​I don’t know who came up with that adage but as an author it is something we accept as true.  As I noted in my blog last week I’ve selected book covers to reflect the theme of the book.

Working with a graphic designer is an interesting and sometimes frustrating.  Graphic designers are visual artists so color, form, positioning are elements of a book cover that are important to them.  Theme – theme they don’t care about at all.  This makes the effort to collaborate between the graphic designer and the author stressful and the language we use to express our respective art forms is very different.

Last week I reviewed three images for the new book cover for Out of Darkness.  One image contained bright colors across the page that made my eyes hurt and I rejected it quicker than you can say “Ireland”.  Two other book cover concept images both contained an aerial view of Belfast Northern Ireland.  It was the type of image a tourism agency would use to convince potential visitors that Belfast is a lovely city to visit and not a city at war with itself.  The only difference in the two concepts was the placement of the title and my name at either top or bottom of the cover.  In the center of the cover was a bold Celtic knot either in gold or white.  I rejected both of those images, too.

From those covers it was clear that the graphic designer knows nothing about me or my work.  I’m old fashioned; I believe the graphic designer should be required to read at least the first three chapters of any book when developing a book cover.  In my ideal world the graphic designer would read the entire book but that isn’t realistic.

My direction was that if we use any aerial view of Belfast in the book cover, it must clearly show the peace walls.  Period.
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My guess is that the next “concept” I see won’t have a city view at all.    

Book Covers
 
One of the first suggestions Kira Henschel, owner of Henschel Haus Publishing, made when we signed our contract was to re-imagine my book covers.  I confess my skill set doesn’t include book covers and how I think about a book cover is not the norm.

For my first book, Murphy’s Troubles, I worked with graphic artists to select and alter an image.  My idea was to portray the destruction to buildings that was a large part of the IRA bombing campaign.  The graphic artist found an image that fit my idea and then we altered color and other technical aspects of the image.  We chose a Celtic font because I thought it added authenticity.
For the second book I wanted the book cover to portray a central theme of the book – the peace walls in Belfast.  I found a free image and then had second graphic artists alter it to fit the dimensions of the book cover.  I was delighted with the image.

For my third book in the series my idea, once again, was to have the book cover reflect the theme of the book.  Searching the web I found a free image of an old nautical map with a compass and quill pen.  Again, I thought it was the perfect cover.  
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Do you notice the pattern here?  To this date I have wanted each book cover to reflect the theme of the novel.  The book titles also reflect the theme of the novels.  I thought this approach was reasonable.

A publisher thinks differently.  Kira Henschel called saying it was time to work on new book covers, she asked me what the overarching theme as for all three books.  I answered – redemption, atonement, contrition.  “No- no she said – something physical, you know Ireland.”   I told her I would have to think about it and shoot her an email later.

Initially, I wanted a geographic scene of Ireland on each cover until I realized most people couldn’t tell the difference between scenes from Ireland versus Pennsylvania unless it was dramatic like the Cliffs of Mohr.  I mulled over what to add to the geographic scene that would show readers the topic was Ireland.  Simple – a symbol all would recognize as Irish, for example, the Celtic cross, an Irish Knot, or the Tree of Knowledge.  With a quick Google search I found free images of all of them and sent them off to Kira Henschel in an email.
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She was pleased that I understood her concept of making all three books “look” alike.  Having a publisher opens up my world as an author and gives me a new perspective.    

​When Henschel Haus Publishing offered to give my first two books in the Ian Murphy series, Murphy’s Troubles and Out of Darkness new covers and interior design I was thrilled.  All three books in the series would have the same publisher.
I didn’t plan on doing any work on the content of either book until I received this email from Kira Henschel last week.
“. . .it seems that you could go through it and modify some of the paragraphs so not (almost) everyone starts with "I" -- perhaps vary that a bit. I'm attaching the word doc here.”
I recall having the same issue when I worked with Christine Keleny from CK Books Publishing when the book was first launched.  I thought I had edited quite a few “I” paragraphs before Out of Darkness was launched.
I opened the document Kira attached to the email and was embarrassed.  Especially in the first three chapters nearly every other paragraph began with “I”.  There was improvement as I read through the document.  Yet, in my first pass editing only “I” paragraphs I found 55 paragraphs that had to change.
Out of Darkness was my first book in first person point of view.  I wanted to write in this view point because I wanted the reader to see the world through Ian Murphy’s eyes and to delve deeply into his psyche.  At the time I consulted with several past teachers on the mechanics of writing in first person point of view and completed addition online research.
My problem remained.  I hope I’ve learned a lesson.  One lesson is certain.   Editing never ends.
(How many “I” paragraphs do you count in this 292 word piece?)      

​Like most of you I’ve struggled with the annual self –inflicted torture known as The New Year’s Resolution.  I don’t know the history of this practice, I could research it on Google but that seems like too much effort.
Like most of you reading this blog I’ve had miserable success actually achieving any resolution I’ve made.  Today with minimal research you can learn how to make and achieve your resolution with some common sense and some ridiculous strategies.
I’m too old for strategies, at one time or another I’m sure I’ve tried them all and I’m no better off today.
Various news programs always have pieces on how to make and keep a resolution that doesn’t send you to therapy.  I saw a piece, I think on PBS TV that resounded with me.
The approach is to discard the grand over arching annual resolutions like, losing 20 pounds, the Number 1 resolution in America.  The new approach is to make a mini-resolution – one each day and then congratulate yourself on achieving your goal. 
A mini-resolution for a day might be to exercise 30 minutes today.  I check my calendar and my list of tasks to get done then plop a time into my calendar – 2:00 pm exercise.  Another day might be – write blog which I like to do before breakfast.  Each day you give yourself a mini-resolution.  Today’s is clearly to write my weekly blog.
This approach makes sense, feels right and recognizes the many small steps need to accomplish any resolution, like wanting to lose 13 pounds this year – the odd number helps, it is more unique.
Give it a try.  Ten days into 2018 and it’s working for me.  

​This is the first time I’ve typed 2018 – it feels odd.  I spent 365 days typing 2017 and it’s an old habit to break, but I will – always do.
Besides New Year’s resolutions the start of a new year is a great time to plan.  My third book in the Ian Murphy series is being published in March 2018 by Henschel Haus Publishing.  The publisher will provide distribution channels that I haven’t been able to access with the first two books and some marketing.  The primary marketing effort still belongs to the author.
For the first time I’ve contracted with a publicist to help me launch Dead Reckoning in the spring.  For my first two novels I can’t really claim to have had an official launch.  It would be more accurate to say that those novels just appeared on the world stage with very little to no pomp and circumstance.  That needs to change, especially because Henschel Haus will be re-publishing Murphy’s Troubles and Out of Darkness at the same time, so I have the unique opportunity to do the launch right.  It is rare to have such an opportunity and I appreciate how fortunate I am.
I met with my publicist before Christmas and we outlined a strategy based on a thorough proposal she made.  I have always felt weak in social media and feel I need a great deal of assistance.  My numbers say I’ve fared well in social media.  Last year my website averaged 2500 visits a month and 8600 pages viewed a month.  I have 1086 followers on twitter.  My publicists was humbled by these numbers – I don’t understand them – really I don’t. 
The problem is the numbers are passive.  I don’t feel engaged by either folks visiting my website or posts on twitter.  The only thing I ever post on twitter is my weekly blog and I don’t engage in any exchange of tweets.  Maybe that will need to change.
Already I’ve learned there is a way to link my author facebook page with my webpage so I guess we’ll do that.  I will be adding a link from Henschel Haus to my webpage so that people can glide over and buy my books from the publisher. 
My publicists will be working three areas for the book launch.  The first is to spruce up my website and link everything that can be linked.  Second, she will develop social media promotions for me.  Finally, she will explore paid social media/review services and blog tours.  From that list we will pick and chose those we believe (guess?) will be the most effective.
That’s the plan.  There will be other post launch activities once the book is in orbit (might as well stick with the metaphor).
If you need an author to speak, I’m available.  Presentation topics include:
Researching for historical based novels
Where Art and History Meet- Historical Fiction
My World and Welcome to It – A Spoken Memoir
My World and Welcome to It -  My 103.5 FM Radio Talk Show
Send me an email at:  [email protected]