Coming up with a book cover concept is one of the many banes in the Author’s side.
It’s one of the things that writer’s wish someone else would do because it hits a part of the brain, we’d rather reserve for writing.
Whenever I think of a cover, I think of what I need on there in order to get you, (the reader) to open up and see what’s going on.
This is a small project and with it being a small budget (a very small budget) for this book, I decided to do the first cover myself.
I wanted to embody a sort of party environment; A Mardi Gras theme, plus I didn’t have a green color cover.
I found the model for this book when I was out searching for a cover for Wicked Chances.
As soon as I saw her, I knew that’s who would be Maxine (or who the readers would see Maxine as.)
The bowed head was the key in the photo. Subdue and docile, the model gave just enough to let my readers know I was doing something just a little different.
The colorful mask was also the key. Most of the models had dark mask on, but I didn’t want the book cover to have more colors on it, although the main theme was a black model and a green cover.
For the writers that are reading, here are the technical aspects of what I created.
Here’s the before and after picture: 
My sixteen year old suggested I used Pixlr.com. She used to take pictures in the bathroom and she hated posting those on Facebook, so she started using this online software in order to keep up great resolution unlike other online software that would change the pixel count.
Pixlr allows you to use layers, so instead of the blue background I switched to the green.
I don’t know about you, but she actually looked a little brighter with the green.
After I cut off the edges of the background of the photo, I imported the photo into a word document.
After I added the text and color with various text boxes I printed the document as pdf. Copying the document at 350% as a snapshot, I pasted the file in a paint document and then saved it as a .jpg.
Sounds easy?
I know it probably doesn’t, but it worked for me and I hope you the reader enjoy the book cover.
MORE ABOUT DARK FACADE
The Set up:
Maxine, an AA graphic designer who has no life, realizing that her best friend and coworker disappeared the day after telling Maxine she was going out on a hot date with a man she met on the Internet.
Now it’s up to Maxine to find out what happened to Lisa and who was this mysterious man who emailed his picture to her friend that Maxine just can’t stop thinking about.
How You Can Get your copy:
It will be available on Smashwords, an eventually through other chains in two books. (Unfortunately, since Amazon doesn’t load Smashwords book, Kindle readers will have to upload their copy as a mobi file and then open it in your documents.)
The first book is the introduction of the protagonists and of course The Masquerade.
The second book will go deeper in the “rabbit hole” and try to fix what was torn asunder in book one between Maxine and “her master.”
Here’s the temporary cover that was designed in the early stages when I first started the book. I want to keep reminding the old readers the cover is changing because I don’t want them to think there’s another book.
Plus, I might keep this cover as a showcase for other books to come for the Dark Facade series.
I was thinking about maybe some short stories about “the club.”
Okay, without further ado, here is the Book 1: Dark Facade Cover for your enjoyment.
Please let me know what you think and if you’re interested in the drop date, we are going for January 20th. I want to make sure Book two is well underway before I drop the first book and the cover to Book three should be done by then.
Working a Series is no joke and I want to do another read through to make sure it has as little errors as possible.
I also will say the first book’s price will be .99cents and I will have it at Smashwords and then at Amazon too, but I really need the reviews on the story guys to get others to get on board and read it.
I’m asking my readers for your help in your support. Even if you become an affiliate and make a little change. I really would love everything you can do.
Thanks in advance and now I need you to give me your opinion about the book cover.
Biting nails waiting for you to tell me what you think…
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