader feedback that the cover may not have been marketing the book accurately—some thought that the cover gave off a sci-fi feel. So, as we started planning covers for the final parts of The Book of Phoenix series, we decided to take a different approach and make the covers more intimate, unique, and representative of the New Adult genre, while also including elements to convey the paranormal aspects. Regina did a custom photo shoot for the series and created three amazing covers. I’m thrilled with the results!
Interview with Cover Designer – Regina Wamba
Hi Regina! Thanks for chatting with me today about all things cover design! I'm excited to hear all about the process from behind the scenes from beginning concept to finished product.So, how about we get started with some info about you and what you do? (How long you've been doing covers, how you got started, photography, photo shoots, etc.)
I did my first book cover in 2009. In 2010 I started to receive more requests, so I’ve been at it for about four and a half years! I went to college for Visual Communications, so putting my love of reading and my love of art, photography and graphic design together made everything fall into place.
With The Book of the Phoenix series by the ever-amazing Kristie Cook, her covers are some of my all time favorites! I love everything about them right down to the font that was selected. Can you talk us through the first stages of the designing process for these covers?
The first stage is discussing ideas for the shoot and cover, booking the models, and shooting.
Once the idea has been discussed what are the next stages?
The next step, in Kristie’s case, was to book the models and do a photo shoot.
And with Kristie she mentioned a photo shoot for The Space Beyond? What can you tell us about the shoot for this (these) covers?
Kristie gave me a very specific idea of where she wanted to go and the emotion she wanted to portray in the shoot. Once we found the models we wanted, it was a very straightforward shoot, and it went great!
What's the biggest difference for you in doing your own photo shoot for covers vs. using stock photos?With stock you don’t always get the poses and lighting you want, or the emotion. You can’t find specific ideas, you have search for hours and settle for the closest thing. When you have in mind from the very beginning how you want poses and the cover layout, and you can shoot it, you’re golden
How were the models selected for this photo shoot?
She gave me character descriptions and looks she wanted, then I went to my model base and gave her options. She gave me the go ahead on the models she liked.
Since the photos are often rather intimate, any funny stories about posing the models, etc?
There was a model who was inexperienced, and was nervous. The funny part is even though the model was the most nervous, the images and emotions resulting were incredibly natural!
After the photos are taken what's up next in the process?
Once we shoot we find the images that relate well to the author and the viewer, it makes it easier to then focus on the font treatments. The font has a huge impact on how the book is viewed and what genre it’s viewed in. I research the genre and what we want to portray in the fonts, we went through a variety of different treatments, spacing and colors to get the right feel.
Which part do you prefer, the photography or the cover design?I love them both equally, because I get to take the ideas from my photograph and morph it into something that evokes emotion and expresses more about the book through the typography and overall design.
Also, what's the hardest part in creating a book cover?
Honestly it’s the font treatment. A lot of time goes into researching fonts, trying out different fonts, and figuring out what works the absolute best.
Do you have a favorite part of the process that you look forward to during each cover you create?
I love seeing the author’s reactions to their photo shoot images. When the final cover is done, how happy the authors are, how satisfied with their cover, that’s my favorite part.
Have you ever refused to do a particular cover design because you didn’t like the idea? Would you tell the author if you thought their idea would hurt the book’s chances of selling?
Yes, there have been instances where I’ve had to say no to ideas. Some people think anything is possible in Photoshop, but there are certain things you can’t do with photoshop. Some have ideas that steer far away from their market, and I will offer my suggestions to keep within the style of their market. Most of the time my authors are open to my suggestions.
No, it’s very common for me to shoot all the covers in one shoot. It makes it more affordable for the author vs planning three shoots, it gives the models more time to really know their character. It works well.
Regina, I can't thank you enough for taking the time to hang out with us and tell us more about the behind the scenes process when creating these amazing covers! You definitely do some incredibly amazing and beautiful work!
Thank you too :)
Find out more about Regina her designs and photography here:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
About the Author:
Kristie Cook is a lifelong writer in various genres, from marketing communications to fantasy fiction. Besides writing, she enjoys reading, cooking, traveling and riding on the back of a motorcycle. She has lived in ten states, but currently calls Southwest Florida home with her husband, three teenage sons, a beagle and a puggle. She can be found at www.KristieCook.com.
Find Kristie Online:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads
Thank you for this, Regina and Lisa! I loved reading more about the behind-the-scenes process. You both ROCK!
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