Morpheus from The Matrix
Go Here to Vote on the Covers!
Enter the world of Windemere with 11 action adventure short stories featuring a man who is out to make an honest living.
Some heroes seek fame. Some seek fortune. Others simply want to save the world. Ichabod Brooks only wants to put food on the table for his family.
Known and respected as the man who can get any job done, Ichabod has seen his share of adventure. Most of which have been highly exaggerated by bards. Still, the man has his famous reputation for a reason. Whether it be climbing a temperamental mountain for eggs or escorting orphans to their new homes, Ichabod takes every job seriously and makes sure he is as prepared as he can be. Not that it helps since things always take a turn for the worse.
(I just figured out how to do the polls, so hopefully it’s okay. The first round is going to be ending in 20 minutes from this posting. Although, 6 go to the next round and that’s what we have now. Thanks in advance.)
Legends of Windemere 
Tough choices, but I voted.
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Yeah. I’m hoping people leave some feedback too. That way artists can adjust.
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Um…no I didn’t. Sorry
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No problem. Trying to get people to vote at least. I’ve got my favorite, but I don’t think I should influence the vote.
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Voted
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Thanks. 😁
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I voted, wonder which you will choose.
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Thanks. I’m wondering if I should go with the top choice or my gut with some influence. I have a top 3 in my head.
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When do you decide?
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2 days and 10 hours. This is also a test run to see if the site can help me find a cover artist for my next series. So far, I’m not sure.
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I used Jeanine Henning for cover and illustrations for my book. Will in the future, too. If you don’t find what you are looking for she may be able to help. Good luck.
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Thanks. I’m releasing this book in about 2 weeks, so I have to choose one. Thankfully, I see some really good ones. Since my current series ends this year, I need to find a cover artist to work on my new one next year. The person who has been doing my covers since 2012 isn’t going to be available any more.
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Good luck.
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Hard to chose between them, but I voted.
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Thanks. I’m hoping the polls give me a good idea before I have to choose a finalist. This is really tough.
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I voted and commented. I look forward to seeing which one wins… my choices were the least favorite so far…
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Which ones were those?
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I liked the two that were identical except for the background, and the one with him aiming his bow at the reader.
I didn’t much care for the one with him on a horse or the faded wanted poster looking one.
They are all good though.
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The identical ones got pulled overnight it seems. Do you mean the bow aiming one with clawed hands?
The other two you mentioned were my favorites. More the ‘wanted poster’ even though I never thought of it that way. Something about the faded look and the whimsical title seemed to click. That and I think it got dead on with how Ichabod looks. Anyway, seems the horse will win.
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That’s the one, with him aiming at the clawed hands.
Don’t get me wrong, those two are great, they just don’t say fantasy to me right away.
The faded one is nice though, I thought Ichabod would look older though.
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It’s tough with fantasy. The ones that scream it right away also get called cliched or mix with the rest of the releases. Doesn’t help that free stock photos are fairly common. As far as, Ichabod’s age, he probably looks younger than he is in my head. I was thinking 40’s, but saying young man gives me teenagers and 20’s. So middle-aged was the better descriptor.
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Great points about the covers, I hadn’t thought about that.
Ichabod can be whatever age you want him to be, you created him.
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As long as he’s old enough to have a kid and establish a legendary career. 😁
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Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog and commented:
Please call over to Charles’ blog and vote for the cover YOU like best 😀
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Thanks for the reblog. The excitement of a contest.
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Welcome, Charles – Excitement indeed 😄
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Voted 👍😃
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Thanks. 🙂
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I’m probably too late after my work trip, but I’m going there to participate anyway.
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I think there’s still two days left to vote. Right on time. 😀
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I left a lengthier comment on the one I liked.
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Okay. Did you grade any of the others? I’ve been noticing a lot of people are either going for the one they like and either ignoring or downvoting the others. Right now it’s looking like the horse one will win the popularity vote.
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I scored all of them, but didn’t feel like writing multiple comments. I tried to stuff it all into one spot. I think faces and eyes are important in a cover. Distant figures, and shadowy characters don’t do it for me. Even my cover for Panama includes eyes in a stylistic sense.
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I can see that. Although, I know fantasy tends to be very big on scenes and bright colors too. I still need to figure out if I go with the winner of the poll if it’s one that I’m personally not the biggest fan of.
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I think you have ultimate power, and should exercise it freely. I’ve never done this for a cover because I’m a control freak. Financially, I can see the appeal.
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I like having control too, but my back was against the wall here. Unexpected complication with the original plan. Guess I have a year to find someone for the 2018 stuff too. Finding a cover artist is such a whirlwind.
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I agree. I found some I could count on and backed off. One of those has disappeared though.
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Sorry about that. I’ll probably do the artist hunt in January while looking for options this year. How did you find your cover artists?
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I haunted Deviant Art at the time, and sent inquiries to those whose work I liked. I started reading Spying with Lana and contacted Sean when I saw he had a commission page up. Rachel Carerra was a good blogging friend and made two of my covers, but she’s been pretty sick lately. Leon Tukker is a great artist, and is easier to find on Facebook these days. His stuff is mostly science fiction landscapes. Facebook and Pinterest are sources I might look today. I have two I wouldn’t use again, and don’t even remember their names.
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I’ll have to look through those. Wandered Deviant Art a few times, but never saw one that screamed fantasy cover art to me. Thanks for the tips. Guess we all have those few we won’t use again.
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You can lose many hours on DeviantArt, but it’s all fun. Just ordered my final poster for Yak Guy from Sean. The first couple look awesome.
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Very cool. When is that one coming out?
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Sticking fingers in my ears. Deploying the fetal position. “La la la la la …” I’ve been trying to get to it for some time. First Enhanced League, and I may make some mileage this weekend. Then Yak Guy. I’ll send you a top secret peek.
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Been there more times than I can count.
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I’ve voted, good variety of covers. I’ve got two overall favourites, hope one of them wins.
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Thanks. I have my favorites too and hope they win. Not sure what to do if they don’t though because I assume I get final say.
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I assume you would be involved in the final process. A good cover would have a huge impact on the marketing process and sales. Fingers crossed.
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True. The poll helps get an idea of what people want. Though, I think one issue is that many people would be voting without reading the book or knowing the tone, so I have to take that into account.
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Voted!
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Thanks. 😁
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I voted! I agree with all who said that the choices were very tough!
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Thanks. It’s interesting seeing what people identify as fantasy covers. Looks like one of my two favorites isn’t doing well.
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I like the Rouss and Circecorp ones best. Always tremendously difficult, choosing a cover, ain’t it?
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Circecorp is fairly popular. Choosing a cover is definitely harder than working with one artist and refining a single idea. This part of the process makes me wonder if the site will be good for getting a series going. I’d need a first cover that can start a trend and an artist willing to go for the long haul.
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Reblogged this on Don Massenzio's Blog and commented:
Help Charles Yallowitz choose a cover for his upcoming book, The Life & Times of Ichabod Brooks. I picked my favorite. Now it’s your turn.
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Thanks for the help.
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My pleasure.
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They are all great, Charles but I did vote.
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Thanks. 😁
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Some pretty good ones there! Voted.
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Thanks. Think I have to decide tonight. A few of the artists did newer versions too. Feels like such a hard choice since I like most of them.
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Keep them in mind for book 2 😉
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True. Though Ichabod will probably take next year off. 2018 is the year of a new series. Still trying to decide on Bedlam too.
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