Gabriella Hewitt

Transcripts from emails between Vanessa and Gabriella
***

I’m Vanessa Hawthorne and I’ll be doing your cover for Dark Waters. You can
see my work at www.vanessahawthorne.com or on the Samhain site.

Here’s a first pass at your cover. Please take a look and let me know what
you do and don’t like about it. If you don’t like it at all, it’s okay to
tell me that, too. I want you to be happy with your cover.

Thanks,
Vanessa

***

Hi Vanessa,

Thank you so much for all the effort you have gone to for my cover.
I’m really excited to have my first book coming out with
Samahain and have been really looking forward to working with you.

I realize that in the art cover form I included several pictures
of the ocean at night. Seeing it in on a mock cover made us realize that it
appears very dark. The cover comes across as very black. The woman’s hair
disappears into the blackness.

Dark Waters is romantic suspense (there’s a little paranormal twist but it’s
essentially RS genre) and it is set in Puerto Rico. The heroine is a NY
Latina transplanted to Puerto Rico. She’s tough and independent.

I’m thinking out loud here, but would it be possible to have more sunset
type colors such as purples and oranges rather than the black? I want to
convey a Puerto Rican feel if possible. Also, the female on the cover is
very fair in skin tone. Is it possible to get someone who looks more Latina?

Last, (and I’m feeling smaller than a bug bothering you like this) the fonts
are fine; it’s the way the title and author cut horizontally across the
cover we’re not sure about. It might look differently with more color in the
background. It’s hard to say, but I thought I should be honest and mention
it.

This is my first time working on a cover. I know it’s important
that we all get this right. I really do appreciate your time and attention
and I hope I haven’t confused you.

Thank you so much for being understanding and flexible. I really appreciate
this. In many ways it’s hard to know what you want until you actually see
something in front of you. I can only imagine how difficult it must be for
you to try to translate an author’s image into a cover. Your job seems so
much harder than mine.

I really look forward to working with you and to seeing what you come up
with this next time around. Again, many many thanks!

Gabriella
***

It’s my pleasure. I love working with authors to help bring their vision to
life.

That said, here’s another pass. Again, let me know what you like and don’t
like. Both these images come from Puerto Rico, btw.

Thanks,
Vanessa

***

Hi Vanessa,

Thank you so much for working with me on this. I checked out
the second cover. Love the background so much better on this one. It’s
gorgeous. The model, though, still doesn’t have the right skin tones or
Latina look. Also, the font for Dark Waters looks too romantic. The harder
font you used in the first cover (or something like that) probably works
better.

These are two Samhain covers that I like. Maybe this is what you
were going for with the first cover you produced? Sorry, I couldn’t get the
covers to copy so I’m putting links.

http://samhainpublishing.com/print/the-devlin-group-adrenaline-print

http://samhainpublishing.com/romance/what-mattered-most

What I like is that sense in one frame the romance/normalcy/tropics and
in the other frame the danger (with the gun in evidence). I hope I’m making
sense. In any case, this is an idea but we don’t have to go in that
direction.

I’m attaching some photos to give you an idea of the Latina look we’re going
for. The model doesn’t have to be front and center on the cover. She could
be faded into the background or less prominent or even looking away.

I think we’re getting very close and although I know this is a lot of work
for you, I find it very exciting to try to capture the image we want with a
professional artist. It’s a fascinating process. Thank you so much for your
patience and if you want to run anything by me again, please don’t hesitate
to holler!

Gabriella
***

Hi Gabriella,

You’re most welcome.

Yes, I like those covers too. My favorite covers are the ones that have some
element of danger to them, as they seem the most interesting. So, my
question to you is, what element of danger do you want to focus on? You
mention witchcraft and the chupacabra in your cover art request. If we go
with something like a chupa, I think it should be either blurred or in the
background or somehow faded/grainy. Maybe just a hint of teeth. Something
like that. Let me know your thoughts.

Thank you,
Vanessa
***

Hey,

While I was waiting, I decided to play a little. Please let me know what you
think of this cover.

Thanks,
Vanessa
****

Hi Vanessa,

Let me apologize for the delay.

On this latest cover, visually it’s stunning. I’m not sure about the man’s
eyes at the top, only because my impression is this should represent the
hero, but the face looks sort of evil with the eybrows slanting down like
they are. El Chupacabra is a creature that doesn’t look human. If this is
meant to be the hero, I would choose someone else, very Latino with a sexier

look. And maybe a different, more dramatic font for Dark Waters. But this
cover is gorgeous. Does that make sense? LOL!

Now I’m totally confused as to what direction to go . Maybe thinking of going with your suggestion of the woman on the cover and then faded in the background a blurred image of a creature (el chupacabra) appearing to attack her. And thought to put the font for Dark Waters as if floating, wavering in the water. What do you think? Decisions, decisions…aaaah!

Does any of this help? I feel like we’re creating more work for you, but I’m
finding this a fascinating process in trying to capture the image/feel that
we want. I really appreciate your patience and your incredible
imagination!

Gabriella

***

Hi Gabriella,

No need to apologize. I do understand.

Okay, I took out the guy. Then I added in some wolf teeth, close up, and
didn’t care for it at all. I’m from Arizona so know all about the
chupacabra, also called the goat sucker. Obviously I can’t get a picture of
one, so the wolf teeth had to suffice. I didn’t like it. At all. I do not
think we should go with any kind of monster on the cover.

I’m attaching the latest iteration, which has no hero or heroine on it. We
*could* put a silhouette of the heroine on it, but I don’t think it’s
needed. The lack of people on the cover only adds to the mystery, which I
think will help your sales.

Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks,
Vanessa
***

Hi Vanessa,

I LOVE it! I’m very happy with this cover. It’s stunning,
gorgeous. It looks professional, sharp and mainstream. It’s a work of art!

So what do I do next? Do I leave the cover in your hands to take it to the
next level? Is there anything else I should do?

I want to thank you so much for all your patience in sorting out
our various thoughts and translating them into a picture. I’m so excited
by the result and hope that Scott and Chrissy both approve.

If there is anything else you need, please let me know. It was terrific
working with you and I hope to have the opportunity again.

All the best,
Gabriella

***

Hi Gabriella,

Thank you so much. I’m glad you’re happy with it.

I’ve sent the cover on to Scott. He and Crissy confer and decide if anything
needs to be changed. Usually it’s only the font that changes, and if that
happens, I’ll send you a revised cover. Either way, I’ll let you know it was
approved.

Thanks for the opportunity to work with you both. I enjoyed it very much.

Thanks,
Vanessa
***

Hi Gabriella,

Thanks for waiting. Scott made a change to the position of the title and
author name. This cover is approved.

Here it is!

Thanks,
Vanessa