Interview With A Graphic Artist - Jesse Ruiz

Hi Everyone. Since I’m planning on revealing the cover of Chasing Lady Midnight next week I thought I would post an interview with the creator Jesse Ruiz. Although writing the book is important, the cover is just as important because it is what will get the reader’s attention to begin with. So I wanted you guy’s to get to know the artist who did such a fantastic job for me. It really is a great cover, and Jesse says the idea all came from a conversation with me. Although what I said to come up with this fantastic cover I do not know. You’ll see his handiwork next week, but for now let’s get to know Jesse just a little better.

Q) Hi Jesse. Great to have you on the blog. Tell us a little bit about yourself. 

A) First, I would like to thank my family and friends. They have been supporting me since I started. I wanted to give up so many times they encouraged me to keep trying my best. This road is not easy there’s so many challenges and I’m still in school learning more and more each day.

Q) Did you always want to be an artist?

A) When I was a kid I used to color and draw a lot. I lived in the city of Los Angeles. This is what I would do to keep me entertained. I also loved using computers even though I didn’t have one I loved electronics. This is why I chose to be a graphic designer because I can create art on a computer.

Q) Did anyone or anything influence you or play a big part or role in you becoming the artist you are today and how?

A) I like many artist one of my favorite artist is Jerome Brown. I purchased one of his paintings. The picture is of two of my favorite rap artist Tupac and Notorious B.I.G. Creating art comes hand in hand with music. Listening to musicians like Tupac encouraged me a great deal. I listen to his music when I’m creating designs.

Q) Is there one particular area of graphic or website design that you enjoy the most and why?

A) I love creating all kinds of art. I’m not picky at all. The specific thing I do like a lot and that’s using a lot of bright colors. I think using many colors makes a picture come out so nice.

Q) Is Chasing Lady Midnight your first E-book cover and what did you think of the experience?

A) This is my first E-book and I loved the challenges and I loved creating it. The experience was pretty cool and I enjoyed every min creating this design.

Q) What are the challenges of lining up your vision with your clients and how do you make the two compatible? 

A) First, I like to see what the client likes and see what they’re looking for. I like to see what colors they like. Once the client gives me all there info. Then I like to give the client some details and advice.  I know from that point what the client looking for.

Q) What do you find most fulfilling and the most challenging about being a graphic designer?
A) The fulfilling thing is that I love creating art. The most challenges is when something does not come out good and only I know it. I try over and over until it does come out good. My work is me and I make sure it looks good.

Q) What do you feel a designer needs to be successful in this market today?

A) This business is very challenging and sometimes hard. Sometimes you feel like you’re not getting nowhere. Until someone hire you to do some work and gives you a chance. If you have a dream; don’t give up on your dream or your dream will give up on you. It may be a while to get where you want to go but you’ll get there.

Q) Where do you see your career going?

A) I could see my career going pretty good and far. It all in time and believing in myself and believing in the lord. My feel prayers are coming true!

Thank you for the great interview Jesse. In case you all are wondering yes Jesse and I will be collaborating again. He’s mine! I saw him first!

Just kidding.

Seriously, if you need a graphic guy Jesse is your man. His company name is Graphix and you can reach him by phone at 805-710-2302 or his e-mail address at jpr312@gmail.com.

Remember, next week is THE COVER REVEAL!

See you then.

Mystery writer C.L. Ragsdale is the author of The Reboot Files a Christian Cozy Mystery Series, and a superhero story called Chasing Lady Midnight. A California native, she loves to "surf" the web to research plot details for her fun, quirky stories. She has a degree in Theatre Arts which greatly influenced her writing style. Working in various fields as a secretary has allowed her to both master her writing skills and acquire valuable technical knowledge which she uses liberally in her plots. Although that is where she got her idea for The Secretary, she is not an evil mastermind. Although some of her former employers might disagree. These days she contents herself with knitting while contemplating her next diabolical plot. Story plot that is.

Current E-Books

THE REBOOT FILES:  The Mystery of Hurtleberry House, The Island of Living Trees, The Harbinger of Retribution, and The Wrong Ghost.

www.shortmysteriesandtalltales.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/CL-Ragsdale219184744858421

What A Great Graphic Artist Can Do For (Or Is It To?) A Writer

How Can Such A Cute Face Cause A Major Rewrite?

You know a great Graphic Artist is a gift from God, but they can also really mess a writer up. 

The graphic designer who redesigned my blog, Jesse Ruiz, and I had so much fun we decided to collaborate on the cover of my next e-book, Chasing Lady Midnight.

You all know what the plan was. I had posted a free little story, was going to put it into e-book format, offer it for free, and then maybe do a follow-up book later. Jesse and I got together, I told him my idea, he gets an idea on the basic premise, to which I agree. After a few days he works his magic, shows me the cover and throws a monkey wrench into everything because of his awesome talent!

Now I need to warn you, I’m going to give you a few details, but not tell you the the end design. Not because it’s a good cover, but because it is a fantastic cover! It will be revealed just before the book comes out in the Fall. Trust me, it will be worth the wait.

So how did Jesse singlehandedly turn my story on its head? By making a couple of little additions.

On the cover is Lady Midnight’s alter ego. Fashionably dressed walking a dog. So what? There was no dog in my story! And it’s not just any dog, it’s a basset hound. My favorite breed of dog (I even love Hush Puppy shoes because of them) and the most comical dog on the face of the planet. Imagine a fashionista (on a budget) who owns a basset hound whose superhero costume is all black which she hates because it's just too Goth!

Brilliant!

But now I have to do a major rewrite! Why? Couldn't I have made her a dog walker or something? No! I fell in love (can you fall in love with a graphic?) which got all my creative juices going! I immediately gave the dog a name (to be revealed later) and then God gives me another idea that has it morph into a superhero cozy mystery with a brilliant choice for a villain and everything! 

See what a great cover can do for a writer, or is it to you?
Graphic Artists! They cause nothing but trouble, but in a good way. I think.

Of course Jesse is anxious for the book to be released. It's his first e-book cover and he's really excited about it. But I tell him, you're the one who necessitated a rewrite. So be patient!

Because now I’ve got to write a story to live up to this fantastic cover, and trust me, that is not going to be easy.

A lot of prayer is going to necessary. But isn't it always?

Mystery writer C.L. Ragsdale is the author of The Reboot Files a Christian Cozy Mystery Series, and a superhero story called Chasing Lady Midnight. A California native, she loves to "surf" the web to research plot details for her fun, quirky stories. She has a degree in Theatre Arts which greatly influenced her writing style. Working in various fields as a secretary has allowed her to both master her writing skills and acquire valuable technical knowledge which she uses liberally in her plots. Although that is where she got her idea for The Secretary, she is not an evil mastermind. Although some of her former employers might disagree. These days she contents herself with knitting while contemplating her next diabolical plot. Story plot that is.

Her blog is located at http://shortmysteriesandtalltales.blogspot.com

Her Facebook Authors Page is located at http://www.facebook.com/pages/CL-Ragsdale/219184744858421