Many years ago, after my PGCE, I did a Masters to help discipline me with my writing. The 60k word creative assignment became Seven Stops. My first novel.
My patient daughter and a couple of great friends helped me along its journey.
I know that the most amazing book covers are by professionals, but not everyone can afford them. Over the years I've paid and still not been completely satisfied with the results.
Last year I painted my own cover for my ghost novel, Badger Town. It was a thrill. I had to repeat it.
This weekend I took the following seven steps to do the book cover for Silent Steps:
1. Painted the canvas black. Twice.
2. Drew an outline of the book's title.
3. Painted the lettering. Twice.
4. Printed off the pattern from Seven Stops' book cover for continuity.
5. Sketched outline of Snooty the Snail and glued the pattern onto its shell.
6. Photographed the finished canvas and uploaded into Microsoft Publisher.
7. Opened a text box, typed Robyn Cain as author and spent an hour frustrating over a font and its colour.
My cover is done. The back blurb is drafted. I am halfway through editing this sequel. The deadline for starting the proofreading is October 2021.
I am already looking forward to working on Vicious Vignettes 4.
I was lucky to read the first of this series, and looking forward to the new one!