BLUE! *drools*

*promptly buys design directly off Airi in case it doesn't get taken on by Philly*

You know, mon Aussie, you're a talented graphic designer - you could make your own if my tastes do not satisfy you.

True. But Airi is doing a fantastic job, and it's so much more fun wearing something a friend has made!

*laughs * Well, when I am all done, Aussie, if you still like the blue, we'll talk about it.

I love these! They look great! I think I'm going to agree with Bushes in this one.. I love the blue! But it is Philie's choice.

It might also be neat to have teal letters or something to match the new cover too.

*So wants to buy a Red Rain t-shirt*

I like the blue; but the red fits the title better, I think.

*chuckles * Maybe we should have two designs...

*will work on later today *

I love blue, don't get me wrong. I'm just saying that the particular shade of blue didn't stand out as distinctly against the black, making it hard to read. Plus it had a lot of black in it, which ran into the background. So blue could work - although I think Mars is the best background essence-wise - it just needs to be easy to read.

Maybe a more... brighter, teally looking blue?

*is still puttering with this and has a more complex piece she is working on *

*is intrigued*

I know. Me too!

Everybody, I followed a link to some author's website. I found this section labeled "Audiobooks", and, on there, she had one of her books---the whole thing---free of charge! So I started listening to it (I'm on Chapter 3), and it's awesome! I just have to share it with everyone. It's called Red Rain, and you should read it or listen to it as soon as you get the chance!



T-shirts are a great idea, y'all. I never thought of that before.
I like Airi's designs, and I prefer the red-orange color.

Aemi, you are so delightful. I'm very happy you're enjoying it!

*comes in slowly *

Well... feel free to comment and critique.



There is still work that needs doing, so if you see something point it out. It may be on my list, it may not.

Am I on a semi decent track?

I like it.

That-- That is epic.

Okay, there's probably something I should tell you before we proceed... I love celestial painting/photography. There is something about the planets and stars, whether real or imaginary, that I find simply gorgeous. So this kind of thing is perfectly delightful.

I am totally amazed. That is very out-of-the-box, and it has a lot of visual interest without being chaotic. It's designed such that it will "fade" into the black background without hard lines, which is genius. Plus it fits the book well (it's not unlike the cover, only with your own flair), while still being interesting just on its own. It is awesome.

My only comment is that I might switch Mars's and Earth's positions so that the emphasis is on Mars (red) rather than Earth (blue). But I'll leave that up to your design sense - it looks epic this way, also. I adore the blue sparkly background. So pretty.

Looking at this, I think I would put the URL and such (if we decide to add any other text) somewhere off of the graphic so that it wasn't too cluttered. Either on the sleeve or below the graphic on the black background. I would consider putting "a novella" on the graphic, although it looks balanced as it is.

So, short version - I love it. I can't believe you're doing this.

*looks at it again and geeks out at all the details* Saturn's in the background!

I would wear a shirt like that. It's awesome.

That is totally epic, Airi!

*grins happily and gets excited * I'm so glad ya'll like it!

Okay. It'll take some work, but I can reposition the planets and make Mars the focal point. You can decide which one you like better.

I wanted something that faded into the shirt and didn't have hard lines, so I am glad you noticed that. I still need to soften some of the edging and make it fade a bit more in places, but you get the general idea.

Yes, I avoided any wording, other than Red Rain, so that you could decide what you wanted and where you wanted me to place stuff. So once we get the background done, we can look into the wording and such.

*grins like the Cheshire cat and goes back to working again *

Oh, that's awesome, Airi! I love it!

The one thing that seems a little off to me was the text. it seems a tad glowly and hard to read. Could you do text like the words on the cover? Philie gets to decide, though. Just what I'm thinking.

That sounds fantastic! If it's not too much work, I would love to see how it looks with Mars as the focal point. Thank you for making that effort.

I need to find a printing site, also - that will be important in deciding where to place the other text...

I like the font as-is, and I don't think the font that's on the cover is "bold" enough to stand out on the background. But FWIW, this is the font: http://www.google.com/webfonts/specimen/Cardo

I like the font for Philli's book, but I am concerned it would not stand out at all on this type of background... thank you for the suggestion though, Azzie. I might put a bit more of an outline around the words to help define it a bit when I rework it.

I love the new design, Airi! Very beautiful. I agree, though, that the text is too "glowy".

You should make the text drip, like it's sweating, or, you know, wet with red liquid dropping off.

I want a shirt like that!!! * signs up on waiting list with feather pen *

You know, Blue Fire will need a blue tee shirt. * nod nod *

*Pounces on feather pen as soon as Shawn is finished and scribbles name*

Mae




Yes, that would probably work just fine.

*is happy that Luke commented* Aye, that's a neat idea, and fits the book, but I think the background has enough visual interest.

You people are impossible. Blue Fire isn't even written yet! (And ATM I am thinking I shall not do it this year, lest I get stuck in a cycle of two trilogies going at once...)

Wai-wai-wai-wai-wai-wai-wait! We have a name for the sequel already? How did I not hear this?? *faints*

*catches BushMaid*

There is a title for the third book, too, I think.

There is indeed.

*signs list as well*

What is it? Purple Steam?

WHUT?? A third? My goodness gracious, when did this all happen??? PHILLY!! What haven't you been telling the poor in-the-dark Aussie?! *proceeds to faint again*

I also did not know about this! I had no idea Red Rain was going to be a trilogy!

I knew about Blue Fire, but I did not know about Purple St- er, the third book!

*is having one of those 'Sit back and smirk evilly at the manipulative power you hold over your adoring fans' moments*

Ahem. *puts author face back on* Yes, it is true. In the process of planning the potential sequel I decided that a "trilogy" might be the best choice, because the plot my fans wanted me to attempt was too much for one book.

See, a lot of people would like to see the United toppled, or elsewise have Phil's situation improve in some way. Well, toppling a world government is a HUGE feat. There was no realistic way I could do it in one novella-length book. So instead, the tentative plan is to have two sequels - one to set-up some intermediary changes, and another to actually wage rebellion on the United.

So I have an outline for the second book and some vague ideas for the third. And yes, I have a title for both. Actually you can blame Jonathan for that - I was brainstorming titles and he came up with the ideas for both. Right now the names are Blue Fire and Black Storm, in that order. Red Rain, Blue Fire, Black Storm. (All one-syllable colors paired with a one-syllable "organic" noun.)

I love my titles, actually. There's a long story behind Blue Fire that I'm willing to tell if provoked. However, I'm still not sold on my ideas for sequels - or the idea of a sequel at all. It's a potential, but right now it's not grabbing me. I'm especially hesitant to get into it right now because that would put me in a rather vicious cycle of alternating between two trilogies. I could be stuck for the next 2-3 years only doing sequels, and that's probably a recipe for disaster for me. So I might want until Peter's Angel is further along before attempting this. After Peter's Angel book 1 is out I think I need to do something fresh.

Oh, and I also have a name for the "trilogy," should it become that.

*Rubs hands in glee*

*happily accepts blame*

Careful about touching that blame, Jon. It's hot. I mean, er, um, thank you for helping our dear Phila in her title brainstorming! Yes, that's what I mean.

Actually... can I voice a suggestion about those titles?

Of course you can! Spill it.

*pins Philly down and pulls out very big feather* Are you ready to talk, I should I proceed with my provoking?

I listened to the audio book and loved it! *Now wants T-Shirt too*

Trilogy?



~ZA

*fends off Aussie's poking with a cupcake* Well, my tentative "trilogy" title is "A World Apart," which is the title Gabriel Hudelson gave to the music for the book trailer.

On Blue Fire, way back when, Melody and I had a book with a blue pegasus named Blue Fire. We both loved the character and plan to one day resurrect him, but in the meantime, I'm still in love with the concept. My fantasy world Erde gives a nod to it by having blue be the color of "natural" fire. For the Red Rain sequel, "Blue Fire" is the name of an internet browser of which the icon is a blue pegasus.

Dost that satisfy mon Aussie?

*was so happy to hear what Za thought of her audiobook*

Lady E, I've been theoretically "doomed" since the book came out. However, if it comes down to a match of wits... I'll just write something else they'll like equally well. That'll work, right? Right?

That satisfies the Aussie muchlyeth! Thankyou, Philly! You learn quickly.

And no, don't bet on that.

Eh heh. Well, believe it or not, it's really hard to get me to write something my heart isn't in. Jordan Smith has been trying to get me to rewrite my feature script CHILD since he read the rough draft, even mentioning that he might like producing one of my features, and I still haven't done it. I've poked it, reread the draft, all that stuff... but it's not clicking, so I haven't done it.

So just to let y'all know you are fighting an uphill battle.