Donna Rogers – you may not know the name, but if you’re a cozy mystery reader, chances are you have probably seen her work. As DLR Cover Designs, LLC, Donna is a cover designer who works with a lot of cozy mystery writers and she’s the next guest on The Cozy 52!
Who or What is The Cozy 52? Each week I will be sharing an interview with someone involved with Cozy Mysteries – an author, blogger, Facebook Group host, podcaster, cover designer – so that we can showcase this amazing community! I hope you’ll discover some new authors, plus learn more about what goes on behind the scenes with the people who write, publish and promote cozy mysteries!
Intro
NAME: Donna Rogers (dba DLR Cover Designs, LLC)
HOW ARE YOU INVOLVED WITH THE COZY MYSTERY COMMUNITY? I am a cover artist.
The Q&A
TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT YOURSELF
I am a self-taught artist with no formal training who simply loves being creative. I’m also a professional librarian, teacher, and lover of books. I have over 26 years of experience in the library/teaching field. I’m married, have two adult children, and four grand-dogs. As far as my design business goes, I started making artwork for authors during the Twilight phenomena, creating over 100 banners (free!) for fanfiction writers. I accidentally stumbled into the professional side of it in 2017, and today I’m officially DLR Cover Designs, LLC!
LIST THREE FUN FACTS ABOUT YOURSELF THAT WE WOULDN’T READ IN YOUR ‘OFFICIAL’ BIO.
- I’m right-handed, but can write backwards in cursive with my left hand. I have a weird brain, apparently. That trick is a great way to entertain a classroom of kids when you have 5 minutes left before the bell rings.
- In another, younger, life, I used to help repair electric motors for the coal mines by replacing the copper coils inside them. My small hands gave me an advantage over the men in the shop.
- I lived in Germany for two years during the late 1980s and would move back there in a heartbeat if I could.
WHAT IS A TYPICAL DAY LIKE FOR YOU?
Weekdays, I’m up at 5:00 AM, at school by 7:00 AM, teaching two classes and handling all the technology issues for my school until 3:15 PM. In the evenings, I work on my custom cover orders, or piddle with ideas for premades. By 9:30 PM I’m in bed, ready to wake up and do it all over again. Weekends, I work both days on cover design. Actually, I don’t consider those days as being “workdays”, because I absolutely love, and truly enjoy, creating art!
DO YOU DO THIS FULL-TIME, PART-TIME, OR IS IT A SIDE-HOBBY?
Right now, it’s a part-time business. But I’m quickly approaching retirement age, so when I do finally decide to hang up my teaching hat, I plan to continue designing full-time to supplement my pension, probably until the day my eyes finally give out on me.
WHY DO YOU CHOOSE TO FOCUS ON COZY MYSTERIES?
I love designing cozies for two reasons: the pleasure I derive from coming up with cozy titles (puns are so much fun), and I absolutely love working with vector stock. I adore the idea of taking a piece of stock, putting it into Illustrator and breaking it down into distinct layers that can be kept, changed, or discarded. That whole process just fascinates the heck out of me. I never tire of it. I someday hope to teach myself how to create my own vector art using Illustrator.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT BEING INVOLVED IN THE COZY MYSTERY COMMUNITY?
My experience is that cozy authors are some truly wonderful people and so much fun to work with. They must have a certain type of personality to even be able to write cozy mysteries to begin with, and that personality spills over into their interactions with their readers and designers. Every cozy author I’ve worked with has taught me something I needed to learn, but just didn’t know it at the time. I also enjoy being a member of the Cozy Mystery Village group on Facebook, because I get to salivate over all the different styles of covers authors have commissioned, and interact with cozy authors on a regular basis. Plus, any community who applauds the use of expertly crafted puns has to be a fun place to hang out!
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE COZY MYSTERY AUTHORS?
I’ll be honest and admit that I don’t read cozy mysteries. I once read one of Lillian Jackson Braun’s cat books, but I never made it past the first book. But, I can tell you some of my favorite cozy authors that I’ve worked with over the years. First off, Elise de Sallier gets credit for introducing me to the professional world of cover design. If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t even be doing this interview. Also, Sarah Jane Weldon is the author who helped me see that I could actually craft a business using this creative gene I have, although she probably didn’t realize that at the time. My experience with her gave me the much-needed confidence to continue as a professional designer. Some of my “regulars” who get a spot on my calendar last minute with no questions asked and no booking fees necessary include Rosie A. Point, Vikki Walton, Sue Hollowell, Tracey Drew, and Vered Ehsani. Those gals have been a constant source of creative inspiration in my design life for so long that I don’t know what I’d do if they quit writing! But, in all honesty, take a look at my portfolio. Every single one of those authors were a joy to work with, and each one helped me learn and grow as an artist in some way.
WHY DO YOU THINK PEOPLE LOVE TO READ COZY MYSTERIES?
I’m a librarian, so my life’s work has been connecting readers with their perfect book or series. To me, there are two simple reasons why people love cozies: 1) everyone loves a good mystery and, 2) escapism from the sometimes terrible realities of our modern lives. A certain segment of readers wants a well-crafted mystery with ordinary characters they can relate to, a relatable plot, and an absence of the gory violence and sexual situations that are typically present in traditional who-dun-its. Cozy writers and covers designers are here to meet those demands, and we’re happy to do it!
IF YOU WERE MAROONED ON A DESERTED ISLAND, WHAT 3 BOOKS WOULD YOU WANT WITH YOU?
Really? You’re going to ask a librarian that question?? Lol This is a truly hard question to answer and the one I spent the most time thinking about. I’ve decided that I’m not going to waste my time bringing along any survival books because I’m probably not going to last long. I’m an introvert, so no one but my immediate family will be looking for me, anyway. So, I want my remaining time on earth to be enjoyable, and I’m going to break the rules and take series of books instead of singles. (It’s my deserted island and I can change the rules, right?)
1) I’m going to need something funny to keep my spirits up: the first 10 books of Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series. I’ve read them so many times I’ve lost count and I laugh out loud every single time.
2) The entire Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon is a must. I can lose myself in the Scottish Highlands and not even remember that I’m hungry or tired and probably going to die. I’ll go out happy, that’s for sure.
3) The Life of Pi simply because it’s one of the best books I’ve read lately, and I really want to read it again with no distractions so I can truly enjoy (and study) the philosophical depth of that book. A deserted island is the perfect place to accomplish that.
DO YOU HAVE ANY PROJECTS COMING UP THAT YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE WITH US?
I am dipping my toe into the premade event waters for the first time on January 15, 2022. This small event (around 15-ish sets) will be exclusively offered to my Facebook group members on a FCFS basis. Anything that doesn’t sell will then be posted publicly on my website and Facebook marketplace groups. If anyone wants to be part of my first-ever event, join my Facebook group. You can see previews of the sets that will be available for purchase inside the group, as well as rules of the event as the date nears.
The Quickie 5
- FAVOURITE FOOD: my meatloaf (no restaurant can make it better than me)
- BEVERAGE OF CHOICE: water (I gave up soda 8 years ago and never looked back)
- MOST PRIZED POSSESSION: all of the books that I personally own
- SUMMER OR WINTER? Definitely winter. I melt in the summer heat.
- FAVOURITE VACATION SPOT? Anyplace that has historical significance. I’d love to go back to Europe and leisurely explore every country. *sigh*
To keep up to date with Donna Rogers online, please visit her website and follow her on social media!
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK GROUP | INSTAGRAM | PINTEREST | DEVIANT ART
Donna’s covers are perfect for cozy mysteries. When I was looking for a cover artist for my first cozy, she was brilliant helping me come up with a design to fit my book. I am now on book #4 and already know that Donna will be the perfect cover artist.
Judith Dickenson Ackaret, author of Scored for Life, Glued to See You, and Mysterious Papercuts.
Awww…thank you so much! Can’t wait to see what we get to do with book 4!