When my original publisher first started developing the cover, they asked me to pick out models and images I liked. When I did, I bought the images myself to use as promotional matierial later, and I put my design skills to work to come up with my own images. When I got my rights back and it was acquired by another publisher, they loved the design I had created. We decided to use my design for the new cover with a few tweaks. That's why, if you look closely at the two covers, you'll notice the tattoos on Vidar for the cover of Tempered & Turned are slightly different.
I feel as though the new cover portrays the mood and elements of the story a bit better, but that could just be because I had a direct hand in it and am biased. ;) Which cover draws you in more?
Look for Ayra and Vidar's novel in it's new incarnation April 6th!