Sunday, November 4, 2007

It's MY Crisis! Ad I'll Cry if I Need To


Did you design the cover? No.

Did you get to give any input about the cover design? Yes. My publisher (Angela Hoy at Booklocker) offers templates for book covers, but she was receptive to my use of original artwork.

Is there an interesting story behind the cover design? If so, please share the details. My book teaches readers and those with whom they share the book about how to help someone in a medical or emotional crisis. People who'd read the rough drafts kept commenting that the manuscript evoked a strong sense of compassion and user-friendly advice that calms agitated readers. Artist Miriam Greeenberg's career is all about soothing people. Her artwork and my text were a good match.

Who is the cover artist? My friend Miriam Greenberg is the artist. She selected a painting entitled "Compassion" from her portfolio and presented it (via jpeg) to me as a gift. Miriam and I had discussed the popularity of her captivating work over time. One day she shocked me by asking me to use the painting for my book cover. She found it most appropriate for my book about helping people to cope with medical crises. Her site is http://eliscorner.com/categories.asp?cat=19

Are you happy with the cover? I am thrilled, grateful and awestruck at how suitable it is for my content and purpose in writing the book.

Tell us what you think is the best part of the cover. It's a triple treat for the eyes and heart. First, the arms arms reaching for each other demonstrate that this book is for readers of all ethnic groups. They're not easily identifiable skin tones: they look a bit ethereal, hinting at the universally inspirational content of the book. They also hint at the wide-ranging Resources guide in the back of my book. Those global resources clue in people with specific ethnic and other medical/emotional needs to suitable outlets. Second, the arms signify a need for the sufferer and the people who want to help her or him to reach for each other . Third, the colors of the cover art are soothing.

Is there anything else about your cover that we need to know? Feel free to share. The title It's MY Crisis! And I'll Cry if I Need To resonates with readers. Many of them let me know that it's reminsicent of a Leslie Gore song and that the catchy meter and memorable, meaningful words fit the purpose of the book well. The exclamation point assures readers that I advocate two things: that the appropriate sympathy for ill people be demonstrated by loved ones and acquaintances of the sick person, and that the ill person needs to validate their emergency in order to go psychologically forward. The back of the cover shows several approbations (blurbs) for my book. They're from a prominent psychiatrist, a Christian minister, a rabbi, a Fortune 500 motivational speaker and a National Institutes of Health researcher. More praises, from other people, appear inside the book.

Please provide your website link. http://itsmycrisisandillcryifineedto.blogspot.com/

What is the link to buy your book? http://www.booklocker.com/books/3067.html

3 comments:

Malcolm R. Campbell said...

How wonderful that the feelings of compassion felt by your readers could mesh so nicely with your friend's art. I'm betting that the look and feel of the cover brings people into the book before they exactly know how you've handled the issues and challenges of crises.

Malcolm

Anonymous said...

It was certainly interesting for me to read that blog. Thank author for it. I like such topics and anything connected to them. I would like to read a bit more soon.

Anonymous said...

It was very interesting for me to read that post. Thanx for it. I like such themes and everything that is connected to them. I would like to read more soon.