Book Cover Illustrations

Here’s an illustration I did for Michael A. Burstein’s “Cosmic Corkscrew.” The tale deals with the missing story written by a young Issac Asimov — and the time traveler who goes searching for it. (You can read the story for free at Amazing Stories Magazine.)

I had a lot of fun creating the illustration for this story. But it was a little tricky since no photos were available of the young Asimov, so I had to sort of “guesstimate” his features from various photos of the elder author.

Hopefully I was close to the mark — though I guess most readers will have no way to determine whether that’s the case. Possibly that’s one of the things that makes illustrating science fiction stories a bit safer for the artist than is the case with other projects that may be well-known to readers.

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Duncan Long is a writer/illustrator who has created artwork for Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine, HarperColins, and many small presses and indie writers. You can see more of his science fiction illustrations at Duncan Long’s Science Fiction Art Gallery.

About a week ago I got a phone call from Rick Derringer (of “Hang on Sloopy” fame) with word he’d be using my artwork for his upcoming CD “High City.”

How exciting is that? In fact, I could hardly stay seated and felt like dancing around the room rather than calmly talking to this great musician.

However his use of my artwork on his album cover wasn’t a complete surprise. We’d been working on ideas for the CD cover for several years, and I’d also sent some of my artwork to him for use with the musical video he would produce for his new album.

Here are two of my illustrations that had been considered during that time, both featuring the “High City” (New Jerusalem):

In the end, Derringer opted to let listeners imagine the High City, instead placing my golden “musician” angel on the cover.

It was a thrill when it all finally came together. It was also almost anti-climatic in a way since once Derringer had settled on the illustration to use for the CD cover, I sent a high-resolution version to him via email attachment, and a few hours later it the album was available on CD baby. For someone like me who can remember the “good old days” when “pressing a record” and getting it to market took months or even years, going from the planning stage to “for sale” in less than a few hours is pretty amazing.

There was one more surprise: Derringer used the cover picture without any lettering over it.

When you’re as famous as this musician is, lettering is superfluous.

As for the history of the illustration, I created it many years ago and it has since been employed in a number of church presentations around the world. It was inspired by a Christmas ornament we once had on our Christmas tree. Sadly my kids didn’t realize its sentimental value to me and sold it in a garage sale. What I would pay to have that beautiful angel back! Perhaps one day soon I’ll meet the real golden angel when I reach that High City of Derringer’s album.

In the meantime, it’s been a pleasure working with a musician of such merit. With this album, Rick Derringer has created some new slants on the notion of Christian Rock with styles varying from “old school” to urban, fast, slow. heavy, pop, commercial, and eclectic.

You can listen to samples and buy tracks or the entire “High City” CD at CD baby.

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Duncan Long has created a number of CD covers for recording artists. You can see more examples of his work at his CD Album Gallery.

Got word that Michael Leo Samuel’s A Shepherd’s Song: Psalm 23 and the Shepherd Metaphor In Jewish Thought is now in print.

The illustration was pretty straight forward. Samuel found a work I’d done previously, and he told me what other features were needed. From there I created the illustration and it was “good to go” with a minimum of modifications or complications. Of course I got in my trademark grass along the lower edge (ha).

You can read sections of this beautifully written and inspiring book (and also can purchase it) at Amazon.com.

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You can see more of Duncan Long’s book cover illustrations and artwork at Duncan Long’s Online Gallery.

I took a bit different direction than I normally travel with this cover illustration which I created for the first book in Linda Franklin’s On a Wing and a Prayer inspirational stories series. This first book, Just a Little Higher, is a collection of true short stories (and is published by Inspiring Voices).

I also created several illustrations for the text, including Charlie the raven:

And Zed, Charlie’s friend…

And a couple of the birds that appear in the stories:

Eventually Charlie and Zeb made it into the book in this composite of the two drawings:

This first book in Linda Franklin’s Just a Little Higher is full of inspirational stories that are beautifully written. The book is currently available at Amazon.

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Duncan Long is a book illustrator who loves animals. You can find more of his artwork online at his Book Illustration and Artwork Gallery.

My new illustration for an upcoming special edition of Amazing Stories. The short story this artwork illustrates is set at the Mars polar cap, and deals with the solution the main character devises to get her friend and herself out of harm’s way.

On a personal note, it’s hard to describe what a thrill it is to be working for the magazine where so many greats (and the heroes of my youth) have appeared, including writers like Edgar Rice Burroughs, Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, and Robert Heinlein. Not to mention the spinoff Steven Spielberg’s Amazing Stories TV series.

Talk about a childhood dream come true. For me, this is putting the “amazing” into Amazing Stories.

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Duncan Long is a freelance artist who creates illustrations for books and magazines. See more of his artwork at Duncan Long’s Online Gallery of Illustrations.

I recently created some additional illustrations for the paperback version of my science fiction novel Lesser Gods.

Without further ado, here are a few of them:

You can read a sample chapter from Lesser Gods at Amazon.com.

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And a few reviews of Lesser Gods:

Format: Kindle Edition Amazon Verified Purchase

Beautifully crafted writing coupled with characters I grew to care about. And a fast-paced plot that keeps delivering surprise after surprise. A very enjoyable novel destined to become a favorite for science fiction fans (if not a sci-fi classic).

Just awesome

By James R. Bowman on March 5, 2014

Format: Kindle Edition Amazon Verified Purchase

Awesome Sci-Fi tale with a fantastic use of the timeline to keep you turning the next page.
I picked up the Kindle edition for a flight from Atlanta to Oklahoma City. I was able to finish it easily in the time I spent at the airport and on the flight. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would love to see it as a movie some day.

By Jeff Boles on April 4, 2013

Format: Kindle Edition Amazon Verified Purchase

I thoroughly enjoyed this Sci-Fi adventure! Indeed, I think I actually became Ralph. And then later on I had Alice by my side — sometimes. I was right there in all of the action. This is a story that will take one out of this world for a while and allow one to sail into the beyond — the future and the past. I found the entire book most fulfilling, except that I hope there will be another chapter! This book will keep anyone’s attention up to the point where you’ll keep reading no matter what. Now, I am ready for the next chapter. I’m hungry for it. Let us hope that will come soon.

Unique and phenomenal By Nathan Daniels on March 6, 2013

Format: Kindle Edition

Lesser Gods by Duncan Long absolutely blew my mind and took me on a ride I won’t soon forget. I tore through this story, intensely devouring the author’s well-chosen words with great fervor and perfect delight. From the first page to the last my excitement and interest skyrocketed to new heights until I finally closed the book, well beyond satisfied.

The futuristic world and enticing characters pulled me right into the pages, where a perfect mixture of action, humor, and vivid imagery kept my eyes chasing each other back and forth across the pages with insatiable eagerness. The expertly crafted plot-line, both unique and impressive, is delivered brilliantly with a confident writing style that demands your full attention.

I recommend this phenomenal book to anyone looking for a completely satisfying reading experience. Easily one of the best science fiction stories I’ve ever read. Order your copy now, buckle up, and enjoy the ride!

Try it, you’ll like it: Lesser Gods

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Duncan Long is a writer/illustrator who creates book artwork for other writers as well as for his own books. You can see many more examples of his science fiction artwork at Duncan Long’s Science Fiction Artwork Gallery.

The Medusa artwork I created for an inner illustration of my science fiction novel Lesser Gods has been picked up as the March 2014 cover of the online audio horror magazine Tales To Terrify.

Nice.

Here’s the original black and white version that appears in Lesser Gods:

See a free preview of the new edition of the print book, see more illustrations from the book, and/or buy a copy here: Lesser Gods.

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Duncan Long is an author/illustrator who has done work for HarperCollins, PS Publishing, Pocket Books, Amazing Stories, Asimov’s Science Fiction, Moonstone Books, Enslow Publishers, and many other presses and self-publishing authors. See more of his book illustrations at Duncan Long’s Online Illustration Gallery.

I’m pleased to announce that the March issue of The Willamette Writer is carrying my article “How to Find Book Cover Art That Will Sell Your Book AND Save You Money.”

You can learn more about the organization (and subscribe to its excellent newsletter) at: willamettewriters.com

The article is based on the info that appears at my site here: “How to Find Book Cover Art That Will Sell Your Book AND Save You Money.”

Just got word from author Ian Yamagata that his new novel Mark of the Remaker is available.

And, yes, I did that cover illustration. 

You can learn more about this science fiction novel at the author’s site.

See more of book cover artist Duncan Long’s artwork at his online gallery.

I have a nice interview at the “Masters of Horror” blogsite.

Of course it’s always a relief to have an interview that’s a hatchet job on you (ha). That’s a serious downer. (After several decades in the publishing business, I’ve only been ambushed once in this way — with a radio interview that I discontinued during a commercial break.) Fortunately for me, this interview is just the opposite and I was very, very happy to see what appeared online.

So a big “THANK YOU!!!” to David Kempf for a thoughtful interview and a kind write up; it is much appreciated. You can check it out here: Masters of Horror: An Interview With Duncan Long.

Before the interview, I was a bit leery about the notion that I created horror artwork for book illustration. However, when I went through my collection of art that I’ve produced over the years, there really is a big chunk of work that can certainly be categorized as horror. So I sent copies of some of my favorites over to Kempf for use with my interview (and I’ve added a few of them above and below here as well), and he fired off some thoughtful questions and we were off to a great start.

So there you have it.