The Book Cover Reveal, and An Interview with Cover Artist, Collin Beishir

Today, I’m sooo excited to show off the cover to Secondhand Shoes and  introduce you to the cover artist, Collin Beishir. I’m sure he thought I was a royal pain the ass. little confused about what I really wanted.

But anyway here’s the cover:

Ain’t she purdy?

Collin you did a fantabulous job. Hugs and chocolate chip cookies to you.

Me: So Collin, briefly tell me about yourself and what you do.

Collin: Well, I am 33 year old  Graphic Artist. I may not have a degree in Graphic Arts but I founded Beishir Media to provide a wide variety of design services from individuals to companies anywhere at a reasonable price.

Me: How did you get started in creating book covers?

Collin: I got started when Norma needed a cover for Chasing The Wind, so I used a DNA image, watermarking the image using a word processing program, a scanner, and some ingenuity.Now I only use Adobe products in my artwork and Open Office for my typesetting-and book covers isn't the only think I'll be doing in the near future. I am branching out into advertising, web design, web mastering, and other printed materials.

Me:Was I one of those peeps who drove you absolutely crazy and wished he could ditch? Just wondering.

Nope. Dealing with people is the fun part because of the unpredictability, some people do get difficult, some are amazed after just one draft. I prefer to use client input along with using the concept to build the image design for a project. Everyone goes through difficult clients or readers.

Me: Well, I can tell your mama raised you right. Personally, I’ve dubbed him to sainthood. Saint Collin.

Where can people find out more about what you do and get some samples of your work?

Collin:Here’s the link to where you can find out more about me: Beishir Media

Me: Collin, thank you soooo much for sharing with us and for putting together my lovely cover. Hope to see you again soon.

And to everyone else, I hope you like my baby’s dress. There’s nothing like having peeps thinking your kid ran through the ugly forest.

Also, I’m picking through what my editor has suggested. Then it will get a proofread before going to the formatter. After that, it gets another proofread, and then if everything is good, it will be made into a paperback and an e-book. So its looking like the baby will be here around the end of August or sometime in September. Yay!

 

Hugs and chocolate,

Shelly

Remember the Eighties Jelly Shoes?

Yeah. Those things. They were cool looking and came in assorted colors. You could also get glittery ones. But they could leave your feet a sweaty, blistery mess.

Band-aides were my best buds a few days after I wore those things. What was I thinking?

Jelly shoe facts:

The shoes were and still are made from PVC plastic. They made a comeback this year, 2012.

They were originally made by a Brazilian company named, Grendene Shoes and introduced in 1981. The shoes made it to the United States in 1982, first in Knoxville, TN and then a year later in Chicago, at a shoe exposition. It was there, that a buyer from NYC Bloomingdales bought 2400 pairs and the shoes branched out everywhere.

And in 1983, the shoes became like totally popular and rad. Totally. Girls wanted them. And you could find them hanging in your local Wal Mart and K Mart shoe aisles for a dollar. Totally rad, man.

In Secondhand Shoes, the MC, Lila, stops off at a K Mart because she’s been wearing a pair of secondhand bridal shoes that are a half-size too small. Check out the following scene:

Aisle five came first. Tennis shoes, dress shoes, jelly shoes, and flip-flops lined the shelves on both sides of the aisle. There were so many different colored jellies. I liked the pink sparkly ones but the black ones matched my ensemble. I grabbed a pair of those.

Gram shoved a pair of red Keds on top the pile I already carried, and a package of socks. “Put those jelly things back. They’re not practical,” she said, grabbing at the black jellies.

“But, Gram—

“Don’t but Gram me. Do you want your feet to be more of a mess than they already are?”

I let a loud short sigh. She had a point. But I’m going to stick out like a sore thumb with those red things on.

Shelly Arkon © 2012

So has anyone ever owned a pair of jelly shoes before? Or, now?

Source of Information:

Wikipedia

Like Totally 80s