I Get It....But It's Frustrating....

 Finally heard back from my cover artist this morning, asking if I picture 'Uncle Charles' in a steampunk hat.

My first, knee-jerk reaction (I'd only been awake maybe 10 mins and hadn't had any coffee yet!) was 'No, no no....what part of TOP HAT don't you understand?"

Then I calmed down and took a 2nd look, and told her the 1st one would work.

Then she asked if I only wanted a top hat....so I replied yes, BUT the 1st one would work if she'd already bought it; it was whimsical enough.

But I really only picture him in a top hat. He's an old-fashioned gentleman.

Then the next text was, she's back from vacation on Wed and will finish up.

*needle scratch*

She went on vacation w/o fulfilling a JOB?  One that she's been working on since APRIL?  And I've been waiting for this for 3 MONTHS now?

I get it; she's only 23. At that age, I would have taken a vacay also.

But it's so frustrating, since I loved everything about the 1st cover EXCEPT THE MODEL!

Wouldn't it have been a simple photoshop remove/replace?  Or am I being too simplistic in my approach to cover art?

She wowed me with the Defending Destiny cover, and when I asked her if she'd do the Playing With Time one, I indicated I wanted to release it in March or April.....and now it will be June tomorrow.  I already cancelled one major trip, due to my hours being cut and either doing the show with no inventory or cancelling and buying inventory.  I opted for inventory.

I guess I'll be showing it off at either Pride or Imaginarium.....

At least Heart Song already HAS a cover....I may go back to Dawne for the Aiden Kross cover and RiKar's story.