Here are some more covers I’ve done recently.  Some are only for Kindle (ebooks),and some are for paperbacks as well.  I’m finding I love to do book covers.  There are moments where I want to toss my computer out the window, though.  Nothing is ever completely frustration free.  But knowing I’m helping authors get their books out there and read is a great feeling, especially when they report back to me that their sales have increased.   Contact me at victoria(at)landisdesignresource(dot)com   if you’re interested.

I featured these Bird of Paradise shoes at the Lipstick Lounge event at the W Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale for the Glam-a-thon.

Women went crazy over them.  These happen to be my size (oh lucky me…) and wherever I wear them, people stop me and ask.   Remember, I can do any design on flats or wedges, too.  They don’t have to be heels.  Well done, sophisticated, hand-painted shoes are hot, hot, hot.

These can be wiped clean, too.  I spent a good deal of time developing my system and products to ensure the paint stays on, no matter if the surface is leather, man-made, or fabric.

Here is the cover to The Easy Little Diet Book. It’s a month into my venture, and I’ve gotten some good reviews on the Kindle site, sold some books, and keep learning more every day.  I haven’t done a big ta-da announcement yet, because I’m still finding things out and making tweaks.  While it’s a short book, I have received a few requests for a paperback version.  I’ll probably do that in the next month.

E-books are gaining sales almost faster than anyone can keep track of.  I’ve been creating book covers for authors (see my graphic arts page), and now I’ve placed one of my own on Amazon.  It’s available for Kindle or Kindle for PC.  I am in the midst of a final draft of a women’s humorous novel, and most people who know me know that I write humor or fiction.  But I also do non-fiction.

It’s called – The Easy Little Diet Book – A Prep Course For Easy Weight Loss Success. Click on this strange-looking link - #mce_temp_url# – it’ll take you to it.  It’s a whole different way of looking at weight loss.  I wrote it because I know first hand the heartbreak of losing weight, then watching it reappear – seemingly overnight and by magical means.

My brainiac brother, William H. Landis, PhD, RD, read the book and had me fine tune a few things before he’d let me use his endorsement of it.  Why does it matter what my brother thinks?  Because his doctorate is in nutrition.  He’s a registered dietician as well.  The man knows his stuff.

The gist of the book is to first break bad eating habits and develop new good ones – slowly – while exploring the reasons for overeating.  Discovering your triggers.  By the time you’ve completed the ‘prep course’, you should be ready for a serious diet with far greater chances of keeping the weight off.  As for the slow aspect of it?  How many years did it take to put on the extra weight?  How many years has it been stuck there?  It’s better to not be in a hurry and do it once – and do it right.

If you do buy it, (it’s only $2.99), please send me feedback.  I’d love to hear from you.  Thanks!

I have a big announcement.   The Glam-a-thon annual event to benefit breast cancer happens in Ft. Lauderdale in October. This year, I have been invited to participate at their Lipstick Lounge on Sat. October 6th at the fabulous W hotel.  I am so excited.

I’ll be there displaying my hand-painted shoes and putting the finishing touches on a pair.  I’m donating my shoe painting service to a lucky silent auction winner.   That’s worth $350.00.   Of course, the hardest thing about events like these is deciding what to wear.  And now whatever I wear, I HAVE to paint a pair of shoes for myself.  (Oh, darn.)

If you’re looking for a great night out, check it out – and you’ll be helping to ‘Kiss Breast Cancer Goodbye’.  That’s their tagline.  Buy tickets and get dressed up for a good cause.

I’ll keep you posted.

My son will be so proud.  I’m finally learning how to use the iPod Nano he gave me for Christmas.  His brother, who is stuck with me at home this summer, probably wants to throttle him.  I’ve compiled play lists that make me feel good. Songs that, when you hear them, they put a smile on your face.  For a sixteen-yr-old, I’m sure it’s a form of torture.

Too bad.  I’m working on my graphics projects and painting projects while I listen and loving it.  I informed the teenage son he’s welcome to take his complaints outdoors and do some much needed weeding in the yard.  Said teenager quickly stopped the bellyaching and retreated to his room.

As a general rule, I don’t care for the hyper-sweet top 40 songs of the past, but a few gems might be on the fine line between ‘ick’ and ‘aawww….’   I have about 50 songs compiled so far, including ‘In the Jungle’ by the Tokens, Israel Kamakawiwo’ole’s ‘Over the Rainbow’, and Robin Williams’ version of ‘My Way’ from Happy Feet (the movie).  So you get the idea.  Fun.  Happy.  Upbeat.

I’m asking for suggestions.  What are your current or past favorites?  Songs that change your mood?  Let me know. Thanks!

Finished a shoe design this week with dragonflies on it.  Actually, they’re more like damselflies, but who cares?  None of the designs are meant to be taken literally.  Artistic license lives.

I’m enclosing pictures here, they’ll be up on the website soon.  The damselfly shoes are the first design (besides the Zebra stripes) that I’ve continued the painting all the way from the heel to the toe of the shoe.  It took much longer to do, but I think the effect is worth it.

I finished a pair of Angela Nuran dancing shoes for a delightful woman.  She wanted her silver shoes painted with a version of my butterfly design, in blues – her dress is navy-blue.

She was thrilled with them, which makes my day, week, month, etc.  I’m always a little nervous.  Every pair of shoes is different – has different curves and areas, not to mention that a design that looks good on a size nine may not look so great on a size five and vice versa.  The proportions are important.   It’s a challenge each time.

If you haven’t heard of Angela Nuran, she makes COMFORTABLE (yes, these women couldn’t say enough about how comfortable the shoes were) dancing shoes that don’t look like the old ‘character’ shoes from musical theater.  She specializes in special occasion shoes.   Go to her website and check them out.  

Where to start?  Basic updates, I suppose.

It’s cooler in South Florida right now than in most of the nation.  My mother in Atlanta refuses to consider moving here because she says it’s too hot.  But every summer, Atlanta is 5-10 degrees hotter and WAY more humid than Palm Beach County.  I lived in Atlanta for six years, so I know.   Oh well.  Can’t make people believe what they don’t want to.

I have a new grand-puppy named Benji.  He’s the cutest dog I’ve ever seen.  A ‘come-to-life’ huggable Teddy-bear.  Not that I’m biased.

I’ve learned in the past few weeks that, sometimes, when people say they want help – they really don’t.  Ouch.

What’s new on the website?  Check out my new hand-painted shoe page.  They’re causing a lot of buzz, and I’m having a great time with them.  Zebra stripes are hot right now.  More examples and how it works are on the page.   I’ll write a post about them soon.

Also, I’ve been doing more graphic arts.  Check out that page and scroll down to the book covers I’ve been doing.  I’m currently working on logos and business cards, too.  There’s also new mural work on the Murals page, and  some fabulous (if I do say so myself) faux marble columns on the Painting Effects page.

Writing-wise, I’m working on a revision of my humorous women’s  novel (working title – Mitzi & Mack).  It was finished and sent through my crack critique (boy, say that three times fast…) group a few years ago.   When I pitched it to a Los Angeles agent last year, he loved the idea, but wanted me to cut it to 80,ooo words (down from 102,000).  That meant a total re-write.  Yikes.  I’m doing it, though, and as much as I hate to admit it, it’s a much better book now.  With everything else I’ve got in the hopper, it’s taking a while.  Arrggghh.

There’s lots more going on in the writing arena.  I’ll update that in subsequent posts.

My sincerest apologies to Randy Travis.  I’ve been a terrible blogger-person, but I resolve to do better.

I think the main reason I haven’t been writing  (Here in this space, that is.  I am working on my novels and non-fiction project)  is that my website showcases my art and somehow, I convinced myself that a serious artist can only blog about art.  Which presented a conflict for me.  It made me feel so confined.   So I decided to give myself permission to write about anything I want.   Voila, problem solved.