Sunday, February 19, 2017

Guest post by Barb Caffrey, author of 'Changing Faces'

As you see, there are two faces on this cover for my new novel Changing Faces. One is my hero, Allen Bridgeway, a thirty-year-old heterosexual male in love with my heroine, Elaine Foster, a twenty-eight-year-old bisexual and transgender female. Elaine is beautiful, while Allen's an average-looking guy to start off the book. However, as things go on, Allen quickly gets put into Elaine's body, while Elaine gets put into Allen's (and in a coma). The reason the cover looks this way is because of the gift of artist Tamian Wood…she captured Elaine, who is Hispanic, beautifully, and gave Allen a depth and richness that I appreciated without compromising his seemingly average looks.

In addition, because this book is set in Nebraska and features two clarinetists, there are subtle touches of musical notes in the lettering, and a long road for the two lovers to walk…and we have all the colors of the heavens behind them, depicting the two aliens/angels who take a hand in helping Allen and Elaine stay together, albeit by the expedient of changing their faces.

I think Tamian Wood did an outstanding job, and I couldn't ask for a better cover.

In addition, I'm extremely fortunate that my publisher, Lida Quillen, was able to obtain Tamian's services…
Now, as far as how long did it take to come up with this cover? Tamian had three possibilities for me, and all were excellent. (My publisher, Lida Quillen of Twilight Times Books, agreed.) So it was an embarrassment of riches, truly…I picked the best representations of Allen and Elaine, and we went from there.


I think this cover fully encapsulates the overarching message of Changing Faces, and gives you an idea of all of the major themes without making it too heavy or cloying. (In other words, I just love this cover and am thrilled to be talking about it.)

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Barb Caffrey is a writer, musician, editor, and composer from the Upper Midwest who holds a BA in Music from the University of Wisconsin-Parkside and a Master's in Music from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She's the author of Changing Faces and the Elfy duology, An Elfy on the Loose and A Little Elfy in Big Trouble (two YA urban fantasy/romances). Her short stories have been featured in many places, most recently in Realms of Darkover. Find her at Barb Caffrey's Elfyverse: http://elfyverse.wordpress.com

About the book:

Title: CHANGING FACES
Genre: transgender fantasy-romance (contemporary)
Author: Barb Caffrey        
Publisher: Twilight Times Books

Allen and Elaine are graduate students in Nebraska, and love each other very much. Their life should be idyllic, but Elaine's past includes rape, neglect, and abuse from those who should've loved her—but didn't, because from childhood, Elaine identified as transgender.

When Elaine tells Allen right before Christmas, he doesn't know what to do. He loves Elaine, loves her soul, has heard about transgender people before, but didn't think Elaine was one of them—she looks and acts like anyone else. Now, she wants to become a man and is going to leave.

He prays for divine intervention, and says he'll do anything, just please don't separate him from Elaine…and gets it.

Now, he's in Elaine's body. And she's in his. They'll get a second chance at love.

Why? Because once you find your soulmate, the universe will do almost anything to keep you together—even change your faces.