I have a cover for Paths Less Traveled

Over the weekend, my cover for Paths Less Traveled, which releases on May 11, 2012, was finalized. Thank you Kelly Shorten and Musa Publishing - http://musapublishing.com - for the amazing job.

So, how did we get here?

Musa writers are involved in all aspects of the publishing procees. We fill out a questionairre on cover design issues, including time period, setting, architectural details, mood of the story, elements I wanted for the cover, elements I didn't want, and any other suggestions I had for the cover art. I suspect the only way I could have had more input into the process would be to self-publish.

In my response I attached a photograph of the mountain I'd been using as the base template for the castle in the Lightning Strikes story. This photo --------------->.

The castle in the top right corner of my cover is the same shape as my mountain. Kelly then stylized it to fill in the details. The end result was a distinctive castle, and therefore, cover.

Because Paths is a short story collection my cover suggestion was "a pathway leading from field and castle setting into glass and metal city. The pathway changes over the route from dirt, to stone, to pavement to quicksilver sheets." My idea probably would have been too cluttered for a cover, but that's why I'm not the artist.

Anyway, Kelly then took my input and came up with a draft for the cover. I had the opportunity to comment on it and request changes. I loved the design and approved it as soon as I saw it.

So, I think the cover is pretty darned wonderful. What do you think? Please comment and let me know.