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Horror Book Cover Design with Ruth Anna Evans

In this episode of Killer Pros, Tanner chats with cover designer Ruth Anna Evans about all aspects of cover design. They discuss Ruth's career, her approach to designing book covers, and the intricacies of working with a cover designer, including licensing. Ruth shares her journey from designing covers for her own books due to budget constraints to becoming a professional cover designer. The conversation also covers the importance of typography, lighting, texture, and focal points in creating effective book covers. Ruth offers practical advice for authors looking to create visually appealing covers and emphasizes the importance of practice and feedback. Additional topics include the challenges of balancing a day job with creative work, building systems for productivity, and maintaining a love for art. The episode also touches on the significance of family support and how personal passions can influence career choices.

00:00 Introduction to Ruth Anna Evans

01:21 Ruth's Journey into Cover Design

03:09 The Art of Horror Covers

05:05 Challenges and Techniques in Cover Design

07:48 Balancing Passion and Profession

13:10 The Importance of Systems and Focus

23:28 Family and Artistic Support

26:08 Family Involvement in Creative Projects

27:39 Balancing Teaching and Artistic Careers

28:49 Pursuing Passion in the Arts

30:55 Creating a Productive Work Environment

38:59 The Importance of Typography in Book Covers

44:47 Licensing and Using Book Cover Images

46:42 Connecting with Ruth Anna Evans

48:03 Upcoming Episodes and Announcements

Connect with Ruth Anna at https://www.ruthannaevans.com

Find er on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/ruthannaevanshorrors/

And on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/p/Ruth-Anna-Evans-100081911623327/

Find her books and stories on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B09J21ZQB7?ccs_id=031e51c3-cba7-436f-994c-8151281f6ac9

Join Ruth Anna's Facebook Cover Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/327618456597950

Intro & Outro music: Super Strange Synths by YellowTree -- https://freesound.org/s/482961/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Connect with the show at: https://www.killerprose.com/voicemail/

Connect with me on FB at: https://www.facebook.com/writingfright

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/killerprosepodcast/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ1HGx45K7dwaYIRJg_VcYQ?themeRefresh=1

Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/killerprosepodcast

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About the Podcast

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About your host

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Tanner Rutledge

Tanner Rutledge writes small-town mysteries and supernatural thrillers. Before turning to fiction, he spent 15 years as a private investigator, working on everything from missing persons to homicide cases. Those years gave him an intimate understanding of motivation and the quick thinking it takes to crack a case.

Tanner’s love of storytelling started early. He was the kid who wrote spooky tales for his second-grade classmates and stayed was always up late reading Stephen King and RL Stine under the covers. In college, he studied criminal justice but couldn’t stay away from creative writing and literature classes. When the world shut down in 2020, he finally gave himself permission to shift his focus back to writing and hasn’t looked back since.

He also hosts The Killer Prose Podcast, where he talks about the craft of writing, creativity, and the strange overlap between true crime and the paranormal.

When he’s not writing, you can usually find him spending time with his family or hanging out with his little black cat, Broccoli—his constant companion and occasional editor.