Lights, Camera, ACTION!

The things I have to go through as an author. Good fun though.

We needed a shot of a cyclist for the cover of Florida Key, so last night it was all lights, camera and action in our house, aided with a glass of wine or two. 

And now it's up to my top aide and graphics designer David Roberts to work his magic. 

I can't wait to see what he comes up with.

Take Cover

It's a tough job, but it has to be done. While David, my friend and publisher, is hard at work on the graphics for Florida Key, I've been wracking my brains to come up with a few choice words for the strap-line beneath the title.

Or perhaps I could have something above the title. Ooh, I'm in a quandary, and I simply don't know what's best.

I was up all night trying out various configurations of a number of words, including 'unlock', 'secret', 'murder'...and many more.

But at least the graphics are coming along nicely.

Do Judge A Book By The Cover

A book cover is very important, isn't it?

In one fleeting glance it has to convey what the book's about, what its genre is, when and where it's set, and who the author is.

How great it would be for an author to have such a following that they have a captive audience of readers eagerly awaiting their next publication, only needing to have the book's title and their name on the jacket, to be enough to sell zillions of copies.

I'm unfortunately not in that category, so the design of the cover is ultra important for little ol' me.

I'm hugely lucky to have had Muddy Water's cover designed by my friend, editor and publisher, David Roberts, and he did a damned fine job on it too.

Now, with publication of Florida Key looming on the horizon, it's that time again to begin work in ernest on its jacket.

I think this is my favourite part of the whole project. It's the time when I can finally believe that it really is actually happening.

Reaching For The Bottle

I always look forward to my 'Book Club' sessions with publisher supremo, David Roberts.

I have to come up with a sub-title before next Wednesday's meeting. Something that describes what the book's theme is, in around eight words. Hmm. It's not as easy as it sounds.

We inevitably have lots to discuss, and on this occasion it was all about the font.

We're only in the early stages, mind. Lots to do. Needing some refreshment before we carry on.

What's It All About?

What's it all about, you may well ask.

The Key was purchased from a flea market while on holiday in Florida.

It was the only one among a collection of a hundred that had any markings on it...

"FOLGER ADAM CO, JOLIET, ILL. 410A"

What could those words, numbers and letters mean?

The Folger Adam Company was the finest manufacturer of detention equipment and locks.

The now derelict Joliet Prison, near Chicago in Illinois, was once home to thousands of inmates, where one in particular was incarcerated in Cell 10 on the 4th floor of Block A.

One particular inmate always protested his innocence, right up to the day of his execution.

"FLORIDA KEY" tells his story.

It's Official

There's so much to do between now and publication date of Florida Key.

My head's in a spin with all the preparation needed.

But before we can work out our CRITICAL PATH ANALYSIS, we need a date for when everything needs to be done by.

And that date has now been set, I'm relieved - and equally scared - to know.

APRIL 22nd, I'll be launching Florida Key at The Royal British Legion in Wivenhoe, and June 24th in Montolieu, France.

I'm looking forward to both of them. I'll need some wine to give out at the parties, and I know just where to get it.

All Dressed Up

I even got out my posh shoes and shirt so that I could attend a function at the lovely Caxton Bookshop in Frinton, hopefully talking to anyone remotely interested in Muddy Water.

Coffee and cake was offered, and I had my special pen poised to sign any purchases.

It would have been a brilliant morning if anyone had come.

Oh well, the life of an author has its ups and downs.

At least it inspired me to begin writing my blog again.

And another positive outcome was that I bought some lovely calves' liver from the fab butcher next door and ate it for my lunch when I got home.

Every cloud has a silver lining.