"The Blue of Her Hair, the Gold of Her Eyes" has won
Preditors and Editors' Award for Best 1910 SF/Fantasy
short story.  I am humbled by this award and wish to
thank all readers who voted for it and expressed
support in any way. I'd also like to say that I realize
the competition was fierce and that judging any literary
works is likely to be a subjective and imperfect
process.  

The story can be found at http://tinyurl.com/6mv3pp4/ 

And my other MuseItUp stories and novels are available
at http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php/
"The Blue of Her Hair, the Gold of Her Eyes" involves a
young woman who contracts a deadly, mysterious disease
that makes everyone avoid her -- why do they fear her,
and what will she ultimately turn into?

by John B. Rosenman

One of the experiences of being a writer who publishes online is that you have the opportunity to interact with artists who will design your covers.  In my case, I have been blessed with great artists.  Delilah K. Stephans, the Art Director of MuseItUp Publishing (www.museituppublishing.com) is one in particular I would like to mention. Like other artists, she creates covers based on the author’s description of his or her vision on an in-house form.

Here’s one of the amazing things: Delilah has created hundreds of superb covers while overseeing the busy Art Department of MuseItUp Publishing.  How does she do this?  Does she have the time to do an original oil painting for each work, even if it is a short story?  No, that would be impossible.  Like many other modern artists, she adapts stock photos and illustrations to the particular story involved, a skill that in some respects, requires a new kind of creativity.  And here’s one more amazing thing: in my case, and I suspect in the case of other artists as well, her covers are even better than the writers’ original visions.

Here are two examples:  Below, are her covers for my stories, The Blue of Her Hair, the Gold of Her Eyes and More Stately Mansions, both published by MuseItUp Publishing:

To me, both of the covers are strikingly effective.  The cover for The Blue of Her Hair, The Gold of Her Eyes captures the alienation and ostracism of Rachel Ross, who contracts a mysterious disease that frightens everyone and makes them shun her.  What, indeed, will Rachel ultimately turn into?  In turn, the cover for More Stately Mansions suggests exactly my vision of cosmic transformation.  To be frank, I am still astonished by and grateful for both covers.

Please note: Delilah has been nominated for best Artist in Preditors and Editors Reader Poll.  If you wish to vote for her, the link is http://critters.org/predpoll/artist.shtml

Also, my story, The Blue of Her Hair, the Gold of Her Eyes,
has been nominated for best Science Fiction and Fantasy
short story.  If you wish to vote, the link for that is

http://critters.org/predpoll/shortstorysf.shtml

 And . . . Happy New Year!

This is the banner for my tour.  I’m John Rosenman, and I write “Wow” Science-fiction Romantic Adventure.  If you’ve ever seen the Fifties classic, Forbidden Planet, you’ll know what I mean.  While I will be promoting the novel you see in the banner above, I will also be doing the same for others of my books.  Strange, bizarre aliens, steamy romances, sometimes with alien lovers.  Mind-stretching, beyond-the-horizon concepts.

I’m including the tour schedule below.  Look for some unusual posts, such as the one about the female character I created who haunts and harasses me, slipping into my bed at night.  Please drop by and comment; I’ll be glad to share my thoughts.

Monday, December 5^th

Book reviewed at Mad Moose Mama

Guest blogging at Literary Backstories

Tuesday, December 6^th

Interviewed at Pump Up Your Book!

Wednesday, December 7^th

Interviewed Blogcritics

Thursday, December 8^th

Book excerpt featured at Between the Covers

Interviewed at The Hot Author Report

Friday, December 9^th

Interviewed at Paperback Writer

Monday, December 12^th

Guest blogging at Literal Exposure

Tuesday, December 13^th

Guest blogging at Lori’s Reading Corner

Wednesday, December 14^th

Guest blogging at Literarily Speaking

Thursday, December 15^th

Guest blogging at Café of Dreams

Friday, December 16^th

Book spotlighted at Penny’s Tales

Book spotlighted at Books, Products and More!