Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Book Cover Junkie Interviews Scifi Fantasy Author Michael Okon

Michael Okon is an award-winning and best-selling author of multiple genres, including paranormal, thriller, horror, action/adventure, and self-help. He graduated from Long Island University with a degree in English and then later received his MBA in business and finance. Coming from a family of writers, he has storytelling in his DNA. Michael has been writing from as far back as he can remember, his inspiration being his love for films and their impact on his life. From the time he saw The Goonies, he was hooked on the idea of entertaining people through unforgettable characters.

Michael is a lifelong movie buff, a music playlist aficionado, and a sucker for self-help books. He lives on the North Shore of Long Island with his wife and children.

Website & Social Media:

Website www.michaelokon.com

Twitter https://www.x.com/IAmMichaelOkon

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

Interview:

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

I was watching a creature feature one weekend, Universal Monsters to be exact, and I wondered why there hasn’t been a retelling of the Creature from the Black Lagoon. The words Dragged Down Deep popped into my head and I started beating out the story as the credits to Black Lagoon were ending.


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? 

See above.

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

I design all my covers like movie posters. The poster summarizes the entire book. Logan is being Dragged Down Deep by the creature from a Hamptons estuary. What he finds below is more than he bargained for.

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

My brother designs all my covers.

What has been the readers’ response to your cover? 

People are going nuts for it.

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

Find a family member who is good at design. You can also look at 99 Designs. AI is really adept at designing covers today, although I’m not a fan.

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

Hopefully you’ll be seeing it on the big screen sooner than later.

Dragged Down Deep is available at Amazon.

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

Book Cover Junkie Interviews Urban Fantasy Author P.K. Eden

 

P.K. Eden is the alter ego of multi-published and award winning authors Patt Milhailff and Kathye Quick whose debut novel FIREBRAND was lauded as comparable to the Harry Potter series, garnered 5-Star reviews, and won numerous  Reviewer’s Choice Awards.

Born long, long ago in a place not so far away, Shenandoah, Pennsylvania, Kathryn Quick has been writing since the Sisters in St. Casmir’s Grammar School gave her the ruled yellow paper and a number two pencil.  She writes contemporary and career romances, romantic comedies, historical romances as well as urban fantasy. 

Kathye has twenty fiction books in print with various publishing houses and one non-fiction compilation of her town’s history at the behest of the Manville Library Bord.  She was honored to have been named an Amazon top 100 Romance Author for Ineligible Bachelor published by Montlake Romance. Other works include a three book  Grandmother’s Rings Series – Amethyst, Sapphire and Citrine, a rom-com series that follows three siblings as they use their Grandmother’s Rings given to them by their mother to find their soulmates. 

Because she has been fascinated by King Arthur and his knights for almost forever, her series Beyond Camelot, Brother Knights, is her vision of how the majestic kingdom may have survived after Arthur. Two books are written in this series with the third and final still in concept.

She is a founding member of Liberty State Fiction Writers and has been a part of Romance Writers of America and New Jersey Romance Writers.

She is married to her real-life hero, Donald, and has three grown sons, each having romantic adventures of their own. Her two grandkids, Savannah and Dax, happily cut into her writing time but she still manages to get a few pages done each day.

Website & Social Media:

Website www.Kathrynquick.com  

Twitter ➜ https://x.com/KQuickAuthor

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

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

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/217228581-the-mirror

***

Thanks to novelist and editor, Dr. Nathasha Brooks-Harris who invited Patt Milhailff to write for several TRUE CONFESSION lines of magazines where she learned tight and entertaining writing and resulted in the publication of more than two hundred short stories and articles.

One of Patt’s most gratifying experiences was when she moderated a standing room only workshop at the African American Romance Slam Jam in 2004 and has since enjoyed speaking engagements at libraries, book clubs and other forums. 

She was awarded 2009 Author of the year and 2010 Mentor of the year by Romance writers of America, New York City Chapter, a terrific organization that helped her to obtain valuable lessons and insight while on her writing journey. 

Patt is also featured in A Dream Deferred, A Joy Achieved, a non-fiction novella by Charise Nesbit a co-producer at Tyler Perry Studios, about foster care, as well as being included in two of Times Bestselling Author Zane’s anthologies. 

Patt is one half of the writing duo P.K. Eden along with Kathye Quick, authors of Firebrand,  that received a five star Affaire de Couer Reviewer’s Choice Award. 

She is also a member of Liberty States Fiction Writers the home of a magnitude of talented writers and fellow authors and is the author of nine novels.  

Patt was raised, and educated in New York City, residing in  New Jersey, and has since relocated to Delaware.

Social Networks for P.K. Eden:

Follow on Twitter: https://x.com/PKEdenAuthor 

Follow on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/P.K.EdenAuthor

Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p.k.edenauthor/


 Interview:

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

The Mirror is an urban fantasy involving the Artifacts from the fairy tales written by the Brothers Grimm. This is the first book in a series of three each set on a different continent and involves a different artifact. in The Mirror, Snow White's mirror activates and shows a man getting into a cab at Penn Station, New


York. When the cab reaches the intersection, it is hit by a city truck and exploded into flames. The Mirror then shows the city in ruins. It is now up to the Primogen Sentinels to find the man and discover who wants him dead and why before the omen becomes reality.

I've always loved fantasy and wanted to do something more than fairies or vampires. 

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?

My co-author and I did a little research and decided that Snow White's Mirror would be the best place for us to begin our series. 

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

Our publisher picks the cover design. We do not approve it.

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

The designer is assigned by our publisher The Wild Rose Press.

What has been the readers’ response to your cover? 

While it is not the cover we envisioned, response to the cover has been positive.  It does show the plot of our story and makes one wonder what happened and why.

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

Check to see if you have any say on cover design. If not, there isn't much you can do. 

In the past when our publishers gave us input, we filled out a story board describing the hero and heroine, antagonist, setting and plot. The cover design artist t the publishing out them use our input to design a cover that she thinks matches our vision and the publisher's current trends. 

Either way though, we did get great covers.

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

Patt and I hope this insight into The Mirror and its cover has piqued your curiosity into our series. 

The Mirror will be followed by a book set in the American Southwest and will deal with climate change and the Native American folklore

That book will be followed by one set in Asia involving Rapunzel's healing tears.

Thank you for allowing me to talk about The Mirror by P K Eden.  

The Mirror is available at Amazon.

 


Sunday, February 16, 2025

Book Cover Junkie Interviews Historical Romance Author Jean Hackensmith


I have been writing since the age of twenty. (That’s 47 years and, yes, I’m disclosing my age.) I am the proud mother of three and grandmother to four wonderful grandchildren. After losing who I thought was the love of my life, my late husband Ron, in November of 2011, I met Rick. So, it is definitely possible to have more than one “love of your life.” Rick and I were married in July of 2018 and are still going strong today. He is my soulmate, my confidant, and my biggest fan. He has read every book I have ever written (even the romances!) 

Next to writing, my second passion is live theater. I founded a local community theater group back in 1992 and directed upwards of 40 shows, including three that I authored. I also appeared on stage a few times, portraying Anna in The King and I and Miss Hannigan in Annie. I am sad to say that the theater group dropped its final curtain in 2008, but those 16 years will always hold some of my fondest memories. 

I moved from Superior 15 years ago, seeking the serenity of country living. I also wanted to get away from the natural air conditioning provided by Lake Superior. We moved only 50 miles south, but the temperature can vary by 20-30 degrees. I guess I’m a country girl at heart. I simply love this area, and am lucky to, once again, have someone to share its beauty. I love the solitude, the picturesque beauty of the sun rising over the water, the strangely calming effect of watching a deer graze outside your kitchen window. Never again, will I live in the city. I am an author, after all, and what better place to be inspired than in God’s own backyard.

Let’s Connect!

Website: https://www.jeanhackensmith.com.


 Interview:

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

I grew up in Superior, Wisconsin and have always wanted to write a series set here. "A Dream In The Wilderness" is the beginning of that series. Right now, there are three books total in "The Wilderness


Saga", with a fourth to be released in January. With Superior being one of the largest shipping ports on Lake Superior, there is so much history. Years ago, my co-author, Kathe Birch and I started the Gitche Gumee Saga, which was set in Superior, but we only got four books done before Kathe passed away. That series is out of print now, and I simply could not bring myself to revive it without her, so I decided to start a whole new one. I'm glad I did.

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?

Back in 1837 when "Dream" begins, Superior was all wilderness. In fact, the whole northern half of Wisconsin was covered with thick forest. It was said back then that a squirrel could cross the state and never touch the ground because of all the trees. (That line is actually in the book.) So, wilderness personified. My main character, Sarah Bentley, has a dream of being a teacher. She realizes that dream when she arrives in what will one day be Superior. In fact, in the book she starts the first school in a barn loft. (Totally fictional, but cool.) So, she dreams of being a teacher and she does it in the wilderness. Hence the title.

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

Yes. I knew exactly what I wanted on the cover. The farm in the background, Sarah reading to the children (she took a job as a nanny to a farmer's three children, by the way. That's why she's in Superior. It was a few years before she started the school.) And I also wanted Caleb, the children's father, in the background and I got exactly what I wanted.

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

My cover designer is Ingrid Jones. She's from South Africa. I find it incredible that with the technology these days, I can work with a cover artist from half-way around the world. I found Ingrid on a design website called DesignCrowd. She was one of a half-dozen artists who submitted cover ideas for the science fiction novel I wrote with my son, Joe, titled Exodus. I chose her cover, because I was amazed at the talent it displayed. We work independently of DesignCrowd now, and she has done every one of my book covers ever since. In fact, I had her go back and redo all of my older covers, as well, so every book you see on my website (www.jeanhackensmith.com) was done by Ingrid.

What has been the readers’ response to your cover?

Quite honestly, a few people thought it was AI generated, because it is that good. It's not, by the way. In Ingrid's own words, she does use AI to tweak the covers when she's done, but the design itself and all its components are done using photoshop. She is also a member of several graphics websites where she gets the images.

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

Try DesignCrowd. It is affordable (I paid only $100 per cover and I think that got me designs from like 6 different artists. The more you pay, the more artists will submit designs.) It also has an easy to work with platform. Very user friendly.

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

Just that if the comments I've been getting via Facebook and Instagram ads are any indication, it's a very good read. Thank you!

A Dream in the Wilderness is available at https://www.amazon.com/Dream-Wilderness-Saga-Book-ebook/dp/B0DJS19HMH.