Book Covers: learning the hard way by Eleanor Smythe

Today I'm so thrilled to have one of my dearest friends with me, Eleanor Smythe. The author of The Other Side of Town, Eleanor has written a guest post about the trials and tribulations of creating her book cover. It's a fabulous post, so do read on...

Learning as I go seems to be the only way, and it’s true that I don’t know what I need to know, until it stares me in the face. My debut book the Other Side of Town, has good reviews, however the cover seemed to attract negative feedback. Advice given, from various authors and reviewers, was that the cover was likely to stop interest in the book…In this case you really couldn’t tell the book by it’s cover. Once this was pointed out to me, it became obvious that it needed to be updated, to reflect the story and to attract readers.

Old cover (left) and new cover

My greatest skill in life seems to be the ability to beat myself up; actually I should probably write a book on that… sure to be a best seller. I have to remind myself that I trained as an Occupational Therapist and that was my career. I never studied graphic design, art or even English lit, come to think of it and I’m a late starter in the world of technology. Until I published my first book I only used a computer for letters and emails, and of course my work (patient notes etc.) So why do I give myself such a hard time, when I’m unable to get every thing spot on first time? I guess it’s something about not wanting to be a failure, or not wanting to be seen as a failure. With my logical head on, I know that I’m not a failure, how can I be? How can any of us be failures, just as long as we keep trying. However logic doesn’t always kick in quick enough. When I realised my cover wasn’t…lets say appropriate, I went into my usual panic mode. I saw lots of F’s flashing before my eyes. Failure! Failure! Failure! And a few other words beginning with F. I always panic, whenever I have a techno blip and as an Indie author, if there’s going to be a blip it’s always technical. I needed my first book to be perfect, but of course a learning process was bound to bring up errors. In my mind I wasn’t just an unknown Indie Author, I was also becoming an unknown, failing Indie Author, with the question of, why I hadn’t chosen an easy hobby for my retirement, like knitting or gardening.
I am so fortunate to have my very own Wonder Woman and Guru as a friend. During my moment of give up and panic, Author Suzy Turner said, “It’s no problem, we can sort it.” My response was something like “Really?”
We had one of our lets work together days, which usually means, Suzy is attempting to teach me some new skills, relating to social media or marketing…A slow process, usually ending up with me sitting with my mouth open and Suzy clicking away showing me which buttons to press. Apparently I need more followers and more books. This particular workday was going to be very different. Suzy was going to create a “New Cover” This I had to see, there was nothing I could do, my technical ability was now way outside of it’s comfort zone. We scanned the appropriate sites for the images that said this book is actually about someone laying dead in the road On the Other Side of Town having been killed by a hit and run driver. It’s a ‘who done it.’ Not a love story with a sad woman on the cover. The transformation began, I did have input into choosing the images, under the watchful eye of Suzy. Then she worked her magic cutting, pasting, lining things up and twisting images and words about, until we had the desired affect.
Now this is the funny thing, someone said my first cover looked homemade and amateur, when in fact I had an artists input. This one has been greeted with positive feedback and actually was done at home, it took several hours, but it just shows things aren’t always, as they seem. For my next book PLUG! PLUG! Reflections, I will get my advice from the expert, Suzy Turner, Author, blogger, filmmaker and New Cover producer.

Get your copy of The Other Side of Town from Amazon, B&N, Kobo, Smashwords.
Add it to Goodreads. 

Eleanor Smythe was born in the east end of London. Raised a family to secondary school level and then went on to obtain a degree in Occupational Therapy. Although she worked in various medical settings her greatest passion in her career was working with clients in the community, where she claims real life takes place. 

Recently retired and now living in Portugal Eleanor has more time to pursue her love of writing. She has always been intrigued by the way in which peoples lives have twists and turns and how individuals cope with life's challenges. Her stories attempt to embrace the emotional turmoils of life, bringing her characters to life by showing humour, tragedy, conflict and betrayal; emotions that many of us face daily. Her debut book, The Other Side of Town is full such characters.
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Author Interview with my dear friend Eleanor Smythe

Today I'm SUPER excited to have one of my dearest friends here on the blog. Eleanor and I became friends a couple of years ago when we were introduced by a fellow pal. Not only has she become a bit of a mother figure to me, but she has also just published her first book, The Other Side of Town which is FREE from today until Monday.

Hi Eleanor! Can you tell us a little about your new book.

This book is based on two families and how when tragedy strikes, their lives are torn apart. Although they live on opposite sides of the town, both families experience the pain of grief, betrayal and deception.
Everything becomes clear when a specialist team of police officers are deployed from London to the town of Millbrook, investigating an international criminal who they suspect to be carrying out illegal activities in the area.

What inspired you to write it?
Its difficult to say. I was actually writing something else when I had the idea of a hit and run accident; nothing to do with what I was working on. After a year, the idea was still nagging at me and it seemed the only way to quieten the mind was to sit down and write the story.

Is it part of a series?
The Other Side of Town isn't part of a series, however the character Judith appears again in my second novel, which I'm now working on.

If your latest book was made into a movie, who would you like to play the main characters?
The chance would be a fine thing !! I would have to choose Julie Walters to play nan, because she would bring the character to life. Sheridan Smith would have to be Judith and Helena Bonham Carter as Karina. Maureen is a difficult one and would need more thought. I would insist that my wheelchair user John be played by an actor that uses a wheelchair and not a pretence by another actor. Not enough disabled actors are given roles to play in my opinion.

What made you want to become an author?
I never really thought about becoming an author, I just always wanted to write and did, mostly poems and short stories. For me it was more about the personal challenge and proving others wrong. Having been told when I was a child and again in my twenties, that no one would be interested in what I had to say or write. I shelved the idea until I retired. With time on my hands I set my imagination free again and then I wanted to become an author.

Name one of your all-time favourite book covers?
There are so many fantastic book covers and I admire the artists who can tell a story through graphics and design, but I can't say I have a favourite.

Name one book that made you think 'wow'? Why did it have such an effect on you?
White Swan: Three daughters of China by Jung Chang. This book made me sit up and have gratitude for the fact that I had been born in a country with so many freedoms. Although I had heard of Mao, I'd never understood the tyranny of this dictator until I read this book. I always admire people that rise above adversity, people who never give in and in a way this book made me realise just how much a human being can endure if they have courage and determination. For me it was a great book.

Who, or what, inspires you?
People inspire me. People of courage, who set there sights on a goal and never give up until its achieved. I get great pleasure seeing people succeed, even at the smallest challenges. I guess thats why I am drawn to people like Gandi, Martin Luther and people that fight for the rights of others. To me no one should be treated like an under dog. We are all unique with our own talents. The only thing lacking in a person is belief in self, thats what holds us back.

Where is your favourite place to write?
If the room is quiet I love to write at my dining table, I have lovely views of the country side from there. Otherwise I go into my study which overlooks the side of my garden, still pretty but not so open. I seem to like open quiet space.

What is your favourite movie that was based on a book?
I find this a difficult question to answer. Whenever I've seen a film that was based on a book I've previously read, I'm disappointed. I never feel they fit in all the details and I often have a image in my mind of the characters. If they cast someone that shatters that image it never seems right to me.
On the other hand if I see a film and then try to read the book I never read to the end, because I know the outcome. I enjoy films but I'm not a great movie goer as you can probably tell. I loved Avatar, was that a book?

Who is your favourite author (s) and why?
I can't say I have a favourite author, in fact I'm not a person that favours anything, I tend to take everything on its own merit. I have sometimes read a book and really enjoyed it and then read another by the same author and not enjoyed it at all. For me that also applies to music and art. It is all so personal. People have recommended books to me and really raved about them, I've read the book and not shared the same view. I guess its like beauty, all in the eye of the beholder and how we read into things. Although I have found a lot of inspiration from a writer called Daisaku Ikeda who writes from a Buddhist perspective about life and life's challenges.

If you could have a dinner party with any authors from any time in history, who would you choose and why?
I love to spend time with my female friends, girlie times are important to me, so I guess I would have to choose the Bronte sisters and Beatrice Potter. Why? because I know it was difficult for women to write and be recognised in those times and it would be great to understand how they coped with the challenges they faced. I imagine them as strong determined women and as I've said I like that in people. I'd have to have another dinner party and have as many authors as I can who write fantasy, just so that I can observe their conversation. It fascinates me how they create such characters and stories.

Tell us a random fact about yourself.
I love to dance and wish I had been a professional dancer.

Tell us something interesting about the area where you live.
The Algarve is the most popular tourist destination in Portugal, and one of the most popular in Europe. During the summer period the beaches and coastal areas are crammed with holiday makers. I live inland facing out towards the sea but far enough away to never have to be among the crowds during the busy season, if I don't want to. I never tire of the view I have into the quiet county side and enjoy the hustle and bustle all the more when I venture down to the beach; knowing I can escape again.

Don't forget that The Other Side of Town is FREE this weekend. Grab a free copy while you can!!

Eleanor Smythe was born in the east end of London. Raised a family to secondary school level and then went on to obtain a degree in Occupational Therapy. Although she worked in various medical settings her greatest passion in her career was working with clients in the community, where she claims real life takes place. 

Recently retired and now living in Portugal Eleanor has more time to pursue her love of writing. She has always been intrigued by the way in which peoples lives have twists and turns and how individuals cope with life's challenges. Her stories attempt to embrace the emotional turmoils of life, bringing her characters to life by showing humour, tragedy, conflict and betrayal; emotions that many of us face daily. Her debut book, The Other Side of Town is full such characters.
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