Help me pick my cover art

So in preparation for July 31st (the novel contest I'm entering), I'm trying to come up with some cover art for my book "The Trinity".  I'll post a picture from time to time and I'm looking for some feedback.  So here's the first cover image:

And here's an inverted copy of the same picture:

Thoughts?  Critiques?  Offers to make cover art for me in return for eternal gratitude?  Or, maybe a nice credit on the book cover and insert?  Perhaps a life of wealth and luxury (down the road)...

New addiction

I found this wonderful message board dedicated to fledgling writers.  I've posted a few things and received some positive feedback.  It's called The Writer's Beat and I posted my first chapter of my novel on the site.  Unfortunately, it can only be viewed by member's to protect my first rights to the story so you'd have to sign up for a free membership to read it.

I also looked into the creative writing class but I think it's a bit out of my price range.  A little disappointing but I have to be practical.  I wish I had the money to throw at my writing career so I could just publish my own stuff.  I actually looked into that too and there is a company who will do that very thing but their starting price is about $500.  Ouch.

I choose expensive hobbies...

Ciao!

Portal

I just beat the game "Portal" for like the third or fourth time tonight.  Well, not tonight but in my overall gaming career.  If you've never played it, you should try it.  The main enemy is a computer named Glados.  She's quite a character and has a very sadistic sense of humor.  The sequel is coming out next Tuesday but I think I'll have to wait for my birthday or Christmas to get it.  All I have to say is:  "the cake is a lie!"

Warning: Nerdy Video Ahead

On the writing front, I'm juggling two projects right now.  I recently picked up writing an older story called "Vampire Savant".  I'm making some headway with that.  I'm also considering enrolling in a Creative Writing class at the local community college.  I really need some feedback on my stories and I figured who better than a class full of writers and a professor?  I wonder if I can convince them to help me edit my first novel "The Trinity"?  I'll offer them cake and see what happens.

Later gators!

Storms and Taxes

Well, we got to experience our first tornado warnings of the season here in Mason City.  Pretty exciting stuff.  Fortunately, things calmed down real quick but it was pretty touch and go there for a bit.

We finished our taxes this weekend and it only looks like we owe a little bit to the state government this year.  Although it was the first time we did E-file and apparently we didn't fill out everything correctly at first.  But they let us know and we have since then fixed the problem.  We'll be seeing some money back from the Federal Government so that'll be nice. 

On the writing front, I'm avidly working away at my second novel.  In the meantime, I'm still editing my first novel to submit it to a writing contest in July.  I need some cover art for it so I'm racking my brain on what I should do for that.  I wish I had Adobe Photo Shop or Illustrator.

Otherwise, it's the same old, same old.  Oh and here's a picture from my wife.  She's got a thing for Water Towers so I thought this would be nice to share.  We don't have any pictures from the storm thus far but I'm sure we'll have plenty later on. 

My niece, the writer

So after a very fulfilling day of writing, I just finished Chapter One of my new novel "The Wizard Next Door".  I thought I'd reward myself by reading some of my niece's works.  She wrote a story with a little different spin entitled "The True Story of Little Red Riding Hood".  It's up on Teen Ink for anyone to read.  I got a kick out of the tale and I'm especially proud to see such raw talent.  I hope to see more from her.  Anyway, here's the link to her stuff if any of you haven't read it already:

Brooke's Teen Ink

Four pages a day

I recently read Stephen King's "On Writing" and I think that book singlehandedly pushed me to become a practicing writer.  One of his "assignments" is to write two thousand words a day (or roughly four pages typed, single-spaced).   So I have a ton of writing and some of it is good (some of it is not so good).  I've tried to keep at that pace every day (taking only Fridays and Saturdays off to spend time with my wife). 

I'm hoping that eventually it won't feel like such a chore and turn into more of a delight.  Don't get me wrong there are days that the words just come flowing out of my finger tips.  And then there's days that it's like drawing blood from a stone. 

Anyway, if you ever get a chance, pick up that book and give it a read.  It's a page turner.

Stephen King "On Writing"  

Novel Contest

So we're back from our trip to North Platte.  It was nice to see everyone and neither of us wanted to leave.  I wish the technology existed for teleporters like in Star Trek...I'd be eating dinner with my family every night!

Writing update:  I reposted "Blood Donor" on all websites after my wife did some proofreading.  So if it's not available, you'll know why.  Give it a day or two and it should be back up. 

Big news is that Author Stand is having a novel contest.  I just happen to have written a novel.  Hmm.  Coincidence?  Me thinks so.  Anyway, I'm planning on entering that soon.  The deadline is July 31st.  Wish me luck!