Ali: My questions today are about the cover artwork of the Aldebarian Alliance series. The Lasaran and Segonian covers are very dynamic, how do you feel they express the stories you were telling? 

Dianne Duvall: I admit my book cover preferences have been strongly influenced by the years I worked in the independent film industry. I was accustomed to seeing movie posters that reflected a film’s storyline and—at the same time—piqued moviegoers’ interest. So I wanted the covers of the Aldebarian Alliance books to reflect what readers will find in the new series. And I believe they do a stellar job (forgive the pun).  

Quite a bit of The Lasaran takes place on Earth. Taelon (the hero) is alone and suffers greatly before Lisa finds him, risks much to free him, and shows him the first kindness he’s known in years. So I wanted to cover to reflect his solitude, which it does well. 🙂 When he and Lisa later venture into space, their trip is a very active and harrowing one, as reflected by the battle erupting in the background.

The Segonian, on the other hand, takes place entirely in space. The hero is the fierce commander of the battleship Ranasura. And the heroine is a powerful immortal warrior from Earth. So both totally kick ass. 🙂 They also forge a friendship before they even meet in person while Dagon and his crew race to reach Eliana before her oxygen runs out . . . a friendship that continues to grow once they meet, soon deepening into love. I think their stance on the cover—both their closeness and their ferocity—reflects this well. The book is also full of action, as evinced by the background.

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The two covers are very different than your other series covers; what was your first impression when you saw the artwork for these two books? 

My first impression when I saw the final covers was that they were exactly what I imagined. One of my favorite things about leaving traditional publishing and going indie is having complete control over the cover art. As a longtime booklover, there have been many times in which a book’s cover lured me into picking it up and reading the blurb. So for my books I wanted covers that would “stand out in a crowd” and, as previously mentioned, reflect what readers can expect to find within the books’ pages. Both Aldebarian Alliance covers do that.

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The Lasaran is specific in its story because it begins on earth and the palette is very ‘Terran’, what does the palette of the Segonian cover suggest to readers, in your opinion? 

To me, it says, “Buckle up. This is going to be a wild ride!” And it is. LOL. I’m also reminded of the phrase “We’re not in Kansas anymore.” The cover of The Segonian lets readers know that in this one we’ve left Earth behind. Eliana and Dagon’s story takes place entirely in space with a brief trip to an alien planet, something illustrated by the cover’s background. The Segonian is also full of action and camaraderie, and Dagon and Eliana are both fierce warriors, which I think shines through on the cover.

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Since wrappers are what catch a reader’s eye, before blurbs tend to and they really are eye candy, what is it that grabs you when you are looking for something to read?

A beautifully designed cover that really stands out from the rest will lure me into reading the blurb every time and—in some cases—into buying the book without even reading the blurb. I love that the rise of self-publishing has given so many writers an opportunity to get their books out there. (Sci-fi romance lovers, for example, may be surprised to learn that most traditional publishers have no interest at all in sci-fi romance because they think it won’t sell, so a majority of the sci-fi romances we love to read and reread would never have been released were it not for self-publishing.) But my TBR Pile has grown so quickly that I sometimes have a hard time deciding what to read next. The books with covers that really stand out and catch my eye always gravitate to the top of my list. 

Thank you for the fun interview! I hope your readers will enjoy The Segonian!

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Title: The Segonian (Aldebarian Alliance #2)
Author: Dianne Duvall
Genre: Sci-Fi
Release Date: 19 January 2021

Summary:

Eliana’s life has never been what one might term ordinary. At least, it hasn’t been for a very long time. As a powerful Immortal Guardian, she spends her nights hunting and slaying psychotic vampires that most of humanity doesn’t even realize exist. Then an opportunity arises that instantly makes her extraordinary existence seem downright boring. The leader of the Immortal Guardians asks her to guard a group of mortals who are embarking upon a voyage across the galaxy to the planet Lasaran. How could she possibly say no?

In no time at all, Eliana is hurtling through space on board a Lasaran battleship and getting to know not one but two alien races. It’s the most exciting adventure of her long life… until the ship is unexpectedly attacked. Amid the chaos and destruction that follow, she valiantly helps everyone she can before an explosion renders her unconscious. When Eliana awakens, she finds herself alone, floating in space, clad only in a spacesuit, with no ship in sight. Alone—that is—except for the warm, deep voice that carries over the comm in her helmet.

Commander Dagon and the crew of the Segonian battleship Ranasura respond to a distress call from their Lasaran allies and join a massive Alliance-wide search-and-rescue mission. He quickly achieves communication with a lone Earthling female and races toward her. Every time they speak, his fascination with her grows and he becomes more desperate to reach her before her oxygen supply runs out. Her strength, bravery, and humor entice him, even more so when she defies all odds and they meet in person.

As he and Eliana embark upon a quest to find her missing friends, a bond swiftly grows between them that deepens with every laugh and smile and tender touch they share. But they are not the only ones searching for Earthling survivors. When Eliana herself becomes the hunted and their enemies begin to close in, can the two of them fight their way to victory, or will their enemies take everything?

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About Dianne Duvall:

Dianne Duvall is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Immortal Guardians series and The Gifted Ones series. Reviewers have called Dianne’s books “fast-paced and humorous” (Publishers Weekly), “utterly addictive” (RT Book Reviews), “extraordinary” (Long and Short Reviews), and “wonderfully imaginative” (The Romance Reviews). Her books have twice been nominated for RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards and are routinely deemed Top Picks by RT Book Reviews, The Romance Reviews, and/or Night Owl Reviews. 

Dianne loves all things creative. When she isn’t writing, Dianne is active in the independent film industry and has even appeared on-screen, crawling out of a moonlit grave and wielding a machete like some of the vampires she creates in her books.

For the latest news on upcoming releases, contests, and more, please visit DianneDuvall.com or sign up for her Newsletter. You can also find Dianne online . . .

Connect with Dianne Duvall:

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