Book Cover Junkie Interviews Fantasy Author Nancy Golden

Nancy Golden wears a lot of different hats – She is a wife and mom, author, engineer, professor, horsewoman, and small business owner. She is also the founder of a writing group – the Carrollton League of Writers. Nancy lives in a suburb of Dallas, Texas and she loves to ride bicycles and horses. She is a member of the National Space Society, and she has been a Trekkie for as long as she can remember. Nancy Golden Books provides a great reader experience with well-crafted writing that will brighten your day.

Website ➜ nancygoldenbooks.com

Twitter ➜ https://www.twitter.com/ncgolden1  

Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61564426002283 

Instagram ➜ https://www.instagram.com/ncgolden1 

Goodreads ➜ https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/216235312-ring-of-rosin 

 Interview:

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

Ring of Rosin is the second book in the Dynamis Novels and continues the story of young King Rugal.

From an ancient Tolan legend:

Many, many years ago, a wondrous bird flew into the mountains of Tolan. In its claws, it bore a giant stone, a stone of fire. The bird dropped the stone somewhere in the mountains, where it shattered. The one who finds its fragments shall have power beyond belief.

The Ring of Rosin has unexpectedly disappeared. Join King Rugal on his quest to recover the ring symbolizing his right to rule, forged from the stone of fire. A mysterious companion joins the young monarch on a perilous journey. Rugal’s shadowy ally leads him to the nomadic Kargoliths, who are locked in an ongoing dispute with the neighboring kingdom of Tolan. As destinies intertwine amidst the clashing cultures, the fates of Elayas, Tolan, and the Kargoliths hang in the balance.

Will the Ring of Rosin’s power on the Day of Questioning help Rugal defeat the foreign threat to Elayas, or will it be used to destroy him?

Ring of Rosin was the natural next book in my Dynamis series. In Book 1 we learn about the main character and his journey to become king of Elayas. We find out about the three symbols attached to the true ruler of Elayas: the Sword of Fate, the Ring of Rosin, and the Key of Power. The three books in the Dynamis trilogy each draw special significance from one of these symbols. I had a lot of fun with the characters and plot twists, and I think you will, too.

 

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?

In the first book, Sword of Fate, the evil usurper, Oldag, has killed King Rosin and has forcibly taken the throne of Elayas, using his dark powers to keep the kingdom in bondage. The Sepharim (members of the Sepharim possess a supernatural power called dynamis) and the Patriotes are striving to overthrow Oldag and restore the kingdom to the rightful king, who is identified by the three symbols of the king of Elayas. Each symbol is magically tuned to identify the rightful king.

The first symbol is the Sword of Fate, its bearer having the power to command the Sepharim when needed. A single gem is inlaid in the cross piece, a stone of the brightest blue. The second symbol is the Ring of Rosin, which was commissioned by King Rosin. It is a red diamond set in a ring of gold. It glows and hums musically when worn by the true king. The title of my book comes from this second symbol of office.

The third book (The Dynamis Novels are a planned trilogy with the possibility of other books that will take place in the same world) will have the title of the third and final symbol of office, the Key of Power. The idea of using the symbols of office as the titles came to me while I was writing the first book, after I had incorporated them into the story.

 

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

The cover design process was so much fun!! I wanted to capture the heart of the story while making it visually compelling. I also wanted it to have continuity with the first book in the trilogy. I am committed to NO AI in my books or covers, so I needed an artist who aligned with those values and that was willing to make the cover a collaborative effort so that we could explore my vision and bring it to life. I am so incredibly blessed with having found a wonderful cover designer who listened to my ideas and translated them to the amazing cover you see.

 

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

Piere d’Arterie is an incredibly talented artist. I am grateful for his dedication to his craft. Piere refuses to use AI in his work, relying instead on his own inspiration and talent. He has exceeded all my expectations in designing the covers for both Sword of Fate and Ring of Rosin. I am grateful for both his art and his desire to capture my vision, and he has brought so much joy to each project. If you want a book cover that is a beautiful work of art designed to your personal vision, you will want to consider Piere to create it – I am confident you will be thrilled with the results. 

What has been the readers’ response to your cover?

My readers LOVE my covers. The old saying, you can’t judge a book by its cover, is true. But the cover is what inspires a person to pick up the book to examine it. The vibrant images and artistry of my Dynamis Novels covers have gotten a wonderful reception that leads my readers into the story from the very beginning. They say that you must hook your reader in the first sentence (I personally think first couple of paragraphs), but I would argue that you also have to hook your reader with your book cover. If it is well-written, they read on to see how that cover is fulfilled.

I would add that as an author, I put hard work into every aspect of writing, which includes the cover. When you pick up a book by Nancy Golden, you can be confident that it is a well-crafted story with a compelling cover that you will be proud to have in your library. That is always my goal, and I think most of my readers would agree with that statement.

 

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

I know many authors like me, have a very tight budget. They may be tempted to do the cover themselves in order to save money. Believe me – I understand! I did my first cover myself with Photoshop many years ago. It was also the last, and I eventually had it redone by a professional. Unless you are also a trained professional cover designer, I would absolutely advise you to hire a professional. In most cases (including my own example) the cover may work, but it won’t shine. It will have an amateurish feel which will reflect poorly on your book. As tempting as it is to save money and do it yourself – I would advise you to hire a professional. Your book cover is the first look your reader has of your work and you want it to reflect the contents in a positive and compelling way – something very difficult to achieve even for professionals.

I would also add (as my personal opinion) – steer away from any artists utilizing AI in the creation of their covers. AI is a very young technology that is being used indiscriminately. We have no idea what the legal ramifications will be in the future and in essence, it plagiarizes other people’s work.

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

One of my favorite reviews sums it up well:

The Ring of Rosin is a great book for young and old readers alike. The story is a fantasy adventure of young leaders trying to find their way and coming together, in spite of or because of their differences, and forming a powerful bond for good. Character development, including their companion animals, makes The Ring of Rosin an entertaining and inspiring read!

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