How I designed new covers for my books

Posted on April 11, 2016April 11, 2016 by Percival Constantine

You may have noticed some new covers appearing for the Vanguard series. I recently made the decision to update the covers. I wasn’t quite sure how to do it. The first iteration of Season 1 featured comic book-style artwork by Mat Nastos and though it looked excellent, I got a number of comments from readers saying that it confused them. Some thought it was a comic book instead of prose and were thrown off. So I realized I had to do something different.

I looked at the cover art used on other best-selling superhero books and noticed that it was much more real-world. Almost none of them had the comic book-style, but instead adopted more of an urban fantasy approach. So photo manipulation or painted cover seemed the way to go. But painted covers are very expensive and I unfortunately couldn’t afford them. That left photo manipulation, which I can do pretty well.

But them the problem is how do I handle that? With most of the other superhero books, it focuses on a single character, so much easier to do. Mine is a team book, so what to do there? Do I only focus on one character at the expense of all others? And what do I do for the less-human characters like Sharkskin and Zenith? How to properly convey them on the cover?

The answer came in the form of movie/TV posters. Alphas was a SyFy TV superhero series inspired by the X-Men. For their promotional posters, they chose to combine headshots of the main characters in order to make the poster. This seemed like something that was doable.

Of course, I quickly realized I was at a disadvantage from Alphas. For one, I didn’t have the benefit of having the same lighting or background used for all the characters. And two, I didn’t have the benefit of being able to take multiple shots of the same models. Some models I was able to find more than one photo of, but others I couldn’t. So that meant I had to mix and match a bit, use other characters for successive covers.

That’s when I discovered DAZ Studio, a program used to create 3D artwork. The program is free to use and assets can be bought from their store. I played around with it for a while, ran through the tutorials, and then decided to buy some assets and use them in the creation of the new covers.

It took a lot of work. I was working at this almost from morning to night most days over the past two weeks. I’ll need to eventually invest in a more powerful computer to take full advantage of the program’s potential, but I’ve managed to do some impressive work so far. The background was created in Photoshop through a lot of trial and error.

Take a look and see for yourself.

[mybooktable series=”vanguard”]

Not bad, huh?

I’m really proud of these new covers and hope they lead to increased sales. I think they do a great job of conveying the tone of the books a whole lot more.

If you’re an author and you’re thinking of doing something similar, DAZ Studio can quickly get very expensive by buying assets. But I think it’s useful to learn how to do these different things, even if you’re only doing it for fun and not with the aim of creating your own covers.

The conclusion to Vanguard Season 2!

Posted on November 17, 2015November 17, 2015 by Percival Constantine

In the finale to Vanguard’s second season, the team discovers that their new ally has quickly become a formidable enemy!

J’Karra, an alien special from another world, has come to Earth for one purpose—to discover how the humans have used her people’s sacred resources to create specials! But in the process, she discovers something else—her people have come to Earth before, and it ended in disaster. Can Vanguard stop this alien warrior before she brings terror to the Earth? And what lies in wait?

The season finale sets the stage for new trouble on the horizon. Vanguard is back and better than ever, but the threat posed by J’Karra is just the beginning. Other threats loom, coming from across time and space!

Join the team as the end of season two kicks off the start of a new era, and find out what the future holds—literally!

Available only on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited. Only 99¢ for a limited time!

[mybooktable book=”vanguard-10-harbinger” display=”buybuttons” buybutton_shadowbox=”false”]

Celebrate Vanguard #2’s release with #1 for free!

Posted on February 23, 2015February 23, 2015 by Percival Constantine

Vanguard #2: Cold War Frankenstein is now on sale at Amazon for only 99¢ and to celebrate, I’ve made Vanguard #1: Come The Exemplar free! But you have to hurry, because this deal ends on Wednesday, February 25th!

[mybooktable book=”vanguard-1-come-the-exemplar” display=”default”] [mybooktable book=”vanguard-2-cold-war-frankenstein” display=”default”]

Vanguard #1 and Luther Cross #2 available now!

Posted on January 20, 2015January 20, 2015 by Percival Constantine

The first episode of Vanguard, my new serial chronicling the adventures of a team of superheroes, is now available exclusively on Amazon!

The world has changed. A mysterious event altered the genetic structure of humanity, granting a small percentage of the population superhuman powers. A small team of these specials has been formed to deal with potential threats. Paragon—telekinetic powerhouse; Zenith—hyper-intelligent automaton; Shift—shape-changing teenager; Wraith—teleporting shadow warrior; Sharkskin—human/shark hybrid. Led by the armored Gunsmith, they are Vanguard!

Callum King’s life has fallen apart. He lost his job, his wife left him, and he was about to end it all—when he discovered he possessed the powers of a superman. Now calling himself the Exemplar, he’s declared himself the world’s first superhero, out to prove those who doubted him wrong. But his arrogance far supersedes his good intentions! Can Vanguard overcome their internal strife in order to face their first threat?

If you’re a fan of superhero comics like the X-Men or the Avengers, then you do not want to miss this new monthly series! Available for only 99¢ on Amazon or free if you’re a member of Kindle Unlimited! Buy it now!

And if you can’t wait for the second installment of the series, there’s a special prequel episode of the series!

Want to know how Vanguard was created? Curious about the specifics of The Event that introduced specials into the world? Then you won’t want to miss Vanguard #0: The Event!

This prequel episode shows the lives of the members of Vanguard before they joined the team and why they signed up. Witness the birth of a legend right here in this exclusive episode. It’s and exclusive to subscribers, so sign up now to receive your free copy!

And also don’t forget Vanguard #2: Cold War Frankenstein, scheduled for release on February 23rd and now available for pre-order on Amazon!

This is a big day for release announcements because I’m not yet done! On the same day that Vanguard #1 came out, Pro Se Productions also released the second installment of my Luther Cross series for their Single Shot Signatures line. Here’s their press release:

Luther Cross 2 - The Ties That Bind PRO SE PRODUCTIONS SINGLE SHOT SIGNATURE SERIES-
FOUR NEW STORIES TO KICK OFF 2015!

At the end of 2013, Pro Se Productions, an innovative publisher of Genre Fiction, debuted its Pro Se Single Shots line, stand alone digital only short story singles at an affordable price. Due to the success of the single self containted tales, Pro Se launched the Pro Se Single Shot Signature line in 2014. The Signature imprint still focuses on digital singles, but invited authors either write individual stand alone stories under a ‘From the Pen of…” title or a series of their own creation, either featuring connected stories or even ‘chapters’ or ‘episodes’ as well as still features single short stories or recurrent ‘chapters’ or ‘episodes’ written as short stories. The New Pulp Publisher debuts the next chapters in four of its inaugural Signature series today.

“The Pro Se Single Shot Signature line,” says Tommy Hancock, Pro Se Productions Partner and Editor in Chief, “is a project that, although it’s gotten off to a slow start, has in many ways altered how Pro Se sees publishing. We’ll continue with our traditional publishing of novels and anthologies, but the Signature imprint allows us to play with all sorts of possibilities of promotion, distribution, and accessing new readership on several levels. With schedules being sorted in the next week or two as well as multiple series and writer’s imprints debuing within the line over the next month or so, Pro Se is preparing to redefine Genre Fiction and New Pulp in 2015. And the four latest installments to the series that kicked off the Signatures are the best way to move forward.”

The four newest releases from the Pro Se Single Shot Signature line are available at Amazon and www.smashwords.com.

FLY GIRL: THE ICE QUEEN by Russ Anderson

Russ Anderson Jr’s Fly Girl returns, soaring into her second adventure in her Pro Se Single Shot Signature series as she faces The Ice Queen!

Still reeling from the events of the first story, 16 year old Caryn Clay struggles to understand her newfound abilities, her truly awesome connection with her Navajo heritage, and the attack of another strangely powered figure, known only as The Trickster. Before she can come to grips with any of that, though, a new foe presents herself. Can Caryn survive the chilling vengeance of a wronged girl? And are she and her mystical feather to blame for the destruction wrought by this frigid new enemy? Find out in The Ice Queen, Fly Girl Book Two by Russ Anderson, Jr., featuring exciting cover and logo design by Jeff Hayes and ebook formatting by Anderson. Available on the Kindle athttp://tinyurl.com/prt4yoo and for most other formats at http://tinyurl.com/q6vm3pl for only 99 cents.

LUTHER CROSS: TIES THAT BIND by Percival Constantine

Author Percival Constantine returns with another tale of Luther Cross—the only man clever enough to con Hell itself. In the second installment of Constantine’s Pro Se Single Shot Signature Series, Cross finds himself embroiled in a missing persons case and becomes dangerously entangled in Ties That Bind.

A stop for breakfast in a small diner becomes a case of life and death…and more for Cross. Overhearing a distraught woman’s plea for help to find her missing brother, Cross senses there is more than simply an absent sibling at work here. Finding themselves on their own deep in the woods, Cross and his new companion discover that small towns not only hide skeletons in the closet. There’s something much worse they keep in the barn.

Ties That Bind, the second digital single short story in Constantine’s Luther Cross Pro Se Single Shot Signature Series, features evocative cover art and logo design by Jeff Hayes and ebook formatting by Russ Anderson. The latest story in Cross’ saga is available for only 99 cents for Kindle at http://tinyurl.com/l79xflt and at Smashwords for other formats at http://tinyurl.com/o76jp2j.

MAGEE: TWO SOULS by David White

The Angel Heaven and Hell hate to see coming discovers new truths in the third installment of author David White’s Magee, a Pro Se Single Shot Series from Pro Se Productions.

Finding love in the arms of a witch, Magee seems to be finding his stride in the mortal world. That is, until a guitar wielding demon shows up, fully intent on playing Magee’s funeral song on his corpse. As the battle ensues, Magee finds himself face to face with unbelievable secrets now revealed as well as an evil older than God itself. An evil that offers Magee the world…or suffering beyond even his imagining.

David White’s Magee: Two Souls is the third digital single short story in this supernatural action Pro Se Single Signature Series and features striking art work and logo design by Jeff Hayes and ebook formatting by Russ Anderson. Get your copy for only 99 cents at Amazon for the Kindle at http://tinyurl.com/k6qcrxb and for most other formats at Smashwords at http://tinyurl.com/pqaptzy.

THE FABULOUS WORLD OF ZENITH: MY FLORIDA IDYLL, PART TWO
by Chuck Miller

Chuck Miller, the master of Psychedelic Pulp, returns with the second episode of the wildest, weirdest Pro Se Single Shot Signature Series yet. The Fabulous World of Zenith, a new and original series that will examine the world of the Black Centipede, Vionna Valis, Mary Kelly and Doctor Unknown Junior from a variety of strange and oblique angles continues on with The Journal of Bloody Mary Jane: My Florida Idyll- Part Two!

Finding herself trapped in the small Florida settlement of Cotton Mather and Ponce De Leon, Mary Jane Gallows continues on her odd mission for the now vampiric Professor Moriarty, as well as her own personal twisted journey. Strange creatures inhabit the dilapidated village surrounding the mysterious Fountain of Youth. Three men stumble their way into the crop of building and strangeness seeking a murderess, not knowing that Bloody Mary Jane is indeed among them. And Miss Gallows finds out much and yet nothing about the future, her destiny, and secrets that could mean her own demise or even better, the end of the world.

The Journal of Bloody Mary Jane: My Florida Idyll- Part Two features a fantastic cover and logo design by Jeff Hayes and ebook formatting by Russ Anderson. It is available for only 99 cents at Amazon for the Kindle at http://tinyurl.com/kxfgfme and at Smashwords for most other formats at http://tinyurl.com/pkbcslh.

For more information on these titles, interviews with the authors, or digital copies for review, contact Morgan McKay, Pro Se’s Director of Corporate Operations, at directorofcorporateoperations@prose-press.com.

To learn more about Pro Se Productions, go to www.prose-press.com. Like Pro Se on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ProSeProductions.