Monday, October 28, 2019

Come party with me tomorrow night on FB with a Rogue who is, yes, SNOWED IN!

🍒🎄Come party with me tomorrow night at Annabelle Anders' Group on FB when we all get SNOWED IN WITH A ROGUE! BOOKS, fun and swag!
7 EST/ 6 PM Central/5 MTN/ 4 PACIFIC🎄🍒
I am joined by my co-authors: Jacki Delecki, Tracy Edingfield Dunn, Gina Danna,Victoria Oliveri, Sandra Masters, Angelique Armae, and me, Cerise DeLand!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/AnnabellesReaderGroup/

Tuesday, October 8, 2019

Branding your work? Cerise DeLand offers a partial list of graphic designers!

My logo for Book covers, promo
Branding your work is no easy task. It requires a lot of thought on your part beginning with deciding what you write, how you write it, what characteristics define your market segment and finally, your look.
All this you should do before you ever talk to an artist. In fact, it requires you think about it in depth before you decide on one artist over another.

And in this marketplace, with new authors trying their wings daily, the market is filled with marvelous designers.
In fact, the list I am about to produce for you here shows the variety of their thoughts and tools, the marvelous talent and the dramatic differences among those designers.

First of all, let me tell you, I am an author. A communicator. I am not an artist. But I have worked with professional designers of everything from giant highway billboards to tiny, intriguing business cards for more than 42 years.

My logo for FB and Twitter!
Secondly, why do I have this list?

Ah, my guilty secret is that I LOVE looking at the offerings of so many delightful artists and often after I sit down each morning to work (and yes, write!) I take myself on a magic carpet ride on the internet to gaze at the beauties they have offered up for our enjoyment. (I could go to amazon and surf, but trust me, that way, I am reading plot lines, not imbibing the skills of the artistry.)

Furthermore, if you look at these artists' works like I do, you become inspired by their imagination. I play a game with myself called, What Title Goes With This Cover?

Try it. You'll be smiling.  \And like me, you may find yourself refreshed and ready to hit the keyboard. If you have problems tearing yourself away, then do hit the stop watch. You could spend the day doing this! (Yes. I have.)

My publishing logo
Know too that not every artist is right for you and your work or even all of your work. Many are better at one particular kind of rendering, much like Rodin was better at sculptures of nudes and men in action or torment. But he probably would not have achieved fame for, say, painting like Delacroix. Nor could Chopin compose works that had the fell or drama of Beethoven. If you write Regency romance, an artist who does superb sci-fi romance covers might not be your best choice. But if you wrote about Mr. Darcy on Mars? Well, then! Give that artist a good go!

Each artist has different requirements of clients, different ways of working. Each tells you that, usually up front. If you have questions, ask. Note how each works and see if that set of principles works for you, your temperament and your ideas of professional relationships.

AMAZON FREE!
I have collected these sites for a long time because it suits my own artistic temperament. Looking at art (painting, sculpture, installations) opens up my own mind, makes me ask questions of myself that are vital to my existence and my growth as a writer. I hope you enjoy this list and use it to your prosperity and in the best of health. And if you know of an artist who is not on this list, please send it to me! I will make another list for all to use and enjoy!

A few things you must know about this list:

It is in no order.
It has no qualifiers, including pricing.
It represents, I am certain, only a smattering of those who offer up delicious work.
I do not say this list is complete, or the definitive list of those who can and should aid you.
Many designers go in and out of business, and change their names. So many here may have changed their status.
I do not advocate for one more than the other.
I do not receive any compensation from any of them for this listing.
But I have employed some of them.
I would employ a lot more if I wrote faster and had more books!
In fact, I have in my computer, far more book covers by artists whom I have employed than works I have yet written! (Yes, I am that enamored of great art that I salivate to possess it. Kind of like a woman who must have a certain man she adores! But I digress.)

And so here is my list:

https://thebookcoverdesigner.com

http://designsbybmb.com/site/

http://www.coragraphics.it/

http://telltalebookcovers.weebly.com/

http://www.wickedsmartdesigns.com

www.pandngraphics.com/

http://ebookindiecovers.com/

http://www.mybookcoverdesign.com/

http://www.coveredup.net/

http://melodyypond.weebly.com/

http://litteradesigns.storenvy.com

http://vwzdesigns.com/

http://www.bookcoverbydesign.co.uk/

http://www.kam.design/#!book-covers/c192n

http://www.gobookcoverdesign.com/

http://www.coveredup.net/

http://www.roseannawhitedesigns.com/

http://jessbuffettgraphicdesigns.weebly.com/

http://www.theillustratedauthor.net/

http://www.syneca-originalsyn.com

http://www.glassslipperwebdesign.com/

https://victoriamillerartist.com/

http://sherimcgathy.com/

http://sweettoheat.blogspot.com/

http://winterheart.com/

https://fantasiafrogdesigns.wordpress.com/

http://www.tibbsdesign.com/

http://fionajaydemedia.com/

http://cheekycovers.com/

http://yocladesigns.com/

http://najlaqamberdesigns.com/

http://damonza.com/packages/

http://www.okaycreations.com/

http://www.kfadvertisingservices.com/

http://seductivemusingsdesigns.blogspot.com/

http://pickymeartist.com/

http://coveryourdreams.wordpress.com/

http://thekilliongroupinc.com/

http://spittyfish.wordpress.com/

http://fantasiafrogdesigns.wordpress.com/

http://safariheatbooktoursandauthorservices.blogspot.com/

http://www.romance-covers.com/

http://koreymaejohnson.com/

http://www.readycovers.com/

http://aeternumdesigns.com/

http://seductivemusingsdesigns.blogspot.com/

http://dusktildawndesigns.com/

http://www.premadeebookcovershop.com/

http://www.leahsuttle.com/

http://www.sydgill.com/

http://www.tamianwood.com/

http://www.selfpubbookcovers.com/

AMAZON
http://judgeyourbookbyitscover.blogspot.com/
AMAZON KU

http://www.creativeparamita.com/

http://www.georginagibson.com/

http://www.michelleleedesigns.net/

http://atomicwerewolfstudio.com/

http://www.coveredup.net/

http://www.raemonetinc.com/

And for my commercial, here I've added a few of my own covers (designed by two different artists) that I adore and you can readily see the difference in tone, treatment and, I do hope, genre!

YOU CA N ALSO SEE HOW I ASK MY DESIGNER TO COMBINE THESE ELEMENTS FOR OTHER USES!




Happy viewing!
Cerise DeLand

Monday, October 7, 2019

What precisely is a bourdaloue? And why would we need one? Hmm! Secrets of the bedchamber!

Before indoor plumbing, the private matters of personal toilette were carried out in very different ways from today.

In country homes and chateaux, water was primed from a pump and carried into the house in buckets. Heated, if necessary and then carted about inside in same buckets or perhaps pitchers.

Some houses were fitted with cisterns on the roofs to catch rainwater. Make-shift showers could be had by pulling the lever to allow the water to cascade down. But yes, that water was cold.

What then of disposal of bodily wastes?

While a few who were rich, including monarchs and their families, had privy chairs, beneath those open seats were, quite frankly, pots. In country houses and chateaux disposal of waste was much the same as in the growing cities. Waste was carried to the back of the house and dumped in bins for the night soil collector to dispose of. As we see below in one cartoon, urine was often simply thrown into the streets. Open sewers were a source of disease and contamination until the later part of the 19th century.
Until then, removal of waste was done by hand. By the hands of servants or the persons themselves, bodily eliminations were carried out in chamber pots or bourdaloues.

A pot is easy enough to imagine. Here is one with a fellow inside, who presumably, is there to guide one's aim!

But what, pray tell, is a bourdaloue?

A small receptacle usually made of porcelain, these boats, if you will, were specifically made for women to urinate in. Above, at the opening of this articles one and here is another rather lovely example!
But how were they used?

While one can imagine, I thought I spice up your day and show you a few illustrations from the period! Some are paintings, other cartoons! Do enlarge to read the captions. Useful to note that these folks could and did laugh at their inconveniences. One not so hilarious cartoon is the one in which one gentleman, I use the term loosely, is relieving himself in the same room with his dinner partners!

Why do I mention any of this? Because I am finishing up THE BUTLER'S FORBIDDEN FANCY, a short Christmas story in my CHRISTMAS BELLES series, and the hero who is a butler is discussing his duties. They would include ensuring that the guests at his employer's home have sufficient pots and bourdaloues for their conveniences!





https://www.amazon.com/Cerise-DeLand/e/B0089DS2N2/


Friday, October 4, 2019

Silver Foxes do it better! A nibble of my new Christmas cherry with older hgeor and older heroine!


AUNT GERTRUDE'S RED HOT CHRISTMAS BEAU stars and older hero (A silver fox!) and his older heroine (a silver lady!).  He appears first October 7 in SNOWED IN WITH A ROGUE! That is a wonderful box set with stories by seven terrific authors!
I hope you will enjoy them all...and especially my guy, the Duke of Harlow! He is the father of the Marquess of Tain, who is the hero in THE MARQUESS'S FINAL FLING, out the same day, October 7!
Here is a nibble of my newest cherry!

Copyright 2019. Cerise Deland. All rights reserved.
“You may go, Nan,” she told her lady’s maid. “I’ve no need of my wrapper. I go straight to bed. You should, too.”
The servant bobbed and turned for Gertrude’s sitting room door.
AMAZON KU
But when she opened it, Simms stood there. His hand in the air, ready to scratch the wood to ask for entry, he quickly recovered his aplomb. The butler was new to Gertrude’s employ, efficient, worldly and no more than thirty years of age. Intriguing for a butler of his extensive experience to be so less than fifty, but Gertrude had not debated his background. She’d hired the man. Handsome as sin with ink black hair and flashing silver eyes, he had an air of no nonsense, a bevy of friends at Prinny’s Royal Pavilion and an odd penchant for quoting Shakespeare. Gertrude valued him. A wise and interesting choice to head her household. Even if, at the moment, he appeared to be rather disheveled. Odd that.
“Yes, Simms.” She swished her long unbound silver hair over her shoulder and pulled her green velvet robe close to her throat. “What is it?”
“My lady, we have a new arrival. I knew you’d wish to greet him.”
Him? Her heart did a girlish pitter-patter. “I wish to welcome any guest, Simms. Who—?”
“The duke of Harlow, Madam.”
She shivered in delight. “I will be right down, Simms.”
AMAZON KU
“No need, my dear Gertrude!” The bass voice was one of command, a man who knew his authority and seized it. Yes, it was Harlow! Expertly attired in a winter clawhammer and woolen breeches that hugged his sturdy frame, he glowed from the brisk winter air. His hair, black as sin with those devilish streaks of white at his temples, proclaimed his age more than the ruddiness of his cheeks. Most of all, what declared his youthful intentions were his turquoise eyes that twinkled in mischief. 
Simms stepped aside.
And Harlow filled her doorway.
 She grinned and extended both hands. “Your Grace. How wonderful to see you here.”
He walked right in, nodding in dismissal to Simms and her maid. Then he reached out to grasp the door and shut it upon them both. “How wonderful to be greeted. By a lady in her nightgown, too. Love the dishabille, my dear.”
“You rake!” She chuckled. And blushed. What a man to so commandeer the room! In front of her butler and her maid, too. My, my. “Harlow, I’m thrilled!”
“Are you, my darling?” He strode close, sent one hand up to capture the wealth of her hair and curled an arm around her waist. Crushing her against his rock-like form, he brushed his firm lips across hers and seized her mouth in a ravenous kiss. When he broke away, she was breathless . “I’m here to claim the joys of the Season—and you. Will you have me?”