EDITORIALTEAM
WendyH.Jones-EditorinChief-isalsoourExecutiveCommissioningandFeaturesEditor.Sheisthe multi-award-winning,best-sellingauthorofadult crimethrillersandcozymysteries,children’spicturebooksandnon-fictionbooksforwriters.Inaddition,sheisawritingcoach,partnerin Auscot Publishing and Retreats andhoststheWritingandMarketingShowpodcast.
SheenaMacleodisourDeputytotheEditorinChief. Sheoverseestheday-to-dayproductionanddesign. Sheis authorofthehistoricalfictionnovels,ReignoftheMarionettesandTearsofStrathnaver,andco-authorofthenonfictionbookSo,YouSayICan’tVote!FrancesConnelly.
PaulineTaitisoursubmissionsmanager.Sheisanaward -winning&bestsellingchildren’sauthor,romantic suspensenovelist,andwriting&publishingmentor tochildren’sauthors.SheisthevoicebehindReluctantReaders,aweeklynewsletterforparentand carersofchildrenwhofindreadingachallenge.
AllisonSymesisourCopyEditor.Sheisanawardwinning,publishedflashfictionandshortstorywriter. Shealsowritesaweeklycolumnontopicsofinterest forwritersforonlinemagazine, Chandler's Ford Today.
ShanayaWaghisaninternwithWriters’Narrative andoneofourcontenteditors.Shanayaisanaward -winningwriterofromanticmysteriessetinScotland.WrittenunderthepennameShanaFrost.
Susan McVeyisourContentEditor.Susanwrites dystopianfictionandfantasynarratives,tailoredfor theyoungadultandteenageaudience.ShepublishesunderMartiM.McNair.Herworksinclude Island of Ruin (RuinorRedemptionBook1).
MaressaMortimeroverseesourmarketingandoursocial mediaengagement.MaressaisauthoroftheElabi Chronicles, Burrowed and Sapphire Beach.
EditorinChief
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Featured Interview
With coverdesignerCathy HelmsofAvalonGraphics
CoverDesign
Book Cover Branding
NewReleasesandmuch more...
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Writers’ Narrative is published monthly by Scott and Lawson Publishing. Graphic Design by Sheena Macleod. All contents Copyright © the individual authors and used with their permission. All rights reserved.
H.Jones
Welcome to the August 2025 issue of the magazine. This week, we take a deep dive into the world of Book Covers and prove you really can judge a book by its cover.
Our featured interview with Cathy Helms of Avalon Graphics gives us an inside view of the world of a book cover designer. Think, that’s not important to you? Think again. Knowing how to work with your designer to ensure the perfect cover is crucial.
With advice on branding your covers, why cover design matters, children’s book covers and so much more, there is a lot to think about when it comes to cover design.
In our monthly poetry slot, Lis McDermott returns to sonnets. Sophie, our office dog dispenses her
usual sage advice with humour and insight, and we have our library of the month and our bookshop of the month, both of which are surprising.
So, grab a glass of something chilled and a notebook and pen and sit down to fill your creative soul with wisdom. I am confident you will enjoy the magazine.
Wendy H. Jones
Editor in Chief
Wendy H. Jones Author, Publisher, Writing Coach
FeaturedCoverDesignerCathyHelmsofAvalonGraphics
InterviewedbyWendyH.Jones
Cathy,welcometoWriters’NarrativeMagazine andthankyoufortakingthetimetoanswerour questions.Iknowyouareextremelybusy,soI appreciateyourbeinghere.
Beforewestart,tellusabitaboutAvalon Graphics.
Helloreaders!Andthankyou,Wendy,forinvitingmetodothisinterview!IfoundedAvalon Graphicsin2009followingearningmydegree inAdvertisingandGraphicDesign.Thenameis areflectionofmypersonalinterests.Talesof who(King)Arthurmighthavebeen,whenhe mighthavelived,andalliterationsofhimhave beenalongtimefascinationofmine.So,Ichose anamefromthosestories–Avalon–formydesignbusiness.
Isortofstumbledintotheareaofbookcover designaftercontactinganauthorwhoI’drecentlyreadwhohadpublishedawonderfulArthuriantrilogy(Helen Hollick – The Pendragon’s Banner Trilogy).ShekindlyaskedwhatIdidfora living–Ihadn’tlandedonanythingspecificas ofyet,beingjustoutofcollege.Helensuggested givingbookcoverdesignatryasshewasin needofnewcoversforherbooks–andthatset meonmynearlytwodecadeslongpathdesigningcoversforindieauthorsworldwide!
What’sthefirstthingyouconsiderwhen startinganewbookcoverdesign?
Thegenreofthebook(historical,crime,comedy,romance),andwhoorwhatthestoryisbuilt around.Abookcoverneedsavisualhookto grabtheattentionofpotentialreaders.Andthat hookneedstoaccuratelyrepresentthegenre andgeneralplotofthebookaswell.Thus,the
CathyHelmsAvalonGraphics
firstorderofbusinessisresearchingbestselling bookcoversinthatgenre.
Doyoureadthebookbeforedesigningthe coverordoyourelyontheauthororpublisher providingyouwithenoughinformation?
Idorelyontheauthororpublishertoprovide informationupfront.Ihaveastandarddesign questionnaireIaskauthorstofilloutupfrontso Ihaveenoughinsightintothestorytobegin planningdesigns.Unfortunately,Idonothave timetoreadanauthor’sbookaheadofdesigning acover–andtypicallythemanuscriptisnotyet finishedwhenIbeginmypartoftheprocesseither.Ialsotendtoworkonmultipleprojectsat onceleavinglittlefreetimeforreading.And moreoftenthannot,theauthorishopingtopublishquickly–again,leavingmelittlespacetodevotetoreadingafullmanuscriptupfront.
What’sthebalancebetweencreativefreedom andclientorpublisherinput?
Lisa Turley is from West Virginia. She is on numerous ARC street teams and reads in multiple genres. She is passionate about helping authors get the wordoutabouttheirbooks.
Theinputfromtheauthorwillalwaysbeinvaluableupfront,anddrivetheoverallcoverdesign
conceptprocess.Andthebestclients(authors andpublishers)recognisetheexpertiseofthe designerstheycommissiontotransformrough ideasintopolishedandmarketableproducts.
Fortheauthorinsearchofacoverdesigner,the goalshouldbetofindateamplayerwholistens andiswillingtocollaborateonaprojectallthe whilehavingtheskillsandknowledgetodothe jobright.Thedesignerneedstotaketheauthor’sideasfullyintoconsiderationwhilecreatingprofessionaldesigns.Bothneedtounderstandthetargetmarket/readerandrespectone another’sparticularskillsets.
Therightfitisoftenaboutseeingadesigner’s portfolioandimaginingyourownbookwitha coversimilartothosedesignsaswell.Eachdesigner,tryaswemighttobeversatileinallgenres,hasapersonalstylewhichoftenstillbleeds intoallofourwork.Themoreexperienceddesignerscanfluentlymovethroughthevarious styles,genres,andbrandingtosuitjustabout anyclientthough.Weare,afterall,greatmimickersintheworldofdesign.Bottomlineismutualtrusttoproduceacoverthatwillgiveabook itsbestchanceatreachingreaders.
Canyoutakeusbrieflythroughonecoverdesignandhowyoucameupwithit?
‘Honey Down the Lane’ isthefifthcoverthatI havedesignedforCharlesMoberly.Everytitleis uniqueinthatMr.Moberlywritesallstandalonenovels,sonoseriesbrandingtoconsider. ButearlyonIdidestablishthefontandpoint sizethatI’vekeptconsistentacrossallofhiscovers.
Thisbookisastoryaboutarecentlydivorced, middleagedwomanwhobecomesterrorized byabullymaleneighbour.Theauthorgaveme adetailedbriefwithcharacterbiosanddescriptionsofkeyscenesImightdrawinspiration from.ThelocationisruralEnglandandIwas providedwithaphotoofatypical‘lane’borderedbyhedges.
Myfirstthoughtwastoshowpotentialdanger onthecover,andthisbeingathriller/mystery novelIneededasenseofmysteryaswell.I chosetodepictoneofthekeyscenesfromthe storyasmydesignconceptasIwasconfidentI couldrecreateitoverall.Isearchedforafemale modelinmotionandadogtoplaceatherside, andacarshapeIcouldplaceonthelanecomingatmymodel.Thephotoofthelaneneeded convertingtoeveningornight,andheadlights addedtothecaraswell.Shadowsneededtobe workedinandaglowtothosebrightheadlights toaddtotheatmosphere.Theauthorlovedthe design–otherthanheaskedthatIshortenthe model’shair(whichwasoriginallylonger).Detailedinputfromtheauthorwaskeytothisdesigncomingtogetherwithlittleeditsoverall.
Stock images used in the cover design for ‘Honey Down the Lane’ cover design.
Howdogenreexpectationsinfluenceyourdesignchoices?
Ialwaysdomyhomework;whichisresearching bestsellingbooksinthesamegenreofmyclient’sbook.Thesebest-sellingtitlesarethedirect competitionformyclient,andmydesignwill needtofitintothatgenre.Thetrickisfindinga balancebetweengenredesigntrendsandoriginalitytomakemyowncoverdesignstandoutto readers.
Anexampleofthismightberefrainingfromplacingaperiodmodelonthecoverandnotshowing herhead(overdonecoverdesignswithheadless womenonhistoricalcovers).Otherexamplesare thatitwouldbecompletelywrongtoplacea maninshortsandwearinggymshoes,ortohave thetitleinbrightpink,whenthebooktakes placein1539.Readerswouldexpectamedieval knightorsomethingofthatsort.Thegenreof thebookdictateswhatelementsneedtoberepresentedaswell.
Whatcommonmistakesdoyouseeauthorsor publishersmakewithcoverdesign?
Whileitisquiterewardingtoworkdirectlywith authorswhoareself-publishingtheirbooks,the challengeisoftentheyaretooclosetothestory/ subjectandsingularlyfocusedonwhatthey thinkthecovershouldlooklike.Asadesigner whosejobitistowatchpublishingtrends,designtrends,andtopsellingtitles,thechallenge isoftenconvincingauthorstoleavetheoverall designuptothedesigner.
Ioftenremindwriterstheirreaderswilldevelop theirownvisualrepresentationsofthecharactersandplaceswhiletheyread.Itisnotcritical todesignacharacterorsceneonthebook’scoverthatperfectlymatchestheauthor’svisionof theircharacterastheyintendittobe.Thecover needstosellthe idea andfitthegenreandmood ofthestoryoverall.Thecoverdoesnotneedto exactlymatchtheauthor’spersonalvisions.
PublishersarealsoaskeenasIamonwhatcover designsareselling.Thus,workingdirectlywith publishersisoftenasmoothprocesssincewe
areusuallyonthesamepage-gettingabook pickedupbythetargetreadership.However,a commonmistakeallofuscanmakeissticking toocloselytodesigntrends.Anexampleofthis wasthelongandoverusedheadlesswomanon allofthehistoricalnovelsinrecentyears.
Howhasdigitalpublishingandthumbnail viewingaffectedyourdesignstrategy?
Oneoftheoften-overlookedaspectstobook coverdesignisthatthumbnailview.Authors whodecidetomaketheirownbookcoversare themostobviousatmakingthiserrordueto howsmalltheirtypographyissetontheircovers.Themainwordsinthebook’stitleshould stillbereadableatthumbnailsize.Mostreaders seethebookcoveratthumbnailsizefirstwhile scrollingthroughlistingsoneReadersandsites likeAmazon.
Anotherdetailtoconsiderishowthebookcover looksinblackandwhiteasmanyeReadersare notabletodisplaybooksinfullcoloureither.So, thosetwoaspectsofthedesignalonehaveimpactedmydesignstrategyinrecentyears.Digital publishinghasturnedthefocustowardshow coversshouldstilldrawtheeyeofpotential readerswhiletheyareviewedatincreasingly smallersizesontheirscreens.Thishasmadethe titletreatmentthatmuchmorethemainelementoftheentirecoverdesign.
Whatroledoestypographyplayinyourdesigns,andhowdoyouchoosetypefaces?
Typographyistheprincipalelementofthefront cover’sdesign.Andthegenreofthebookdoes drivewhatsortoffontsIwillchoose.Traditional fontfamilies,suchasTrajanProandSabon,are goodfitsforhistorical,non-fictionandgeneral fictiondesigns.Fancyfontshavetheirplacedependingonthegenreaswell(fantasy,futuristic). Viewingbest-sellingbooksinthesamegenreasI amgoingtodesignacoverforisalwaysagood startingpoint.
Usinganinappropriatefontonabookcovercan turnoffpotentialreadersforcertain,andindicatethatthecoverwasself-made.Fontsshow
emotionalmostasmuchasimagesdo.Forexample,youwouldnotwantyourtitlesetina‘horror style’typefaceifyournovelisaromance.It wouldsendthewrongmessageforsure!Of course,oneshouldneveruse‘ComicSans’for anybookcover–thatisunlessyouarepublishing achildren’sbooktargetedfor6-year-olds.There arerulestosettingtypethatshouldalwaysbe adheredto–aprofessionaldesignerwillknow howtokernthelettersandproperlyspaceallof thewordsonthecover.
Arethereanycovers yoursorothers’ that youthinkcompletelychangedthegame?
Oneofthemostmemorablecoversformeisfor PeterBenchley’s Jaws;coverdesignbyPaulBacon,originalcoverpublished1974.Itissosimple, clean,yetsoimpactfultheminuteyouseeit.The hierarchyofthelayoutisperfectlybalanced (Title,shark,author’sname,swimmer).Itimmediatelygrabsyouwithoutabunchofextradesign elementsclutteringupthecover.Bookcovers goingforwardpredominantlytransitionedtothat simplisticstyleovertheoldflowerydesignsof thepast.
Howdoyouconsiderbrandingifworkingona series?
ThefirstruleIsticktoisthefontthatIchoosefor theauthor’sname,andtheseriestitle–these choicesshouldremainconsistentthroughoutall ofthebooksinthesameseries.Ialsofeelthetitleofeachbookwithinthesameseriesshouldbe setinthesamefonttoo.Andtheoveralllayout/ styleofallofthetitlesintheseriesshouldmatch orcomplementoneanother.IinquireaboutelementsImightconsiderusingforaserieslogoas well–asword,aknife,anelementthatcanbe usedonallofthecoverstotiethemtogether.
An example of a set of covers all within the same series.
Thankyouonceagain.Iamsureourreaderswill findtheinformationinvaluable
YoucanfindoutmoreandfollowCathyHelms at:
www.avalongraphics.org
chelms@avalongraphics.org
OnFacebook:AvalonGraphics
OnX:Avalon_Graphics
PinterestPortfolio
“I have always been a creative soul. As a young girl, I was fascinated with photography, staging the scenes for my photos, and drawing in notebooks. Today I have found a niche in the graphic design field creating book cover designs for self-publishing authors around the globe. I have a serious addiction to coffee and a strong love for animals. I cannot pass up a cupcake either, which means that I am not a supermodel. I tend to photograph my cat, horses and a bunch of flowers.”-CathyHelms
Education:CatawbaValleyCommunityCollege graduatewithadegreeinAssociateinAppliedScience;classof2008withhighhonorsinAdvertising andGraphicDesign.
MemberofPhiThetaKappa.
HistoricalNovelSocietymember·Jan2012–Dec 2017
NewWritersUKassociatememberJan2011-Dec 2019
AssociationofPhotoshopProfessionalslifetime member
NuclyPhotoshopAcademylifetimemember 2014Winner-CoverDesignMystery/Suspense2014 RONEAwardIssuedbyInD'taleMagazine.Publication:'CACHEAPredator'byM.Weidenbenner. 2015HonorableMention–CoverDesignRONE Awards
2017RunnerUp–CoverDesignHistoricalRONE Awards
2021Finalist–CoverDesignRONEAwards
WomeninPublishingConference2024–copresentedCoverCritiquePanelwithTamian Wood.
Servedasaco-judgeforamonthlycoverdesign contestatDiscoveringDiamondsHistoricalFiction ReviewsiteuntilthesiteclosedinDecof2022. Attended2015HistoricalNovelSocietyConference Attended2012HistoricalNovelSocietyConference Londonasaparticipant/panelonIndiePublishing Workshop.
Inyearspast,AvalonGraphicsdesignedandproducedbooktrailers(https://www.youtube.com/ user/avalongraphics).
SongoftheSeabyChrisLongmuirCoverbyAvalonGraphics
Reviewedby SheenaMacleod
ISBN-10: 1068418508
ISBN-13 : 978-1068418501
Publisher: Barker&Jansen(April2025)
Blurb
In a World of Betrayal and Danger, Survival Is Her Only Choice.
WhenanangrymobsetsfiretoCraigdenInn,Belle’shomeandlivelihoodarereducedtoashes.Forcedtofleewithherchildren,sheseeks refugeinthenearbytownofInvercraig.There,shefindsshelteratthe ShipInn,ownedbythebroodingyetenigmaticGregor.Determinedto startherlifeanewasanindependentwoman,Bellesoondiscoversthat escapingthepastisnotsosimple.
Hauntedbyhersister-in-lawEllen’srelentlessvendetta,whichplaces herlifeindanger,Bellealsofacesanaccusationofarsonandthethreat ofincarcerationintheTollbooth.
Whenaviolentattackbyasailorendsintragedy,Gregorstepsintoprotecther,bindingthemtogetherin adangeroussecret.Desperatetomaintainherindependence,thispushesherintoagreeingtoanuneasy marriageofconvenience.Butnothingcanprepareherfortheshockingtruth herhusband,Jimmie,lost atseaonadoomedwhalingvoyage,isalive.
TrappedintheArcticwithanInuitcommunity,Jimmiefightsforhissurvival,unawarethatBellebelieves himdead.Asfateandbetrayalweavetheirtangledweb,Bellemustnavigateaworldwherelove,loyalty, andsurvivalaretestedateveryturn.
Review
Havingreadandenjoyedbook1intheWattFamilySaga(A Salt Splashed Cradle),Iwasdelightedtodiscoverbook2intheserieshadbeenpublished. Song of the Sea heldmyinterestfromstarttofinishasI followedBelle’sjourneyfrombeingthrownoutofthefishingvillageandforcedtotakeworkinaseedy Inninthenearbytowntothecompellingending.Itwaslovelytomeetfamiliarcharactersagainanddiscovernewonesalongtheway.Thesuspensefulopeningdrewmein,andIfeltforBelleandherchildren asshefacednever-endingchallengesandchoiceswithoutherhusband,Jimmie,whowaslostatseaona whalingship(inBookOne).
SetinasmallfishingcommunityontheeastcoastofScotland,filledwithlocalprejudices,customs,and arelianceonthelocalminister’swords,ChrisLongmuir’sgreatskillinstorytellingmadeitfeelasifIhad steppedbackintimeandtumbledstraightintoBelle’sworld.Theresearchisimpeccableforlocation anddetailsofthefisherandotherfolks'livesatthattime,makingtheeventsfeelalltooauthentic.Ifyou likehistoricalfictionsetagainstthebackdropof19th-centuryScotland,orjustlikeawell-toldandengrossingstory,thenIhighlyrecommend Song of the Sea.IwassorrytofinishparttwoofBelle’sstory, andnoweagerlyawaitpartthree.
Something Wild -WrittenandIllustratedbyMollyRuttan
Reviewedby Pauline
Tait
WrappedtoWow
ASIN: B0B2MJDSDX Publisher: NancyPaulsenBooks
Apicturebook’scoverdesignmustgrabpotentialreadersinaninstant.Singingfromtheshelvesas itdaresyoutopickitup.
Bothfrontandrearcoversshouldinviteandintrigueandalwayswhispersecretsfromthestorywithin. Theyofferthatfirstsparkofmagicandwonderthatshouldensureyoungreadersandcuriousminds wanttoexploreyourbook. Something Wild doesallthat,andmore.
FrontCover
Ourcharactersshouldalwaysbefrontandcentre,andMollyhasdonejustthatashermaincharacter, quiteliterally,takesthespotlight.
Theworldwithinisalludedtoasanassortmentofanimalsandtreeswhichskirtstheedges.We’relured intoaworldwheredolphinsandrabbitsmeet,whilebirdswhistlealongtoHannah’smusic. Theartisticstyle,colourchoices,andcharacters,combinetobringmagicallymysticwonderthatensures thiscoverstandsoutamongbulgingshelves.
RearCover
Thesamevisualformatiscarriedontotherearcover.Itssimplicityspeakingvolumesastheblurbisgivenspacetoshine.Thecoverarthasbeencreatedasonedouble-pagespread,ensuringthescenecarries thesamevibrantandmysticalcharmfromthefront.
Conclusion
Something Wild capturestheessenceofasuccessfulpicturebookcover.Itcatchesthereader’seye, showcasesthecharacters,andhintsatthemagicwithin.
Pleasenotethat Something Wild waspublishedin2023,whenlongerblurbsandquotesweremore common.Theexpectationhasnowshifted,withblurbstypicallykeptbetween100and150wordsfor clarityandimpact.
BookReleases
RecentReleases
TITLE: A Right Cozy Culinary Crime (ARightCozyCrime}Compiledby WendyH.Jones
ASIN:B0FGJ99C71
Publisher: ScottandLawsonPublishing(July2025)
Blurb
Wherethere’ssmoke,there’smurderandprobablyacakeintheoven. FromScotlandtotheUSAandCanadamurderisonthemenuinthisdeliciouslydeadlycollectionofculinarycozymysteries.Joinsharp-witted sleuthsastheysolvecrimesstirredupinkitchens,cafes,andHighland Games,armedwithnothingbuttheircharm,curiosity,andmaybea goodrollingpin.
Eachstorycomeswitharecipe,soyoucancookupyourownalibiwhilethedetectivescookupacase. Becausemurdergoesdownbestwithacupofteaandasliceofsomethingsweet.
Contributingauthors:WendyH.Jones,Marti.M.McNair,SandraIreland,SheenaMacleod,JeanneSwartz, LisaKnudsonHarkrader,NicoletteLemmon,SheilaDeneLawrence,Shanayafrost,DKSnyderandPaula Barr
TITLE: Cozy Christmas Crimes (CozyCrimes)byWendyH.Jones,Sheena MacleodandMartiM.McNair
ASIN: B0FJ2K47B8
Publisher:ScottandLawsonPublishing(July2025)
Blurb
CozyChristmasCrimesistheperfectholidayescapeformysterylovers. Thisdeadlyanthologyservesupfestivewhodunitswrappedintinsel andintrigue.Stepintoasnow-dustedbookshopwhereamurderthreatenstosilenceholidayfestivities,followsharp-eyedprivatedetectivesas theyunwrapsecretshiddenbeneathlayersofseasonalcheer,andattendaChristmasweddingwherethevowscomewithasideorderof
murder.Withcracklingfireplaces,mulledwine,andjustenoughdangertokeepyouturningpages,these storiesprovethateventhecosiestseasonhasitsdarkside.IncludesChristmasrecipessuretobrightenup anyChristmas.
BookCoverBranding:AnAuthor’sView
Editor in Chief, Wendy H Jones, takes us through the elements involved in branding a book series and why this matters.
WhilstIamcluelessaboutcoverdesign, andleavemycoversinthecapable handsofCathyHelmsofAvalon Graphics(whoisinthismonth’sfeaturedinterview),Idoknowwhatcatchesareader’seye.I alsoknowhowbrandingbooksandseriescan catchareader’seye.
Yes,brandingcanhelpyousellbooksand,let’s faceit,that’swhatweallwanttodo.I’msure youarewonderingwhyyoushouldtrustanyonewhosaystheydon’tknowanythingabout coverdesigntogiveyouadviceoncovers.Read on,MacDuff.
Firstly,whatisbranding?Brandingisensuringa company,orinthiscasepublisherandauthor,
displaysaconsistentimageinthemindofconsumers,orreaders.Itisthewaythereaderrecognisesorimaginesaseriesoranauthor’sbooks.It istheseriesorauthor’suniqueidentity.Yes,voice inamanuscriptputsthestampofuniqueness andauthenticitybutbrandingstartslongbefore thereaderreadsasingleword.
Iwillstartbytakingyouthroughtheanatomy ofacover,orinthiscase,covers.Thefirstbook inmyDIShonaMcKenzieMysteries-Killer’s Countdown–notonlybrandsittomebut brandsitinmanyotherways.
Firstly,thetitle.Itisclearfromthetitlethisis goingtobeacrimethrillerorahorror.Next,the coveritselfismadeupoftwodistinctimages; thetopimageisascenefromthebook,inthis caseawoman’shandwithbloodonit.ThebottomisanimageofDundeewherethebooksare set.Thecoverdesignerhasblendedtheseto developacoverwhichimmediatelysaysScottishCrimeFiction.Ofcourse,thisbrandingcarriesthroughallthebooks.Together,theyare sayingIamabookbyWendyH.Jones.These coversaremyuniqueseriesthumbprint.
Whatofthosewhowriteinmanydifferentgenresorhavemanydifferentseries?Howdothey managebranding?Ifallintothiscategorywith crimethrillers,cozymysteries,non-fiction booksandchildren’spicturebooks.
Inthisinstance,eachserieshasitsowndistinct branding.Yes,itispossibletobrandacrossmultipleseriesbutthatiscomplex.Also,thepublisherlogoispartofthebrand.Havingdistinctcoversfordifferentbrandsalsomakessensewhen itcomestomarketing.Noteverycustomerwill beafanofeveryseriesorgenreinwhichyou write.Thecoversinstantlyinformthemtheseare thebooksyouarelookingfor.
Forthoseofyouwhoaresaying‘butIwrite standalones,Ihearyou.MayIask,areyour standalonesallinthesamegenre?’
Iwouldventuretosuggestthisisprobablythe case.Ifso,brandthemaroundyourgenre.Ifyou wanttoknowhowthiscanbedonesuccessfully theselectionofbooksbyJaneDaviswillshow you.
Toconclude,itiswellworththinkingabout brandingwhenitcomestoyourcovers,because,despitethesaying,wereallydojudgea book–andseries–byitscover.
Editor in chief, Wendy H. Jones is the multi-awardwinning, best-selling author of adult crime thrillers and cozy mysteries, children’s picture books and non-fiction books for writers. In addition she is a writing coach, partner in Auscot Publishing and Retreats and hosts the Writing and Marketing Show podcast.
Writers’Museum,Edinburgh
byWendyH.Jones
Tslibraryofthemonthisless libraryandmoremuseum.Infact,itisnot alibraryatallandreallyisamuseum. I makenoapologiesforthis.Inmydefenceit doescontainbooks.Thebuildinginwhichitis housed–LadyStairsHouse–datesbackto 1622.
OnceaprivatehouseitwasgivenasagifttoEdinburghin1907andfinallyopenedasamuseumin1913.ItcoversthelivesofScotland’s mostfamouswriters–RobertBurns,Robert LouisStevenson,andSirWalterScott.
Ithousesapositiveplethoraofmaterialspertainingtothewritersandtheirbooks,including manuscripts,firsteditionsandphotographsas wellaspersonalitems.ScottishPENisalso housedwithinitswalls.ThisisoneofthePEN InternationalCentres,anorganisationwhich championsfreedomofexpressionandliterature acrossborders.
LibraryoftheMonth
NowritervisitingEdinburghshouldmissthis smallbutmightymuseum.Andwhileyouare there,pleasetakealookatthepavingstones whichcontainexcerptsfromfamousliterary works.Youaresuretobeinspired.
Wendy H. Jones is the multi-award-winning, best-selling author of adult crime thrillers and cozy mysteries, children’s picture books and non-fiction books for writers. In addition, she is a writing coach, partner in Auscot Publishing and Retreats and hosts the Writing and Marketing Show podcast.
RecentReleases
An Imposter in Shetland (TheShetlandMysteries)byMarsaliTaylor
ASIN: B0DWXB6NDZ
Publisher: HeadlineAccent(June2025)
Blurb
WhenaninternetlifestyleinfluencerarrivesonShetlandtodocument her'perfect'holiday,thelocalsaresomewhatsceptical.
JoiningaboattriptotheremoteislandsofStKildawithsailingsleuth CassLynchandherpartnerDIGavinMacrae,theyoungwomanseems moreconcernedwithherphonethanthescenery.
Butwhenit'stimetoleave,there'snosignofher.Despitemountingadesperatesearch,she'sseemingly vanishedwithouttrace-fromasmallislandinthemiddleofthesea.
Asapuzzlinginvestigationgatherspace,therearemorequestionsthananswers-anduncoveringthe truthwillrevealdarkandlong-hiddensecrets...
My Husband’s Lies byMaryannWebb
ASIN: B0DWXB6NDZ
Publisher: HeadlineAccent(June2025)
Blurb
Howwelldoyoureallyknowthepeopleclosesttoyou?
AriaMillerusedtothinkshehadtheperfectlife,butnowthatthehoneymoonphaseisallbutadistantmemory,shecan'tshakethefeeling herperfectlifeisasandcastlewaitingtocollapse.Recentlyshe'sfelta prickleofanxietywhenherhusbandEthansayshehastoworklate. She'stryingtoshakethefeelingthathe'sbeenlying.Afterall,trusting menhasneverworkedoutwellforAria...Butsweet,kindEthanhas nevergivenherareasonnottotrusthim,hashe?
Perhapsthestressoftryingforababyisfinallygettingtoher,recentlysheswearsshefeelssomeoneis watchingherasshegrabshermorningdecafcoffee.
Then,duringagirls'nightthatwassupposedtotakehermindoffthings,herbestfriendIslaisbrutally murderedinadarkbathroombar.
FromConcepttoCover:HowIHelpAuthorsTurnStories into
StunningCovers
Book cover and graphic designer Dee Dee guides us through the collaborative stages involved in designing a cover from the first email to the final product.
Coverdesignisoneofthemostexciting, and yes, sometimes intimidating,partsof publishing.Whetheryou’readebutauthororhaveawholeshelfofbooks,Igethow personalitfeelstotrustsomeoneelsewithyour story’sfirstimpression.Myjobistocreateacoverthatcapturesyourstory’sheartandgrabsthe attentionoftherightreadersatfirstglance.
Inthisarticle,I’llwalkyouthroughhowIwork withauthors,fromthatveryfirstemailallthe waytothefinalcover.Whetheryou’reindieor traditionallypublished,confidentortotally overwhelmed,thiswillhelpyouknowwhatto expect.
GettingStarted:TheCollaboration
Whenyoureachout,I’llsendabriefformto gathertheessentials:yourbook’stitle,genre, subtitle,andthevibeormoodyou’reimagining. Notsurewhatstyleyouwant?Noworries.Iask forafewsamplecoversyoulike,eveniftheyare completelydifferentstyles.Thatistotallyfine becauseitstillgivesmeagreatsenseofyour taste.
Onceyou’vesentyourbrief,whichIusuallyread fiveorsixtimestoreallyunderstandit,Istartby checkingoutyourpreviouscovers.Especiallyif we’reworkingonanongoingseries,keeping yourauthorbrandingconsistentiskey.
Next,Iresearchwhatispopularandworkingin yourgenre.Forexample,ifyourbookismostly romancewithamysterysubplot,thecover shouldfocusonromancebecausethatiswhat readersexpect.
Let’sbehonest,peopleabsolutelyjudgebooks bytheircovers,especiallywhenscrollingfaston tinyphonescreens.Youspotashirtlessguy(hey, it’s an attention-grabber),awolf,andafull moon.Instantly,youknow:steamyparanormal romance.
DeeDeeBookCovers
And that clear recognition is everything.
Ifacoverlooksunprofessional,readersmight scrollrightpastyouramazingstory.Ifocuson makingyourcoverstandoutwhilestillfeeling familiarenoughthatfansrecognizeit.Tokeepus ontrack,Iuseback-and-forthfeedback,mood boards,andyes,goodoldPinterest(still a fan!).I liketokeepupwithtrendsandcheckoutwhat’s popularonAmazon,buthonestly,Idon’tletthat guideeverything.Bigauthorscangetawaywith coversthatbreakalltherules.Butforindie books,thecoverreallycounts;it’softenthereasonsomeonedecidestoclickorkeepscrolling.
HowICreateYourCover
I’maphoto-baseddesigner,notanillustrator,so IbuildyourcoverfromstockphotosthatIcarefullyblendandmanipulate.Ionlyuselicensed photosfromofficialstockphotowebsites. Somegenresneedextracare,suchashistorical fiction,wardramas,andepicfantasy,which oftencallforperiod-accuratemodels(inaction poses).Thegoodnewsisthatyoucanfindexcellent,high-qualitystockphotosforaround$10, andtheyusuallydothejobbeautifully.Thereare alsopremiumlibrarieswherephotoswithexclusiverightscancost$800ormore,butinmost casesthosebudget-friendlyoptionsareallyou need.
Ifyourbookispartofaseries,it’simportantto tellmeearlyon.Ifwechooseamodelforbook one,I’llneedenoughalternatephotosofthemto keepaconsistentlookthroughfuturebooks. Planningaheadsavesalotofhasslelater.
Itypicallydeliverthefirstdraftwithin15workingdays.Needtweaks?Noproblem.Revisions usuallytake3to4days,dependingonthe scope.Idon’tlimitrevisionsaslongasyour feedbackisclearandconstructive.
WhatIExpectfromYou
Thisprocessworksbestwhenwe’reopenand honestwitheachother.Ifthefirstdesigndoesn’t quitefeelright,don’tstress.Justtellmewhat’s missingorfeelsoff,andwe’llfigureitouttogether.Thecleareryouarewithyourfeedback,the easieritisformetobringyourvisiontolifeexactlyhowyouwant.
Thatsaid,ifwe’vetriedafewroundsanditstill doesn’tfeelright,I’llgentlyrecommendanother designerwhomightbeabetterfit.That’sonly happenedtwiceinmytenyearsofdesignwork, butIbelieveit’sbetterforbothsidestopart wayskindlyifthevisiondoesn’talign.
Opencommunicationiskey.Saying,“Idon’t knowwhy,butit’snotquiteright”doesn’thelp meimproveit.Trytobeasspecificasyoucan. Toodark?Notromanticenough?Toomodern? Evenvagueideaslikethishelpmefindtheright direction.
Oneofmyfavoritepartsofthisworkiswhenan authorsays,“That cover feels just like my book.” Thatmomentmakesalltheworkworthwhile.
FinalizingYourCoverandBeyond
Oncewe’rebothhappywithhowthecover looks,youcanconfidentlycheckthatoffyourtodolist.Fromthere,I’llprepareallthefinalfiles youneed,dependingonthepackageyou’vechosen.
Whetherit’saneBookcover,paperbackorhardcoveredition,ordustjacket,I’vegotitcovered. Andifyouneedextramaterialstosupportyour booklaunch,likedigitalpromobanners,bookmarks,postcards,posters,orroll-upbanners, I’mheretohelp.
FinalThoughts
Ifyou’refeelingnervousaboutthecoverdesign process,that’stotallyokay.Youdon’tneedtobe adesignexpertorknowexactlywhatyouwant. I’mheretoguideyouthroughtheprocessand bringyourstorytolifeinthemostthoughtful, professionalwayIcan.Yourbookdeservesa coverthattrulyconnects,andI’dlovetohelp createitwithyou.Whenyou’reready,I’mjustan emailaway!
AboutMe
I’mDeeDee,abookcoverdesignerwithoverten yearsofexperienceingraphicdesign,specializingincreatingbookcoversthattrulycapturean author’svision.Iloveworkingcloselywithauthors,learningwhatmattersmosttothem,and turningtheirstoriesintovisualsthatfeelauthenticandpowerful.
Youcanreachmeat deedeebookcovers@gmail.com orvisitmywebsite www.deedeebookcovers.com
The Closest Thing to Crazy byMikeBatt
Reviewedby LouiseCannon
ISBN-10 : 1785120840
ISBN-13 : 978-1785120848
Publisher: NineEightBooks(September2024)
Blurb
Describedvariouslyasa'polymath',a'renaissanceman'and'oneof themostcolourfulcharactersinthemusicbusiness',MikeBatthasled anextraordinarilyvibrantandchallenginglifethathasbeenfullof bothgloriousvictoriesandbitterfailures.
Forbetterorforworse,heisamanwhohasalwayslivedlifeonhis ownterms.Idiosyncraticbutmainstream,complicatedbutcompassionate,steadfastlymaverickinspiritbutavowedlycommercialin outlook.Heisamanofgreatcontradictions,butevengreatertalent.
Afterstartingoutinthemusicbusinessasateenager,Battshotto fameintheearly1970sforhispartinthecreationoftheWomblespop group.Butthissuccessprovedtobejustthebeginningashethen wentontoworkwithvariousartistsasasongwriter,composerandproducer,includingArtGarfunkel, GeorgeHarrison,CliffRichard,AndrewLloyd-WebberandKatieMelua.
FeaturingcameosfromsomeofthebiggeststarsinthebusinessfromPaulMcCartneytoPrince, The Closest Thing to Crazy takesusnotonlyontherocky(andclassical)journeyofMikeBatt'slifebutalsoona touraroundtheinsideofhismind.
Review
MikeBatt,weallknowfromchildhoodduetocreatingthesoundtrackofTheWombles,buthe’sdoneso muchmore...TheClosestThingtoCrazyisfascinating,andgoesfurtherintohiscolourfullifeandcareer. Histalents,accomplishmentsandlistsofhouseholdnameshe’sworkedwithareimpressive.
Thebookisanimmersivereadfullofcompassion,humourandalltheemotionsashesharesthepeaks andtroughsofhiscomplexlife.
Ihighlyrecommendthisbook.MikeBatt’slifeismorethanyoumaythink.
Louise Michelle Cannon lives in Central Scotland with family and a cute but wily cat. She writes a blog – Bookmarks and Stages, reviewing books, theatre, festivals and conducts the occasional Q&A sessions.
CoverDesignandWhyItMatters
Allison Symes looks at why cover design is so important and shares her experience of working with a small independent press on this aspect.
Theoldsayingaboutnotjudgingabookby itscoverironicallydoes not applytothe publishingindustry.Books are judgedby theircovers.Coversarethefirstitemtodrawa readerintopotentiallybuythebook.Ifthecoverintriguesthem,theywillreadtheblurband maybethentheopeningparagraphortwo.Then hopefullytheywillbuythebook.
TheCoverMatters
Whetheryouareself-published,publishedtraditionally(bighouseorsmallindependentpress), orusehybridpublishing,thecovermatters.Itis yourbook’sbigadvertforitself.
Coversshouldbeappropriatetothebook’sgenre.Thereisareasonhorrornovelsdon’thave fluffycutepinkbunniesonthefront!Covers (andthenthecontentofyourbook)needto matchtheexpectationsoftheintendedaudience.Readersknowwhattheyexpecttoseefor theirfavouritegenresandwritersneedtofitin here.
Itisalsorecommendedbysomany,ifyou’reself -publishing,thetwothingsyoushouldwantto investinaregoodqualityprofessionalediting andtohireacoverdesigner.Youneedbothto giveyourbookitsbestpossiblechanceout there.Youdonotwantyourbooktolookasif wasself-published(asinsomeeyesthereisstill alinktovanitypublishing,whichisrenowned forno/littleeditingandpoorcovers).
Myexperienceisofbeingpublishedviaasmall independentpressbutwhatwaslovelyherewas Icouldhavesomeinputintothecoverdesignof mytwoflashfictioncollections.Thiswaslovely
andIknowmanyauthorswithbiggerpublishers havelittletonosayabouttheircovers.
MyfavouritequotefromP.G,Wodehouseonthis topicis“GodmayforgiveHerbertJenkinsLimitedforthecoverof
butInever shall”.(Havedeliberatelynotnamedthebook!).
MyCovers
Mytwoflashcollectionsaresquarebookswith greenframes(indifferentshadesofgreen)with acentralimageinthemiddle.Theyarestriking lookingbooks.Iwasinvitedtosendinthoughts forwhatI’dliketoseeinthemiddle.
Formy From Light to Dark and Back Again Idefinitelywantedlightonarippleeffectasthatreflectsonthebook’scontents.Thatwasdone.
Formy Tripping the Flash Fantastic, myinitial ideacouldn’tbeusedduetotechnicalissues. Whatwasneededwasanimagethatwouldreproducewellinasquareframe.Noteveryimage doesthis.TheoneI’dpickedinitiallywouldhave beenbestsuitedtoarectangularframe.
Lisa Turley is from West Virginia. She is on numerous ARC street teams and reads in multiple genres. She is passionate about helping authors get the wordoutabouttheirbooks.
SoIthoughtagainandthenselectedanimage ofadesertedcastlewithlightsinthewindows withlightningaboveit.Itisfarbetterthanthe
Allison Symes
oneIfirstchoseandreflectsthestorieswithin dohaveafantasticalelement(whichalsoinspiredthetitle).
SoIwasthinkingallthewayalonghereabout whatimageswouldreflectmybookaccurately andhopefullyintriguereaderstowanttoread them.Youcan’trushthisprocess.
ThinkingAboutYourCovers
Thinkingaboutyourcoverscanbeastrange thingasyouwantyourbooktostandout,so readerswillbuyit,butatoneandthesametime youalsowantyourpreciousvolumetofitinwith booksinyourgenrealreadyoutthere.Youdo havetobeagoodfitandthecoveristheplace tostart.
Bearinmindmostofuswillwanttohave,in time,morethanonebookoutthere,soitpays togivethoughtastohowyouwantyourbooks tolook,especiallyifthey’reinaseries.Whatwill beyourbrandlook?
Youwantsomethingwhichyouarehappytolive withforeverandever,amen.Youwantsomethingwhichyouarehappytopromoteforever andever,amen.
Coversalsohavetolookgoodonacomputer, onamobilephone,andasathumbnailimage.
KeepItSimple
Itpaystokeepyourcoverassimpleasyoucan. Youdon’twantaclutteredlookandthatgoes forthetexttoo.
Ihaveaonelineroneachofmybookswhich sumupwhatmybooksareabout.Theselinessit underneaththecentralimagewiththebooktitle andmynameabovethatimage.Itisa“clean” look.Thefontisasensibleone(sono Comic Sans, please!)andagoodsizewithoutbeingso largeitdominatesthecentralimage.
Thegoodnewsisyoucanresearchaheadof timehere.Docheckoutotherbooksinyourgenreandseewhattheircoverslooklike.Itisespe-
ciallyimportanttocheckout contemporary books.Youwantyourbooktofitinwithwhatis outthere now.
Thisresearchiseasilydoneviayourlibraryand theonlineretailers.Youcanalsoseewhatthe coverslooklikewhen“shrunkdown”totheir requirementsbysaidonlineretailers.
Itpaystothinkaheadasmuchasyoucanabout whatyouwantyourcovertosayaboutyour book.Whatimageswouldfitinwellwithyour theme?
AllianceofIndependentAuthors
IwasandremainhappyIwasabletocontribute tomycoverdesign,despitebeingtraditionally published.Ifyougetthesameopportunity, treasureit!
Forthoseself-publishing,doconsiderjoining the Alliance of Independent Authors. Youneed reputablepeoplewithlongexperienceofselfpublishingonyoursideandtheyareit.Theyalsoofferdiscountsonbookdesign.Docheckout theirwebsiteformoreinformation.https:// www.allianceindependentauthors.org/
Thinkaboutbookcoversyoulove.Whatarethe factorswhichmakethemstandoutforyou?It willgiveyougoodinsightastowhatyouwantto achieveforyourownwork.
Allison Symes is a flash fiction/short story writer, blogger and editor based in Hampshire. She runs writing workshops, judges competitions, and writes weekly for writers for Chandler’s Ford Today. She has two flash fiction collections published (Chapeltown Books) with a third in the pipeline.
RevisitingSonnets
This month, Lis McDermott revisits the Sonnet.
Ifirstwroteaboutsonnetsinthe2023NovembereditionofWriter’sNarrative,talking aboutthetraditionalformsofsonnetswrittenbyShakespeare,Petrarch,Milton,Spenser andmanyothers.
Modernpoetsstillwritesonnets,butwemay notrecognisethemassuchwhenweseethem onthepage.
Theyalsodon’talwayssticktotherulesof rhymingschemesortheotherpoeticdevices, suchasIambicpentameter,orevensyllabic count.However,whatmanydosticktoisthat theirsonnetsaremadeupoffourteenlinesand thepoemoftenlookrectangularinshapeonthe page.Sometimesweonlyknowthatapoemisa sonnet,becausethewriterdefinesthemasthat.
EdnaStVincentMillayanAmericanpoetand playwright,(1892–1950),wroteseveralsonnets inherstyle:14lines,arectangleshapeonthe page,buttheyhavefewothertraitsofthetraditionalsonnetform. Anexampleofherworkis FourSonnets(1922).
Theyarewrittenwithalternaterhyme:lines1 and3rhyme,and2and4rhymeandsoonuntil thelasttwolines,13and14,whichrhymetogether,likeShakespeareansonnets.
ShewasalsothefirstwomantoreceivethePulitzerPrizeforpoetryin1923.
WendyCope(b1945)wrote‘OnSonnet22’,inspiredbyShakespeare’sSonnet22.Shesticksto hisformapartfromsomeconsistenciesinsyllablecountsinsomelines.
SimonArmitage’ssonnet‘IAmVeryBothered By’isonlyasonnetinthatitfollowsthelength oftheromanticsonnet,butabandonsallthe otherusualtraits.Armitage(b.1963),isthecurrentPoetLaureateintheUK.
LisMcDermott
TerranceHayes(b1971),anAmericanpoet wroteandpublishedin2018hiscollection–AmericanSonnetsforMyPastandFutureAssassin.Hissonnetsconsiderthemesofrace,music, andmasculinity.
Hissonnet,“IlockyouinanAmericansonnet thatispartprison”has14linesandislaidouton thepageinarectangularshape,butheignores alloftheotherrulesofrhymeorsyllables.
Whatanymodernpoetsdowhenwritingsonnets istocontinuethemeaningfromonelineintothe nextwhichiscalledenjambment.Thiswasn’t usedbysomeoftheearlierpoets,althoughJohn Miltondidusethisdevice.
AwritingpromptIcameacrosswas,tomakeuse ofmetaphortowriteaboutsomeoneyouhave strongfeelingsfor–negativeorpositive.
Idecidedtogowiththeideaofusingclothingas ametaphor,andalsowentwiththepositiveversion.
Mystartingpointwasmyhusband,Conrad,who I’vebeenwithforover30yearsandhe’salways supportiveofme.
MetaphorisnotoneofmystrongestpointsasI alwaysfeelthattheideasseemforced.
Imadethedecisionmysonnetwon’trhyme.It alsowon’thaveanequalnumberofsyllablesin eachline,butitwillhavefourteenlines,andI’ll trytokeepitlookingrectangularonthepage.
Myfirstversion–Ijustjotteddownideas.
1 Weexistbesideeachother
2 Comfortable,likeapairof
3 Wornjeans,knowingeachotherwell
4 Alwaystheretosupport
5 HoldingmeupwhenIfall
6 Cradlingmybodyinhisarms
7 Givingmestrengthinmyself
8 Ouragedifferencesmatternot
9 Hecaresnotmygirthhasgrown
10Un-noticesmywrinklesandlines
11Ignoresmyfalsetooth
12Takingturnstoleadthedance
13Movingasonetoourlifesong
14Bothblessedtohavefoundtruelove.
Iwasn’timpressedwiththis…itisjust.Alist andthelinesaredifferentlengths.SoIthought moreabouttheclothesaspectandcameup withthelinesbelow.
1 Likeamuch-lovedpairofsoft,comfysocks
2 orapairofjeansthatsnuggletightly
3 clingingtoeverypartofmyageingskin.
4. Strong,longleatherboots,supportme,
5. HoldmeupwhenIwobbleorfall,
6. Wrappedfluffywarmthsurroundsmeevry’ day
7. Dressingmeincomfortingdesire.
8. Oblivioustothemyyearofdesign
9. happilyacceptingofmyvintage,
10.Eachdayhedonshishusbandoutfit
11.Matchingmoods,materials,shapes,
12.wedancedownthecatwalkoflife, 13.Bend,adapt,movefluidlythrough
14Thevariedwardrobeofourlove.
Stillnothappy,andIrememberedanotheridea I’dusedwithmypoetrygroup.
JosephCoelhowasWaterstonesChildren’sLaureatefrom2022to2024andhehasastarting pointheuseswithchildrentowritepoems calledMORERAPS.It’stoencourageyoutoremembertowriteusingmetaphor,onomatopoeia,rhyme,emotion,repetition,alliteration,personificationandsimile.(HehasaYouTubevideo sharingthisidea).
Itookanotherlookatthepoemandthought aboutafewofthesedevicesandendedupwith:
Sonnettoayoungerhusband
Likeamuch-lovedpairofcomfysocks orapairofjeansthatsnuggletightly, clingingtoeverypartofmyageingskin. Strong,longleatherboots,rootme, HoldmeupwhenIwobbleorfall, Fluffy,wrappedwarmthsurroundsme Dressingmeindeliciousdesire.
Oblivioustomyyearofdesign happilyacceptingofmyvintage, Eachdayhedonshishusbandoutfit.
Matchingmoods,materials,shapes, wedancedownthecatwalkoflife, Bend,adapt,movefluidlythrough thevariedwardrobeofourlove.
Lis McDermott is a multi-genre author, poet and writing mentor. Visit Lis’ website: https://lismcdermottauthor.co.uk
Writer and mentor Pauline Tait discusses why research before starting to write matters.
Aswriters,weoftentalkaboutourwriting habits,dailywordcounts,andplotting methods,butI’vealsofoundresearchto beanessentialtoolthatnowformsthebaseof mywritingprocess.
Whetheryouareasplotterorapantser,research canandshouldplayafarmorepowerfulrole thanyoumightrealise.It’snotjustaboutpolishingdetailsasyouedit,it’saboutarmingyour creativitywiththeknowledgeneededtogive yourstoriesaseeminglyeffortlessdepththat transcendstoyourreadersastheyfalleffortlesslyintoyourworlds.
Weoftenthinkofresearchassomethingreservedforhistoricalorcrimefictionorscienceheavythrillers.Butwhetheryou'rewritingcontemporaryfiction,fantasy,romance,memoir,or mystery,diggingintotheworldyou'reaboutto createbringsclarity,directionand,often,afew surprisesalongtheway.
WhyResearchBeforeWritingMatters
It’softenthoughtwritingstartswhenyourfingershitthekeys.Butthetruthismostoftheimportantcreativedecisionsaremadelongbefore. Andifthey’renot,there’sariskyou’llendup halfwaythroughadraftthatdoesn’tquitework andyou’renotsurewhy.
Researchgivesyousomethingtoleanon.It’sone thingtoimagineacharacterwhorunsawildlife rescuecentreorteachesclimbingintheHighlands,butit’sanothertounderstandwhatthat lookslikedaytoday.
Forexample:Whatdoestheirworkdayinclude? Whatstressesaccompanytheseoccupations?
Howdotheirjobsaffectthempersonally,both emotionallyandsocially?
Butdigdeeper.Whenyourcharacterentersan enclosureinthewildliferescuecentre,whatcan theysmell?Whatwouldrealisticallybeincluded inthatenclosure?Howdotheyfeelamongstthe animals?
Researchwillallowyoutobeaccuratetothefive senses,allowingyourwritinggreaterdepth.This, inturn,willhelptoensureyourstoryisbelievable,credibleandhasadepththatpullsyour readersin.
Whenyoubeginthewritingprocesswithresearch,you’remakingsuretheworldyou’re buildinghasweight.You’regivingyourselftools toshapeaplotthatmakessense,andcharacters whoactinbelievableways.
Italsohelpspreventthekindofrewritesthat happenwhenyourealisehalfwaythroughasceneyou’vegotthelogisticscompletelywrong,or thejobtitledoesn’tdowhatyouthoughtitdid. Thatkindoffixisn’tjustatechnicaledit.Itoften affectspacing,dialogueandinsomeinstances, theending.
PaulineTait
WhatToResearchBeforeYouPlot
Youdon’tneedtoresearcheverythingatonce, butitdoeshelptoinvestigatetheareasthatwill holdupthestructureofyourstory.
Location.Whereisyourstoryset?Howdoesthe weathertypicallybehaveinyourchosenlocation?Howdopeoplespeak?Whatkindof transportdotheyuse?Aretherelocalindustries, patternsoflife,orseasonalshiftsthatmightaffectwhat’spossible?Ifyouhaven’tbeenthere, howcanyoulearnmoreabouttheatmosphere andrhythmofthatlocation?
Characters.Wheredotheywork?What’stheir culturalbackground?Whatresponsibilitiesdo theycarry?Ifyourmaincharacterisavet,ithelps toknowhowthejobworks.Ifyourstorytouches onillness,grief,addiction,anxietyortrauma,it’s importanttoapproachthosetopicswithcare. Real-lifeaccounts,professionalarticlesordirect conversationswithpeoplewho’velivedthose experiencescanhelpavoidunintentionalharm andbuildsomethingthatfeelsreal.
Plot.Ifyourstoryincludespoliceinvolvement,a missingperson,adivorce,aroadtriporamedicaldiagnosis,thereisaprocess,system,and pace.Lookingintothemechanicsofhowevents unfoldcanhelpkeepyourplotgrounded.Italso helpsyouspotpotentialstoryopportunitiesyou mightotherwisehavemissed.
HowToBuildResearchIntoYourRoutine
Researchdoesn’thavetotakeoveryourschedule.Itcansitalongsideyourusualbrainstorming orplanninghabits.
Somewritersliketoblockouttimespecifically forresearch.Othersweaveitinastheygo.It’s importanttoknowthere’snoonerightway.What mattersisyoustayintentional.Scribbledown questionsastheyarise,keepafolderornotebookjustforyourresearchnotes,saveuseful
links,capturephrasesortermsthatfeelrelevant,andbookmarkinterviewsorarticles.
WhenToStopResearchingandStartWriting
There’salwaysapointwhereresearchbecomes procrastination.Thatmomentwhereyoutell yourselfyoujustneedtoreadonemorething beforeyoucanbegin.Ifyoufeelyourselfcircling thesametopicswithoutacting,itmightbetime tostopresearchingandbeginwriting.
TheBenefitsOfResearch
There’salotwedon’tknowwhenwesitdown towriteourfirstdraft,butresearchcanhelpreduceanyuncertainties.It’sareminderwedon’t havetomakeeverythingup.Wecanstartwith somethingrealandbuildfromthere.
Italsoopensdoors.Often,themostinteresting twistsinastorycomefromsomethingI’ve stumbledacrosswhileresearchingsomething else.Astrayfact,athrowawayquote,oratimelinethatdoesn’tquiteworkcanoftenforceour characterstomakeunexpecteddecisions. Thesearethemomentsthatcanmoveaplot alongfromgoodtogreat.
ResearchCanHaveItsOwnUnexpected Twists
Overtheyears,researchhastakenmeacross theglobeandopenedunexpecteddoors.
For Abigail Returns, IinterviewedaPoliceConstablefromanarearelevanttomysettingand heansweredmyquestionsin-personandovera fullScottishbreakfast.
Beforewriting A Life of Their Own,Icontacted theColoradoStateForestService.Iaddressed myemailtothe communications manager, and tobehonest,Iwasn’tentirelysureIwouldreceivearesponse.AshortwhilelaterIreceived anemailburstingwiththeinformationneeded toensurethat,asawriterbasedinScotland,my
writingwastrueandcredibletothelandscape andfaunaofthestateofColorado.Butitwashis finalparagraphthatwasthemoststartling, ‘I myself write novels on the side so I understand the difficulty of research.’
TheinterviewIfoundmostrewardingwas duringCovid.Wewereinlockdownandwhere possibletheworldwasworkingfromhome.I contactedtheScottishFireandRescueService andwasputintouchwithaWatchCommander. WemetoverZoom,andhewasextremelyhelpful,answeringmyinterviewquestionsinaway thatgavemeinsightnotonlyintotheday-todaylifeofafirefighter,butalsointowhatit physicallyfeelsliketobedressedinfullprotectivegear.Abitofchitchatattheendandwe serendipitouslydiscoveredhewasthepartner ofanoldschoolfriend,andIhadbeensending himaChristmascardfordecades.
Apartfromresearchopeningmanydoors,writingiseasierwhenyou’renotguessing.When you’vetakenthetimetodigintotheworldof yourstory,yourwordswillflowwithmoredirectionasyou’resafeintheknowledgethatnot only what youarewritingcanhappen,butalso how itshouldhappen.
AubreyBeardsley1872-1898
Whilemagazinecovershavebeenaroundforas longasmagazineshavebeenpublished,theillustrated,commercialcoversthatweknowand recognisetodayarelargelyattributedtoEnglish illustratorandauthorAubreyBeardsley,who illustratedthecoverdesignforthemagazine Yellow Book in1894.
Untilthelate1800s,bookcoverswereeither leather-boundorvellum-crafted,andlaterhad illustrateddustjacketstoprotectthecontents. Magazinesatthattimewouldhavehadsimple text-basedcovers.
Paulineisamulti-award-winning,bestselling authorofchildren’spicturebooksandromanticmysteries.Herpicturebooksspark imaginationandsupportearlyliteracy,while hernovelsfollowwomenovercomingextraordinarychallenges,findinglove,anddiscoveringtheirinnerstrength.Withapassion forstorytellingandadeepunderstandingof thepublishingworld,Paulineisalsoawriting&publishingmentor. www.paulintait.com
AubreyVincentBeardsley,borninBrightonin 1872,hadanotablebutshortcareer.Hisblack inkdrawingswerelargelyinfluencedbyJapanesewoodcuts.Beardsley’sworkwascontroversial,mainlybecauseoftheimagesportrayed inhiswork,whichwereoftendarkandperverse. Despitethis,Beardsleywasaleadingfigureof theaestheticmovementofthetime,whichincludedOscarWilde.
AubreyBeardsleydiedoftuberculosis(TB)in 1898attheageof25inMenton,France.
In1982,JohnSelwynGilbertwrotethestage play, Aubrey, covering theperiodinBeardsley’s lifefollowingthe1985arrestofOscarWildeuntil Beardsley’sdeathfromTB.Alsoin1982,the documentary Beardsley and His Work was written, andaBBC4Documentary, Scandal and Beauty: Mark Gatiss on Aubrey Beardsley, was madein2020.AubreyBeardsley’spicturealso featuresonthecoverofTheBeatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album.
LookoftheBook:Jackets,CoversandArtattheEdgesofLiterature
byPeterMendelsundandDavidJ.Alworth
ReviewedbySheenaMacleod
ISBN-10: 0399581022
ISBN-13: 978-0399581021
Publisher: PublisherTenSpeedPress(2020)
Whydosomebookcoversinstantlygrabyourattention,while othersnevergetasecondglance?Fusingwordandimage,aswell asdesignthinkingandliterarycriticism,thiscaptivatinginvestigationgoesbehindthescenesofthecoverdesignprocesstoanswer thisquestionandmore. Astheoutwardfaceofthetext,thebookcovermakesanallimportantfirstimpression.TheLookoftheBookexaminesartat theedgesofliteraturethroughnotablecoversandthestoriesbe-
hindthem,galleriesofthemanydifferentjacketsofbestsellingbooks,anoverviewofbookcovertrends throughouthistory,andinsightsfromdozensofliteraryanddesignluminaries.Co-authoredbycelebrateddesignerandcreativedirectorPeterMendelsundandscholarDavidAlworth,thisfascinatingcollaboration,featuringhundredsofcovers,challengesournotionsofwhatabookcovercanandshouldbe.
Review
Thisisafascinatinghistoricalaccountthatgetstotheveryheartofcoverdesign.Byprovidingunique insightsintowhatbookcoversshouldlooklike,alongwithnumerousexamples,authorscanbecome morefamiliarwithwhichaspectsofbookcoverdesignaremostlikelytograbreaders'attention.
Writtenasaseriesofshortessaysanalysingthecovers,theauthorsofferinsightsintohowbookcovers haveevolvedthroughtime,takingintoaccountdifferentgenresfromthetraditionaltothemoreunconventional.
Ifoundtheexaminationofbookcovertrendsthroughouthistoryinsightfulandinformative.Ithasgiven melotstothinkaboutasIcollaborateonmynextbookcover.Ifyouareinterestedinart,design,thestoriesbehindnotablebookcoversandcollaboratingwithcoverdesigners,thenthistreasureofabook wouldmakeagreatadditiontoyourlibrary.
SoulDogMeetsNovakIllustration
Elizabeth Rose discusses her collaboration with Novak Illustration to develop a cover for the reprint of her memoir.
WhenIwasreadytoself-publishmy backlist,afriendputmeintouchwith hercoverdesigner,StevenNovak,of NovakIllustration.
Myfirstforayintoself-publishingwastoreprint my2001memoirretitled Soul Dog: a Memoir of Spirit, Smarts, and Love.Iwaslookingforwardto redoingthecover.HarmonyBookshadmadea prettyone,butIdidn’tlikethetitletheychose, For the Love of a Dog.
Ialsodidn’tlikethecentralimage,acuteborder collieI’dnevermet.Thesuspenseofmemoir comes,asmemoiristPhilipLopateputit,from seeing“howfarthe[writer]candroppasthisor herpsychicdefensestowarddeeperlevelsof honesty.”Icouldn’tstartanhoneststorywitha fakephoto.
Inthebook,ratherthanmakephilosophicalor theologicalarguments,Itelldown-to-earthtrue storiesthatchallengethemeaningweinvestin theuniquedogs,horses,andotheranimalswith whomweshareourlives.Iexplorethequestion, “Howcanyoutelliftheanimalsyoulovehave soulslikeyours?”
Nowwasmychanceforacoverthatcaptured thejoyfulbondshumansforgewithindividual creatures.Iwantedanimalloverstoknowthatif youbuyandreadthisbook,you’llneverhaveto doubtyourselfforthrowingtime,money,and thoughtintoananimalfriendshipthatforever changesthestoryofyourlife.
AfterIagreedtoSteven’sreasonablepricing,he askedforinformationandadded,“Ifthereare anycoverscurrentlyonthemarketthatyoureallylikeformetouseasinspiration,pointmeto them.I'vefoundthiscanbeREALLYhelpful.”
ThecoversIlikedfeaturedrealcrittersupclose. Sincethiswasatruestoryaboutanimalswhom readersgrowtocareabout,Irummagedold shoeboxesforpicturesofmyoldfriends’furred andfeatheredfaces.IsentStevendigitalversionswithnotesabouteach.Allshowedfaces butone.It’sthemaincharacter,Kierney,prancingonabeachandtossingaFrisbeetoherself.I wrote,“Ilovethewaythisonemakesmefeel.” ThenIsatbacktowaitwhileherootedthrough theoverloadeddumpsterofinformationIsent.
Thenextmorning,heemailed,“Havealookand letmeknowwhatyouthink!”
Ilovedit.
He’dusedthephotoIflaggedasfeel-good,but hisdesignmadeitevenmoreuplifting.Although heturnedthewhitesandyellow,theblue-andyellowpaletteheightenedtheexuberance, wholesomeness,andjoyoftheplayfuldoginthe center.Ifpeopleneverforgetthewayyoumade themfeel,StevenfaithfullycapturedthewayI hopethisbookmakesreadersfeel.
ButdidhereallyconsidereverythingIsent? Couldtherightcoverbethateasy?Itwastoo goodtobetrue.
TherevisionprocessremindedmeofwhenI workedasacopywriteronateamofgraphicdesignersatanadvertisingfirm.ButnowIwasa clientandthedesignersdidn’tappreciateclients whosecond-guessedthem.Atstaffmeetings,the
ElisabethRose
creativeteamspentalotofenergyarguing aboutwhentopushbackandwhentoletthe clientshavetheawkward,uninspired,andruinedworktheyinsisteduponintheirignorance.
StevencheerfullymadeeveryeditIrequested, suchasadjustmentstofonts,buthe’dalso madeotherchanges,forexample,erasingthe footprintsinthechurnedsandandafewother thingsIdidn’tlike.Wewentbackandforthlike thisawhile,mesuggestingtinyeditsandhim merrilydoingthoseedits andabitmorethanI asked.
Wheneverhefocusedonthefile,hetinkered. Didn’tIdothesametomymanuscripts,sometimesyearsaftertheywerepublished?ButStevenwasalwaysswiftandcheerful.Something importantdawnedonme:hisegowasn’tinvestedinmybookcover.
Helistened,worked,andletgo.Justlikethe seasonedgraphicdesignerswhereIonce worked,he’dopenthefileandplayaroundlike KierneywithherFrisbee,makemyeditswithout judgement,tossitbacktome,andgenerally leavemeandmyignorancefreetobotchuphis lovelycoverifIwantedto.
Ontheotherhand,ifIdeferredtoomuchtohis expertise,Imightsettleforsomethingthatneverfeltright,likemyoldcoverintroducingsomebodyelse’sdog.ThefactthatStevenkepthis egooutoftheequationmadeitsafeformeto speakup.
Speakingup,though,putmeindangerofthe Dunning-KrugerEffect.Thatis,themoretime spentdesigningmycover,themoreImightover -estimatemygraspofcoverdesign.
Howtogetoutofmyownway?Theexperienced artistsattheadvertisingfirmknewthatads aren’tfordesignersorclients,they’reforcustomers.Withthatinmind,Ishareddraftsofthe designwithbetareadersonline.
Suddenlywehadhundredsofcooksinour kitchen!Isentsmallsuggestionstohim,suchas theplacementofthesubtitleandtweaksto kerning(spacesbetweenletters).Theedits
seemedrelentless,endless,dull.Whathappened tothedesignIlovedatfirstsight?
Bookcoversarebutablipintheeyeofabuyer; nowIcouldn’tseethecoverforthekerning.
Iputitaside.
Oneday,Iwalkedintoabig-boxbookstore.An avalancheoffonts,images,palettes,andtexturestumbledovermyeyes,tableaftertable, andshelfaftershelf.There,inmymind’seye,I carriedthemicrocosmofmyonepreciousbook andsawitagainstthemacrocosmofthemarketplace.ThecoverStevenoriginallydesignedhad notonlycapturedthewayIhopemybookmakes readersfeel,itfitrightinwiththemarketplace.It wasreadytoholditsownandseekitsreaders.
Elisabeth Rose is a stunt dog trainer, an awardwinning essayist, and author of the memoir, Soul Dog: A Memoir of Spirit, Smarts, and Love. Her supernatural thriller, Body Sharers, made top-five finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Foundation Award. Former co-director of the Other Words Conference and active member of Sisters in Crime, she founded the The Gloria Sirens, a collective promoting women in the literary arts. She lives in Florida where she murders orchids and teaches dogs to moonwalk.
Children’sBooks-MoreThanJustaPrettyPicture
Children’s author Pauline Tait discusses the need for age-appropriate book covers and provides practical advice on how to get this right.
Childrendon’treadblurbs.Atleast,notat first.
Theypickupabookbecausesomething onthecoverspeakstothem.Acharacter.Acolour.Aglintofsomethingmagical.They’llmight flipitoverbutthey’remorelikelytopressitto theirchestanddeclare,‘Thisone.’
Coversmatter.Notjustbecausetheysellbooks (whichtheydo),butbecausethey’reachild’s firstpointofconnection.Theyneedto feel right. Andthatmeansgettingthebalancejustso,betweenappealingtolittlereaders,catchingthe adultbuyer’seye,andmeetingtheexpectations oftraditionallypublishedstandards.
So,whatmakesagreatchildren’sbookcover?
Thinkchildfirst
Beforeanythingelse,thinkaboutthechild. Whatagegroupareyouwritingfor?Whatmakes them stopandlook?Brightcolours?Cheekycharacters?Ahintofadventure?
For3to5years-bold,cleanshapesandexpressivefacesworkbeautifully.Charactersshouldbe easytoidentify,evenfromadistance.Ifyour bookispartofaseries,recognisabilitybecomes extremelyimportant.Yourlittlereaderneedsto spot‘their’characterinaseaofotherstories.
For5to7years-youcanaddmoredetailand energy.Charactersinaction.Ahintoftheplot.A littlemysteryorhumour.Somethingthatnudges thechildtoopenthebookandfindoutmore.
Butrememberwho’sbuying
Whilethechild’sreactionmattersmost,it’susuallyanadultmakingthepurchase.
Parents,teachers,librarians,grandparents,they wanttofeelconfidentthatwhattheyarebuying isage-appropriate,beautifullymade,andworthy ofshelfspace.
Yourcoverneedstosay, this book is quality.That meansaclean,professionallayout.Awellconsideredtitleandfont,andbreathingspace. Don’tcrameveryinchwithdetail.
Avoidoverusedfontsorgimmickydesigntricks. Instead,optforcleartypography,propercontrast,andcompositionthatdrawstheeye.Ifit looksDIY,itcantriggerdoubts,evenifthestory insideisbrilliant.
Andkeeptotherulesourchildrenlearnin school.Starteachwordwithacapitalletterand keeptherestofthetexttolowercase.Rememberouryoungeraudiencesaretaughtletter sounds(abc)beforeletternames(ABC).Theyare thentaughttosoundoutandblendletter sounds.Forinstance,soundingoutc-a-twillalwaysgetthemtocat.But,C-A-T,willsimplyconfusethem.Andifatitleistooconfusingforan earlyreader,they’regoingtopresumethestory istoo!
PaulineTait
Clarityiskey
Yourcoverneedstocommunicatetoapotential buyerwithinasecond.It’scompetingwithhundredsofothersonashelf,soyoudon’thavelong tomakeanimpression.
Makesure:
Yourtitleislegible,evenatabriefglance. Theillustrationorcentralimagetiesclearlyto yourstory.
There’safocalpoint.Onethingthatwillgraba potentialreader’sattention.
Matchthetoneofthestory
Agoodcoversetsthemoodbeforeasinglewordis read.Isyourstorygentleanddreamy?Funnyand fast-paced?Mysteriousandmagical?
Thestyleofillustration,choiceoffont,andcolour paletteshouldallworktogethertoreflectthe heartofyourstory.Asoftpastelwashmightsuita bedtimetale,whileboldprimariesmightbetter suitariotousadventure.
Consistencyoftoneiswhathelpsareaderfeel, yes, this is the kind of story I love.
Front,backandspine
It’seasytofocusjustonthefrontcover,butevery partofyourbookdesignplaysarole.
Thespine-It’softenbesttoavoidaddingtextto thespineofachildren’spicturebook,especiallya
paperback.Thespinesareusuallysothinthat evenamillimetreortwoofprintingmisalignmentcanthrowoffthetextandspoiltheoverall look.Asimpleworkaroundistouseasinglewrap -arounddouble-pagespreadforthecoverdesign.Ithelpsavoidanyprintingoralignmentissuesaltogether.
Thebackcover–Yourillustrationmustcontain spaceforastrongblurb,publisherlogoandbarcode.Remember,whilechildrenaren’treading theblurb,thebuyersare.Yourcoverandblurb shouldalwaysreassureandentice.
Ifyourbookispartofaseries,usedesignelementsthattieeachonetogethervisuallywhile stillgivingeachcoveritsownflavour.
Traditionalstandardsstillapply
Eveninindiepublishing,traditionalstandards matter.
Useprofessionalillustration.Eventhebestconceptcanbeletdownbyweakartwork,mismatchedstyles,orpoorproduction.Hireanillustratorwhounderstandthenuancesofchildren’sbooks,characterconsistency,expressive storytelling,andtheindustryspecifications.
Leavespaceforyourbarcodeandprice,evenif you'reonlysellingdirect.Checkbleedsandtrim areas.Ensureyourtextissafelyinsidemargins.
Makesuretheresolutionisprint-ready(usually 300dpi),anddouble-checkthatcoloursareset
toCMYKforprintandRGBfordigitalformats.
It’sthesesmall,technicaldetailsthatelevatea booktopublishready.
Don’tforgetthemagic
It’seasytogetcaughtupinthepracticalities, fonts,margins,andbarcodes,butpicturebooks aresomuchmore.They’remagical.
Yoursmaynotbeachild’sfirstbook,butsomethingaboutithasmadethemstop.Thatmoment ofconnectionmatters.
Sooncethetechnicalboxesaretickedandthe layout’slookingstrong,takeastepback.Lookat yourcoverthroughachild’seyes.Doesitspark something?Doesitmakeyouwanttopeekinside?
Greatcoversaren’tjustwell-made,they’reemotionallyinviting.Theywhisper, Come closer… there’s a story here just for you.
Thatdoesn’tmeanoverloadingitwithdetailor turningupthecolourdial.Sometimes,thequietestcovershavetheloudestpull.Whatmatters isthatitfeelstruetothestoryyou’vetoldinside. Andremember,youonlygetonechanceto makeafirstimpression.Whetherit’sonabookshelf,amarketstall,orascreen,yourcoveris theonethingthatcatchestheeyeandmakes someonepause.
Paulineisamulti-award-winning,bestsellingauthorofchildren’spicturebooksandromantic mysteries.Herpicturebookssparkimagination andsupportearlyliteracy,whilehernovelsfollow womenovercomingextraordinarychallenges, findinglove,anddiscoveringtheirinnerstrength. Withapassionforstorytellingandadeepunderstandingofthepublishingworld,Paulineisalsoa writing&publishingmentor.www.paulintait.com
BartsBooks,Ojai,California
byWendyH.Jones
Giventhismonth’smagazineisaboutcoverdesign,itwasratherdifficulttochoose amatchingbookshop;let’sfaceitall bookshopshavestunningcovers.So,Iwentwith quirky,andthisbookshophasthemostamazing quirk;itisthelargestoutdoorbookshopinthe world.Yes,youheardthatcorrectly–outdoor.
ComingfromScotlandallIcanthinkofis,what ifitrains.It’sagenuineconcern.However,my fearswereallayedrealisingtherearecanopies toprotectthebooks.Theotherquirkofthis
bookshopisastonishing.Atnightitworksonan honoursystem.Theytrustcustomerstopay.I takemyhatofftothem.
Foundedin1964,itcarriesacollectionof 130,000newandusedbooksfrompaperbacks toraregems.Passionatereadersaresureto findsomethingtheywillenjoyand,whoknows, mayevenfindtheirnewfavouriteauthor.Quite frankly,IfeelitisworthatriptoCalifornia,just forthis.Goon,youknowyouwantto.
Wendy H. Jones is the multi-award-winning, best-selling author of adult crime thrillers and cozy mysteries, children’s picture books and non-fiction books for writers. In addition, she is a writing coach, partner in Auscot Publishing and Retreats and hosts the Writing and Marketing Show podcast.
MonthlyWritingPrompts
Wendy H. Jones and Tami C. Brown set this month’s writing prompts. Inspired by a theme of cover design they provide a range of prompts. Why not give them a try?
Words: Takecover
Second-hand,flower,upbeat,fetch,broken
Deepinthewoods
Music:
TheCoverisNottheBookfromMaryPoppins Returns
DreamBig,FlyHighbyEchoesinAshes
CoverMeinSunshineby Pink
Images:
Bookcoversareallinthereadersimagination. Whatdrawsyouinandmakesyoupickupthe book?Forme,it'slighting,seascapes,andthe covermakeswonderwhatthebookisabout.My picturesthismontharechairs.Thepictures makemethinkwhodothechairsbelongto,and isthereroomforme,thereader?Ipausefora minuteandthenallowtheauthortotakemeon thejourneyofthestoryandwhetherItakeit home.
images
WritingPrompts
Image1
WendyH.Jones
TamiC.Brown
(Photographic
by Tami C. Brown)
Editor in chief, Wendy H. Jones is the multi-award -winning, best-selling author of adult crime thrillers and cozy mysteries, children’s picture books and non-fiction books for writers. In addition she is a writing coach, partner in Auscot Publishing and Retreats and hosts the Writing and Marketing Show podcast.
Tami C. Brown loves to have her camera ready to snap beauty wherever she goes. Her family and friends, affectionately known as the Queenies, are well prepared for random stops along the journey to have a photo op. She’s grateful for all photography opportunities and the adventures that come along with it.
Image3
It’sJustWombatularity
Sophie, ably assisted by Peter Thomas, discusses the many challenges facing the planet and how we need to understand the issues facing those who make the overall decisions.
Therearemanytroublesintheworldwhich driveevendogstobecomephilosophical: international,nationalandlocalconcerns,issuesinhealthcareprovision,ineducation,inplanningpermission,andrepairofpotholes.Nottomentionthemanifestlyinequitable distributionofsnacksandtreatsamongdifferentclassesofdogs.Somepeopleblameall thesedistressingsituationsongreedandcorruption,orevenonconspiracies.Spanielssee thingsdifferently.Wetrytolookforthebestin allhumanssoourexplanationformostofthese problemsisdifferent:it’sjustwombatularity.
Wombatsareofcoursetheclosemarsupial cousinsofkoalas.InIndigenousAustralianculture,wombatsaretraditionallysymbols ofwisdomandresourcefulness.Inreality,while theyareadorablycuteandcuddly,wombatsare sadlyshortofintelligence.Hencethecommon Australianinsult,“wombat-headed”,firstrecordedbythenotoriousoutlawNedKellyranting againstthepoliceinhisfamousletterwrittenin 1879inthesmallNewSouthWalestownof Jerilderie.
Somepeoplethinkthattheimageofawombat asacluelesspersonwhomakesrecklessandillinformeddecisionsoriginatedwiththe2022televisionadvertsofapricecomparisonwebsitein theslogan“don’twombatit,meerkatit”.ButI canexclusivelyrevealthatthefirstuseofthe wordinthatsensecanactuallybetracedback halfacenturytosometimebetween9.30and10 amonTuesday,3rd September1979.
ItwasourDaddy’sfirstmorningasaNewlyQualifiedTeacherofChemistryinaprestigiousstate school.Meetinghispastoralgroupofelevenyear-oldsforthefirsttime,therewasaparticular pupilwhowillremainnameless,becauseheis nowslightlyfamous,orelseheisinjail,possibly both.AsDaddywastakingthatfirstregisterthe youngmanmadeasimplemistake,which causedgreatamusementforthewholeclass. WhenyouarecalledSteve,howdifficultcanitbe torememberwhetheryourownnameisspelled infullwithVorwithPH?Eitherway,Daddycasuallyremarked,“Whatawombat!”Thestudent hadmadethekindoferrorwhichinDaddy’s mindonlyawombatwouldmake.
Soitwasthatthepupilsofthatclass,andvery soonallhisotherpupilsandamazinglyother teacherstoo,begantorespondtoallkindsof laughablestatementswiththeacclamation, “Whatawombat.”Almosttwentyyearslaterand adecadeafterhehadlasttaughtthere,Daddy returnedasavisitingspeakerandwasastonishedtodiscoverthattheexpressionlivedon amongsucceedinggenerationsofpupilsand staff.Sillymistakeswhichareobvioustoeverybodybutthespeaker,whichstemfromfoolishnessorignoranceorfailingtogivethequestion
TessawithSophie
adequateconsideration,werestillbeingcalled outforwhattheywere:wombatularity.
IaskedTessaforherinsightsonthisandshe pointedmetopsychologists’researchonthe Dunning-KrugerEffect.Thisisthetendencyof peoplewithlowabilityinaspecificareatogive overlypositiveassessmentsoftheirability.Asa resultthosewhoareincompetentinaskillcannotrecognisetheirownincompetence.Thisis why,tragically,wombatsareinvariablyblindto theirownwombatularity.
Managementstudieshavelongbeenawareof thedifficultiesthiscangenerate.Whenpeople aregoodatajob,theyarelikelytogetpromoted.Whentheyarriveatajobtheycannotdo, theygenerallygetstuckatthatlevel.Thisis knownasthePeterPrinciple:peopletendtobe promotedtotheirlevelofincompetence.During thetimeofCovidlockdowns,whenwombatularitywasclearlyatitsheight,thethenEducation SecretarysuggestedthatawardingAlevel gradesonthebasisofteacher’spredictions wouldleadinyearstocometosomepeoplebeingover-promotedbeyondtheircompetence. Manyimmediatelycommentedthishadalready happenedformanyinthatGovernment.
Itistrueweliveinaworldwheresomebadpeopledoterriblethings.Anditisstillthecasethat “allittakesforeviltotriumphisforgooddogsto donothing.”Butthereisalsoanadagecredited toNapoleonBonaparte:“Neverascribetomalicethatwhichisadequatelyexplainedbyincompetence.”SimilarlyinRobertA.Heinlein's1941 novella Logic of Empire acharacterdescribesthe “deviltheory”fallacy:“Youhaveattributedconditionstovillainythatsimplyresultfromstupidity.”
Ourplanetisfacingsomanychallenges,from floodsandfaminesandglobalwarming,topovertyandtradewarsandpandemics.Beforewe rushtocondemnpeoplewhoaremakingobviouslypoordecisionsaboutcomplexissues,we shouldbecharitable.Allisnotself-interestor nepotism.Therearenosinisterplots.Theseare
notnecessarilybadpeople.Theyarejustwombatsdoingtheirbestbutwhoareoutoftheir depth.Whatwereallyneedistoputincharge thebestandmostcapablecreatures(ideally, spaniels).Untilthathappystatearrivesthe worldwillremaincursedbywombatularity.And noteventhewombatswantthat.
Rev Peter Thomas has published three non-fiction books and is delighted now to assist Sophie in her creative writing projects. Originally a teacher and author in the fields of chemistry and computing, Peter retired in 2023 after 36 years as a Minister of local Baptist Churches. He continues to add to his blog and videos of more than a thousand sermons and reflections found at www.pbthomas.com.
SubscriberNews
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PeterThomasandSophie
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Writers’NarrativeeMagazine
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Themesfor2025
Month
January/ February Non-Fiction
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Theme
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Comingin September2025
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Andmore….
September2025
