Design

I was nervous waiting for Amanda to create my cover, even though I knew that spirit would be behind her. I was hoping she would design something that she liked and try not to get caught up on what my wishes might be. Often that is the hardest thing to do, when one is trying to please another. I know when I was a journalist it was always difficult when a writer would come up with a story idea and expect me to write it. It was often hard trying to do it `their way’ especially if the angle of the story wasn’t an obvious one. I explained what The Collective Us was about and what I thought I might want on the cover, but really, I had no clue as to the latter. Amanda listened intently.

 She was prompt in her design, returning the draft earlier than she had indicated. Mentally, I had already prepared for the `wait’ so I was surprised to see the email in my inbox. I almost couldn’t look. What if I didn’t like the design? What if she could never get it right? When I finally drew myself to view it, I was pleasantly surprised – no, more than that. I was delighted. Amanda’s use of colour was amazing and unbeknownst to her, she had included my favourite colour, a rich pinky-maroon, within the clouds. When she had asked about colour, I had said I would leave that up to her. She had also included some vibrant yellows and oranges, producing a striking burst of colour.

A cover can make or break a story, I believe. If it is boring, one could easily be deterred from picking the book up off the shelf, no matter how good or interesting the content inside.

I had exchanged readings with a couple of friends, something I do often. We asked each other a question, then went in for the answers. I asked about my cover. ``You will like it,’’ one friend had said, while the other assured me it would draw readers in. Several months back, I had had a psychic reading and asked about my book, with the woman telling me that people would be drawn towards my stall. I intend to take my book to the Mind Body Soul events. At the time, I found this difficult to imagine. Why would anyone be drawn to someone selling only one or two books? However, now that I have seen the cover, I can actually imagine this happening.

I am so grateful to Amanda for her design and I am looking forward to the finished product.

I am not sharing the cover just yet. I will do that closer to publication.