I recently published a revised edition of my second Western, Promise Me. I had a new cover designed by Kim Killion, because even though I always loved the cover designed by the graphic artist for Wild Rose Press, (the original publisher), I felt like I needed a fresh start.
So I began the search for my hero, Sam. Samuel Calhoun is a complicated man, because he's living a lie. While pretending to be a business owner in the frontier town of Willow Creek, Montana, he's actually on a mission for the Secret Service.
Finding the right image for Sam was a challenge. Kim had a lot of great, and I mean GREAT photos of cowboys. But, the problem is-- Sam doesn't ride the range, rope or brand cattle. He owns a lumber company. He dresses more like the guys in the movie, Wyatt Earp, than those John Wayne films.
I finally realized that I had the perfect shot, Sam in his cowboy hat and black frock-coat. It was from the steampunk photo shoot I'd arranged a few months ago. If you think finding a non-cowboy Western image is challenging, try finding an image for a Western steampunk romance.
I didn't give up, I just arranged for my favorite model, Shane Rice, to be part of a photo-shoot in Spokane. I even sent a box of "wardrobe" to make sure my characters had the appropriate clothing. I ended up with some great shots for my upcoming steampunk book, but I was even more excited to see the final product for the cover of Promise Me.
