And the Winners Are

traceone · #1 02-20-2005, 06:27 AM

Hello everyone,

Thanks for all the great feedback you guys gave!!! I was really surprised how everyone fought for me, that was great. This was a great little contest and was happy to be apart of it. I just would like to say thanks to Mason for this opportunity to do this. I know i am not a regular poster but i really have been reading the boards for a while now. That are a lot or great insights on this board and it sure has helped my game.

I just wanted everyone to know that I am a professional. I’m a Associate Creative Director at the 3rd largest ad agency in the world. Just thought i should say something because some people really thought Mason should hire a professional designer. I just thought this would be awesome to do, being that i love poker and all.

I’m a little surprised at the design that was chosen, I really think illunious cover was one of the only ones that had a real design sense and nice typography to it(besides mine of course [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] ). But hey, I cant complain.

Congratulations to all the winners, nice work.

Thanks again,

TraceOne [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Mason Malmuth · #2 02-20-2005, 06:37 AM

Hi Traceone:

We thought your covers were just terrific and have big plans for them. When we get a chance to talk, we'll talk more, and who knows, there might be opportunities in the future for you to do additional work with us.

best wishes,
Mason

jdl22 · #3 02-20-2005, 06:43 AM

Looks like the end of the road for the cover contest.

Mason Malmuth · #4 02-20-2005, 06:47 AM

Hi jdl22:

At least for a while.

We had planned on having more, but we got so many good covers it seemed a shame not to reward the work. In fact, some of the covers we didn't select were definitely worthy cover material.

On the other hand, we are planning to put out more books in the near future than what we use to do in the past. So we may need another cover contest sooner than you think.

best wishes,
Mason

jasonHoldEm · #5 02-20-2005, 07:49 AM

[ QUOTE ]
On the other hand, we are planning to put out more books in the near future

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi Mason,

Would you be able to give us an updated timeline of the books coming out this year? Sorry if you've posted this already, I don't read this forum as often as I should and I'm curious.

Thanks,
Jason

Mason Malmuth · #6 02-20-2005, 08:02 AM

Hi Jason:

This is all subject to change.

Getting Started in Hold 'em by Ed Miller: late March

Harrington on Hold 'em. Volume II: May

Not yet titled but no limit book by David Sklansky and Ed Miller: late summer

Greg Raymer's book: I'm guessing late 2005

Book by Alan Schoonmaker that will be a collection of many of his columns: sometime in 2005

Other books that we might accept: who knows

Best wishes,
Mason

steamboatin · #7 02-21-2005, 09:38 AM

How about's Steamboatin's "How to lose a 3x shirt"?

I am going to steal all the Bad Beat Stories from the Archives.

You might not be interested but I figure Helmuth's publisher might go for it.

jasonHoldEm · #8 02-21-2005, 10:47 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Harrington on Hold 'em. Volume II: May

[/ QUOTE ]

Thanks Mason, just got my copy of the first book and I'm already really looking forward to vol 2 (as well as Sklansky/miller's NLHE book).

J

ethan · #9 02-22-2005, 03:56 AM

[ QUOTE ]
I just wanted everyone to know that I am a professional.

[/ QUOTE ]
We're all shocked, I assure you [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]
[ QUOTE ]

I’m a little surprised at the design that was chosen, I really think illunious cover was one of the only ones that had a real design sense and nice typography to it(besides mine of course [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] ). But hey, I cant complain.

[/ QUOTE ]

These are pretty much my thoughts, too. I really thought the illunious and traceone covers were significantly better than the rest of the entries. The winner here is just too "busy" for my tastes. Between the drop shadows, the 3d suits, the grid background, and the text running from the background to the suits there's just way too much going on. The illunious entry seems cleaner and more coherent, and and I find it much more appealing.

I hope the cover gets simplified some before the book's published.

edit - I should add that with the text/shadows/cards/etc cleaned up, the winning cover could be one I'd like. It just feels like less of a finished product right now.

Mason Malmuth · #10 02-22-2005, 05:26 AM

Hi Everyone:

Let me make a general comment on this. In our business we have a reputation for being somewhat difficult to work with. That's because when we accept a manuscript we don't print it and we're not done. What happens is that our acceptance starts a process to make the book better, and it can be a very difficult process for the author. But when we're done and the book is released, our authors are quite happy we and they did the additional work.

Related to this I just watched someone from Forbes magazine state on Fox's O'Riely that while thousands of books get published each year, very few even cover their expenses. I can't help but think part of the reason for that is simply the effort to make the final product the best book possible is not there.

The same thing will happen with the covers that we have accepted. This includes the Akmoose and the three Traceones. What you currently see is only the initial product, not the final.

Best wishes,
Mason