Ray Adams's Blog
April 29, 2025
March 29, 2024
Cover Revamps
Two apologies.
Firstly, visual artists everywhere. When A.I. art generators first became widespread, I got very into it. As someone with no artistic skill and a self-published writer with very little budget, it seemed a fantastic opportunity to generate something more striking as a cover for my books. I was uneasy about the whole A.I.-art-taking-commissions-from-working-artists thing, but I rationalised it by thinking that, in this instance, there was no commission being lost, as I’d never be able to afford one anyway. Not only is that a weak argument at best, it also ignores the larger problem of A.I. art being trained on stolen artwork. People are making money off other people’s work, without due credit or remuneration. However inconsequential my small corner of the self-pub world may be, I still was choosing to be part of that process. When we use these generators, even if we’re just doing it for fun and not for any commercial gain, we are still reinforcing the message that these generators are wanted, and are happy with the current process whereby visual artists are, in a nutshell, being ripped off.
So not only have I replaced all my self-pub covers with responsibly sourced images (details below), but I have deleted all A.I. images from my files and closed my account on the A.I. generator I was using.
My second apology is to my readership, who have now seen something in the region of half a dozen iterations of my covers, at least on the oldest books. In my defence, self-publishing is a steep learning curve, and I’ve been learning on the job. But I promise, I’m 99% sure I’ve stopped fannying around with them now.
Sorry if your paperback cover is now out-of-date. Consider it a rarity and forgive me.
Cover details:
My covers are now created using befunky.com, whose terms explicitly state that users have the right to display and commercially profit from anything within the platform. Their stock images are provided by Pexels and Pixabay, whose terms are also clear that the use of them for commercial use is acceptable as long as this not done on a Standalone basis (i.e. that the images aren’t just taken and sold as is – which by the conversion of them to book covers with the title/author added and some subtle manipulation of the image, I am not doing).
It is my understanding, therefore, that my current cover images are responsibly generated, and will continue to be so in future.
Firstly, visual artists everywhere. When A.I. art generators first became widespread, I got very into it. As someone with no artistic skill and a self-published writer with very little budget, it seemed a fantastic opportunity to generate something more striking as a cover for my books. I was uneasy about the whole A.I.-art-taking-commissions-from-working-artists thing, but I rationalised it by thinking that, in this instance, there was no commission being lost, as I’d never be able to afford one anyway. Not only is that a weak argument at best, it also ignores the larger problem of A.I. art being trained on stolen artwork. People are making money off other people’s work, without due credit or remuneration. However inconsequential my small corner of the self-pub world may be, I still was choosing to be part of that process. When we use these generators, even if we’re just doing it for fun and not for any commercial gain, we are still reinforcing the message that these generators are wanted, and are happy with the current process whereby visual artists are, in a nutshell, being ripped off.
So not only have I replaced all my self-pub covers with responsibly sourced images (details below), but I have deleted all A.I. images from my files and closed my account on the A.I. generator I was using.
My second apology is to my readership, who have now seen something in the region of half a dozen iterations of my covers, at least on the oldest books. In my defence, self-publishing is a steep learning curve, and I’ve been learning on the job. But I promise, I’m 99% sure I’ve stopped fannying around with them now.
Sorry if your paperback cover is now out-of-date. Consider it a rarity and forgive me.
Cover details:
My covers are now created using befunky.com, whose terms explicitly state that users have the right to display and commercially profit from anything within the platform. Their stock images are provided by Pexels and Pixabay, whose terms are also clear that the use of them for commercial use is acceptable as long as this not done on a Standalone basis (i.e. that the images aren’t just taken and sold as is – which by the conversion of them to book covers with the title/author added and some subtle manipulation of the image, I am not doing).
It is my understanding, therefore, that my current cover images are responsibly generated, and will continue to be so in future.
May 1, 2022
Eschatonus
My fourth novel, Eschatonus is available now. All new cast, fresh new story, it's another thumping good read, a fun adventure story about a young student on the run from a squad of soldiers determined to stop her getting the news out about their black ops mission.
I've really enjoyed writing this one and am excited to hear what people think of it.
I've really enjoyed writing this one and am excited to hear what people think of it.
April 8, 2022
New book is nearly here!
Finished my proofreading on Eschatonus today - which means it's now gone to my actual proofreader, so she can tell me how good a job I did (or didn't do). All on target for 30th April...
You can pre-order Eschatonus for Kindle here 📱👉 https://amzn.to/35W8owy
You can pre-order Eschatonus for Kindle here 📱👉 https://amzn.to/35W8owy
March 14, 2022
Eschatonus
My new novel, Eschatonus, is going on sale on 30 April. If you're an eBook reader, you can pre-order your copy for Kindle now. It's a brand new stand-alone sci-fi adventure which I'm really excited to be putting out.
A young student on a mission to monitor illegal logging stumbles on a plot that threatens thousands. With the help of the crew of a crashed space freighter, she goes on the run to expose the truth. But there are bigger dangers in the forest than the men tracking her...
Click here to pre-order
A young student on a mission to monitor illegal logging stumbles on a plot that threatens thousands. With the help of the crew of a crashed space freighter, she goes on the run to expose the truth. But there are bigger dangers in the forest than the men tracking her...
Click here to pre-order
September 6, 2021
We have a First Draft
Delighted to report that my fantasy western is now offically in the 'First draft complete' stage. Finished the final part this afternoon and am looking forward to going back and polishing it up, hopefully after getting some feedback.
April 23, 2021
Goodreads exclusive
Just a quick post to tell you that the third, conclusive installment of the Roo Raka has been completed, edited, proofed, corrected and uploaded. It will be on sale very soon, but here for the first time, I can reveal the title - The Last Sanctuary.
All bets are off, all debts must be paid and I can promise you one thing - There will be blood.
All bets are off, all debts must be paid and I can promise you one thing - There will be blood.
April 4, 2021
Extract from a new work
While you're waiting for part iii of the Roo Raka Cycle, you may be interested to know that there's an extract from a new book currently available on my website - https://bit.ly/3fK5I7F
As part of a loosely-connected series of fantasy stories about the exploration and settlement of a new continent, Black Dog is the story of one man's efforts to document the indigenous peoples. There is a dark force, however, that stalks his movements...
As part of a loosely-connected series of fantasy stories about the exploration and settlement of a new continent, Black Dog is the story of one man's efforts to document the indigenous peoples. There is a dark force, however, that stalks his movements...
February 8, 2021
And we're there!
First draft is IN!
39k, so we're looking at twice the length of the first two installments, this is a bumper helping of sci-fi action adventure. Editing and proofing needed, obviously. Then the only question that needs answering is, Did your favourite survive??
(Well, that and, What do I call this one?)
39k, so we're looking at twice the length of the first two installments, this is a bumper helping of sci-fi action adventure. Editing and proofing needed, obviously. Then the only question that needs answering is, Did your favourite survive??
(Well, that and, What do I call this one?)
February 4, 2021
Getting so close
Not far off the first draft of the conclusion to the trilogy being finished. Still not title, but we're sitting at 26k words, so already longer than the previous novellas. Bumper edition!
I'm hoping we might be looking at some kind of May release for this one, if I can get this ready for my proof reader's next window. But either way, we're looking good for getting it in your hands before very long.
I'm hoping we might be looking at some kind of May release for this one, if I can get this ready for my proof reader's next window. But either way, we're looking good for getting it in your hands before very long.
