Book Cover Junkie Interviews Romance Author Richard I. Levine

Richard I Levine is a native New Yorker raised in the shadows of Yankee Stadium. After dabbling in several occupations and a one-year coast-to-coast wanderlust trip, This one-time auxiliary police officer, volunteer fireman, bartender, and store manager returned to school to become a chiropractor.

A twenty-five-year cancer survivor, he’s a strong advocate for the natural healing arts. In 2006 he wrote, produced, and was on-air personality of The Dr. Rich Levine Show on Seattle’s KKNW 1150AM and after a twenty-five-year chiropractic practice in Bellevue, Washington, he closed up shop at the end of 2016 and moved to Oahu to pursue a dream of acting and being on Hawaii 5-O.

While briefly working as a ghostwriter/community liaison for a Honolulu City Councilmember, a Hawaii State Senator, and volunteering as an advisory board member of USVETS Barbers Point, he appeared as a background actor in over twenty-seven 5-Os, Magnum P.I.s, NCIS-Hawaii, and several Hallmark movies. In 2020, he had a co-star role in the third season episode of Magnum PI called “Easy Money.”

While he no longer lives in Hawaii, he says he will always cherish and be grateful for those seven years and all the wonderful people he’s met. His 5th novel, To Catch the Setting Sun, was inspired by his time in Hawaii.

Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea is Levine’s first foray into the romance genre.

Website & Social Media:

Website ➜ http://www.docrichlevine.com  

X ➜ https://www.twitter.com/Your_In8_Power 

Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/RichardLevineAuthor/ 

Instagram ➜ https://www.instagram.com/rilevinedc 

Interview:

Tell us about your book! What inspired you to write it? 

As with my other books, music has always been the trigger that sets the wheels in motion. It’s not just any

music mind you, but certain songs played in just the right way--tempo, key, volume, types of instruments--that have instantaneously given birth to a story, its characters, relationships, locations, etc. For me, the right kind of music simultaneously creates a feeling and a picture that resonates. It doesn’t happen all the time, but when it does, I know I have my next novel. With Like Driftwood On The Salish Sea there were a couple of orchestrated pieces from a movie soundtrack that gave birth to Mitch, Jess and the Rockwell-esque smalltown in the Pacific Northwest where they lived.

How did you choose the title for your book? Did it come to you right away, before you started writing it, or did it come later?

The original title of the book was completely different, and I knew from the outset that I wasn’t going to keep it. It was a placeholder until the title came to me. Like Driftwood On The Salish Sea was something I hadn’t searched for. It came organically during the writing process, and when it popped into my head, it simply felt right.

Tell us about the cover design process. Did you have a basic idea of what your book cover would be like? 

The idea for the cover came months after the title had come to me. I did have a basic idea of what I wanted it to look like, so every now and again I would search the royalty-free photo offerings on the internet. There had been a number of pictures that came close but didn’t quite do it for me until I came across the eventual winner. 

Who is your cover designer and how did you find him/her?

Of the six books I’ve written and published, I designed five covers. But they were self-published. Only one, the fifth one, was published by a small boutique publisher and as such, they did not allow me to participate in the cover design. Needless to say, I wasn’t happy about that. 

What has been the readers’ response to your cover?

I’ve had a lot of positive feedback

What tips would you give to authors who are looking for a cover designer?

Since I’m the type of person who likes to have total control over my work, it’s hard for me to provide tips when it comes to outsourcing for this portion of the project. I know there are many talented designers out there and I don’t want to take away anything from the folks who are artistic, gifted, have a vision, and who make a living creating them. All I can say to other authors is to do your research, which is as easy as to first look at the covers of the books you’ve read and see if those accurately reflect what’s on the inside. Does the cover grab your attention? Does it pique your curiosity?

Anything else you’d like to say about your book?

It goes without saying that I hope your readers will buy this book and that they are ready for an emotional rollercoaster ride. I will leave you with two of the more than two dozen reviews that have already been posted on Amazon and Goodreads:

“It was such a sweet, slow-burn kind of romance that really hit me in the feels. It’s set in this cozy little coastal town—I mean, the kind of place you daydream about running away to when life gets too loud. The writing has this calm, almost poetic rhythm, and the way the Salish Sea is described? Ugh, dreamy. The love story isn’t flashy or overly dramatic—it’s mature, tender, and just real. I loved how the characters weren’t perfect; they’re a little bruised, a little weathered, like actual people in their 30s or 40s trying to figure it all out. And the community feel? Don’t even get me started. It made me want to pack up my Subaru and go find a sleepy little bookstore by the water. If you’re into Hallmark vibes with a bit more depth and a lot more heart, this one’s a quiet gem. Highly recommend with a cup of tea and a rainy window ~Grace Eliot

"Poignant, Powerful, and tender. Like Driftwood On The Salish Sea is more than a romance, it’s a masterclass in emotional storytelling. Mitch & Jess will stay with you long after the final page.” ~Tae Keller award winning author

Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea is available at Amazon. 

Book Cover Junkie Interviews Cozy Mystery Author Kate Damon

When Kate Damon is not writing, she and her husband enjoy RVing, spending time with family and friends, raising Monarch butterflies, and playing a wicked game of bridge.

Writing as Margaret Brownley, she has published more than 40 novels and is a New York Times bestselling author. Known for her memorable characters and humor, she is a two-time Romance Writers of America Rita finalist.

Not counting the book she wrote in sixth grade, and the puzzle of the missing socks, this is her first mystery.

Website ➜http://margaret-brownley.com/

Twitter ➜https://www.x.com/katejuryduty

Facebook ➜https://www.facebook.com/MargaretBrownleyAuthor/ and https://www.facebook.com/p/Kate-Damon-61565155275435/

Instagram ➜https://www.instagram.com/katedamonbooks

BookBub➜https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kate-damon

Goodreads ➜ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4072660.Kate_Damon and https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/163681.Margaret_Brownley

Interview:

Tell us about your book! What inspired you to write it?

Jury Duty Is Murder represents a significant change for me. Writing under the name Margaret Brownley, I am a multi-published romance author.  This is my first venture into the mystery genre, which is why I’m using a pen name.

The story takes place in the aftermath of a high-profile trial. After enduring four months of sequestered deliberation, the jurors can finally go home. However, their relief is short-lived as a series of mysterious deaths among the jurors begins to occur. In response to this alarming situation, juror #5—CeeCee—takes the initiative to call a meeting. Unfortunately, only three other jurors show up.

Despite their mutual disdain during the trial, these four former jurors must now set aside their differences and work together to find the killer before they become the next victims. The tension between them adds complexity to their investigation, as they navigate both personal conflicts and the looming threat of danger.

All my books start with a question and the inspiration for this story stemmed from a question that came about after reading an article about sequestered jurors. This prompted me to consider how extended periods of sequestering might impact the mental and emotional health of jurors, particularly in high-profile trials. Initially, I imagined crafting a courtroom romance set in the 1800s, similar to my previous works. However, I soon encountered a significant obstacle: the Henry Thaw trial in 1907 marked the first instance of a sequestered jury trial. This event occurred too late to authentically fit within an Old West setting, leading me to pivot towards a contemporary mystery.

The challenge was compounded by my publishers' lack of interest in my genre shift, which forced me to abandon the idea—or so I thought. Despite my efforts to move on, the characters continued to nag at me.  I finally gave in and started working on the book alongside my other projects and was lucky enough to find a publisher willing to take it on.

How did you choose the title for your book? Did it come to you right away, before you started writing it, or did it come later?

I can’t remember the original title, but since I originally envisioned the book as a historical romance, I’m sure the title would have reflected that.  When I started the book, I had no idea where I was going with it. I was just letting the characters lead the way. The title Jury Duty is Murder didn’t occur to me until I was a third of the way through the book and dead bodies started showing up on the computer screen.

Tell us about the cover design process. Did you have a basic idea of what your book cover would be like? 

Creating a cover design for my book, Jury Duty is Murder, presented some unique challenges.  I am accustomed to designing covers for my romance novels that feature embracing couples. In those cases, my main considerations revolved around the characters' hair and eye color, as well as ensuring their attire was historically accurate. However, this particular book diverges from my usual genre and theme.

Jury Duty Is Murder does not center around the trial itself but takes place in the aftermath of it. Therefore, I wanted to avoid using a jury box on the cover, which could mislead potential readers about the story's focus. Instead, I aimed to convey that the trial serves as a foundational element of the story without making it the central theme.

Another consideration was the typical aesthetic of mystery novels. Many mysteries tend to have darker covers that evoke a sense of suspense or foreboding. However, since Jury Duty is Murder falls into the cozy mystery category, I requested that the designer maintain a lighter tone for the cover. This choice reflects both the nature of cozy mysteries and my intention to attract readers who enjoy a more lighthearted approach to crime-solving.

Who is your cover designer and how did you find him/her?

The cover was designed in-house by my publisher using my input.

What has been the readers’ response to your cover?

The cover was a finalist in a book cover contest, so I think we can say the reader response has been positive.

What tips would you give to authors who are looking for a cover designer?

Although I didn’t choose the cover designer for this project, I have done so for other books. The process typically involves evaluating portfolios of prior projects and confirming the designer’s experience in covers for a particular genre.

Anything else you’d like to say about your book?

I hope you enjoy the story and have fun attempting to unravel the mystery alongside the four jurors who have taken on the role of amateur detectives. The question is, who will be the first to arrive at the solution; Them or you?

Book Cover Junkie Interviews Classic Epic Fantasy Author Christopher Kaufman

Christopher Kaufman is an author, composer, presenter, illustrative artist and performer. He started imaginative fantasy books with illustrative art at the age of nine. During high school years he found music and attended The New Orleans Center for The Creative Arts and went on to major in music composition in college. He finished his schooling – earning his DMA in music composition at Cornell University where he studied with Pulitzer Prize Winning composers who prize his abilities as a composer.

Christopher is the type of person who needs imaginative fantasy scenarios to get to sleep. Therefore, he emerged from Cornell, not only with his degrees in music, but with the full event structure for his classic epic fantasy series Tales Of The Ocean City in his mind.

He began writing the story down in the early 2000’s, but it did not really come to life until he developed his home music ‘laboratory’ and started creating the music and text at the same time. Thus books one and two of TOC came about simultaneously as both graphically illustrated pages and effulgent audio albums filled with cinematic epic symphonic music.

They exist now as physical books and audio albums (that go together) and the new Video Book version.  He performs live tours with the music pouring through speakers, live narration and the colorful pages streaming on screen – a true immersive multi-media experience.

He also maintains his career as a composer for the concert stage with a full body of work, from solo works thru orchestral. He specializes as well in ‘environmental works’ which feature soundscapes crafted from hundreds of natural sounds, live musicians (from soloists, chamber groups and to full orchestra), videos filled with both natural and artistic images and readings from the works of John Muir and others.

Kaufman’s books feature full-page graphic illustration and go-with audio albums filled with epic cinematic music, narration and sound design.  All available, with generous discount packages, at kaufmantales.com (epubs and the new Video  Book version available there!).

His author page is talesoftheoceancity.com.

His you-tube channel is SOUNDARTUS.

Visit him at Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/talesoftheoceancity.

Interview:

Tell us about your series! What inspired you to write it?

I am a creative artist and a storyteller. I create books with vivid audio albums filled with cinematic/symphonic music, narration and sound design and which are also live theatrical shows. I compose music

for the classical concert stage and film. I present multiple concert series’ and perform as reader, conductor and player. 

Looking back…I started writing fantasy books with illustrations when I was nine years old. Later, I discovered music and lived the life of a composer for many years. My stories never left me. In fact, I am the type of person who needs some kind of active imaginative world to get myself to sleep. I emerged from my schooling phase with a Doctorate in music composition (Cornell) and the complete event structure for Tales Of The Ocean City through book eight, which I am completing now. Of course, when I get to each new area of the story it burgeons out, grows new branches and new things happen from the early conceptions.

There is much autobiography in my stories.

In Tales Of The Ocean City is chronicled a young civilization turning the corner into the future. The main characters are young Harl’ut and his lifelong companion, Vispushin - she is a perianth (a kind of telepathic pegasus).  They are close, like family, and speak to each other mind-to-mind.

Before moving into the future, the citizens of The Ocean City must face their brutal and primitive past. This happens in multiple ways. For Harl’ut, he undergoes an initiation ritual adventure at the end of Book Two where he faces images and personifications from the past, resolves them and battles a terrible monster. The Ocean City itself, in the over-all five book opening series, must face an enemy from ancient times, The Vorm, with whom they co-evolved on the ancestral isle and who are now threatening their very existence. In books four and five, the heroes of The Ocean City engage in epic war with the Vorm and Harl’ut and Vispushin lead a cadre of young warriors into the Vorm Hive on a vital mission.

Much of this can be interpreted as a metaphor for my personal journey. I emerged from much conflict in my youth to a very positive place filled with career and personal success and am moving forward as a storyteller. When writing TOC, I realized that there were specific things that relate to my childhood experiences and that certain characters relate to people of my past and present. I will save going into those specifics for another time - but am happy to report that the perianth race is based on my animal family - we call them pets…but they are so much more.

How did you choose the title for your series? Did it come to you right away, before you started writing it, or did it come later?

Huh.  I’ve been working on Tales Of The Ocean City on and off for many years…and I can’t remember when the title first occurred to me.

Tell us about the cover design process. Did you have a basic idea of what your book covers would be like? 

The cover design process has been a long one.  At first, I created them myself - I really love those covers, but later I learned that they did not give an immediate impression of what the stories inside them were like. In the vast world of books, covers need to simplify the process of understanding the genre the stories are in.  So I searched around, and found a very talented young woman who hails from Australia - and she makes my covers now.  They are very good and scream ‘Classic Fantasy’ at first glance… :)

Who is your cover designer and how did you find him/her?

Her name is Brittany Wilson - I highly recommend her - just google.

What has been the readers’ response to your covers?

They work.  Especially those who have seen the older ones and the new ones have told me they work beautifully.

What tips would you give to authors who are looking for a cover designer?

Join facebook groups…search around…go link to link to link…write to artists…and you will find the look and price point you need.

Anything else you’d like to say about your books?

I believe in the transformative power of imagination, especially as demonstrated in the fine arts.  That’s why I like to use the word classical in defining TOC, i.e. Classical Epic Fantasy.  Much of my work is about feeding and growing imagination in one way or another. I hope people experience my work and then feel differently about how they experience the world around them.  

For example,

…A flower working its way through the cement beside you as you walk is an epic saga…The shadows on the ceiling or behind your chair are places for imagination to burgeon…The clouds outside your window are flying horses and fantastical creatures and, ultimately, the direction and experience of your daily life is transformed by seeing, hearing and feeling it with imagination. 

Imagination is the highest function of the human mind - it gives us art, music and scientific theories…and helps us envision a better future for ourselves and our civilization. It has been damaged in many ways in our modern lives. Fantasy can help cure this.

We have to start with creating a peaceful situation inside ourselves in order for it to grow outwards. Book One of Tales Of The Ocean City begins in terrific conflict and ends with heightened and inspiring resolution. This is how musical harmony functions, where a more complex and tense chord resolves (cadences) to a more consonant one. You can see this happening continually throughout my works in many different ways.