It seems like it was ages ago that I said I was working on the ‘final’ edits for The Redemption of Erâth: Consolation, but the truth is I’m still sweating away at it. Every time I read it I see something new. Largely they’re things that could be left, like a few commas too many (I love my commas), but even so I’m still finding the odd spelling or grammar mistake, and it’s driving me nuts. I’ve edited it myself a dozen times, had it edited by a good friend, and I’m starting to consider whether or not I might want to outsource before publishing, just in case. The big problem is being able to afford it.

Anyway, along with the text editing comes a second difficulty, and that’s the cover artwork. I was discussing this with a friend who thought she might be able to whip something up, but in the end she was a little too busy, which I understand completely. I am by no means an artist, but I’ve done my best to come up with something passable. I’d really like some feedback on this, and/or advice on where and how to get a really good cover illustration. My publishing company will offer cover design, but I’m restricted to two stock photos, and I’m not impressed with the selection they have to choose from.

Here’s what I’ve created so far, with my meagre Photoshop skills:

Rough draft for the front cover of The Redemption of Erâth: Consolation

It’s essentially two photos of my own, with a hand-drawn sketch of a wolf with red eyes layered on top. I threw a watercolor filter over the top of it all to try and gel it together so it’s not so obviously fudged. For me it’s pretty damn good, but I think it’s a far sight from being publishable.

Ultimately the cover wouldn’t even have to be in this form of layout; the key elements are moorland, dark clouds and a fierund from the book (huge beast wolves with glowing red eyes). This is simply the best my limited imagination and skill can come up with.

What do you think? Would you buy that if you saw it on the shelf, or would you pass it by as something utterly amateurish?

And if you laughed at the cover, just wait until you read my dust jacket blurb!