One of the facets of the decision to self-publish my books, is the need to createbook covers that are appealing and suit the contents of each book. I am fortunate to have a very helpful photographer/designer (Jason from www.atomswarm.com) who takes my pictures, then edits the images and adds text and details to make each book cover. I’d much rather set up photoshoots of the characters in my books, then have a designer create a less personal cover.
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I am very fortunate that my location and lifestyle make it easy to notice and appreciate the changing seasons. At this time of year, for example, there is the steady increase in levels of light as I leave and return home; the unfurling leaves on the goat willow tree outside my bathroom window; the crocuses and daffodils, planted by my children when they were small at the edge of the lawn, which have multiplied and spread, and raise their brave yellow flags every spring (this year, through the snow); the quality of the dawn light, which now enters my bedroom not only earlier, but at a sharper angle; the lambing and calving on neighbouring farms; and all the other reminders that the winter is over, and my world is renewing its association with the light. Usually, changing temperatures are part of this – last year, we spent most of Easter weekend relaxing in the garden in shirtsleeves – but it snowed again yesterday, and the chill winds and frosty mornings remind us that winter can be tenacious, too!
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In the austere days towards the end of the second world war, my grand-parents were considered either enlightened or very foolish when they allowed my mother to take up the place she was offered at secondary school. At the time, most pupils stayed in general schools until the compulsory leaving age of fourteen, only the most academically able being offered transfer to a school that specialised in more adanced education, which catered for young people up to the age of eighteen. Although places were offered to bright girls,in my grandparents’ class educating girls was considered rather a waste, when they were only going to marry, keep house, and produce and rear children. Such schools did not charge fees, but providing the uniform and writing equipment was a drain on household expenses, and, more importantly, a girl had to be fed and clothed, even if she was making no contribution to the family finances until long after her fourteenth birthday because she was still at school.
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Here in England, in the twenty-first century, we have an unparalleled choice of diet. Fruit and vegetables from around the world are enticingly displayed in the supermarket; instant meals make it easy for us to escape the chore of cooking; and fast food establishments are open from first thing in the morning until late at night, so that we could eat three hot meals a day without even lighting the oven if we chose.
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I am lucky to live in a beautiful corner of Sussex, surrounded by peaceful countryside with plenty of fields and woodland, so I rarely go for a walk along the road. Even if I choose to walk to work, two and a half miles away in the next village, I can do almost the whole journey on footpaths, across fields and through woodland.
But on one occasion several years ago, I happened to be walking home along the road on a Sunday morning.
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I’d like to start by thanking all those of you who have read Brightly Shines the Darkness, and for your kind comments. A couple of people have asked me the same question, and in case others are wondering the same thing, I thought I would answer it here on the blog.
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The first book in the Skywatchers series is now available for Kindle; see http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brightly-Shines-Darkness-Skywatchers-ebook/dp/B00AI1AMI6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354695773&sr=8-1
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Thank you to all who sent me feedback, both on the draft cover for my book and on the prologue. Here is the final version of the cover, and, for those of you who asked to read more of the book, here is a link to the beginning of chapter one.
Here is the provisional cover for my first book – what do you think? All comments welcome!
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Several people have asked me where they can read an extract from my forthcoming book, so here is the prologue:-
Brightly Shines the Darkness
Prologue – Ninth Cycle, Day the Third, after dark
At Passenda’s suggestion, the most severely injured priests had been brought to one of the side-chambers of the roundhouse where they had been incarcerated, and she was doing what she could to ease their pain. This was little enough; the warriors had taken away her medicine-bag, and there was not even any fresh water to clean their wounds and cool them. She could do little more than cover them with the cloaks and ceremonial skins of her companions to keep them warm, and use her healing touch to soothe their suffering. Two others who were also healers had seen her efforts and come to assist her, but she knew that several of the wounded would die before morning.
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