Cover Design

Whew...What a week!!! It all began on Monday January 18Th. I had just emailed my manuscript to the editor the previous Friday, just making my deadline. Monday afternoon the back cover was written, and sent to me for my approval, which was all fine. But Monday evening was when my week became insane with anxiety and indigestion. I received an email at about 10:00pm from my cover designer. I was excited to see what they came up with and at the same time I remembered back two years earlier when my first books cover was designed. Though "Living and Dying Without Regrets" book cover has been praised by other authors, and readers; it was a cover that I hadn't envisioned. So when I opened up the email that evening all those feelings came back to me.

The first cover was alright. It wasn't what I would have asked for, but I didn't hate it. The second cover was all wrong. A blue tint cover with a mountain climber climbing the face of a cliff. This cover made the book look like an outdoors type of book; it's not. The third cover was different. It was a bright yellow green with bold black text, and a frayed rope. This one was my favorite, however I still didn't pick it. No, I emailed the designer and asked to go another route.

I sent them an image of me hanging on a rope about three months prior. I told them that this was an image I'd like to be on the cover. It was the image I had in my mind during the entire time of writing the book, but for some reason they didn't feel that it looked right. After going back and forth all week, and passing images and covers back and forth we finally came to a conclusion. This was a cover using my image and their colors and fonts. It's not a cover I would have ever thought of, however I really like it. It's the one with me, hanging at the the end of my rope on the bottom right. Many of you may like a one of the other original ones better, but as for my vision for the book, and knowing what's inside the cover, this cover is perfect. Next up, internal layout design.

Final Editing Deadline is Today

Well the day has come. January 15Th, the day set by my publisher as my deadline to have my manuscript back into their hands, along with my signature of approval. This has been a long couple of weeks. I received the manuscript with the deadline notice on December 31st, which so happened to be the same day that my wife and I became very ill. I read most of the book on my iPhone while lying down. Then after I finished reading it on my iPhone, I read it over again on my computer. It's been a tiring couple of weeks between being sick, taking care of my family, and working long hours. But I must admit. I think that the book has turned out great! And hopefully I made the appropriate changes so there will be no typos, or quirky errors. I'm excited to get this book into the hands of readers, but I have to hold my horses for a moment.

We've still got a long road ahead of cover design, and layout design. Then the book has to be sent to production while a release date is generated. Oh yea, and the audio book has to be recorded as well. Wow! The more I think about it, the more I realize that allot has to be done. Still I must admit, as anxious as I could get, I'm enjoying every moment. And the only thing to do while waiting for this book to be complete, is to continue writing. Until next time, have a blessed life, and live it strong for the Lord.