As I admitted a few weeks ago, I spent the morning with an oyster. Nothing kinky. Just a photo shoot for the cover of my new book coming out in September. Given that the title is a play on words related to pearls and shucking, the idea of incorporating an actual oyster into the cover seemed the responsible thing to do. For about two hours, a photographer friend, Joshua Greene, did his best to capture something cover-worthy.
And let me tell you, holding an oyster as it slow-cooks under the lights is its own special kind of hell. By the time it was over, I was essentially holding nature’s seafood petri dish of shellfish poisoning.
When it was over, I thanked Joshua profusely. He shook my hand and smiled. “Let’s not ever do this again.”
I posted the top five picks here a few days later and a lot of you offered your feedback, which I really appreciate. The final image (above) was among the top two, which I then sent to another friend, Eric Wilder, who I met several years ago in the WordPress blogosphere at The Grimm Report (a hilarious but, sadly, now defunct blog offering news reports from the land of fairytales.) In addition to being an author, Eric also has a highly successful graphic design business, Wilder Design and Advertising, a beautiful wife and children, is stylish, uber talented, and even knows what to do with all that extra silverware at fancy restaurants.
Yet some how, in spite of all that, he’s simply too nice to dislike — and I consider myself extremely fortunate to call him a friend.
I just wanted to thank the folks who are helping making this next book possible, including Joshua, Eric and my publisher, Ellen Traylor, at Port Hole Publishing.
But I especially want to thank all of YOU for your continued support and inspiration from within, as well as beyond, the blogosphere. I had no idea what to expect when I started this blog. Now, four years later, I realize it was because it has been better than I could’ve imagined.
Thank you for that. And also for forgiving me about that whole red-thong incident…
The No. 3 vote from all of you, which is why I only sent Eric the top 2.
I should also include this last-minute cover design by another talented friend (just not when it comes to book cover design) Randall Willis, who sent this in a few minutes after this post went live..
As I said, the blogosphere is better than I ever imagined.
Most of the time.
Actually, I’m saving this cover of my first horror novel…
Ned's Blog 
Love the cover! Kudos on not sending Eric the top 3!
Lol! Thanks Leonard! Yeah, I’m marketing savvy that way 😉
Not sending pic no.3 is arguably the best move of your career;)
HaHaHaHa! Agreed!
I still like the one with you smiling
But I am super happy for you!!! Congrats my dear! 😀
Thanks, Courtney 😉 I think we’re using the smiling one for the back cover 🙂
YAH! 🙂
Congrats! Love the cover!
Thanks, Darla! But I have to admit, I still don’t understand why anyone would want their world to be an oyster..?
I love the cover but to be honest I don’t really care what picture you use – I don’t judge books that way (wink, wink) – I just want you to hurry up so I can read what’s inside. So happy you are one step closer. :o)
Thanks so much!
An oyster holds both something beautiful, and something resembling snot that could be potentially kill you. It’s like the ultimate crossroads – choose wisely. I’d say that comes pretty close to life. :p
Wow, I never thought about it like that before, Tara. Snot, I mean… 😉
My screen just melted.
Must’ve been Randall’s book cover idea…
woo-hoo!
Thanks, Beth! Coincidentally, that is also the oyster mating call. Just thought you’d want to know…
The cover is great Ned! Is #3 possibly on the inside flap? Lololol. Now, that new cover would make a great horror cover! Lmao, joking. But still funny. 🙂
Thanks, Debby! That #3c would give Stephen King nightmares!
You crack me upppppppppp! 🙂 But it might. Ha ha!
Looking good Ned.
The oyster, right?
Riiiiiiight.
Hahahaha I’d go with the ‘Venus’ pic
Awesome cover although the red thong… Could be the next craze… Just saying! 😋
Haha! So could umbrella hats, but I kind of doubt it 😉 By the way, just so you don’t think I’m a total weirdo, here’s a little context behind the red thong incident…
As an aside Ned I did a guest post over at Mark Bialczak’s today. I would be honored if you had the time to drop by for a read: https://markbialczak.com/2016/05/15/i-cant-walk-with-him/comment-page-1/#comment-79640 Thank You.
so… you challenged a big clam to a knife fight… and won…
Hey, a win is a win…
you have a point
Late to the party, but I have to say I love the cover, the title, and the fact that you’ve done it again! Congratulations, and I can’t wait to read this one, too!
Thanks, Marcia! And you’re always right on time around here 😉
How I envy you, Ned.
Sorry, just needed to let that out.
As long as that’s the only thing you let out, Robert…
You’re a handsome man, Ned… but I heard your mustache tickles.
By the way, you make it tough for a guy to indulge in self-pity you know that?
I’m a happily married man, so you’ll never know for sure about the mustache part…
And any day I can keep someone from self-pity is a good day in my book, my friend 😉
Great cover Ned, oysters and all. Hope your book is a big Shucking success! I’ve been having a lot of fun making covers, they are a challenge aren’t they. Best of luck and keep writing!
Awe, shucks — Thanks, Nathan!