I got some good news and some bad ones. The bad news is that the cover designer completely ignored my specific directions and came up with this revised version:
I hated it on first sight, but just had to check on Twitter. Overwhelmingly, everyone else hated it too. Someone even said the lips and bubble gum look pornographic. Great. I’ve pulled the plug and asked for my money back under the designer’s 100% satisfaction guarantee. Not looking forward to their reply. Not sure yet if I’m gonna get anyone else or do it myself. One thing for sure, if I hire another designer, he or she will need to be local and willing to meet with me to discuss ideas before photoshopping bejeezuz out of stock images.
On other hand, I could not be happier with the copyeditor! I will post a more comprehensive review after I’m done going through literally thousands of her tweaks. Truly a value for the money and a must do exercise.
Next week is all about revisions and setting up a Kindle account. Should be a piece of cake, compared to the cover saga…
Ana Spoke, author 
Oh my God, they had better give you back your money! That is terrible…. Sorry your having such a difficult time getting a cover that shows what your novel is about. You can do a good job your self just ask for suggestions from your twitter peeps and with your talent it will come together. Keep us posted!
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Thank you, will do. If they don’t refund my payment, I will post a whole review of the company with names – the reason I got caught in this is because their examples of previous work are great, but of course nobody posts duds.
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Reblogged this on D.E. Cantor.
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Could you share w/ us other writers who the designer was, so we can avoid him/her?
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I would rather not, since he completely refunded my money and was nice about it. I’ve seen other work he’s done and it was great, so maybe I’m unlucky.
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Reblogged this on Craig's Writing Articles.
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I agree 100%
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OMG! Yay, that u got your money back! Sheesh.
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I was so relieved…it wasn’t too much money, but a lot of frustration…
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Fortunately its what’s inside that REALLY counts! Perhaps post the next covers for feedback before signing off on it.
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True! Just being a perfectionist, I have to polish this particular detail (cover) until I’m content enough…will post another version of the cover shortly…
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That’s the sod of it sometimes. Occasionally its hard to match up what you want with what your designer comes up with.
That cover design is rather awful though
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