What I Am Reading ~ Bernadette Gardner: Skin
January 28, 2008
Skin by Bernadette Gardner
From: Ellora’s Cave
When Makena Brady walks into SkIntense Body Art, she expects nothing more than a little prick, and a small tattoo to satisfy her quest for independence from her “good girl” lifestyle. What she gets instead is a sensual awakening.
Darq Stone is an artist and Makena’s body is the perfect canvas. He works his magic on her, bringing her to the edge of reason with a temporary tattoo airbrushed on her inner thigh.
Enthralled by the excitement of lying nearly naked while he paints on her, Makena yearns for more, but can she handle the real thing? Darq is much more than he seems and once he brands her with a permanent mark, she’ll be drawn into his world forever.
Could you help me to resolve an enigma? Why some time EC have some beatiful covers (like this one) and some other covers I dare everyone to say they like it (like some covers for Carol Lynne, for example, or Sedonia Guillone…)? Do you have a simple answer? Elisa
Photography and cover art by Les Byerley.
That person probably has something to do with this one being so great. I notice that Ellora’s Cave does not seem to celebrate or even post the names of their cover artist.
In their case, that is probably a good idea.
Thanks. Another name to add to my list of good Cover Artists (quite long I dare to say…), but still remain a mystery, cause there are so good artists around there, and I can’t understand why we have to suffer bad covers… Elisa
That is a swanky cover–I wish EC would credit their artists because I know some who do amazing work over there, like CrocoDesigns.
But creating nice artwork for m/m books can be extra tricky these days. I know from personal experience some photographers take issue with their models being used on gay romances. A very, very disheartening fact that’s left me with a sour taste in my month to this day, several months later.
This is going to sound odd, and probably very pervy, but since I have all this photography gear in my garage (I do high key photography for my clothing designs), I’ve been trying to figure out a way of approaching some of the beautiful beachy people around the place (Jax is a beach city) to come do some romance cover appropriate photos. Mainly because there are only so many appropriate photos to go around a rapidly increasing number of covers.
Only I haven’t figured out how to phrase it without coming of like a pervy housewife wanting to get her jollies, or quite how/how much to pay them.
Craig’s List and model & picture releases
Pretty Cover, YAY!
I have to say this is one of the best covers by EC I have ever seen.
I agree. This cover for Skin is awesome! Les Byerley has done all my Ellora’s Covers and I really love them. Another artist who’s done fabulous covers for me is also Anne Cain.
Sedonia Guillone’s last blog post..Available December 14, 2007!
Ciao Sedonia.
I like very much the covers for your Vampire series, but I don’t know if I really like the cover for A man for Michael. But it’s for sure a lot better than Sex for Lex or Finnegan’s Promise by Carol Lynne.
Oh my, the stained underwear cover. That was memorable.
Yes, you pick up perfectly the cover who give me a shiver (and not a good one…) Elisa