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[I've removed the first version, left the second, and added a third version (on right). I've changed the title to simply Fathers and Demons and used a fancier font. I've also made the demon more sinister-looking. The purpose of the stars is to show this is a space demon/god and, by using six-pointed stars, to suggest the Jewish G-d may be out there, too. Furthermore, the book is a preamble to humanity's first interstellar voyage. ]
“Truth, naked and cold, had been turned away from every door in the village. Her nakedness frightened people. When Parable found her she was huddled in a corner, shivering and hungry. Taking pity on her, Parable gathered her up and took her home. There, she dressed Truth in story, warmed her and sent her out again. Clothed in story, Truth knocked again at the villagers’ doors and was readily welcomed into people’s houses. They invited her to eat at their table and warm herself by their fire.” -- Jewish Parable
[I've removed the first version, left the second, and added a third version (on right). I've changed the title to simply Fathers and Demons and used a fancier font. I've also made the demon more sinister-looking. The purpose of the stars is to show this is a space demon/god and, by using six-pointed stars, to suggest the Jewish G-d may be out there, too. Furthermore, the book is a preamble to humanity's first interstellar voyage. ]
“Truth, naked and cold, had been turned away from every door in the village. Her nakedness frightened people. When Parable found her she was huddled in a corner, shivering and hungry. Taking pity on her, Parable gathered her up and took her home. There, she dressed Truth in story, warmed her and sent her out again. Clothed in story, Truth knocked again at the villagers’ doors and was readily welcomed into people’s houses. They invited her to eat at their table and warm herself by their fire.” -- Jewish Parable
Quotes for PublicSpeakers, No.82
The question is, What is Truth?
The Mythmakers say (Precept No. 10)
The Right Way is universal; the Truth is parochial and divisive.
As the Parable says, we can only explore these questions through story:
What is the difference between gods and demons?
Is God a father or a demon?
Are fathers demons or gods, or something better than either?
Are both gods and demons products of the human mind?
The story I'm preparing for publication is called Of Fathers and Demons
and it explores some of these questions.
Above is my conception of the cover art (still tentative, and very symbolic)
Please give FEEDBACK! What do you think of this cover?
I hope you think it's weird, because it's meant to be.
At this point I will not explain the symbolism.
(And no, that is neither a termite nor a kitten!)
The parable is great - Truth dressed as a story is always more palatable.
ReplyDeleteThe illustration is sufficiently weird for me! ;)
Thanks for stopping by, Corinne! On Facebook somebody shared the website where I found that parable. It seemed appropriate given the subject matter of this book I'm working on, which deals partially with the future history of the Jews on Earth (now you know why the Star of David appears on the cover art). I'll be talking more about this book soon.
ReplyDelete"It is not a termite." I can hear Arnold Swartznager saying that right now. LOL. The cover is Unique. It conveys symbolism the way it is styled.
ReplyDeleteI wouls suggest a few too many yellow Jewish stars, or perhaps there should be smaller yellow stars to be more reflective of stardust... Just a thought. The cover is different and memorable.
Thanks, Gary! I'm happy you think it's effective! I agree with you on the stars - I tend to want to fill up all the spaces. I'll tinker with it.
DeleteI like it, my father did a piece in that same style, but with snails and I feel in love with that type of art. Is there any place I can purchase your book?
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you like it, but now I have some questions for you! Is your father somebody I should recognize? And is there anywhere I could see his drawing? I'm curious as what my style is (LOL) since I don't have a name for it myself!
DeleteSomebody thought my space demon was a kitten. Would you mistake it for a kitten? Another person thought it must be a kid's book because of the flat style and primary colors.
Unfortunately my book has not been published yet, so you can't buy it. but we're followers on Google+ and I just friended you on Twitter, so you can keep track of my progress in those locations! Thanks for the interest!
Hiya, Lorinda thanks for following me on twitter. And no my father isn't someone many people know well. But I'm going home in two or four days (England) for a few days, and if I find my fathers work it will be on my Google page. Well I didn't think your space demon was a kitten on the first one a wolf maybe,and the second I think sends your message better, the first on is more friendly. Farther more see the type of art you do... well from what I've so far your style is many use as a children's illustrator,so anyone with out an very open mind and who didn't look at the entire picture and frankly no understanding for art would say that was a 2-7 year old's book.
DeleteI could see how this style of drawing would work fine for a children's book, but I see no reason why a book cover for adults can't also use a flat, emblematic style. And a minimal scrutiny would reveal elements that no sane writer would put on a book for 2-7 year olds.
DeleteThat's why I love it... I have never seen any adult book with this type of cover it brilliant.
DeleteWell, thank you, Gale! It's funny - this cover has drawn the gamut of opinions from love to scorn! Lots of attention! If that carries over to the book itself, maybe I'll have a bestseller! (LOL - dream on!)
DeleteYeah, that would be nice. I'm curious are you Jewish? or of Jewish descent? and are you done with your book?
DeleteNo, I'm not Jewish - I'm a spiritual humanist. But when I wanted to write about a Jewish wedding in my WIP The Man Who Found Birds among the Stars a few years back, I began to research Judaism and became completely fascinated by Jewish thought, beliefs, and history. This led to a lengthy chunk in the WIP that will have to be cut out if I ever publish it. So I've taken that chunk and created a piece of rather strange fiction (to be published separately) that deals partially with what happens to the Jewish people in my future history.
DeleteI'm still revising the text - publication is a little way off yet. But at least I'll have a front cover!
Oh... that's very interesting, both my grandfathers are of Jewish descent, they fought in world war II and became best friends.
DeleteWonderful! You may very well find my book interesting and I hope absorbing (sometimes a little painful, too, perhaps). It's a serious book, with serious intent, carried by what I think are some great characters. I'm hoping that anyone interested in Judaism will want to read it, although it should catch the attention of all thoughtful people.
DeleteHi Lorinda, Your cover art is certainly striking. I prefer the version on the right (above) -- mainly because the font seems more appropriate to the art. Not sure I would have gathered from a casual glance the stated purpose of the six-pointed stars ("that this is a space demon/god"), but then perhaps that doesn't matter. Also, not sure what the trees are meant to symbolize, but again--could be the text will reveal all. As for the demons, neither of them looks particularly sinister to me (no glittering scales, razored claws, or needle-sharp teeth), but could be I'm jaded from too many years of bad television. That said, I *am* intrigued by the brain you've incorporated in your representation of the demonic. After all, that's where all our devilish impulses are born, right?
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Jack! Yes, the one on the right is the latest revision, made after getting some advice on Google+ that the first one looked too much like a kitten! It's not the fact that the stars are 6-pointed (which suggests the Jewish theme of the piece), it's simply that the background is obviously meant to represent space, which would suggest a space entity. Yes, the trees' meaning will become clear from the story.
ReplyDeleteAnd you caught on promptly that we produce our own demons from our own brains. The first sentence of the piece will be "All human beings must live with demons." A brain-born demon does not necessarily need to have scales, claws, or teeth to be destructive.
I've certainly got a lot of different responses to this drawings, from really liking it to a statement to the effect of "The art and typeface are very poorly done." LOL
Not poorly done at all. I admire the fact that you go to such pains to produce your own cover art. I imagine it must take quite a bit of time.
DeleteIt does take some time, but it's also fun!
DeleteI think my comments fall somewhere in with others' impressions. I like the stars, though perhaps a sparser distribution would add emphasis to the ones that are there. It might be interesting to play with making them sparser from a purely aesthetic perspective (i.e. choosing placement on the basis of overall distribution and density) versus patterning them loosely on either side of the demon to evoke constellations that might have significance to the world and culture within which you have set the story.
ReplyDeleteMy initial impression was that the demon did look a little like a kitten--though once I looked more closely it clearly was not, my first glance still parsed it that way. I mention it only because the way Amazon and other ebook sites display covers means that many potential readers may see it briefly, in a "readers also bought" ribbon or such context at a glance, so that initial impression might mislead them into not looking closer!
Though I note that you mention you've tweaked it to look more sinister, it still looks a little cute to me and the shaping of the mouth makes it look to me like it's smiling in a cute and playful, rather than sinister, way.
The trees, however *do* look sinister to me. The roots evoke claws. If this is intentional, then all to the good. Again, this is my impression without knowing the significance or role of the trees in the book.
I prefer the more cursive font, as to me it more closely evokes a some of the Hebrew fonts I've seen (my father in law lived in Israel for a few years and he'd bring items back and the packaging would feature a variety of fonts).
I like the overall concept--kudos to you for doing your own cover concept, design and creation!
Thanks for taking time to comment, Kat! I'll take another look at the star arrangement, although since this book is laid on Earth, the alien constellation thing won't work.
ReplyDeleteSigh - everybody thinks it's a kitten, although one person over on Google+ thought it was a wolf!
You really think the hooked mouth looks cutesy? It's supposed to be smirking at its victim! I've been waiting for somebody to say it looked like a bird with a beak!
The trees are not really intended to look sinister, although I can see your point about the roots. However, I think after the book is read, the purpose of the trees becomes clear.
I've changed the font again, this time to Papyrus, and on advice of someone else, I've removed the subtitle and made the title larger. I'm not going to publish that version until I do another post on the book. Glad you find the cover acceptable. I think I'm going with it.