This is the cover (ebook version). Almost every book about Richard Ramirez is black and red, sometimes with dripping blood, sometimes satanic. We are more interested in the miscarriage of justice aspect rather than the horrors of the crime scenes, so I wanted to make something different: Lady Justice and the Los Angeles skyline.
I know that it’s an odd choice, but I like that stereotype ‘Los Angeles aesthetic’ so that’s what I went with. I know some of the buildings are anachronistic but symbolism is more important than accuracy. The 1985 skyline had nothing distinctive about it like it does today. I darkened it so it has that creepy brooding coming nightfall look.
I think I explained it in another post but I (VenningB) use the name Emily Zola for nonfiction. Venning was for fiction, but when I started writing for this blog, I hadn’t released my other Emily Zola book yet so didn’t use the pen name. Emily Zola is named after Émile Zola who wrote a book about a famous French political scandal and miscarriage of justice, the Dreyfus Affair. His book was called J’accuse…! So, that’s the name I use for this sort of thing. The name Venning will return for my fiction writing. I know it’s kind of confusing.
Anyway, below is the original drawing in coloured pencil. It took me a long time. My friend said it reminded her of Grand Theft Auto V, which was totally the aesthetic I was going for!
-VenningB-
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